We are very proud of the strong sense of community that exists across Barking and Dagenham. While we recognise that surveys such as this highlight some of the challenges facing communities like ours, we do not believe the description of Barking and Dagenham as the "least friendly place to live" reflects the reality of life here.
Every day, we see residents coming together to support one another, celebrate our diversity and take pride in their neighbourhoods. Across the borough, a strong community spirit is evident in the thousands of hours volunteers dedicate to helping others, the invaluable work of our community, faith and voluntary organisations, and the efforts of local people who actively improve their streets and green spaces through initiatives such as litter picking and community clean-ups - many of these organised by residents themselves. We also see it in the thousands of residents who attend, organise and support cultural celebrations, community events and civic activities throughout the year.
As one of London's youngest and most diverse boroughs, our programme of community and council-led events, including flag raisings and cultural celebrations, helps bring people together and celebrate the many communities that proudly call Barking and Dagenham home.
None of this is to say there are not challenges. Like many areas, we know some residents experience loneliness, isolation or barriers to participation. We are also a borough that experiences significant population change, with many residents moving in and out each year as a result of wider housing affordability pressures across London. Building connections, a sense of belonging and attachment to place can take time in communities experiencing that level of change, which is why supporting strong, connected neighbourhoods remains such an important priority. Through our It Starts Here campaign and wider work with local partners, we are committed to celebrating civic pride and creating more opportunities for residents to connect, shape their communities and access support when they need it.
What we see every day is a borough full of people who care deeply about where they live and about each other. We see the warmth, resilience and community spirit of our residents, and we remain incredibly proud of the communities that make Barking and Dagenham such a vibrant place to live.