Barking and Dagenham, a borough in East London, has witnessed a significant population surge over the past decade, with an increase of 33,000 residents, marking a growth rate of 17.7%. This rapid expansion has dramatically changed the landscape. It now has the highest percentage of under-fives in England and Wales. Children up to 15 years of age account for 26% of the borough’s population. That’s the equivalent of one out of four residents being a kid!
Yet Barking and Dagenham’s booming demographic belies its significant economic struggles. The local authority is currently crushed by a debt that exceeds £1 billion. Only 17% of its total funding is made up by the council tax contributions it receives directly from residents. 2024 estimates show that almost 24% of the borough’s people make less than the living wage. This statistic paints a pretty grim picture of our current economy.
New housing development has not been offset by an equal capital or operating expansion in supportive facilities for families. On the ground, local community leaders are raising alarm. They very much need to be better resourced, so they can help an increasing base of young families.
Dana Benes, a refugee from Iraq, has dedicated the past ten years to volunteering in Barking and Dagenham, particularly focusing on children’s programs. She begins by drawing attention to the very real issues that local families are contending with all over the borough.
“It’s one of the most deprived boroughs in the country,” – Dana Benes
Benes reflected on her trip to Barking and Dagenham.
“I’m from Iraq and I came here in 1990 and I felt that Barking and Dagenham supported me. I still feel like a guest, you know? I want to give back as much as I can to the community which has supported me – and I’m sure most people are similar to how I feel.” – Dana Benes
Benes began her work with the community by holding singing workshops for kids. This effort eventually grew into additional outreach programs such as Tots n Tunes. Karen Quaye, a fellow community member, noted that initiatives like these have helped foster connections among families in the area.
Barking and Dagenham is one of the fastest-growing boroughs in London. If Childress hopes to improve the quality of life for all its residents, particularly for its overwhelming majority of youth, the community needs to address its economic shortcomings. Local leaders are urged to consider comprehensive strategies that will integrate housing development with essential services to support families effectively.
