A Night of Hope and Aspiration in Barking & Dagenham

An exciting partnership event, a £1.8million investment, and a new £50k commissioning opportunity to shape Barking & Dagenham’s future creative hub with young people!
4th November 2026
On 21st October, more than 50 youth organisations, community groups, partners and young changemakers came together for an evening full of energy, ideas and ambition.

The occasion? The reveal of early plans for an ambitious, new creative hub dedicated to young people aged 16 – 30 in Barking and Dagenham.

The creative hub doesn’t exist yet… and that’s the point. Young people will help us imagine it, shape it and lead it.

The event was also a chance to learn more about the new partnership between BD Giving, The Blagrave Trust and the Good Ancestor Movement – a collaboration that will bring fresh investment, new opportunities and more youth leadership in the borough.

Thank you to everyone who came, shared ideas and contributed to a truly memorable night. The excitement in the room told us one thing clearly: Barking & Dagenham’s young people are ready to dream big.

Photography: @flowshots_

The commissioning opportunity: Dream Big!

We’re commissioning 4-6 local groups to run creative engagement activities with young people aged 16-30, helping to shape what a new community-owned creative hub in the borough might look like.

What you’d deliver

  • Creative activity with young people aged 16-30;
  • a record of what you learnt along the way;
  • something created directly by young people; and
  • a shared learning session with all partners in July 2027

Apply for £8,350–£12,500 per partner

Deadline: 7 January 2027

Thinking of applying? Read more about the opportunity, criteria and who to contact with any questions here. 

Ready to get started? Download the full commissioning brief here.