Building Communities:Newham’s Community NeighbourhoodsA journey to where we are now

Since October 2013 Newham’s Community Neighbourhood teams have been bringing local people together through events like our 50th anniversary garden parties and our community clean up day events.

Community Neighbourhoods are at the heart of Newham Council. We engage with residents of all ages from birth to more than a hundred, from hosting coffee mornings for elderly residents to handing out Rugby World Cup tickets to our most deserving community groups.

Our residents are our greatest asset and we will continue to deliver engaging activities and events for everyone. The extension of library opening times shows our commitment to maximising community assets for a broad range of community benefits.

A foreword from Councillor Ken Clark, cabinet member for building communities, public affairs, planning and regeneration

First Avenue Community Garden is Plaistow’s flagship project. Residents worked in consultation with local schools, community groups with the support of community neighbourhoods, the British Heart Foundation and Groundwork London to transform an area of derelict land. They created an outdoor space which residents can use to relax, exercise and even grow their own vegetables.

First Avenue

Contact Plaistow Community Neighbourhoodat North Street, London E13 9HL or on 020 3373 0859.

Councillor Forhad Hussain is the lead community councillor for Plaistow.

04 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

Newham’s streets, green spaces and gardens are as important to us as they are to our residents. Over 450 people attended one of our clean up days in Manor Park. From Forest Gate to Stratford, residents and volunteers have given their time to improve outdoor spaces across the borough. This level of community spirit shows why Newham is a place where people choose to live, work and stay.

Street Connections brought communities together with the common aim of improving the appearance of roads and gardens. By clearing front gardens and running workshops on building and planting hanging baskets, the Community Neighbourhoods team,

along with councillors, worked with residents to restore pride in their streets. Joining up with Adult Social Care link workers meant that any residents needing additional support received it. Volunteers from activeNewham were also on hand to help with the task.

Street Connections

Environmental

Environmental

The Gandhi Chaplin Memorial Garden is a community garden that has been transformed from a wasteland to a beautiful little oasis. This was truly a community led venture as flower beds were planted by residents and pupils from Rokeby School designed the mosaics. A time capsule was buried in the garden which contained artwork and letters from local children.

The garden was opened to the public on 20 May 2015 by Oona Chaplin, Charlie’s grand-daughter.

Gandhi Chaplin Memorial Garden

Contact Custom House & Canning Town Community Neighbourhoodat 103 Barking Road, London E16 4HQ or on 020 3373 0854.

Councillor Idris Ibrahim is the lead community councillor for Custom House & Canning Town.

06 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

Our teams work with link workers from Adult Social Care to deliver activities which will engage residents of all ages. From Christmas lantern parades to growing sunflowers we want our residents to build their community together.

Community neighbourhoods have 19 buildings that we use to deliver events, activities, courses and classes. From extending the opening hours of our libraries, to refurbishing buildings, such as the Jack Cornwell Centre or Katherine Road Community Centre, we are determined to ensure that Newham residents have access to quality local facilities.

In December 2014 we delivered more than 3,200 Christmas hampers to the most vulnerable residents in Newham. Donations were gratefully received from a number of partners, including the Aspers Good Causes Fund.

Community buildings

Hampers

Community outreach

Pier Parade Market was established in North Woolwich in July 2014 after a group of residents approached the Community Neighbourhood team. A steering group was formed, consisting of Beckton and Royal Docks Community Neighbourhood, the local lead Councillor and community activists. Stalls were allocated to local residents and goods on sale included homemade jewellery, fruit and veg, fashion designed by local people, hot food and cakes. The market was immediately very popular as local residents could purchase goods not normally on offer in the area. Pier Parade Market is now managed by a committee and runs on the last Saturday of the month.

Contact Beckton & Royal Docks Community Neighbourhoodat 1 Kingsford Way, London E6 5JQ or on 020 3373 0853.

Pier Parade Market

Councillor Ayesha Chowdhury and Councillor Patrick Murphy are the community lead councillors for Beckton & Royal Docks.

Community outreach

08 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

When Newham introduced wi-fi into local libraries it seemed only sensible to help residents become more internet savvy. Barclays Digital Eagles staff delivered a series of sessions to make people aware of internet scams and ways that they could stay safe online.

Coffee mornings are run across the borough to bring residents together and share information on activities happening in their local neighbourhood.

Barclays Digital Eagles

Coffee mornings

Every month Stratford Town Hall becomes a ballroom as over 200 people come along to the monthly tea dance. Free dance lessons and an opportunity for residents to catch up over tea, a tango and some cake mean that this remains a popular event.

Tea Dances

Contact Stratford & West Ham Community Neighbourhoodat 3 The Grove, London E15 1EL or on 020 3373 0826.

Councillor Mas Patel is the community lead councillor for Stratford & West Ham.

Community outreach

10 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

Providing opportunities for families to enjoy their local area is one of the key aims of community neighbourhoods. The team work with partners to deliver numerous activities, such as the Open Book Theatre Company who delivered live performances of the Jungle Book and Wind in the Willows.

Every month libraries across Newham offer regular sessions to help residents with specific needs and also to engage with others from their neighbourhood. We provide innovative and interactive sessions such as the Murder Mystery Night in Plaistow.

Performances in libraries

Play Streets close streets to traffic so children can play outdoors. The first event was held in Forest Gate in January 2015. Subsequent Play Streets have proved very popular with 120 residents attending one event in Plaistow alone.

Play Streets

Families and events

The first Forest Gate Arts Trail took place in July and August 2015. Over 35 local artists exhibited in 23 venues within the neighbourhood. The varied art forms of music, sculpture, dance, painting and drawing brought together a wide range of local stakeholders who were keen to promote the arts.

Arts Trail

Contact Forest Gate Community Neighbourhoodat 6-8 Woodgrange Road, London E7 0QH or on 020 3373 0856.

Councillor Rachel Tripp is the community lead councillor for Forest Gate.

Families and events

12 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

In 1965 Newham was created. To celebrate this, garden parties were held across the borough in 2015.

50th anniversary parties

On 1 August 2015 Manor Park Community Neighbourhood held its 50th anniversary party. Following the format of an afternoon tea, the team invited community group members from across the neighbourhood to attend. Over 150 people came along and enjoyed the custom made anniversary cake and the Frank Sinatra tribute act.

50th Anniversary Tea Party

Contact Manor Park Community Neighbourhoodat 685-693 Romford Road, London, E12 5AD or on 020 3373 0858.

Councillor Salim Patel is the community lead councillor for Manor Park.

14 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

The first Green Street Festival was held on 31 August 2015. In spite of some typical bank holiday weather over 200 people took part in the festival procession. Nearly 1,900 residents attended the festival which was held in Queens Market. Forest Gate held its festival in July with over 5,000 visitors enjoying the art workshops, food stalls and crafts on offer.

Festivals

Families and events

The first Green Street Market Games took place in Queens Market in August 2014. Working with a number of partners from the public and private sectors the team was keen to deliver an exciting community event. Market Games provide children and young people from the age of nine the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe environment. Participants benefit from expert coaching and have been able to try sports like BMX biking, wheelchair basketball, rowing and table tennis.

Market Games

Contact Green Street Community Neighbourhoodat 337-341 Green Street, London E13 9AR or on 020 3373 0857

Councillor Hanif Abdulmuhit is the community lead councillor for Green Street.

16 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

Ensuring our residents have opportunities to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle is a priority for community neighbourhoods. Active centres are run across the borough and they hold dance sessions, healthy eating classes, Zumba and chair based exercise.

This initiative is aimed at helping Newham residents over the age of 50 live an active and healthy lifestyle.

Active Minds Café is a borough wide initiative which brings together mental health agencies.

Get Active Get Healthy Active Minds Café

More than 100 Newham youngsters were bowled over when we took them to meet Ravi Bopara and other sporting heroes at Ravi’s benefit match, held at Essex County Cricket Club in Chelmsford.

Newham Cricket

Health and wellbeing

The annual Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest reading promotion for children aged four to eleven. Across the neighbourhoods, children visited their libraries to take part. The biggest turnout was in East Ham with over 700 children participating. They celebrated completing the challenge at a finishers event in September 2015.

Summer Reading Challenge

Contact East Ham Community Neighbourhoodat 328 Barking Road, London E6 2RT or on 020 3373 0827.

Health and wellbeing

Councillor Canon Ann Easter is the community lead councillor for East Ham.

18 – Building Communities: Newham’s Community Neighbourhoods

Newham’s libraries are now open for longerBeckton Globe1 Kingsford Way, London E6 5JQ020 3373 0853Monday-Saturday 10.30am-8pmSunday Closed

East Ham328 Barking Road, London E6 2RT020 3373 0827Monday-Friday 9am-8pmSaturday 9.30am-8pmSunday Closed

Green Street337-341 Green Street, London E13 9AR020 3373 0857Monday-Saturday 10.30am-8pmSunday Closed

Stratford3 The Grove, London E15 1EL020 3373 0826Monday-Saturday 9.30am-8pmSunday 1pm-5pm

Canning Town103 Barking Road, London E16 4HQ020 3373 0854Monday-Saturday 10.30am-8pmSunday Closed

Custom HousePrince Regent Lane, London E16 3JJ020 333 0855Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 9.30am-5.30pmThursday 1pm-8pmWednesday, Friday, Sunday Closed

Forest Gate6-8 Woodgrange Road, London E7 0QH020 3373 0856Monday-Saturday 10.30am-8pmSunday Closed

Manor Park685-693 Romford Road, London, E12 5AD020 3373 0858Monday-Saturday 10.30am-8pmSunday Closed

PlaistowNorth Street, London E13 9HL020 3373 0859Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 9.30am-5.30pmThursday 1pm-8pmWednesday, Friday, Sunday Closed

North Woolwich5 Pier Parade, London E16 2LJ020 3373 0843Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 9.30am-5.30pmThursday 1pm-8pmWednesday, Friday, Sunday Closed

You can email the Community Neighbourhoods team on community.neighbourhoods@newham.gov.uk if you want to find out more about what’s happening in your neighbourhood

Helping residents to develop skills and gain new abilities is part of the community neighbourhoods remit. Through our libraries and community centres we deliver numerous courses from Knit and Natter to Spanish, there is something for everyone.

English conversation clubs have been introduced across Newham. Given the diverse neighbourhoods the borough has, it’s paramount to help people overcome potential language barriers.

Working with University College London, Stratford Library designed a six week summer holiday programme to introduce young people to coding and design. Within 48 hours all of the allocated spaces were full!

Clubs for everyone

Learning and development

Learning and development

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