Antisocial behaviour ban extended at Dagenham Heathway We’re pleased to announce that earlier this month, a three-year extension banning anti-social behaviour around Dagenham Heathway was granted after receiving your support. Our Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which was originally introduced in the area in 2018, allows fixed penalty notices of £100 to be issued on the spot for unsociable activities such as spitting, harassment, drinking alcohol in the street or begging. Offenders can also be taken to court and given fines of up to £1,000. The PSPO covers the area around the station and the shopping centre, down to the junction of Ripple Road and New Road, and extends to Old Dagenham Park. The extension was granted after we consulted with residents and found 90 per cent of people who took part – out of a total of 196 – backed the continuation of the additional powers. The consultation also highlighted that begging, drinking alcohol, and spitting were the top three issues that people encountered in the area. The PSPO extension was backed by the Met Police and is one of three PSPOs in the borough – the other two being Barking Town Centre and Dagenham Broad Street. All three PSPOs prohibit the following activities: •    Drinking alcohol in a public space  •    Weeing in public  •    Spitting •    Begging  •    Groups engaging in behaviour, which causes residents and other users of the area nuisance, annoyance, harassment, alarm or distress. The order came into effect from Friday 3 September. For more information visit the our website.

 

Three people connected to Barking and Dagenham granted Honorary Freedom of The Borough In a ceremony held at Barking Town Hall on Thursday 23 September, Her Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Edna Fergus awarded three very special people with the Freedom of the Borough - the highest award that can be given in Barking and Dagenham to people who have made an outstanding contribution to the borough.   The recipients were: Former professional footballer, Paul Ince, who grew up on the Becontree Estate and went on to have a wonderful football career, playing a leading role in campaigning to help kick racism out of football. Social activist Dora Challingsworth, who led the Ford women in the strike of 1984 and fought for women at the plant to be classified and paid as skilled workers. Trevor Lock, in recognition of his bravery as a former police officer during the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980, and for helping people with disabilities through his work with the Independent Living Agency.

 

LOVINGLY RESTORED An unmissable chance to catch Benny Chan's action romance masterpiece A MOMENT OF ROMANCE (Andy Lau, Jacklyn Wu) on the big screen at ODEON Luxe West End on 24th October at 3pm. Classics from legends Edward Yang and Kim Ki-young return in 4K for this RESTORATION strand, offering a seminal showcase of a renaissance era in East Asia filmmaking. Taiwanese New Wave hit TAIPEI STORY (starring director Hou Hsiao-hsien) and Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung's debut WOMAN OF FIRE complete the line-up. BOOK TICKETS LEAFF 2021 EDITION TOTE  We are very grateful to our sponsors NONGSHIM for their generous support of our festival. Together we are delighted to offer a bold, eye-catching LEAFF tote bag that will be filled with treats! To secure yours, book one of the last stalls seats for the Opening Gala at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square. Don't miss out... OPENING GALA TICKETS

 

