After his recent visit, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has praised the amazing work being done at the Future Youth Zone in Dagenham.
During his visit, Mr Khan met with staff and some of the 4,000 young members to chat to them about the opportunities being offered at the centre.
He sat in on a pottery session, where eight to 12-year-olds involved in the school holiday club told him about the activities on offer, including cooking, dancing and sport.
He then participated in the cricket game with the children, before speaking to older members about how the youth centre provided them with somewhere to go.
The Mayor of London said: “I’m really excited to see how young people here have constructive things to do.
“It’s a good example of the potential in our young people if they are given the right systems, to have that potential fulfilled.”
Zakaria Hussain, Head of Youth Work at Future Youth Zone, said Mr Khan’s visit could help inspire young people to see opportunities beyond the borough.
“It’s important that the decision-makers come and see for themselves what this is all about,” he added.
According to the Council Leader Cllr, Darren Rodwell, the success of Future Youth Zone means the model is set to be replicated elsewhere in Barking and Dagenham.
“Our long term aim is to have three of these in the borough,” Mr Rodwell explained. “This one in the centre, one in the north and one in the south.”
