Barking and Dagenham Pride in Place Boards Formed 2026

Key Points

• Two newly established Neighbourhood Boards in Barking and Dagenham held their first introductory meetings.
• Central government is providing £40 million over 10 years, with £20 million going to each chosen area.
• Funding is assigned to Central Park and Frizlands Lane, and Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside.
• Amy Sivetoglu took over as Chair of the Central Park and Frizlands Lane Neighbourhood Board following a meeting on 19 August 2026 at Heath Community Centre.
• Pascal Ezeabasili became Chair of the Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside Neighbourhood Board after a meeting on 20 August 2026 at Barking Football Club.
• MPs Nesil Caliskan and Margaret Mullane, along with Council Leader Dominic Twomey, joined the boards as active members.
• The boards are now tasked with drafting a 10-year vision and a 4-year investment plan to direct local spending.

Barking and Dagenham (East London Times) August 28, 2026 – Local residents, elected representatives, and community leaders have officially convened across Barking and Dagenham as the borough’s newly appointed Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards held their introductory meetings. The development marks the operational start of a 10-year, £40 million community investment strategy, with £20 million allocated to each of the two targeted geographical zones.

Who has been appointed to lead the Central Park and Frizlands Lane Board?

As reported by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham local authority communications team, Amy Sivetoglu has been confirmed as the Chair of the Central Park and Frizlands Lane Neighbourhood Board. Ms Sivetoglu, who was raised in Dagenham and has worked within the Central Park and Frizlands Lane area since 2011, led the initial board session on 19 August 2026 at the Heath Community Centre.

Commenting on the inaugural meeting, Margaret Mullane MP, Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham and sitting member of the Central Park and Frizlands Lane Board, stated that:

“The Board is in place and following the initial meeting I am really excited about the potential. This is real people from the community with real power to change the future of the area.”

Ms Mullane added:

“The ideas are already flowing, and I have every confidence that the Chair, Amy, will do a fantastic job alongside the Board members. This is about making Heath Ward, the Central Park and Frizlands area, somewhere people feel proud to live and work. Watch this space!”

What occurred at the inaugural meeting for Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside?

As documented by the official council news service, Pascal Ezeabasili has been named Chair of the Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside Neighbourhood Board. Mr Ezeabasili, who grew up in Barking and works within the food sector alongside an academic background in Aerospace Engineering, led the inaugural gathering on 20 August 2026 at Barking Football Club.

In statements released by the council, Nesil Caliskan MP, Member of Parliament for Barking and member of the Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside Board, stated:

“I’m pleased to get started with our work for the Pride in Place programme in Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside.”

Ms Caliskan noted further:

“Since being elected MP for Barking, I’ve been calling for additional investment for area. I’m pleased that we’ve secured £20 million from the government and look forward to working with our fantastic local Pride in Place board members and residents to deliver projects for our community.”

How do council leaders view the wider impact across the borough?

Writing on the broader scope of the initiative, local authority representatives highlighted the inclusion of residents from varied backgrounds across both panels. Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Eastbury Ward Councillor, and sitting member of the Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside Board, stated:

“This is a fantastic opportunity not just for the two funding areas but for the borough as a whole.”

Cllr Twomey continued:

“I’m excited to work with other board members, hear their ideas and put them in action so that we can bring real, lasting change to these areas. What’s great about both boards is that they have people from all walks of life bringing their experience and views to the table, all working together to improve the areas they love. This is a really exciting new chapter for the borough, and I cannot wait to see where it leads – in Barking and Dagenham, it starts here.”

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Background to the Pride in Place development in Barking and Dagenham

The establishment of the two Neighbourhood Boards follows the central government’s funding announcement in March 2026, which designated Barking and Dagenham as a recipient of £40 million under the national Pride in Place framework. Designed to run across a 10-year lifespan, the scheme distributes funds directly into targeted urban communities to address long-term socio-economic needs, upgrade local infrastructure, and boost civic participation.

The borough identified two specific zones—Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside alongside Central Park and Frizlands Lane—due to their mixture of high-density residential housing, green spaces, retail parades, and civic assets requiring capital investment. Under the statutory guidance set out by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the newly formed boards are tasked with creating a long-term “10-Year Vision” document and an actionable “4-Year Investment Plan”. The governance structure ensures that local residents and business managers hold voting authority on spending proposals, rather than direct allocation by central government or local council officers.

What are the future projections for residents and businesses in Barking and Dagenham?

The launch of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards is anticipated to affect several key groups across the borough over the coming decade:

• Local Residents: Homeowners and tenants in the selected wards will gain direct mechanisms to influence public spending. Capital allocation is projected to target street safety measures, youth facilities, park refurbishments, and public space maintenance. London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
• Small Business Owners and High Street Retailers: Local commercial hubs surrounding Central Park, Frizlands Lane, Mayesbrook Park, and Rippleside stand to benefit from public realm upgrades aimed at increasing footfall and improving shopfront aesthetics.
• Community Organisations and Charities: Local non-profit groups will have expanded opportunities to apply for project funding and partner with the boards on neighbourhood-led initiatives.