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Welcome the spring season with a fun-filled weekend of free tennis on Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 April at both Barking Park and Central Park!
Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, our FREE Open Day is the perfect chance to get on court and enjoy a taster coaching session:
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Junior Coaching: a fun and engaging introduction to tennis for children, using smaller rackets and lower-bouncing balls to build skills and confidence.
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Adult Coaching: perfect for beginners or those getting back into tennis, with a friendly coaching team to help you improve your game.
Book your space today at Barking Park and/or Central Park (Dagenham).
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We’re excited to share a series of family friendly events and exhibitions to celebrate spring and Easter.
Two of Barking and Dagenham's cultural sites are reopening their doors just in time for the season. Eastbury Manor House, is reopening after being closed for winter maintenance works and the Women’s Museum, will once again welcome visitors from Wednesday 12 April.
Residents can look forward to a range of free exciting exhibitions and events including:
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Sunday 30 March – Sunday 27 April: ‘Road Movie’ exhibition, Eastbury Manor House, open during house opening hours.
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Tuesday 8 - Saturday 19 April: Museum Hunt, Valence House, 10am – 4pm
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Saturday 12 April: Tender Women exhibition, Women’s Museum, 11am – 4pm.
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Wednesday 16 April: Easter Farm, Valence House, 11am – 4pm (SEND quiet hour is 10am – 11am, and requires booking)
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Sunday 20 April: Eastbury Egg Hunt, Eastbury Manor House, 11am-3pm
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Don't forget about our Easter HAF programme. The exciting line up of activities includes sports, arts, and educational workshops, all designed to keep the kids active and entertained. Every activity will provide a healthy hot meal.
These activities are a great way for the kids to learn new skills, stay active, and have fun whilst making new friends in a safe environment. Activities are available for those aged 5-16.
The HAF programme is FREE for those eligible for free school meals, with affordable places available for those who aren’t.
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During the Easter holidays, many restaurants and cafes offer affordable meals for kids and families 🍽️. For example:
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Beefeater and Brewers Fayre: Two kids eat for free with 1 adult breakfast
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Asda cafes: Kids eat for £1 all day, every day at Asda cafes, with no adult spend required
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Prezzos - Kids get a free, three course meal with one paying adult
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Various cafes/restaurants: Kids eat free when adults buy a main meal 🥳
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Earlier today we launched our pioneering ‘Good Food Action Plan’. The plan sets out how we’re going to improve residents’ access to healthy, sustainable food.
At a launch event at a Dagenham farm earlier, we set out how we’re going to:
- Improve young people’s access to inspiring food education,
- Increase the supply of sustainable food in B&D,
- Develop B&D’s local food economy,
- Improve access to healthy food that reflects the borough’s diversity,
- Raise awareness of the value of good food.
We’ve also signed up to the London Food Purchasing Commitment, which will see us do all we can to improve the sustainability of food we purchase.
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Join us on Wednesday 30 April, 11am – 2pm for a huge construction jobs fair!
We’ll have live vacancies, apprenticeship opportunities, careers advice and trade specific workshops on offer!
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We want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has been taking part in community litter picks during this year's Great British Spring Clean.
We know that lots of you take real pride in your local area. By working together, we can make Barking and Dagenham a cleaner, greener place to live, for us and for future generations.
If you'd like to get involved, we can help you to organise a clean-up of your own. We’ll work with you and provide all the equipment you need.
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If your little one is approaching their first birthday, they're now highly curious and ready to explore! At 9-12 months, tuning into their interests and engaging them in playful activities can help develop their communication and social skills.
Make mealtimes a playful experience by chatting with your baby about food, tastes, textures and utensils. See how here! You can also play simple games, like pretending a banana is a phone, which will add fun and build language skills as you “talk” to each other.
