2025

Inside Thames Life: The architect of social-wellbeing

As many of us do, I started the year with a resolution to give up terrible reality tv and hopefully spend more time reading. This meant cancelling my Netflix subscription and opting for a lighter dose of better-written tv through Disney+ and AppleTV+. Well, a friend recommended the show “Paradise” and if you haven’t watched it yet and don’t want a spoiler probably stop reading. I won’t spoil the storyline too much but it is set in an underground city full of people (chosen to be there), following a so-called doomsday event three years prior.

This blog is named after an episode where one of the characters talks through how she helped design the psychological aspects of the city, coining her role as “the architect of social wellbeing,” one about ensuring that the community don’t just survive but thrive there. It made me think about Barking Riverside. This new town, being designed around me, and I wondered whether the various planners and developers have been walking through similar thought processes. A desire to create a town that isn’t just for surviving but for thriving.

This will be my last written blog for a while in my capacity as Communications Lead, as I head off on maternity leave. As my young family grows once again, I can’t help but think about how living here makes me feel. I love walking around and knowing that I’m likely to see a familiar face. Living around people you know provides a feeling of safety and community. In my opinion, this isn’t the result of high-density living but a major effort of community organisations to bring people together, to spark dialogue between the diverse population and to bring fun to a place that can sometimes feel like a ghost town.

I also love having access to the River Thames. It makes such a difference walking along the shoreline and experiencing nature amongst the back drop of the development. Travelling on the Uberboat has also been an easy way for my family of four to get to Central London without the daunting tube stations and stairs. It’s meant lovely mornings, with a hot drink in hand, watching swans race against us, as my kids are mesmerised by their speed. A planning decision I applaud and am grateful for. However, there are many times where I wish I didn’t need to travel far to engage with interactive spaces.

Thinking of the future of my family and as the architect of social well-being for my own life, it’s important in deciding where one lives to think about what makes people thrive. For me, it’s the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning at a local bakery. It’s access to a hub of activity – a place for sport, art, culture that isn’t seasonal. It’s the Barking Food Forest, a community-gardening, resident-led space that has genuinely changed my lifestyle in allowing my family and so many others to get outdoors and enjoy nature every weekend. And ultimately, it’s living in a home built to last, with character and scope to grow, as our family grows.

Zainab Jalloh

Communications Lead

First Aid and Resilience Day

The idea for this event came to me after attending a talk at St. Patrick’s Church. Julie Taylor, who tragically lost her grandson to knife crime, was sharing her family’s experience and raising awareness by donating catastrophic bleed kits. Her message resonated with me—everyone should have basic knowledge of how to respond in an emergency.

With that thought in mind, I began discussions with members of the Ripple Effect Resident Group in the summer of 2024. Our initial focus was on securing a defibrillator for the Curzon Community Club. As the conversations evolved, it became clear that we needed to do more—we needed a First Aid course that would equip residents with lifesaving skills.

Thanks to ongoing discussions, we secured the installation of a defibrillator at the Curzon Club through the British Heart Foundation. But we didn’t stop there. The London Fire Brigade, after delivering an insightful session at another event, inspired the creation of a larger First Aid and Resilience Day. We invited them to speak, along with the Environment Agency, which provided guidance on flood preparedness. Additionally, Rev. Unesu from Christ Church joined us to share how the church supports the community in times of crisis—like during the Barking Riverside fire in 2019.

Around 40 people joined us, eager to learn and prepare for emergencies. The event kicked off with an engaging two-hour session from the Red Cross. Covering essential skills—how to respond to a collapse, heart attacks, choking, major bleeding, and the use of a defibrillator. Every participant walked away with new knowledge and a certificate recognizing their training.

After the session, we gathered for lunch, before diving into more discussions on resilience.

Post-lunch, the London Fire Brigade arrived—fire engine included! Darren, their team leader, delivered a talk on fire prevention and the importance of alarms. Attendees asked plenty of questions, eager to learn.

Next, the Environment Agency educated us on flood risks and early warning systems. Residents were encouraged to sign up for alerts and provided with a link to download the Environment Agency App—a small step that could make a huge difference in a crisis.

