A new partnership is putting families at the centre of research and service design.
Barking and Dagenham Council and Queen Mary University London’s SHAPE Institute have launched the first phase of a major research programme in partnership with families, beginning with a workshop at Becontree Primary School.
The scheme aims to better understand the pressures, needs, and aspirations of parents and carers across the borough.
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Cllr Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "This workshop at Becontree Primary School is where our new partnership truly begins, listening to families, learning from their experiences, and understanding what really shapes everyday wellbeing.
"By working with Queen Mary University London, we’re combining world‑class academic expertise with the voices of our residents. This will help us design services that are better targeted, more responsive, and built around what families tell us they need.
"This is the start of a long-term programme that will help us reimagine how we support children, parents, and communities across Barking and Dagenham."
The informal coffee morning was hosted jointly by the school and the SHAPE Institute and invited parents and carers to discuss the realities of raising children today. Topics included education, wellbeing, housing, finances, childcare, and access to support.
Attendees shared their experiences and suggestions for improvement, including what helps families thrive, challenges faced in daily life, experiences accessing support, and how schools, health and community services can work better together.
The insights gathered will help shape the wider research programme and inform future support for children and families in Barking and Dagenham. This is the first activity under a new 10-year societal partnership between the council and Queen Mary University London – an unprecedented collaboration between a local authority and a Russell Group university.
The partnership aims to develop new approaches to health, wellbeing, education, and family support, with a focus on helping residents help themselves while enabling more targeted, effective services.
The SHAPE Institute takes a trans-disciplinary approach, combining health sciences with the humanities, arts, and social sciences.
The council and SHAPE Institute aim to rethink health and wellbeing by recognising the impact of broader factors such as housing, employment, and education. By working directly with families, the partnership hopes to build a clearer picture of what communities need and where improvements can be made.
The 10-year programme aims to support the delivery of practical, evidence-based solutions rooted in the lived experiences of Barking and Dagenham residents.
