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We’ve been made aware of people standing on and running across frozen lakes in our borough.
Never step on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers, as thick-looking ice can be dangerously thin further out.
It's not worth the risk. Be extra careful and keep dogs on leads in these areas.
Take a look at the water safety advice set out on the London Fire Brigade’s website.
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If keeping the garden tidy is one of your New Year’s resolutions, then we’ve got just the thing to give you a helping hand!
Sign up to our Green Garden Waste service! It collects and recycles flowers, weeds, leaves, grass cuttings, twigs and hedge trimmings and costs £50 for the year.
And if you sign up before Valentine’s Day on Friday 14 February, you’ll be able to make the most of 19 fortnightly collections between March and December.
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We’re looking to get residents’ views on the plans for a new look Dagenham Heathway!
We want your input on things like:
🚴 Cycleways and street improvements
🪴 New planters
🏢 Defining the Heathway’s identity
A pop-up event will be taking place on Saturday 25 January, 10am – 4pm at Heathway station, and there will be drop in events at the Open Shop in the shopping centre, Monday 27 to Friday 31 January.
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 New Selective Licensing Scheme to launch to improve private housing standards
Everyone in Barking and Dagenham deserves to live in a safe and good quality home. That’s why we have brought in two property licensing schemes so that we can make sure landlords are looking after their properties and tenants.
This means that from 6 April this year, all landlords in the borough must have a licence to rent out their properties, ensuring homes are safe and well-maintained.
Through previous schemes, we have
- Inspected 8,000 properties
- Identified hazards in over 50%
- Taken action on these properties to improve conditions
Also, our new Additional Licensing Scheme came into force earlier this month (9 January 2025). This means smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), housing three or four people and currently outside the scope of mandatory licensing, must now also be licensed.
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The Money Charity will be hosting free Financial Wellbeing and Mind Your Money Workshops in January and February.
The Money Charity provides education advice and guidance to people of all ages helping them to manage their money well and increase financial wellbeing. According to the Money Charity 28% of UK adults have low confidence around managing their money. 14.2 million UK adults have low financial resilience (including problem debt, low or erratic income or low savings).
Residents are invited to pop into sessions which will be held at Dagenham Community Hub, 10.30am – 12.30pm, on:
- Thursday 30 January
- Thursday 6 February
- Thursday 13 February
Refreshments will be available and residents will also be able to pick up a Free Managing Your Money booklet.
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Wraparound childcare has expanded to support before and after school care for primary school children during term time, running until 6pm or later. This service supports working parents and carers by offering reliable childcare outside regular school hours.
Wraparound care includes Breakfast and After School clubs, primarily located in schools or within the community for primary-aged children.
Speak to your child’s school to see if they offer these clubs, if they don’t, they can direct you to the nearest club.
If you’re on Universal Credit, you can use your childcare element to help cover the costs. Working parents can also benefit from Tax-Free Childcare.
Find out everything you need to know here and if you have any questions, email the Family Information Service: fis@lbbd.gov.uk
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Has your child missed their flu vaccination?
Vaccination UK will be running a number of local flu vaccine clinics across the borough for all school-aged children up to Monday 31 March 2025, including all two and three year-olds and those clinically at-risk from six months - 19 years.
The flu vaccine is your best defence against severe illness, hospitalisation, and missed work or school.
You can book your child an appointment for their flu vaccination at a local community clinic.
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Do you have a son or daughter aged 13 to 18 who's interested in electronic music? Our Community Music Service is looking for 12 young people from the borough to join a new 10-week music programme.
The group will be led by the Guildhall School of Music in Barking and Dagenham College, and each participant will create at least one track in the cutting-edge BD College studio. To express your interest, please email elizabeth.kitto@lbbd.gov.uk
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Whether you’re just starting out in the world of work or looking for a new challenge, there could be something for you at our upcoming Apprenticeships Jobs Fair!
Taking place on Tuesday 11 February, 10am - 12pm at the Barking Learning Centre.
There’s going to be live vacancies on the day and plenty of careers advice available!
For more info on local jobs, click here.
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The Step Up to Social Work programme is a 15-month training programme where you will receive hands-on experience of working in real-life social work teams. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, enabling you to apply to register and practise as a social worker.
The programme covers:
- The full cost of your university tuition fees on the programme
- A tax-free bursary of £21,995 paid over the duration of the programme to support you during your training.
The programme will start in January 2026 and runs until March 2027.
Applications open on Monday 17 February 2025. Find out more about entry criteria and how to register your interest here.
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Come along to a FREE family fun day at Abbey Leisure Centre on Saturday 25 January, 10am – 4pm.
Team GB sprinter and television personality Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will be the star attraction at the family open day in Barking this weekend, showcasing a newly renovated fitness facility.
Visitors can enjoy free access to the gym facilities, complimentary personal training sessions in both the main and women-only gyms, family swimming sessions, and children's entertainment including face painting and balloon modelling.
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Join us as we mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday 27 January, 4pm – 5pm outside Barking Town Hall. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp.
Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember and reflect on those murdered under Nazi persecution and the genocides that have sadly followed.
There’ll be an opportunity to hear prayers, participate in a minute’s silence, raise the Holocaust Memorial Day flag and observe the lighting of lanterns.
We hope to see you there.
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Tonight (Wednesday 22 January) is Clean Air Night and the aim for this year is to make everyone aware how burning wood can harm your health and the environment.
Recent evidence shows that air pollution from wood burning contains fine particle air pollution (PM2.5), which enters your bloodstream when inhaled and can cause heart and lung disease, diabetes, and dementia.
If you or someone you know has a wood burner, why don't you head to the Clean Air Night website to find out more.
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, which is bringing jobs and investment to the local area, wants to get residents more involved in its work. They've created a short survey for residents to give their opinions and ideas.
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We're aware that there have been several incidents in the Marks Gate area of the borough that have made residents concerned.
As part of our joint work with Barking & Dagenham Police, we're determined to address this.
Over the next few weeks, we have a range of different activities taking place.
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A by-election for Whalebone Ward is taking place on Thursday 20 February. If you live in the Whalebone ward, please make sure you vote.
Key dates to remember
Tuesday 4 February: Last day to register to vote - register here.
Wednesday 5 February, by 5pm: Deadline for applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes. Deadline for amendments or cancellations of current proxy and postal proxy vote arrangements.
If you're unable to vote at your polling station on polling day, you can also vote by post or proxy, read more here.
Wednesday 12 February, by 5pm: Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy at this election. Find out more about having someone vote on your behalf.
Thursday 20 February: Polling day! Polls are open from 7am to 10pm. Find your polling station here.
Remember you NEED to bring valid photo ID to vote! Check if your ID will be accepted here.
If you don’t have valid photo ID, you’ll need a Voter Authority Certificate Need one? Apply here.
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Count birds and make a difference! Join the RSPB’s Great Big Birdwatch this year - the world's largest garden wildlife survey.
All you have to do is download your free guide, spend an hour watching the birds in your patch, (this could be in your garden or even your local park!) between 24 - 26 January, and help build a picture of how garden birds are faring.
Don’t forget to submit your results by Sunday 19 February.
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Please remember to book in advance if you’re visiting in a van or towing a trailer. You also need to book if you take DIY waste in any vehicle.
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