UKON Careers

02/09/2026

🌼✨ MAY DUMP — A MONTH OF CREATIVITY, CULTURE & COMMUNITY! ✨🌼

May was filled with creativity, culture and community at John Smith House, with a range of exciting activities and projects bringing people together through music, dance and the arts. 💙🎨✨

🥁 Steel Pan Workshop

Our Steel Pan Workshop provided participants with the opportunity to explore the sounds and rhythms of steel pan music while developing new skills and having fun. It was fantastic to see everyone getting involved, discovering their creativity and enjoying the power of music to bring people together! 🎶🥁✨

🎭 Carnival Costume Mentor Programme

Our Carnival Costume Mentor Programme continued to inspire creativity and encourage participants to develop their skills through costume design and making. The programme offered a fantastic opportunity to learn, create and explore the vibrant traditions of Carnival. 🌈🎨✨

🎨 Carnival Arts Project

Our Carnival Arts Project was filled with colour, creativity and imagination! Participants had the opportunity to get involved in a range of creative activities, express themselves and contribute to the celebration of Carnival and our community. 🎭🖌️💙

💃🏽 Dance Sessions with Marsh Green Primary

We also enjoyed working with Marsh Green Primary through our dance sessions, giving pupils the opportunity to get active, have fun and express themselves through movement. It was wonderful to see their energy, enthusiasm and creativity shine throughout the sessions! 🌟💃🏽🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, shared their creativity and helped make May such a memorable month. We’re proud to continue creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills, express themselves and connect through creativity and culture. 💙👏🏽

Here’s to more creativity, culture and community! 🌸✨

25/08/2026

🌸✨ APRIL DUMP — A MONTH OF CREATIVITY, CONNECTION & COMMUNITY! ✨🌸

April was filled with some amazing moments at John Smith House, from celebrating World Health Day to bringing generations together through our Senior Citizens Creative Carnival Arts Workshop and our wider Carnival Arts Project. 💙🎨

🌍 World Health Day
We were proud to deliver our Creative Thinking Workshops, bringing together children, teenagers, young adults, adults and senior citizens to explore health and wellbeing through creativity, emotional expression, healthy eating, storytelling and more. 🧠🍎✨

🎨 Senior Citizens Creative Carnival Arts Workshop
We were delighted to host our first Senior Citizens Creative Carnival Arts Workshop, focusing on creative flag making and storytelling. It was wonderful to see creativity bringing people together, creating opportunities for expression, conversation and connection. 💙🏳️✨

🎭 Carnival Arts Workshop
Our Carnival Arts sessions were filled with imagination, colour and creativity, giving participants the opportunity to get involved, express themselves and create something they could be proud of. 🎨🌟

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, shared their ideas and helped make April so special. And a special thank you to the John Smith House Health Ambassadors for their dedication, hard work and commitment to bringing the community together. 👏💙

Here’s to more creativity, connection and community! 🌸✨

25/08/2026

://www.insta gram.com/p/DcdRB3xjzHM/?igsi=aGtnb3I4YjBxOXVq
Thank you for sharing your amazing post and pictures we had a great time with you all 💕

15/08/2026

🌟 A Very Big Well Done to Our Youth Health Ambassadors! 🌟

We are incredibly proud of our Youth Health Ambassadors for volunteering at the Barking and Dagenham Carnival and making such a valuable contribution to the day. 👏🏽🎉

Throughout the carnival, our ambassadors confidently engaged with attendees, gathered valuable feedback about their experience and helped us hear directly from our community. They also supported the Carnival Village, encouraging participation in health, creative, sporting and movement activities. 💚🙌🏽

This was a fantastic opportunity for our young people to gain real experience, develop their skills, build confidence and play an active role in a major community event. 🌟

A huge thank you Future MOLDS Communities for organising the Youth Health Ambassadors and for all the planning, preparation and support that went into making the opportunity possible. Your commitment to supporting our young people before and during the carnival made a real difference. 👏🏽💚

Thank you also for sharing this wonderful video, which gives us a glimpse into their experience and showcases the enthusiasm, energy and contribution they brought to the carnival. 🎥❤️

The Barking and Dagenham Carnival is about celebrating our community, but it is also about creating real opportunities for young people to have their voices heard, gain valuable experience, connect with others and make a difference. 🌍✨

We are delighted to see our young people taking up these opportunities and look forward to welcoming our Youth Health Ambassadors back for next year’s carnival! 🎊🙌🏽

A very big WELL DONE to you all. You were absolutely brilliant! 👏🏽🌟💚

14/08/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcCFi_IIm1L/?igsh=MWUzM2p1b3VlMWRrbQ==

03/08/2026

Barking and Dagenham Carnival this year at its new location in Barking Park!!
What a fantastic time everyone had!!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbklT3DOt7-/?igsh=cXpwemVreHF1Z2wz Triniboi Joocie
Soca News Arts Council England Future MOLDS Communities Trinidad & Tobago High Commission, London Barking and Dagenham Council Barking and Dagenham Council for Voluntary Service - BDCVS Barking & Dagenham Youth Dance Moko Somõkõw Callaloo Carnival Arts UK Iroko Theatre Company Steel Pan Trust