YOUR LOCAL NEWSLETTER | 29 September 2021 Three people connected to Barking and Dagenham granted Honorary Freedom of The Borough In a ceremony held at Barking Town Hall on Thursday 23 September, Her Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Edna Fergus awarded three very special people with the Freedom of the Borough - the highest award that can be given in Barking and Dagenham to people who have made an outstanding contribution to the borough.   The recipients were: Former professional footballer, Paul Ince, who grew up on the Becontree Estate and went on to have a wonderful football career, playing a leading role in campaigning to help kick racism out of football. Social activist Dora Challingsworth, who led the Ford women in the strike of 1984 and fought for women at the plant to be classified and paid as skilled workers. Trevor Lock, in recognition of his bravery as a former police officer during the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980, and for helping people with disabilities through his work with the Independent Living Agency. Black History Month arrives this Friday A month-long celebration of the culture, history and achievements that Black, African, and Caribbean people have brought to the country kicks off in the borough this Friday. October marks Black History Month and proceedings will start with a flag-raising ceremony outside Barking Town Hall this Friday, 1 October at 10.45am. There are lots of free events taking place throughout the month, both online and in-person, with discussion panels, talks, workshops, exhibitions, and films for everyone to enjoy.   On Thursday, 14 October, in partnership with Love Music Hate Racism, Barking and Dagenham College and the Adult College of Barking and Dagenham, the Broadway Theatre in Barking will host authors, artists, musicians and influential speakers for an afternoon and evening of panel discussions, artwork, poetry and performances to celebrate black history and culture and the influence it's had on society. You can see the full schedule of free events happening throughout Black History Month by visiting lbbd.gov.uk/black-history-month. Please note some events require you to book. Launch of new hub to support survivors of domestic abuse Last Wednesday, on 22 September, a new Domestic Abuse Hub was officially opened, at the Barking Learning Centre, opposite Barking Town Hall. This unique hub has been set up by the council for survivors of domestic abuse to provide them with a safe space in the borough, where they can get help and support, run activities and events for other survivors, and raise awareness of the issue of domestic abuse. The launch follows the Barking and Dagenham Domestic Abuse Commission, a two-year initiative that brought together experts, community, and local partners to understand the issue of domestic abuse in Barking and Dagenham and improve council and partner services to support victims. The Domestic Abuse Commission report was released in March 2021. One of the recommendations of the report was to help survivors to set up their own support group and create safe spaces. From that arose the survivors’ group “We Rise”, who as part of their work, have led on the opening of the Domestic Abuse hub and were joined by Cllr Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, who is also the sponsor of the Barking and Dagenham Domestic Abuse Commission, and Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement.  The hub runs coffee mornings two days per week and if you live in the borough and have experienced domestic abuse, you are welcome to come along and have a coffee and a chat about your needs. Support can be provided with either ongoing referrals or by speaking with someone who has also experienced domestic abuse. Find out more here. Green improvement scheme crowned capital's champion Our Cosy Homes initiative, which offers free home improvements to stay warm, save energy and lower bills, has been crowned the capital’s “best large-scale project of the year” by energy industry experts. We beat competition from last year’s winner Islington Council, as well as Newham Council, to win the title at the London region of the Energy Efficiency Awards. The eco-friendly scheme launched in 2020, in partnership with E.ON and J & J Crump, as part of the Government’s Energy Company Obligation programme to help local people who are on a low income, have a long-term health condition, or are receiving benefits, to access free home improvements such as cavity wall, party wall and loft insulation, and in some cases, replacement boilers or new heating systems. The scheme has seen almost 1,000 energy saving measures installed in over 730 local homes so far, helping contribute to a carbon footprint reduction of around 10,500 tonnes and saving local people a combined total of £3.5million on their bills during their lifetimes. For more about the Cosy Homes scheme, visit lbbd.gov.uk/cosy-homes-scheme. We're marking National Older People's Day This Sunday, 3 October, we celebrate the National Day for Older People, which is a day for all generations to come together and enjoy fun and free activities for older people. It’s a day where older people can meet new people, visit new places, try new activities and connect with their local communities and the generations around them. In the lead up to the day, throughout this week, Studio 3 Arts will be hosting their Guild of Experience programme which is a celebration of older people’s creativity. The free programme includes visual arts masterclasses, an exhibition in Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre in Barking, visual arts works produced by older people during lockdown, a Creative Coffee Morning hosted by Macmillian and a special World Cinema Festival at the Boathouse Creative Studios in Barking. For more information and to sign up for the free activities and sessions visit www.studio3arts.org.uk/guild-of-experience. Antisocial behaviour ban extended at Dagenham Heathway We’re pleased to announce that earlier this month, a three-year extension banning anti-social behaviour around Dagenham Heathway was granted after receiving your support. Our Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which was originally introduced in the area in 2018, allows fixed penalty notices of £100 to be issued on the spot for unsociable activities such as spitting, harassment, drinking alcohol in the street or begging. Offenders can also be taken to court and given fines of up to £1,000. The PSPO covers the area around the station and the shopping centre, down to the junction of Ripple Road and New Road, and extends to Old Dagenham Park. The extension was granted after we consulted with residents and found 90 per cent of people who took