Online safety and identifying safe and unsafe places in the borough were just some of the key topics discussed at the 2025 Youth Safety Summit, held on Wednesday 2 July.
Organised and led by a group of young people, the event brought together 77 young participants from a range of organisations across Barking and Dagenham to share their views on safety and community issues.
Each group worked with a large map of the borough, marking areas where they feel safe or unsafe and explaining their reasons. Other interactive activities included:
- An ice breaking exercise organised by BDYD to bring people out of their shells and on their feet
- Identifying safe and unsafe online spaces and discussing why
- Exploring a scenario where a friend starts spending time with a group known for getting into trouble, and how they would respond
- Making pledges about how they will contribute to keeping the borough safe – and what they expect from local organisations.
Council officers, police representatives, and councillors attended the summit to listen and engage directly with the young people, ensuring their voices were heard and taken seriously.
All participants received a hot meal and a certificate, while the 10 youth facilitators were paid for their work in organising and delivering the event.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “This was a fantastic event, and it was great to see so many young people come of their own accord to have their voices heard.
“The young people are our future, and we need to understand their experiences so we can work with the police and others to make the changes that are needed.”
Councillor Elizabeth Kangethe, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement added:: “A huge thank you to all the young people who took part, especially the youth facilitators who organised such a superb event.
“Barking and Dagenham is home to so many talented young people, and we must continue to give them every opportunity to thrive.”
Following the summit, a report will be produced based on the insights shared by the young people. This will be circulated to the police, participating organisations, and relevant council services to help shape the future of safety in the borough.
Across the summer, there are lots of free activities and opportunities going on across the borough for young people and they can be found on the council website.