LBBD Community Hubs
The council is working with partners to develop strong relationships with communities and residents to help address key issues and challenges being faced. In support of this ambition and the desire to put public services at the centre of communities, community hubs have been developed, located in a range of places throughout the borough to help you. These include the Marks Gate Community Hub, Heath Community Hub and Thames View Community Hub at the Sue Bramley Centre:
What are Community Hubs and how may they help you?
Community Hubs are welcoming and safe places that make it easy for residents to talk to someone, find support to help themselves, access services when needed and help to be part of the community.
All community hubs will provide information, advice and support with:
- Jobs, Training and Courses
- Housing and Homelessness
- Money and Debt
- Health and Wellbeing
- General Council Services
- Help getting online
- Events and Activities
Each hub will encompass different and varying aspects of community life, and the plan is for all hubs to provide core information to residents, as well as additional services and support based on local needs.
What services and activities are available?
A range of services and activities are / will be available at all hubs. Among these are:
- Antenatal and postnatal checks
- Talking therapies counselling
- Drop-ins to see the Safer Neighbourhood Team
- Reporting a crime online
- Support to join a Community Food Club
- Help for debt, applying for benefits and / or finding work
- Family play sessions for children aged 0-5 years
- Healthy Lifestyles and many more
Feeling concerned about money
Barking and Dagenham Money aims to help residents with advice on financial support, including debt advice, help with budgeting and information about your options.
The Library of Things…
Why buy when you can borrow? Library of Things has opened in Barking Learning Centre!
It’s a place where you can borrow useful things for your home, projects, and hobbies at affordable prices. So, whether you’re looking for a projector and an ice cream maker for an ultimate movie night in, or a spirit level and a drill for your latest DIY project – this place has got you covered!
And it’s not just money that you’ll be saving. By borrowing instead of buying, you’ll reduce the amount of waste going into landfill and have more room in your cupboards! You’ll find the Library of Things borrowing kiosk on the ground floor of Barking Learning Centre
Booklet: Getting you help & support with the cost of living
If you are finding it difficult making ends meet then please refer to this booklet, which has been delivered to every home in the borough of Barking & Dagenham.
In it you will find information about the support and help the council and its partners can give anyone who is struggling financially. The most important thing is to ask for help!
Food Banks and Food Clubs
What are they and how do they differ?
A food bank is supported by the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and faith groups and a food club by a combination of VCS, faith groups, volunteers and LBBD staff working collaboratively to provide a holistic resident-centred service.
A food bank may provide emergency food parcels to help residents who are temporarily unable to provide for themselves. Some require you to obtain a voucher to receive a food parcel, so you will need to check before you visit. Please see the details below:
Dagenham Food Bank
RCCG House Of Faith Connections., The Beacon, 104 New Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6PE
Dagenham Food Bank – location map
020 8595 0122
Barking Food Bank
Elim Church, 93 Axe St, Barking IG11 7LZ
Barking Food bank – location map
0208 617 0660
A food club provides wrap-around holistic support; whereby, initially, a conversation takes place with residents to discover the reasons behind needing to use the service. Through conversations with residents, staff are able to provide advice and information and help residents access other support services.
The Barking & Dagenham Community Food Clubs are free to use and can provide £20 worth of food each week. Membership is available for one person per household to visit once per week and is valid for three months. The membership provides access to support from a range of services, including finance, health, employment and training / skills. Members may also have access to a shared community garden enabling them to grow their own produce and have opportunities to work on community projects with other residents.
Who is eligible and how to apply?
To qualify for food club membership, you must:
- Be a resident of Barking and Dagenham
- Be on a low income or experiencing financial difficulty
If the criteria are met, you will need to attend one of the food clubs, with proof of address, in order to join. Please note that only one Food Club site may be accessed for the duration of the membership. It is also possible to apply online.
