Looking for fun, healthy, and exciting things to do during the winter holidays? Barking and Dagenhamâs Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is here! From sports camps and dance workshops to creative arts and adventure activities, thereâs something for every child and young person. Each session includes a healthy lunch, so you can enjoy a great day out while staying active and nourished. đ Dates: Monday 22 December â Tuesday 30 DecemberđŻ Age Groups: 4 to 16 yearsđ Venues: Across Barking and Dagenham â Book your place now: https://lbbd.gov.uk/HAF Spaces are limited – donât miss out! Â
Share a book. Take a book. Love the planet
đ Introducing The Book Exchange! đShare a book. Take a book. Love the planet. đ Got a book youâve finished reading? Leave it on our Book Exchange shelf and pick up a new story to enjoy – for free! By swapping books, youâre not just sharing stories – youâre helping the environment: â Reducing wasteâ Cutting down on paper useâ Giving books a second life Find a Book Exchange shelf at: đ Dagenham Library and Family Hub đ Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub đ Valence Library Community Hub đ Thames Community Hub đ Chadwell Heath & Whalebone Community Hub đ Marks Gate Community and Family Hub đ Discovery Centre, Eastbrookend Country Park Letâs read, share, and recycle together! đą More information at https://libraries.lbbd.gov.uk/digital-content/libraries/book-exchange
Future Builders Wanted: Join the Smart City Schools Challenge!
Thames Freeport, in partnership with Young Enterprise, is inviting students aged 12-14 from Barking & Dagenham, Havering, and Thurrock to take part in the Smart City Schools Competition.
đą Stop Loan Sharks is now on WhatsApp!
You can now access support or report illegal money lending quickly and confidentially by messaging the team on 07700 102773. This new service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and all messages are treated in confidence.
Shedlife Opens New Community Space in Barking
Shedlife, a local charity which supports residents experiencing loneliness, opened a new, purpose-built facility at the Thames Community Hub on Friday 26 September. For several years the charity has been supporting residents in the Barking area, and this new facility will allow them to change many more lives. The structure was designed by University of East London students and constructed by Bellway, with funding support from the council. Shed Life, is a resident-led project, they believe that everyone has the right to live a life that allows them to get on with LIFE; good health, independence, friendship, enjoyable social activities and new experiences. They deliver projects that bring people together, specifically residents who are experiencing isolation and loneliness. Shed Life Drop-inevery Wednesday 10am -12pmThames Community Hub, Thames View Estate, Barking, IG11 OLG All welcome,  pop-in and get involved! Shed Life is a friendship network, that look out for each other. It is a safe space to learn and share skills, to build individual confidence and self-advocacy, to contribute to local conversations and to have your voice heard. Shed Life volunteers create new and interesting events and celebrations for their community, and specifically engaging residents who are at risk of being left behind. For full details please visit their website
Black History Month has Arrived
Black History Month runs throughout October celebrating the culture, history and achievements that Black African and Caribbean people have brought to the United Kingdom This year’s theme: Standing Firm in Power and Pride The theme for Black History Month UK 2025 is âStanding Firm in Power and Prideâ, a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that define the Black community across the globe. This year, the theme highlights the profound contributions made by Black people, be they leaders, activists, or pioneers who have shaped history, while also looking towards a future of continued empowerment, unity, and growth. Cllr Sade Bright reflects on Black History Month and what’s ahead – have a watch here. This year’s Hall of Fame is also live on our website. Check it out to meet the people being celebrated for their exceptional achievements and contributions to the borough. Find out more and get involved here.
Join Reading Beez: Buzz into Books – Keep Children Reading with Reading Beez All Year Round
Following the blooming success of this yearâs Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge, we are delighted to keep the reading buzz alive as children head back to school. Reading Beez is back to help young readers – both new and returning – continue their reading journey beyond the summer holidays. Designed for children aged 5 to 13, Reading Beez offers a fun and engaging way to build reading confidence, develop literacy skills, and collect exciting prizes along the way. It is the perfect bridge from summer reading adventures to school learning, ensuring that the love of books and stories keeps growing throughout the year. To join, simply visit your local library or check the Community Hubs Events page for more details. Let us keep the momentum going and make this school year full of reading buzz!