If you're looking for extra support as a mum, dad or partner with mental health and wellbeing, confidence and empowerment, see below:
Mums Matter (for mum’s wellbeing 0-3) Mums Matter - Our Hubs BD
Support for Dads and Partners: Support for Dads and Partners - Our Hubs BD
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Good Egg Safety are running FREE child car seat checking events:
📅Thursday 3 April
📍Morrisons Car Park, Becontree Heath, Wood Lane
📅Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 April
📍Asda Car Park, Merrielands Crescent, Dagenham
🕙All from 10am to 2pm
Two thirds of child seats that Good Egg Safety check across the UK are fitted incorrectly. Unfortunately, errors on seats are very easily made, but they can be fixed easily.
Their trained safety advisors can help you ensure your child is safely strapped in. It only takes 5 minutes to get your car seat checked.
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Yesterday afternoon (1 April) local artist Ruqaiya Asim received the Borough Recognition Award from the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Councillor Moin Quadri, Deputy Leader, Councillor Saima Ashraf and Chief Executive Fiona Taylor.
Ruqaiya, who is sight impaired, was nominated for the award by Cllr Ashraf for not only her incredible talent which has received widespread recognition, but also her determination to challenge preconceptions about who can create and experience art.
In 2024, Ruqaiya won the People's Choice Award for her first ever exhibited piece - Communication with my Guide Dog - in the Cass Art Prize, competing against experienced professionals. Ruqaiya, her story and her art has also been featured on CNN and ITV News - have a read and watch.
We'd like to say a huge congratulations to Ruqaiya and we're looking forward to seeing more of her incredible work.
Give Ruqaiya a follow on Instagram.
On Monday (31 March), we marked the start of Autism Acceptance Week by raising a flag at Barking Town Hall. The week aims to raise awareness, understanding, and acceptance of autism as well as celebrating the uniqueness of individuals. It also educates the public about the challenges and strengths of those on the autism spectrum.
It is a time for communities to come together in support of individuals with autism and their families, advocating for acceptance and equal opportunities.
Throughout the week local charity, Sycamore Trust, will be running events and activities to get involved in, find out more here.
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We're recruiting volunteers to support children in care, aged 10 to 18, with a befriending and mentoring scheme.
The initiative offers children in care an opportunity to engage in positive activities to boost confidence and self-esteem. The role would include accompanying them to leisure activities, helping them to try new things, sharing experiences, and spending quality time together.
Find out more by emailing tracey.clarke@lbbd.gov.uk
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Join us for World Health Day at John Smith House, Barking, on Monday, 7 April from 1-5pm. This exciting event, organised in conjunction with Future M.O.L.D.S and the GP surgery at John Smith House, will feature a variety of activities including boxing, stone painting, first aid, dance, a fashion show, spoken word DJ, and health talks.
Enjoy free food, cupcake decorating, healthy recipes, and a lash workshop. We are also recruiting Youth Health Ambassadors and hosting health-themed competitions with around 30 health partners joining us.
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The Community Music Service, in collaboration with Soul and Sound, Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance, and Write Back, is hosting the 'Food for the Soul' workshop. This four-day event, from April 14-17, 12am to 4pm, at the Vibe in Dagenham, features music, dance, and writing.
Free for children on benefits-related free school meals, and £5 per day for others.
Email Elizabeth.kitto@lbbd.gov.uk to register now - hurry, spaces are filling up!
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Following a Controlled Parking Zone consultation that took place last year, a new CPZ is to be installed in roads in Mayesbrook and Parsloes Wards. As of today (2 April), if you live in that part of the borough, you should be receiving a letter letting you know of the outcome. To see if your road is to be impacted, you can check on our website.
The letter will include information on:
Install start date - 29 April
Permit applications open - 27 May
Install end date - 30 May
Go live date - 2 June
As part of the consultation, we have also considered issues such as safety, congestion, air pollution and the view from the emergency services.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Parking Engagement Team on 020 3307 4967.
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The month of Ramadan has drawn to a close and Muslims across the UK and around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr. We hope everyone celebrating had a prosperous and joyful time with your loved ones.
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Everyone Active are asking users to share their thoughts on extended hours at Abbey Leisure Centre during Ramadan. They want to know if the change in hours were useful to help inform future changes. Take the survey.
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