part – out of a total of 196 – backed the continuation of the additional powers. The consultation also highlighted that begging, drinking alcohol, and spitting were the top three issues that people encountered in the area. The PSPO extension was backed by the Met Police and is one of three PSPOs in the borough – the other two being Barking Town Centre and Dagenham Broad Street. All three PSPOs prohibit the following activities: •    Drinking alcohol in a public space  •    Weeing in public  •    Spitting •    Begging  •    Groups engaging in behaviour, which causes residents and other users of the area nuisance, annoyance, harassment, alarm or distress. The order came into effect from Friday 3 September. For more information visit the our website. Barking Town Hall to host inquest into deaths of Stephen Port victims An eight-week inquest into the deaths of four men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port is set to begin next Monday, 4 October, at Barking Town Hall. The long-awaited inquest will examine the Metropolitan Police’s initial response to the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor, who were drugged, raped and killed by Port between 2014 and 2015. Port was sentenced to life in prison at the Old Bailey in November 2016 for the murders of the four men. The inquest was originally scheduled to take place at the Old Bailey. Due to the number of people involved and the need for social distancing, we have offered the Town Hall as an alternative venue to ensure the families of the four victims do not face any further delays and can get the answers they so desperately need from the inquest. The inquest will be open to journalists and members of the public. For more information visit www.eastlondoninquests.org.uk. The inquest will understandably cause distress and upset in the local community as details of the four victims’ deaths are disclosed and you are likely to see reports of the inquest in the news. If you are affected in any way, we have pulled together an information booklet with details of local agencies who can offer support and advice. Once the inquest finishes, the East London Coroner’s office will continue to use Barking Town Hall and part of the Adult College for non-jury hearings until March 2022, while Walthamstow Magistrates’ Court is being redeveloped. Get your little one on the right track with free early education Early education helps children to get along with others, discover new interests and learn the skills they need to make a great start at school. We know that early education and childcare can be expensive, but there’s loads of help available, including free early learning and support to cover costs. Did you know that all four-year-olds can get a free early education place? Three-year-olds can, too, from the term after their third birthday. The settings that offer free early education places include childminders, nurseries and pre-schools. You can search for your nearest provider here. You may also be able to get help with early learning and childcare costs for your two-year-old. Head to our website to find out all you need to know about giving your little one the best start in life. For more support with paying for childcare, from toddlers to teens, head to childcarechoices.gov.uk. It could save you hundreds of pounds. Worried about your finances and bills? Help is at hand! If you are struggling with your finances or to make ends meet, please get in touch as we have lots of services that can help. Or if you’re worried you’re heading towards financial problems, speak to us so we can try and stop issues escalating. There are a number of help and support services available through the council, including: Our Community Food Clubs which are free of charge and can provide £20 worth of food per week for a period of either three or six months at www.lbbd.gov.uk/community-food-clubs Our money and debt webpages provide an income and expenditure calculator and budgeting tools to help you see how much money you have coming in and how much is going out, helping you look at areas where you can make savings: www.lbbd.gov.uk/money-and-debt If you’re struggling with increasing energy costs, you should contact your energy supplier about possible funds you may be entitled to, to help you through difficult periods. You can also access the Warm Homes Grant at www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme. If you have a disability and you’re not claiming specific disability benefits, you may be able to take advantage of a number of benefits available, including Personal Independence Payments or Disability Living Allowance (for children). If you’re caring for someone with disabilities you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance although this is means tested, at www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/disability-and-sickness-benefits If you have a water meter and are experiencing financial difficulties, you may want to look into the Watersure scheme at www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/customer-assistance/watersure/. Most water companies also have a fund to help those who are struggling, and it might be worth contacting your water provider if you have concerns. If you’re out of work and looking to get into employment you can get help and support from our Job Shops at www.lbbd.gov.uk/help-finding-work If you’re worried about a lack of skills, our Adult College has a full offer on their website. If you need help with emergency living expenses for food, fuel (gas and electric for customers who pay via a key meter), travel expenses and household appliances and/or clothing in exceptional circumstances, you can apply for help from the council’s Hardship Fund (Individual Assistance Payment) at www.lbbd.gov.uk/hardship-and-covid-support-schemes You can also contact our Homes and Money Hubs which are open for a drop in at Barking Learning Centre and Dagenham Library from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday or email homesandmoneyhub@lbbd.gov.uk or call 020 8227 2115 or 2927. New normal, new opportunities - a chance to upskill, reskill and explore new opportunities If you're thinking about getting some new skills or changing career after Covid-19, we have an event for you. The event, ‘new normal, new opportunities’ is run in conjunction with the Adult College, CU University, the Barking Enterprise Centre (BEC), the Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS), Barking and Dagenham College, BD Collective and the University of East London. It will take place on Wednesday 6 October from 10am to 2pm at the Conference Room, Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Hall, Barking IG11 7NB. Come along to find out which opportunities are out there!