Summer Reading Challenge 2025: A Blooming Success with Story Garden
Weâre delighted to share that this yearâs Summer Reading Challenge, themed Story Garden, has come to a successful close. Children across the borough embraced the joy of reading, exploring stories rooted in nature, growth, and imagination. At our libraries, we welcomed guest authors and highlighted garden-themed books and activities that brought the challenge to life. From storytelling sessions to creative crafts, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Over 200 children completed the main challenge, proudly collecting their certificates and this year we had children involved in the 0-5 Mini Challenge, engaging with books through play and early literacy activities The Story Garden theme encouraged children to nurture their love of reading, helping them grow in confidence and curiosity. A huge well done to all the children who took part, and heartfelt thanks to the families, library staff, and volunteers who helped the challenge flourish. Here’s to keeping the reading momentum going throughout the year! Weâre excited to welcome all young readersânew and returningâback to the start of Reading Beez. Reading Beez is a fun and engaging reading scheme for children aged 5 to 13, designed to help improve reading skills while collecting prizes along the way. Itâs a brilliant way to keep the reading momentum going throughout the year. To take part, simply ask at your local library. You can also find more information on the Community Hubs Events
Letâs Quit Smoking Together this Stoptober
Stoptober is back, and weâre calling on Englandâs smokers to join millions of others who have quit successfully with the campaign. Over 5 million adults in England still smoke. Smoking causes 75,000 deaths a year, making it the biggest cause of preventable illness and death. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. The good news is, if you quit smoking for 28 days, youâre five times more likely to quit for good. Going âcold turkeyâ is still the most common way that people attempt to give up, but quit attempts are successful more often when using quit smoking support. Thatâs why this yearâs Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to quitting this October by exploring the free support available. We want aspiring quitters to know that we have their back and by taking part in Stoptober, they are more likely to succeed. Thereâs a wide range of free quitting tools available, including the NHS Quit Smoking app, the Personal Quit Plan, expert support from local stop smoking services and a Smokefree Facebook support group. There’s also lots of information about aids such as nicotine-free medicines, nicotine replacement therapies and vaping, available at nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking. Together, we can do this. Come and see one of our Stop Smoking advisers and letâs quit together: Wednesday 8th October at Dagenham Library from 11am to 4pm Tuesday 21st October at Barking Learning Centre from 11am to 4pm
đ¨ Library Card Design Competition
Calling all young artists aged 6 to 12! Design the next official Barking & Dagenham Library card based on one of two exciting themes: The Heritage of Barking & Dagenham The Future of Barking & Dagenham Libraries The winning design will be professionally printed and used as the boroughâs library card. Deadline: Friday, 31 October 2025. Submit your artwork to: Universal.External@lbbd.gov.uk Brief Details: Open to children aged 6 to 12. Must be a member of Barking and Dagenham Libraries Not a member? Join Now or visit your local library. Choose one of the two themes: Heritage of Barking & Dagenham or Libraries in the Future. Design must be clear and suitable for printing on a standard card size (86.5 x 54mm). Entries must include child’s full name and parent/guardian’s name, address and contact number. Submit artwork by email to Universal.External@lbbd.gov.uk by Friday, 31 October 2025. Please include child’s full name, age, school, parent/guardian/carer’s name, contact number and full address. Winning design may be adjusted by our in-house design team for print suitability. The winning design will be used on Barking & Dagenham library cards. Complete Terms & Conditions: Library Card Design Competition â 2025 Eligibility: The competition is open to children aged 6 to 12 who live or attend school in the LondonBorough of Barking and Dagenham. Not a member? Join Now or visit your local library. Themes: Entrants are invited to submit one original design based on one of the following themes:⢠The Heritage of Barking & Dagenham⢠Barking & Dagenham Libraries in the Future Design Specifications: Designs should be suitable for a library card the size of a standard bank card: 86.5mm x 54mm (thickness 0.76mm). Keep the artwork simple and bold so it remains legible at small size. Digital or hand-drawn entries are accepted. Adjustments for Print: The in-house Communications and Design team may adjust the winning design to ensure print suitability. Adjustments may include resizing, repositioning, or refining design elements. Submission Details: Entries must include the childâs full name, age and school as well as the parent or guardianâs name, address, and contact phone number. Email entries to: Universal.External@lbbd.gov.uk Deadline and Results: The deadline for submissions is Friday, 31 October 2025. Results will be announced the week beginning Monday, 17 November 2025. Judging: Entries will be judged by a panel. Judging will be based on creativity, relevance to theme, and how well the design works on a small card. Prize: The winning design will be printed and distributed as the official Barking & Dagenham Library card. The winner may be invited to an official launch event. Copyright: The design must be original. By entering, the child and their parent/guardian/carer grant Barking and Dagenham Council permission to reproduce the artwork on library cards and promotional materials. Changes to the Terms & Conditions: Barking and Dagenham Council reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions without prior notice. Further Information: Please email Universal.External@lbbd.gov.uk for any queries.