Our final speaker, Rev. Unesu from Christ Church, spoke passionately about the church’s vital role in emergency response. She shared how, after the devastating Barking Riverside fire, the church became a sanctuary—offering showers, washing machines, toilets, and hot meals to those in need. As a church that has served as a night shelter, Christ Church is well-equipped to support the community in times of crisis.

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive—many people expressed how valuable the day had been. Events like these not only equip us with lifesaving skills but also bring us together as a community, reinforcing the importance of being prepared.

With such a strong response, I hope to organise more events in the future, continuing to build a resilient, informed, and empowered community.

Would you be interested in attending a future session? Let’s keep the conversation going and make our neighbourhoods safer for everyone.

Marion Hull

Community Organiser

Finding Home in Barking Riverside: Richard’s Journey Through High-Density Living

When Richard and his family moved to De Pass Gardens in Barking Riverside in 2013, the future seemed bright. The newly developed area promised affordable rents, modern homes, and a vision of green spaces and community living. With his family, Richard embraced the idea of a fresh start in this neighbourhood.

At first, life in Barking Riverside delivered on its promises. The family enjoyed a healthier lifestyle with green spaces, cycling paths, and some amenities just a short walk away. Richard recalls the excitement of living in a modern, spacious home with an extra bedroom, coupled with the allure of a skyline view. Friends who visited would often comment on how fortunate they were to have found such a gem in East London.

But as the years passed, the cracks began to show. What was once an idyllic lifestyle slowly became burdened by the realities of high-density living. Traffic congestion grew with the regeneration projects, turning simple school drop-offs into 40-minute journeys. Richard found himself waking earlier and leaving the house hours before work just to avoid the traffic. Fines for using restricted roads added to the strain, and eventually, he had to cut down his office days, working from home more frequently to cope with the mounting stress, and also thereafter deciding to home-educate his children.

The rapid growth in population only worsened matters. Overcrowding became the norm, parking spaces felt scarce, and essential services like GPs and schools struggled to keep up. While plans for better infrastructure are in motion, it is still a waiting game for residents like Richard, who worry about the long-term impact on their families.

Yet, amidst the challenges, Richard has found solace in the sense of community that has blossomed in Barking Riverside. He plays an active role in neighbourhood initiatives, from tackling maintenance issues to keeping residents informed about local developments. “It’s the people here that keep us going,” he admits, highlighting the power of collective effort in navigating life in a high-density area.

Looking ahead, Richard hopes for faster progress in bringing essential services closer to home. His ideas, like weekly health clinics at local schools and more immediate access to GP hubs, reflect the urgent needs of the community. As he puts it, “We moved here for a better future – it’s time we saw that vision come to life.”

Through the highs and lows, Richard’s story is a reminder of the importance of thoughtful urban planning and the resilience of communities. Together, residents and developers have the chance to build not just houses, but a thriving, sustainable neighbourhood in Barking Riverside.

Inside Thames Life: Championing change, together

In all the roles I’ve had in my professional career, my time at Thames Life has been the most profound, this is all down to the fact that the work revolves solely around people and championing the rights of one another. I have always been interested in people and their experiences, but I never imagined myself as a community worker, after all, as they say no one does it for the money.

Thanks to the residents and fellow workforces of Barking and Dagenham, I’ve had two years of passionate enrichment. I’ve heard hundreds of stories and been deeply touched by the love and kindness of those I have worked with. I’ve been amazed by the resilience and compassion people have for each other, despite living in such a deprived and unfair society and been met with absolute enthusiasm and passion for positive change by the youngest of minds.

It isn’t easy living here. We long for provision! We as people of this borough are pleading for just enough to ensure our community survives because we know with just a few changes, we will thrive. Fresh faces and maverick ideas with genuine hearts will bring us forward and advance the borough into the ever-changing future. It really is time for better standards, better ethics and love.

Thank you to my family, friends and colleagues and most of all thank you to all the residents who have trusted and supported me throughout my time in this role. I’m not going far so you can bet you’ll see me around in and amongst the fabric of our wonderful community.

There are so many incredibly hard-working people in the voluntary sector but the problem is we work far too hard. It’s time to start working smart, as they say if you want to go far, go together.

Lucy Lee

Health Outreach Officer

Tag: 2025

Inside Thames Life: The architect of social-wellbeing

First Aid and Resilience Day

Finding Home in Barking Riverside: Richard’s Journey Through High-Density Living

Inside Thames Life: Championing change, together

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