Alongside local MPs and the council they will help produce a long-term plan for improving areas of Barking and Dagenham, reports James Cracknell
Applications are now open for the role of two chairs who will help “shape the vision” of new government-funded neighbourhood boards for two parts of Barking and Dagenham.
Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside (within Mayesbrook and Eastbury wards in Barking), plus Central Park and Frizlands Lane (within Heath ward in Dagenham), were both named in March as being among 40 areas around the country chosen to receive £20million each in government cash through its Pride in Place Programme, with Barking and Dagenham being one of three London boroughs to have two different areas chosen for the scheme.
For each area the funding will be spread over a decade-long period, meaning there will be £2m available for these communities every year between now and 2036.
The programme aims to “strengthen local pride, improve social infrastructure and elevate local voices to shape the future of their area through community‑led regeneration and improvement projects” and will be built around three “broad objectives” which neighbourhoods are expected to consider when identifying priorities and developing long-term plans.
The three objectives are “build stronger communities”, “create thriving places” and “strengthen local voices”.
Delivery of the programme will be led locally through a neighbourhood board for each area, led by an independent chair but working in partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council and local MPs Nesil Caliskan (for Barking) and Margaret Mullane (for Dagenham) to co‑produce a long‑term plan for the area and “ensure that decision‑making is genuinely community‑led”.
This week, applications opened for the neighbourhood board chair roles, with a deadline to apply of Monday, 15th June. Each board will have between six and ten members. Preferably, the new chairs will live and/or work in one of the areas.
People wishing to put themselves forward as chairs or Board members should prepare a CV and statement of up to 1,000 words setting out their involvement with the relevant area and why they would make a good chair or board member.
Council leader Dominic Twomey said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for residents to get their voices heard and make sure transformative funding is spent on the things they want to see.
“We want people from all walks of life applying for these roles, so we get a range of opinions – these are the places you live, work and play in. We want you to guide us on how to make them better.
“This is what makes this project so exciting, putting power into the hands of our residents and letting their views lead the way – I can’t wait for these boards to get started and the ideas coming in. It starts here.”
The council is also seeking residents’ input into changing the boundaries of the two areas, to include larger neighbourhoods. The Central Park and Frizlands Lane area in Dagenham could be extended to include all the streets and buildings around Fiddlers’ Junction as the council says it is “an important local meeting place and part of everyday community life”.
The council also wants the Mayesbrook and Rippleside area extended to include the rest of Mayesbrook Park, Barking Hospital and Hedgecocks Centre, and Eastbury Manor House.
Barking MP Nesil Caliskan said: “I am forming a Pride in Place board made up of local residents and community leaders to draw up plans for the funding to give to government. We are calling for all interested to apply to be either a board member or the chair.”
Dagenham and Rainham MP Margaret Mullane added: “I am overjoyed to have secured £20m of long-term funding for the Heath Ward area through Labour’s Pride in Place programme – £2m every year for the next decade.
“The funding could support a wide range of local priorities from neighbourhood events to revitalising our high streets and, most importantly, it will be up to people here in our community to help shape how it’s used.”
For more information about the application process:
Visit lbbd.gov.uk/news/2026/residents-and-business-owners-asked-join-neighbourhood-boards
