Loud & Local: The Barking & Dagenham Story
Many Voices, One Borough
Loud & Local is a collaborative community-storytelling project created by Youth Unity CIC, Write Back, and Green Shoes Arts, in partnership with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. The project amplifies the real voices of residents across the borough, from young people and families to carers, elders, faith communities, and marginalised groups, capturing what it means to live, grow, and belong in Barking & Dagenham today.
Our Aims
To honour and uplift authentic community stories through film, writing, and creative arts.
To build stronger community cohesion and civic pride.
To provide LBBD with real lived-experience insights that shape the Neighbourhood Plan, Best Chance Strategy refresh, and Borough Manifesto update.
What We Achieved
Timespan
August – November: planning, outreach, workshops, story capture, film production, anthology creation, website development, screenings, and reporting.
Who We Worked With
Across three months of borough-wide engagement, the project collaborated with:
Schools & Youth Settings: Rose Lane, Jo Richardson, Greatfields, Hopewell School, 100% Club, EOTAS, and existing Write Back cohorts.
Community Hubs: The Vibe, Kingsley Hall, Thames Hub, Chadwell Heath.
Public spaces & high-footfall areas via street interviews and digital story-mapping.
Residents of all ages: young people, families, older adults, disabled residents, faith groups, migrants, carers, and marginalised communities.
Project Outputs
10–15 minute documentary film blending stories from across the borough
Youth storytelling anthology published by Write Back
Resident story archive developed by Green Shoes Arts
Digital microsite hosting the film, audio map, interviews, and stories
Thematic report for LBBD with key insights and recommendations
Community screenings and launch events