People powered: the community assembly programme for 2023-2025

Newham launched its flagship community assembly programme, now running in a twoyear cycle, at a celebration evening held at Stratford Library on April 27.

The Community Assemblies – now called People Powered Places – have brought together residents in eight neighbourhoods across the Borough to discuss, prepare and launch micro projects for their areas. Each assembly has had £100,000 to spend on range of projects which are chosen by and voted upon by local people.

For 2023-2025 £1.6 million has been allocated for the process. Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, who launched the new cycle, says that this ground-breaking work has taken community empowerment and local democracy to the next level. After the launch the Mayor and local councillors joined residents for an “inclusive evening” with refreshments, performance art, and music.