We believe that the only way to serve our residents properly is to put community into the heart of everything we do, giving people the opportunity to engage in decision making and work with us in partnership. Since 2014, we have:

✔ Created BDCAN, a network of more than 60 community and faith groups who came together to provide support for more than 2,000 people during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

✔ Celebrating all of our community, from Black History Month, to our very own float at London Pride.

✔Developed the Good Neighbour Guide for all B&D households, bringing together the community to ask what they wanted to see from their neighbours and outlining a set of guidelines for neighbourly behaviour.

✔ Become the first council to implement a Gender Equality Charter, signing up over 150 local businesses, community organisations, schools and other partners to commit to tackle discrimination.

✔ Celebrating 100 years of the Becontree Estate, as well as hosting the Becontree Forever Festival in Parsloes Park, where over 18,000 people joined us!

✔ Awarding over £270,000 to local community groups through the Equality and Diversity Fund, as well as £60,000 through the Barking and Dagenham Lottery.

✔Organised the hugely popular Summer of Festivals, showcasing local talent in over 10 free events across the borough and attracting over 3,000 people each year.

✔Celebrated the diversity of our borough with the Donate a flag scheme, where members of the community can apply to have a flag of their choosing flown outside Barking Town Hall.