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Boxing legend Frank Bruno MBE has today announced an exciting new UK headquarters for his mental health and wellbeing foundation in the East London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. 

 

Once a resident of the borough, the new wellness hub marks a major personal milestone for the Frank, as well as for the growth of the Foundation as it looks to work closely with Barking and Dagenham to provide vital support for residents. 

 

Students at Greatfields School in Barking moved into a new £23 million building this week as the final stage of building the school was completed.

The huge new building, funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and Barking and Dagenham Council, covers 10,000 square metres and includes 50 new classrooms, a hall, a library, and office and administration space. 

On Saturday 19 March, Barking and Dagenham opened three of its new Community Hubs; Sue Bramley Centre, Marks Gate, and William Bellamy.

Formerly opened by Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, and Cllr Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the hubs aim to provide residents and neighbourhoods with the support they need, closer to home.

A Dagenham restaurant owner has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 after breaching smoke-free laws.

Mr Florin David Olteanu, 32, who runs Restaurant La Maria, was reprimanded after being caught hosting an illegal lock-in style party by Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers.

The incident took place in the early hours of 17 October 2020, when council workers responded to noise complaints and breaches of Covid-19 regulations, which at the time prevented households mixing and imposed a curfew on hospitality businesses from 10pm.

Barking and Dagenham Council’s seventh Women’s Empowerment Awards ceremony took place this week, recognising and celebrating the outstanding achievements of women across the borough.

 

The inspirational finalists were chosen by a panel of judges, who also had the difficult task of choosing the ultimate winners of the eight categories on the night at The Broadway Theatre, Barking.

 

Visitors to Eastbury Manor House in Barking are in for a treat this Spring as staff and volunteers reopen one of London’s few remaining Elizabethan houses. This house from 1573 will be open every Sunday from 10am to 4pm from 3 April to 11 December 2022.

Saved from demolition by William Morris’s Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1918, this distinct National Trust house, managed by Barking and Dagenham Council, is a stunning architectural jewel near to the centre of Barking.

Plans on how residents and businesses will benefit from the arrival of London’s biggest film studio development in the borough have been revealed by Barking and Dagenham Council today.

Proposals include Careers Events, Industry focused Workshops, apprenticeships, mentorship schemes, business support and professional development for teachers.

There are also plans to create a database of local businesses that can help the studios and visiting productions meet their skills and supply chain needs, while also encouraging a more diverse workforce for the sector.

An Arts Award Discover project set up by Barking and Dagenham’s Cultural Education Partnership, Inspiring Futures, was the largest in the country in the 2021/22 financial year, with a huge cohort of 1,664 young people achieving the award.

Exciting plans for a new children’s playground in Eastbrookend Country Park have been unveiled, promising fun and exercise for youngsters.



The new playground, which is being built next to the park’s Discovery Centre, will feature swings, slides, a climbing frame, balance beams and sensory play facilities to stimulate fine motor and language skills, offering adventurous play for children aged 2 to 12.



The design uses natural wood with teal and subtle green highlights, helping to create an attractive play area that complements the parks landscape.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham interested in a career or work in the construction industry are now able to benefit from a new training centre right on their doorstep.