 

Launch of new hub to support survivors of domestic abuse Last Wednesday, on 22 September, a new Domestic Abuse Hub was officially opened, at the Barking Learning Centre, opposite Barking Town Hall. This unique hub has been set up by the council for survivors of domestic abuse to provide them with a safe space in the borough, where they can get help and support, run activities and events for other survivors, and raise awareness of the issue of domestic abuse. The launch follows the Barking and Dagenham Domestic Abuse Commission, a two-year initiative that brought together experts, community, and local partners to understand the issue of domestic abuse in Barking and Dagenham and improve council and partner services to support victims. The Domestic Abuse Commission report was released in March 2021. One of the recommendations of the report was to help survivors to set up their own support group and create safe spaces. From that arose the survivors’ group “We Rise”, who as part of their work, have led on the opening of the Domestic Abuse hub and were joined by Cllr Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, who is also the sponsor of the Barking and Dagenham Domestic Abuse Commission, and Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement.  The hub runs coffee mornings two days per week and if you live in the borough and have experienced domestic abuse, you are welcome to come along and have a coffee and a chat about your needs. Support can be provided with either ongoing referrals or by speaking with someone who has also experienced domestic abuse. Find out more here.

 

Get involved in Black History Month A month-long celebration of the culture, history and achievements that Black, African, and Caribbean people have brought to the country kicks off in the borough next Friday. October marks Black History Month and events will start with a flag-raising ceremony outside Barking Town Hall on Friday 1 October at 10.45am. There are lots of free events taking place throughout the month, both online and in-person, with discussion panels, talks, workshops, exhibitions, and films for everyone to enjoy. In partnership with Love Music Hate Racism, Barking and Dagenham College and the Adult College of Barking and Dagenham, on Thursday, 14 October, the Broadway Theatre in Barking will host authors, artists, musicians and influential speakers for an afternoon and evening of panel discussions, artwork, poetry and performances to celebrate black history and culture and its influence on society. You can see the full schedule of free events happening throughout Black History Month by visiting lbbd.gov.uk/black-history-month. Please note some events require you to book.

Don't forget to take regular Covid-19 tests! Taking a rapid Covid-19 test, also known as a lateral flow test, for people without symptoms, twice a week can help to stop the spread of coronavirus. Testing regularly, even if you don't have Covid-19 symptoms and have been vaccinated, helps protect those around you, so please make sure you’re testing regularly. Results are provided within an hour and in Barking and Dagenham, you can collect a pack of seven home test kits from our test sites. You can also have your quick test done in person without an appointment at these sites if you’d rather. There’s also an option to order rapid test kits online from the Government’s website to be delivered to your home if that’s easier. Or if you’d prefer, you can arrange to pick them up, free of charge, from a limited number of participating pharmacies. Local pharmacies that are taking part in the scheme can be found here. If you decide to self-test at home, you will need to report every result to NHS Test & Trace on the same day that you take the test. This can be done online or by calling 119. If you get a positive result from a rapid lateral flow test, you will need to book a follow-up PCR test to confirm the result. You can book a PCR test here or by calling 119. Please remember that you should only take a rapid lateral flow test if you don’t have any symptoms of coronavirus. If you do have any of the symptoms of the virus, you must self-isolate and book a PCR test by: Visiting the NHS website Calling 119 Or popping into one of our three PCR test sites without an appointment at Mayesbrook Park Car Park, Curzon Community Centre or at The Leys Car Park in Dagenham. You can get full details, including the latest opening hours at www.lbbd.gov.uk/getatest.

