Here’s the latest news from your Labour Councillors and Labour Team in Barking and Dagenham. These are our collection of Borough-wide news stories. You can also find more local news and stories relevant to your ward by clicking on your ward from the homepage.

  • Labour Council approves new anti-poverty Strategy

    After 14 years of Conservative mismanagement, Barking and Dagenham has been left with some of the highest proportion of deprived households in England and Wales.

    We know that because of this Tory underinvestment, health outcomes, housing insecurity, and barriers to good work or social connection are higher here.

    When the Labour Government came in to power, four in ten children in Barking and Dagenham were growing up in poverty, highlighting the daily struggles families face, from food insecurity to rising living costs.

    This week Barking and Dagenham Labour Councillors have approved a new Council strategy that places fairness at its core, recognising that some residents face greater barriers than others. The strategy targeted support for those most in need, including:  

    • removing specific barriers to employment
    • supporting new parents with the highest level of need with the costs of essentials
    • supporting young people leaving care to achieve financial stability

    The council will also set up an Anti-Poverty Board, bringing together key partners to develop a longer term programme to reduce poverty across the borough.

    Labour Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of the Council said, “No single organisation can tackle these issues alone. But by laying strong foundations for change, grounded in our shared values and commitment, we can build a future where every resident has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.

    “Our residents rightly have strong ambitions. These plans are about better understanding the barriers which can prevent people from achieving their aspirations – and working together to remove them to support people to achieve their best potential. Partnerships are key. We’re strengthening collaboration across council services and with local voluntary, community, and faith organisations, and building strong, long-term partnerships that will deliver real change.

    “For the last few years, regeneration and place has been a key focus for us, and our track record with building affordable homes is testament to that. Now it’s key that we focus on people and partnerships to address the root causes preventing our residents from living the best life possible.”

    If you’re in urgent need of support, you can get help finding out what support you may be entitled to here.

  • Award for Becontree

    Award for Becontree

    Labour Councillors for Becontree Ward, Muhammad Saleem and Edna Fergus have today welcomed news that 200 Becontree Avenue has received a prestigious RIBA London Architecture Award.

    The building encompasses 19 affordable homes and a community space across two villa-style buildings. It was designed by architecture practice Archio for BeFirst, Barking and Dagenham Council’s regeneration organisation.

    The RIBA’s architecture judges praised the architects for their “thorough research into the history and housing typologies of the Becontree Estate on which it sits. The estate is low-rise, embodying garden city principles, and dates from the 1920s–30s. It is considered to be the largest original social housing scheme in Europe. The team drew inspiration from the estate, resulting in a detailed understanding of and sensitivity to the local vernacular which they adeptly translated and updated.”

    You can read more about the award, including the full citation from the jury, at the website of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

    Image (c) French+Tye