Support me to achieve my potential

6. MY NEIGHBOURHOOD WILL BE A PLACE I’M PROUD TO CALL HOME

The vision

Every resident deserves to live in a safe, good quality and well-maintained home. We see ourselves living in Thames Ward into the future.

Which means:

• We want to see clear, consistent management of housing where we live, so any complaints we have with our houses are always taken seriously and acted upon quickly. • We want new housing to be high quality and sustainable, without corners being cut to save costs. • As well as newly built houses, it’s important to us that existing areas are invested in with quality refurbishments of housing and investment in infrastructure. • We need to know for sure that we can access housing that is genuinely affordable, and that we won’t be ‘pushed out’ of the area as more people move in and it becomes more expensive. • Many of us love the character of the area –both Thames View and Riverside have a close-knit feel which is peaceful. We want newly built houses designed to reflect these characteristics.

BRL will help create change through:

• Working with residents to define community benefit in relation to the Barking Riverside

Community Interest Company • Promote a new good management agreement signed by all housing management companies at Barking Riverside • Build affordable homes • Working with residents, owners and managers of housing across the Barking

Riverside estate to promote fire safety • The BRL estate management team working closely with residents and incorporating with the new Community Interest Company • Working with the Council and other community groups to take action on fly tipping and litter across the ward

Short term indicators of change:

• Number of housing managers signing up to good management agreements • Number of new affordable homes • Satisfaction with estate management

Long term indicators of change

Fewer residents will: • Live in overcrowded households • Complain about noise • Report fly tipping • Complain about estate management

‘I’D LIKE TO SEE A LOCAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR ADULTS WITH EVENING COURSES- AT THE MOMENT YOU HAVE TO GO TO BARKING.’

“I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES TO GO TO IN PERSON NOT JUST HAVE EVERYTHING ONLINE”

“FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THAMES WARD TO ENSURE THEY GIVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS WOULD BE GIVEN TO KIDS IF THEY WERE LIVING IN RICHMOND OR TEDDINGTON…” “OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION FOR EXAMPLE WHEN THEY LEAVE SCHOOL, JOB SCHEMES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA…”