Local pupils from Manor Junior School aged 7 to 11 helped to launch the Borough and Me homework competition by showcasing their creative talent at Barking Town Hall on Friday 29 March.

The competition asks students to think about the borough of the future and what they think would make it a great place to live in by putting their ideas in art form, ranging from town models and murals, to creative writing and poetry.

Residents are being asked to help identify fly-tippers as CCTV cameras show 14 people fly-tipping within the council’s latest CCTV Appeal film. 

 

The YouTube video series shows footage of people illegally dumping rubbish in fly tipping hotspots across the borough. The enviro-criminals are caught red-handed on CCTV cameras as they shamelessly dumped fridges, shelves, washing machines, sofas and more.

 

St Awdry’s Green in Barking has been transformed from a hotspot for anti-social behaviour into a communal garden, thanks to the efforts of local residents who have been working to revitalise the once unloved green space. 

People from across the borough have come together to collaborate with the council and Every One Every Day – an organisation who work with residents to make their community projects a reality.

Brand new play equipment and sporting facilities in Dagenham’s Valence Park formally opened to the public today (Tuesday 26 March), after council funding totalling £39,000 helped to make the project a reality.

An opening ceremony took place in Valence Park this afternoon to mark the occasion, where a whole host of activities were on offer to residents.

Council enforcement officers have issued 28 fines as part of ongoing work to clean up Sunningdale Avenue in Barking.

 

The enforcement operation took place after residents fed back that people were regularly dumping rubbish and littering the street. 

 

Barking and Dagenham residents will have their pick of a range of opportunities in construction including apprenticeships and training opportunities available from at least 12 local housing and construction companies at the construction jobs fair.

There are apprenticeship opportunities for electricians, carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, civil engineering, land survey technicians and business; vacancies for drivers, technicians and sales consultants. There will also be opportunities to sign up for graduate trainee schemes.

This week Barking and Dagenham Council is kicking off a new campaign to celebrate residents and everything that makes them unique.

Running through the rest of the year, #thisisme is designed to tell the very different stories of local people, and showcase what makes them the individuals they are today.

“I want 2019 to be the year of the individual in Barking and Dagenham”

From working mums to scout group leaders, everyone in Barking and Dagenham has a story to tell about who they are and the council is keen for people to get involved.

Barking and Dagenham residents are being provided advice and tips to help them stay safe in their own homes and to be wise to the dangers posed by bogus callers.

 

Bogus callers are criminals who try to trick their way into your home by saying that they work for an organisation such as the council or NHS, or from gas, water or electricity supply companies, the fire brigade, trading standards, or even the police. 

Over 70 young people from a number of Barking and Dagenham schools came together this week as part of an orchestra and choir.

Primary Music Day took place at Barking Abbey School for the first time and with six primary schools participating.

The orchestra consisted of a large number of instruments including the flute, clarinet, violin, viola, trumpet, piano plus many more. 

Did you know that there are a number of community orchards in Barking and Dagenham, and that you can help look after them?

The Orchard Project is an organisation that brings community orchards to cities and towns across the country. They’re heading to Central Park in Dagenham on Wednesday 27 March, to offer practical classes on how to care for fruit trees so that you can enjoy the fruit that they produce at harvest time.