Hello Everyone,
This week, I hosted a visit from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to showcase the AWESOME things we do for our young people across our Youth Zones! Their visit formed part of the ongoing national work to develop a new National Youth Strategy - and they came to us because they recognise the strength and ambition of our approach. We believe our youth services offer one of the strongest models in the country - built on a foundation of inclusion, creativity, and the belief that every young person should have the chance to reach their potential and thrive. The visit included a tour of our brand new, carbon-neutral Shipman Youth Zone, followed by a visit to our flagship Stratford Youth Zone, which is thriving through a collaborative creative arts and cultural partnership with the University of East London. Across all our Youth Zones are an array of music labs, dance studios, gaming suites, sensory rooms, gyms and theatre space! Our Youth Zones are more than just buildings. They are spaces of belonging, confidence and creativity as we support our young people to be their best – and support them as we drive my mission for Newham to be the best place for them to grow up and thrive. Whether it’s through performance, innovation, or simply a safe space to connect, these centres are helping young people find their voice and shape their future. You can find out more about what’s on at our Youth Zones here. This commitment to inclusion extends to all our public services. So, on that note, I was so delighted that this week we received a Libraries of Sanctuary award - a recognition of how our libraries across Newham are creating safe, welcoming spaces for everyone, especially those seeking sanctuary. We are already a Borough of Sanctuary, but this is another powerful reflection of our borough’s values: compassionate, open, and determined to give every resident a sense of belonging. This ethos of opportunity and compassion defines who we are. Newham’s three parliamentary constituencies were all recently ranked among the top 20 constituencies nationally in the latest Social Mobility Index - with East Ham and Stratford taking the first and second spots. That’s no accident. It reflects the sustained investment we’re making in schools, youth zones, cultural venues and our economy. And it shows that we are delivering real, measurable outcomes for our residents. Looking ahead, next week we are incredibly excited to be part of the first-ever SXSW London - a landmark moment for East London and a chance for Newham to shine on a global stage. As one of the world’s most influential festivals for culture, tech and innovation, SXSW offers a platform for us to showcase the borough’s creative talent, the fantastic ongoing work on our digital economy, and our wider inclusive economic growth. We’ve secured over £55,000 worth of free tickets for staff, local residents, including young people who are part of our Newham Data young ambassadors network – where they learn all things AI, data and innovation. All this is part of my agenda to drive Opportunity Newham in the coming year, because as I accelerate our Building a Fairer Newham mission; I want to ensure the Council is creating opportunity everywhere. For instance, over the past few weeks, we’ve hosted business development and gaming workshops with Google experts, brought together 80 students at Plexal in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for an AI innovation challenge; and held a “Girls in Data” session using Power BI with 33 young women from St Angela’s Secondary School. These aren’t just programmes - they’re pathways of opportunity into high-value – and high income – careers. That’s why there’s been the return of globally significant MCM Comic Con to Newham last weekend. This was more than just a celebration of comics and costumes, Comic Con represents identity, storytelling and community – and opportunities into jobs. It’s a brilliant example of how Newham is becoming a magnetic force for culture, creativity and innovation. Following the buzz of Comic Con last week, this coming weekend see’s the much anticipated opening of the V&A East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as well. It’s part of the East bank offer of world-class culture which is now in Newham, their new home. The V&A Storehouse will offer free public access to tens of thousands of objects from the V&A’s vast collection; and is a game-changer for how people experience art, design and heritage. Together, Comic Con and the V&A illustrate how Newham is a pull for investment and how London is East. Our borough, Newham, is the very beating heart of London’s culture; but these major events and venues are not just moments of celebration. They are magnets for inward investment, catalysts for inclusive growth, and vital contributors to our creative economy and driving my agenda for fairness. Through all of this growth, I am making sure that we unlock new jobs, support local businesses, and open a raft of opportunities for our residents. Before I sign off, there’s one special shout-out I want to make: to all those helping to keep our borough safe. Earlier today our Newham Police colleagues honoured a number of people for their dedication to support the safety and wellbeing of our people in our borough. So my thanks to all our local police officers, council staff and local residents who were commended. Heroes and heroines going above and beyond for us each and every day in the spirit of duty and service to our communities. As you can see Opportunity Newham is happening and is here now. I’ll carry on busting a gut to keep opportunity flowing for our people. Until next week, take care and send my regards to your loved ones!
Best wishes, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
