Barking and Dagenham Council has become the first local authority in the capital to throw its weight behind Unite union’s pioneering Construction Charter.

Construction firms planning to work on Barking and Dagenham building projects will now need to meet the standards laid down in the charter.

The charter commits to working with Unite in order to achieve the highest standards in respect of direct employment status, health and safety, standards of work, apprenticeship training and the implementation of nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment.

A new support offer to help strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) in Barking and Dagenham is set to launch today.

Thousands of pupils from schools across the borough have been learning invaluable life skills as part of the annual Junior Citizen scheme.

The three-week initiative, run in partnership by Barking and Dagenham Council and the Metropolitan Police, gives children who are about to start secondary school advice on a range of subjects in a fun and entertaining way.

Learning from the River Roding was an exhibition at Barking Town Hall between 3 and 6 June.

 

The exhibition is continuing at The Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design in Whitechapel from 19 June to 30 June and is part of the London Festival of Architecture. The exhibits include a 1:1000 model by students of Cass Unit 14, of the River Roding which forms the western boundary of Barking and Dagenham. 

 

The Windrush flag was flown over Barking Town Hall at 12pm on Monday 24 June to mark this year’s Windrush Day.

Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement said: “The Windrush generation have made a massive contribution to our borough in particular and the whole country, and their descendants have continued to enrich the social, economic, political and religious life of our communities.

JOIN us, along with Martina Cole and other celebrity writers and publishers, in celebrating local people who are making themselves heard across the UK and further afield…

Write On! is a new, quarterly magazine published by Pen to Print, a project borne in Barking and Dagenham. Funded by Barking and Dagenham Council and the Arts Council, it links local writing communities into the publishing industry by showcasing the work of emerging writers. 

Residents are being warned about the risks of using ‘man with a van’ adverts to get rid of rubbish, after a couple from north London were fined £200 for fly-tipping in the borough. 

Enforcement officers from Barking and Dagenham Council discovered a large number of cardboard boxes and bin bags dumped on New Road, Dagenham, in May this year. 

On Saturday 29 June, the free Steam and Cider Fair rolls into town over at Old Dagenham Park between 11am to 6pm.

 

Come down with family and friends for some traditional entertainment and attractions, which reflects the borough’s rural and industrial heritage.

 

A day of getting up close to vintage steam engines, seeing these great vehicles on display in all their historical glory. Also, get close to the array of classic cars and vehicles lined up and see them take to the arena in our famous parade.

 

Weighing in at 3.5 tonnes and standing at more than seven-foot-tall in height, the latest tool in Barking and Dagenham Council’s fight against grime crime has been released. 

The Hako Citymaster 1600 is a compact street sweeper that has interchangeable attachments, meaning its use can be quickly changed from road sweeping to deep cleaning or tackling oil spillages. 

The council has bought four of the vehicles at a cost of £200,000 as part of wider plans to clean up the borough’s streets. 

All Saints Catholic School has become the latest school in the borough to be awarded a coveted Artsmark Gold Award. 

The Wood Lane school joins 10 others in Barking and Dagenham that have already received an honour from the Arts Council England – the highest number in the capital.

The Artsmark Award recognises schools’ commitment to unlocking young peoples’ potential through art, helping to develop their confidence and talents.

To achieve the award, All Saints Catholic School developed a plan that was delivered across the entire school for pupils of all ages.