Hello Everyone,
We end the week in sadness following the devastating Air India Flight 171 plane crash, which killed 241 passengers and crew and many more on the ground. This was less than a minute after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad airport as it planned to head to London on Thursday. Tragically, we now know that this disaster has directly affected our own close knit community in Newham, with families devastated and grieving at the loss of their loved ones. While we’ll find out more in the days and weeks to come, we offer our deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy; and stand by them. We have issued a statement, including guidance to help support anyone affected including the helplines set up by the Foreign Office for UK residents, and the High Commission of India in London. This week has been another powerful demonstration of what makes Newham a special place. We’ve been proudly supporting Carers Week, a national campaign raising the profile of unsung heroes and heroines, and their loving efforts as unpaid carers. They make an enormous contribution to families, friends and our wider communities. This year’s theme, Caring About Equality, resonates strongly with our values here in Newham. Every day, unpaid carers in our borough provide vital support to loved ones – often balancing employment, studies, and family responsibilities while caring for relatives with health conditions or disabilities. That’s why we’ve been running a series of local events and activities all week, creating safe spaces for carers to connect, share experiences and access support. These moments are a reminder that as a Council we must continue to champion carers’ rights, strengthen our support networks and ensure that no carer feels invisible. On Tuesday, I had the privilege of hosting our Interfaith Eid al-Adha Celebration at The Good Hotel. It was a beautiful evening of reflection, unity and togetherness, bringing people of different faiths, backgrounds and beliefs together to mark this important festival. Events like this are so vital for our borough. My thanks to The Good Hotel and all those who made the evening so special. This spirit of opportunity and progress continued into Wednesday as Newham won the Net Zero Award: Leading Local Government Cultural Shift for a Just Transition to Net Zero at the LGC Awards 2025. This recognition reflects the fantastic work our teams are doing across the Council to embed climate action and sustainability into everything we do - ensuring that our transition to Net Zero is not only ambitious but also fair, just and inclusive. I’m so proud of the team! Our libraries also received national recognition on Wednesday at the Libraries Connected Awards where they won the ‘Information and Digital’ award. The incredible work of our library staff - from running book clubs for residents with learning disabilities, to coordinating digital device refurbishment schemes and developing creative spaces for young people - was celebrated and honoured. Our libraries aren’t just places for books, they are true community hubs providing learning, inclusion, connection and belonging for thousands of residents every day. I also want to congratulate our teams for being shortlisted for the Public/Public Partnership Award for our partnership with the University of East London (UEL) to establish the UK Centre for Artificial Intelligence in the public sector. This is an important example of how Newham is becoming a leader in digital innovation and public sector AI - again reinforcing our Opportunity Newham vision. Alongside this at the Planning Awards, Newham’s work was also recognised for its innovative approach to regeneration and community engagement. Our wholly-owned company, Populo Living, was shortlisted for the Award for Stakeholder Engagement in Planning for the Carpenters Estate project - one of only seven schemes nationally - and also shortlisted for the Best Use of Publicly-Owned Land and Property in Placemaking for our fantastic work at Plaistow Hub. Wednesday was a busy day and it got even more busier with the announcement of the Government’s Spending Review. I welcomed this announcement as a major boost for Newham - delivering investment into two of the most critical areas that matter to our residents: housing and young people. Housing remains one of the biggest challenges facing Newham. That’s why I am thrilled to see the Government committing £39 billion over the next decade for social and affordable housing. Here in Newham, we are already leading the way - with the fourth highest number of new housing starts in the country and the second highest in London. This new investment allows us to build on that momentum, helping us to deliver even more genuinely affordable homes for local families, key workers and those most in need of secure housing. It will also be key for dealing with the temporary accommodation crisis. Just as important is the investment in skills, training and employment. The commitment of £1.2 billion a year to 2029 for apprenticeships and training will give a huge boost to our young people - many of whom are part of one of the youngest populations in the country. This will open up new pathways into well-paid jobs, create meaningful careers and ensure that our young people can play a central role in shaping Newham’s future prosperity. It’s an investment in Opportunity Newham — one that will drive social mobility, economic inclusion and long-term growth. As we continue to spotlight powerful local stories, tonight I’ll be attending the premiere of RITES, a compelling documentary film produced by Alvin Carpio, a proud son of Newham. Alvin’s story is one of resilience and hope - navigating personal tragedy, overcoming early experiences in the youth justice system, and rebuilding his life with the support of his community. His film is a testament to the strength and spirit that exists right here in our borough, and I look forward to seeing his work inspire many others. Finally, tomorrow I’ll be heading over to Custom House, to enjoy the launch of the Custom House, Our House project showcasing community oral history and photography that captures the reflections of residents and their testimonies about the changes that have been happening in that part of Newham. I’ll also be whizzing around the borough doing all sorts of things, including heading to North Woolwich to meet with local residents who’ve been involved in a retrofit and Net Zero Neighbourhoods energy efficiency project we’ve been working on as we focus more investment for the community living there. So if you see me out and about tomorrow, please do say hello! Until next week, take care and never forget that Opportunity Newham is here and now.
Best wishes, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