 

YOUR LOCAL NEWSLETTER | 22 September 2021 Barking Town Hall to host inquest into deaths of Stephen Port victims An eight-week inquest into the deaths of four men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port is set to begin on Monday 4 October at Barking Town Hall. The long-awaited inquest will examine the Metropolitan Police’s initial response to the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor, who were drugged, raped and killed by Port between 2014 and 2015. Port was sentenced to life in prison at the Old Bailey in November 2016 for the murders of the four men. The inquest was originally scheduled to take place at the Old Bailey. Due to the number of people involved and the need for social distancing, we have offered the Town Hall as an alternative venue to ensure the families of the four victims do not face any further delays and can get the answers they so desperately need from the inquest. The inquest will be open to journalists and members of the public. For more information visit www.eastlondoninquests.org.uk. The inquest will understandably cause distress and upset in the local community as details of the four victims’ deaths are disclosed and you are likely to see reports of the inquest in the news. If you are affected in any way, we have pulled together an information booklet with details of local agencies who can offer support and advice. Once the inquest finishes, the East London Coroner’s office will continue to use Barking Town Hall and part of the Adult College for non-jury hearings until March 2022, while Walthamstow Magistrates’ Court is being redeveloped. Celebrating our amazing young people at the Youth Parade On Sunday (19 August) in partnership with Studio 3 Arts, we hosted the seventh annual Youth Parade, where we celebrated the borough’s inspirational young people and the positive contribution they make to our community. 300 young people took part in the parade, which took place in Barking this year and made its way from Abbey Green to Barking Park. Even in the pouring rain, we had nearly 2,000 of you lining the streets and cheering on local performance, dance and community groups that took part in the parade, as it made its way through Barking Town Centre. The parade also hosted a specially curated line-up from Studio 3 Arts which included dance duo Homebros, local rapper Idris Miles, singer Logann Knight, performances from local dance groups and a dance battle competition called ‘7 to Smoke’ featuring talented young dancers who took part in Studio 3 Arts’ ‘3Style Fridays’. There was also a free family fun day at Barking Park, which included dance, arts and sports workshops, free inflatables, a climbing wall, trampolines, pedal karts and many more family fun activities throughout the day

 

NHS Couch to 5K app motivates Black adults to get fit this summer

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A recent England-wide survey by Public Health England (PHE) reveals that more than a third of Black adults feel a lack of motivation might prevent them from adopting a healthier lifestyle. Of those surveyed, 79% believe that having access to ideas around effective exercise routines could help them to reach their health and fitness goals. In response, PHE is encouraging adults across the nation to use the NHS Couch to 5K app. This is one of several free apps available from Better Health, designed to support people to become more active and lose weight.

When Stella Eke, 46, felt she no longer had the energy to accompany her young child to the park, she knew something needed to change. “I felt an urge to be more active and to boost my stamina,” says Stella, a mother of one from London who had become inactive during lockdown.

Having not run for about five years, Stella was initially hesitant about the idea. However, after downloading the Couch to 5K app and completing her first session, she knew she had made the right decision. “The first week was easier than I expected, and I found myself looking forward to the next session,” she says.

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Get fit with the NHS Couch to 5K app

Juliet Bertie, 51, from Birmingham, experienced similar benefits. She initially started using the Couch to 5K app a few years ago, but when the pandemic hit she decided it was time to pick it back up. Couch to 5K users are able to follow the traditional layout of the programme, repeat certain weeks or even the whole programme. This makes it possible to progress at an individual pace.

“Running has become a big part of my life now,” says Juliet, who makes sure that she goes at least three times a week. “I started off with short intervals, and increased my pace week by week.” She can now run successfully for 40 minutes without stopping. “I’ve been really happy with my progress.”

Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at PHE, welcomed the news: “We’re thrilled that so many people have been using the Couch to 5K app to get more active over lockdown. Keeping active is not only good for our physical health but also crucial for our mental health. We hope the app has helped people to cope better with the challenges the pandemic has brought.”

Elle Linton, Fitness Trainer, said: "Running lets us celebrate what our bodies can do, what they can achieve and where they can take us. No one gets fit overnight, but starting small and gradually building up is the best way to begin. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, confidence comes from discipline and training."

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