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Rush Green Primary School in Dagenham has been covered in striking handmade poppies as staff and pupils commemorate those who lost their lives during the wars. 

The school corridors showcase beautiful displays of children’s work, featuring poems, drawings and creative writing to honour the fallen. And poppies feature all over the school grounds, popping up in planters, appearing on windows and adorning the school gates in stunning wreaths.

A rapidly growing chain of colourful paper bears is spreading kindness across the UK in memory of little Ava Cottle from Dagenham. The cheerful two-year-old tragically passed away on Mother’s Day this year following a brave battle with leukaemia.

Two drivers have been caught out by council Enforcement Officers for illegally using Blue Badges meant for residents with disabilities. 

Following complaints from residents, on Friday 29 October, Barking and Dagenham Parking Investigation Officers carried out an inspection of Tomlins Orchard, Barking and surrounding roads.

 They investigated a vehicle parked with a Blue Badge in a permit bay on Shaftesbury Road, Barking. Following checks of the badge, investigations revealed it was issued by Hackney Council and had been stolen.

Staff at All Saints Catholic School in Dagenham scooped four awards at the KM Charity’s London Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony.

 

The annual awards mark the vital contribution that school staff make to the community, recognising the expertise and dedication that makes an outstanding teacher. This year’s glittering awards ceremony was held in Brighton.

 

Laura Agudo Pueyo was recognised for her relentless drive to help pupils improve their understanding of how they learn and apply it in lessons.

 

The Barking and Dagenham catering service BD Together is representing London this week, as the LACA (The School Food People) tour the country to mark National School Meals Week 2021.

An innovative programme which brings art and culture into the social services at Barking and Dagenham has gone digital. New Town Culture, a pioneering initiative which explores how art and cultural experiences can frame the work of social care to support adults and children in need of social care services.

Since it was introduced in 2018, over 600 local youngsters have benefitted from the scheme. This includes children and young people in foster care, care leavers or those at risk of sexual exploitation.

Following the launch of Barking and Dagenham council’s extended recycling scheme in April 2021, the amount of household recycled materials that’s been collected has already increased by a whopping 10.59% as residents recycle more household items.

With COP26 now in its second week and environmental issues dominating national and international headlines, local residents have stepped up to the challenge of creating a greener world for future generations by recycling more waste at home.

Barking and Dagenham will remember all those who died in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today, with a number of memorial services taking place across the borough from 11 to 14 November.

On Thursday 11 November, Armistice Day, the council will be holding a short service at 11am at the Job Drain Memorial Statue, adjacent to the Broadway Theatre in Barking. The Dagenham Royal Naval Association will also hold a short service at the War Memorial in Dagenham Village, Church Street, Dagenham from 10.30am.

Around 6,000 residents came to the community focused Winter Lantern Parade and spectacular fireworks display, which was hosted by Barking and Dagenham Council in partnership with Creative Barking & Dagenham, on Sunday 7 November.

Part of the council’s Becontree Forever programme, the Winter Lantern Parade took place on Chitty’s Lane to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first houses built on that road, on the estate.

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a public consultation to help shape future step-free access priorities and improvements on the London Underground network, and the Council is urging local residents and businesses to get involved and make their voices heard in the process.



The consultation runs until 10 February 2022 and has been designed to help TfL identify what it should prioritise in making London Underground stations more accessible. The aim is to help more Londoners use the public transport network independently.