Dagenham East, the Village and Beyond

We recently revealed how the arrival of London’s biggest film studio to the borough will benefit you, your friends and family and businesses.

Careers events, industry focused workshops, apprenticeships, mentorship schemes, business support and professional development for teachers are just some of the things that will be available to residents.

Local businesses that can help the studios and visiting productions meet their skills and supply chain needs, will also be able to join a database of local providers.

The ideas are part of a new programme called Film Barking and Dagenham: Make It Here, which outlines four key areas that will provide pathways for residents to access education, employment and business opportunities linked to the studios and its visiting productions, as well as making sure the new venue provides a wider community resource that improves access to cultural activities in the borough.

When they open, The Wharf and Eastbrook film studios will provide many jobs and opportunities for local people, while injecting £35m per year to the local economy.

To find out more and to see which opportunities are available now and in the following weeks, visit the website.

Children and young people in Barking and Dagenham came together at a rousing climate crisis summit this week to learn more about environmental challenges and voice passionate views on what should happen to protect the planet for future generations.

180 young people from across 31 schools, learned more about the council’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap, which seeks to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030, two decades ahead of the UK's overall target.

Young people were urged to raise their voices and tell the council what they'd like to happen in the future.

The young people heard from other guest speakers and participated in interactive consultation sessions with them in an inspiring event facilitated by VotesforSchools at Jo Richardson Community School.

“Our message to young people is clear: get your voices heard, hold adults to account and be ambitious about changing the world. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Former England rugby star Martin Offiah MBE, brand ambassador for electric vehicle infrastructure, charging and connectivity company Connected Kerb, energised the audience with an uplifting speech and took time to listen to the pupils’ views and ideas.

Pupils discussed topics including waste, recycling, energy conservation and pollution. And they each received special reusable goodie bags to take home with them, courtesy of energy giant E.On and Connected Kerb, who sponsored the summit.

Young people in Barking and Dagenham have experienced the impact of global warming right on their doorsteps in recent years. Residents in the borough have witnessed unprecedented levels of rain, snow, heatwaves, severe flooding and even a mini-tornado last summer. And they had plenty of ideas about what could be done to help, from 'non-car days' to banning the use of plastic entirely and organising more community litter picks to planting trees at school.

As part of its commitment to being a greener borough, the council declared a climate emergency in 2020 and has introduced a range of measures to help reduce its carbon footprint and create a green borough, including increasing recycling rates and launching the Cleaner, Greener Barking and Dagenham campaign.

A spokesperson said: "This was a fantastic first climate summit, and our young people proved once again why they’re our best asset in promoting a greener borough.

"We owe it to our kids and grandkids to act on the climate crisis and listening to them is an important first step.

“Our message to young people is clear: get your voices heard, hold adults to account and be ambitious about changing the world. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Another spokesperson added: "It was a marvellous event, and we all learnt a great deal.

"My thanks go to the education team, schools, sponsors, speakers and Jo Richardson Community School for their work in making this inspiring event possible.

"Education can play a huge part in creating a better, safer world for our children and future generations."

A Dagenham market trader has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit designer clothes at the old Dagenham Market.

Mr Amir Atta, of Twickenham sentenced last week (Tuesday 15 February) at Barkingside Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay a fine of £500, £1,850 in costs to Barking and Dagenham Council and a Victim Surcharge of £50, totalling £2,400.

Mr Atta was caught selling the goods at the market on 20 January 2019 by Barking and Dagenham’s Trading Standards Officers and Brand Protection Officers who under the Trademarks Act seized a number of items.

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “This was a very good piece of joined up work between the council and the Brand Protection Representatives to ensure that we’re protecting our residents and other consumers who visit the market.

“We’re always encouraging new businesses and traders to set up shop in Barking and Dagenham, but if they do, they must follow the rules. Any business owner thinking of selling fake goods needs to think again as we won’t allow it and they will be prosecuted.

In total, officers seized a total of 242 items bearing the trademark of Gucci, Stone Island Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss plus others.

Residents can confidentially report concerns about businesses that may be selling counterfeit goods, or email the Trading Standards Team at tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.

This is the community noticeboard for Dagenham East, the Village and Beyond.

Read about past events, and what's going on.

Got something to add? Then let us know. Email claire.brewin@lbbd.gov.uk