01/08/2026

🖤❤️🤍 Happy Emancipation Day! 🇹🇹✨

Today we proudly join communities around the world in celebrating Trinidad and Tobago's Emancipation Day, a day to honour the courage, resilience and determination of those who fought for freedom, dignity and equality. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural heritage that continues to inspire generations through art, music, dance and carnival. 🎭🌍

At this year's Barking and Dagenham Carnival, we were honoured to showcase the magnificent Scarlet Ibis, the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago, as part of our Birds of Paradise theme. Beautifully created by Global Grooves, the Scarlet Ibis symbolised the beauty, pride and vibrant cultural traditions that are at the heart of carnival. 🦜❤️

As we look towards Barking and Dagenham Carnival 2027, we remain committed to celebrating the history, heritage and cultural diversity that make carnival such a powerful expression of creativity, community and belonging. Together, we will continue to inspire learning, encourage inclusion and celebrate the many cultures that enrich our borough and beyond. 🌎✨

Happy Emancipation Day to everyone celebrating today. 🇹🇹❤️💛💚
carnivalarts CaribbeanHeritage culture CommunityStrong diversityy InclusionMattersn globalgroves letscreate

01/08/2026

🖤❤️🤍 Happy Emancipation Day! 🇹🇹✨

Today we proudly join communities around the world in celebrating Trinidad and Tobago's Emancipation Day, a day to honour the courage, resilience and determination of those who fought for freedom, dignity and equality. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural heritage that continues to inspire generations through art, music, dance and carnival. 🎭🌍

At this year's Barking and Dagenham Carnival, we were honoured to showcase the magnificent Scarlet Ibis, the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago, as part of our Birds of Paradise theme. Beautifully created by Global Grooves, the Scarlet Ibis symbolised the beauty, pride and vibrant cultural traditions that are at the heart of carnival. 🦜❤️

As we look towards Barking and Dagenham Carnival 2027, we remain committed to celebrating the history, heritage and cultural diversity that make carnival such a powerful expression of creativity, community and belonging. Together, we will continue to inspire learning, encourage inclusion and celebrate the many cultures that enrich our borough and beyond. 🌎✨

Happy Emancipation Day to everyone celebrating today. 🇹🇹❤️💛💚

31/07/2026

🎭✨ A Heartfelt Thank You to Soca News ✨📰

🙏 We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Soca News for your outstanding support of our Carnival Arts Project 2026 and Barking & Dagenham Carnival 2026. ❤️💛💚

📰 Through both your printed publication and online platform, you helped share our story with audiences across the United Kingdom 🌍 and internationally 🌎, celebrating the creativity 🎨, culture 🎶 and community 🤝 at the heart of this year's carnival.

🎉 Your coverage has played an important role in raising awareness of our project, showcasing the achievements of our participants 🌟, and highlighting the positive impact that carnival arts have on communities. 🦜🎭✨

We are truly grateful that you chose to share our journey and help amplify our vision. 📣

🌺 Thank you for continuing to champion Carnival Arts and Culture 🌴🎶 and for supporting community-led initiatives that inspire 💡, educate 📚 and bring people together. ❤️

🔗 Read the online feature here:
📰 https://socanews.com/news/barking-and-dagenham-carnival-2026-unveils-birds-of-paradise-theme/

🤝 We look forward to working together again for 2027.

💛 Thank you, Soca News, for helping us celebrate carnival, creativity and community!🎭✨🌍

🎉

Barking and Dagenham Carnival returns on Saturday 11 July 2026, from 1.00 pm to 6.30 pm at Barking Park, Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8TA, promising a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity and community. This year’s theme, Birds of Paradise, was selected by local young people and adu...

31/07/2026

🎭 Celebrating the Power of Partnership 🎉

As we reflect on the incredible journey of our Carnival Arts Project 2026 and the success of Barking & Dagenham Carnival 2026, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to The Barking & Dagenham Post, The High Commission for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in London, Soca News, and Pen to Print for your unwavering support throughout the project. ❤️

📰 From April to July, your continuous promotion across print, online and social media helped us reach and inspire audiences locally, nationally and internationally. Your support has been instrumental in raising awareness of our work, celebrating the achievements of our participants, and sharing the vibrant spirit of carnival, creativity and community with a much wider audience. 🌍✨

🙏 We are especially grateful to The Barking & Dagenham Post for featuring the carnival in both its printed newspaper and online, and to Soca News for showcasing the project through both its printed publication and online platform. We also sincerely thank The High Commission for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in London and Pen to Print for championing our work and helping to amplify our message throughout the project.

🎨 This year's carnival was more than a celebration. It was a reflection of what can be achieved when communities, partners and the media come together to support arts, culture and wellbeing.

🦜 Thank you for believing in our vision and for helping us bring Birds of Paradise to life.
🔗 Read the media coverage:
📰 The Barking & Dagenham Post: https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/26186893.barking-dagenham-carnival-2026-returns-barking-park/

📰 Soca News: https://socanews.com/news/barking-and-dagenham-carnival-2026-unveils-birds-of-paradise-theme/

🤝 Together, we have celebrated creativity, culture, diversity and community, and we look forward to building on these valued partnerships in the years ahead.

💛 Thank you for being part of our journey.

culture partnership MediaSupport thankyouforyoursupport barkinganddagenham