Hello Everyone,
I hope you’re all enjoying the glorious and joyous sunny weather we’ve been having this week. As temperatures set to soar to 33 degrees celsius on Saturday, please do take care and take water around with you, if you are out and about – and don’t forget the sunscreen! Also, I’d really appreciate if you could keep an eye on any elderly or vulnerable neighbours you know as the hot weather can be particularly uncomfortable for them. You can find out more about keeping cool and protected in the heat here. My week so far has been another busy one, from meeting with the new global chairperson of Lendlease this afternoon in light of the major role they’ll be playing in driving forward the Silvertown development in our Royal Docks in partnership with The Crown Estate; and starting it celebrating Refugee Week over at the Highway Vineyard Church in Stratford. We welcomed the contributions of people seeking sanctuary in a borough of such diversity, highlighting how Newham has always been a borough of welcome, dignity and hope. This year’s theme, “Community as a Superpower”, could not be more fitting for Newham, which has extended the hand of friendship to people fleeing war, persecution and discrimination for decades. In places of worship, community centres, schools, businesses and homes, we see every day the strength, generosity and spirit of sanctuary that defines who we are. As the first female directly elected Mayor of South Asian and Muslim heritage, I am deeply aware of how migration has shaped both Newham’s story and my own. This week has reminded me once again that welcoming people seeking refuge is not a task for one person or organisation - it’s a shared endeavour. Together, we offer people more than shelter - we offer safety, respect, and the opportunity to rebuild. And in doing so, we make Newham stronger. Tuesday’s meeting of the Council’s Cabinet began with a moment of silence to honour the victims of the Air India crash, a solemn reflection on lives lost and the importance of remembering tragedies that shape our communities. During the meeting, we approved important reports that continue our work building a fairer Newham, including one on our progress against the LGA Action Plan we have committed to, as we also respond with demonstrating all the things we are doing to show best value for our residents. It’s all part of me ensuring that in my role as your Mayor, I am holding firm to the Council being transparent, financially stable as it drives better outcomes and best value for residents.
We also discussed our latest progress on social housing improvements. This programme, launched in response to the social housing regulator’s C4 Judgement on our housing services, is delivering real change: faster repairs, more effective action on damp and mould, and a renewed focus on warm, safe, healthy homes. Just as important is the way we’re working - hand-in-hand with tenants, whose lived experiences are shaping the reforms underway. We know we have more to do, but we are building a housing service that residents can trust and be proud of. Thursday marked Clean Air Day. I’m delighted that Newham has now installed its 500th on-street electric vehicle (EV) charge point, a major milestone in our efforts to tackle air pollution and deliver cleaner air for all. Working with our EV charging partners Believ and Uber, we’re accelerating our rollout with a target of over 1,000 charge points by April 2026, and 3,000 by 2030. These charge points are more than infrastructure - they represent progress toward climate justice and cleaner, healthier neighbourhoods. It’s a great example of our award winning Just Transition Plan in action. I’ve ended the week so far, talking all things Opportunity Newham with local partners having convened over 100 partners this morning from across the borough to launch the Our Newham Futures Innovation Lab: a determined partnership collaborating on the missions to secure the future sustainability of Newham. Involving partners and stakeholders from across the diversity of Newham’s private, public, voluntary, community and faith sectors, Our Newham Futures Innovation Lab kick-started a series of mission workshops to develop a 10-year place vision for the borough to ensure of inclusive opportunity in the decade ahead. Working with the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) at world renowned University College London (UCL), we are inspiring conversations and dedicated hearts to come together with purpose and be the powerful force for good. We know that our people are our brilliance, who’ll secure the future sustainability of our borough in the decade ahead, but our collective challenge is to ensure that opportunities in Newham are felt by all our residents in the decade ahead. That requires deeper and wider collaborations, and innovative thinking to break down barriers and overcome challenges to secure opportunity in the borough for all. You can see me summing up the event here. As we look ahead to Windrush Day this Sunday, it’s important we remember another chapter in the story of migration and belonging. When the Empire Windrush arrived in Tilbury in 1948, it carried a generation that would help rebuild Britain and profoundly shape the communities we live in today. Here in Newham, the Windrush generation have been central to our borough’s culture, life and identity. That’s why I’m proud that we are hosting a wide range of Windrush Day events across the borough: celebrations that honour legacy, spotlight ongoing struggles, and affirm our collective commitment to inclusion and justice. You can find the full programme here.
Finally, as part of our celebration of working class history during Newham Heritage Month, we’ve also launched a casting call for “The Workers United,” an original production about the 1889 Silvertown Workers’ Strike. This is a paid opportunity for local actors to bring a powerful story of resistance and solidarity to life on stage this September at the Tate Institute. Auditions will take place in early July, and applications are open until 2 July. For more information and character descriptions, visit the Newham Heritage Month website here.
Thank you once again for your continued commitment to the borough we are all helping to shape - a borough of sanctuary, of ambition, of inclusion and care. Every week, I am reminded that Newham is strongest when we act together: in community, in partnership, and in solidarity.
Until next week, have a lovely weekend!
Best wishes, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
