Barking and Dagenham Council raises £28,700 to help people over Christmas

Donations went to isolated residents, food banks, and care homes (credit: LBBD)

Barking and Dagenham Council has confirmed it raised nearly £29,000 to support those affected by the coronavirus pandemic over Christmas.

Their “Christmas Cheer” campaign saw the council work with local companies and voluntary organisations to put a smile on people’s faces and to help those who needed it most.

Barking and Dagenham Council raised £28,700 thanks to donations from residents, council staff, local councillors, and organisations such as West Ham United Football Club, Hackman Capital, McLaren Developers, as well as Mulalley Construction.

The money was used to support isolated and sheltered residents, food banks, and care homes which put on Christmas activities over the festive period.

The council also received 1,400 donated gifts from residents in the borough and organisations including Time 107.5FM, West Ham United Football Club, Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club, Banford Rugby Club and The Cornerhouse Project.

The gifts were given to homeless shelters, community food clubs and local nurseries in time for Christmas.

Cllr Darren Rodwell thanked everyone who made a donation (credit: LBBD)

Food hampers, which included a craft making kit or food vouchers, were also distributed in partnership with the Barking and Dagenham Trading Partnership to children who go to schools in the borough and receive free school meals.

Barking and Dagenham Council also held online festive events over the Christmas period, including the family fun event “Barking Mad about Christmas” and a festive singalong and carol service in partnership with local churches in Dagenham.

Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Councillor Darren Rodwell, said: “Whether you are of faith or not, Christmas is about getting together with loved ones was obviously things were very different this time.

“It goes without saying, 2020 was a difficult year, but together as a community we brought Christmas Cheer to Barking and Dagenham. To everyone who got involved and made a donation, I thank you on behalf of Council. Thanks to you, the tough situation facing many people was a little bit better than it would otherwise have been.”

Deputy leader and cabinet member for community leadership and engagement, Councillor Saima Ashraf, said: “Barking and Dagenham has a proud tradition of community spirit, and of people, no matter how little they have, helping each other out and I want to thank everyone for their tremendous generosity.

“I’m so proud to live in a borough where we look out for one another and help those who might go without.”

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM