Why does working in Barking and Dagenham interest you?
When I first visited Barking and Dagenham, I got to see first hand the indefinite potential within the borough. It was amazing to see all the generations and phases of architecture right next to each other. There were historical monuments, modern buildings and even construction all on the same street – and it made me realise that there’s just something beautiful about the way they co-exist within the borough.
What are your ambitions for the borough?
I would love to see a network of residents within the borough really build an active community that participate and work together to make the decisions and changes they want to see. There is so much diversity and culture within the borough so I really want to see the fresh ideas they bring to the table.
What role does the community have in realising that ambition?
The community is everything!
I have seen a small glimpse of the community interacting with workshops hosted by local organisations and it was amazing to see the turnout from the residents. They were openly discussing their opinions and how they wanted better for the borough and now all that’s left is for the microphone to be handed to them!
