Leader's update - Friday 12 June 2026

Published: 12 June 2026

Dear neighbours,

The World Cup is now underway, and many of us are looking forward to our nations’ first matches. One of Redbridge’s great strengths is our diversity, which means there’ll be lots of different teams being supported across the borough – sometimes even within the same household. Whether you’re watching every game or just dipping in now and then, sport has a way of bringing people together. If football is your thing, I hope you enjoy the games. Come on England!

We had something a bit different in Valentines Park last weekend, with the Antiques Roadshow filming there. It was lovely to see so many people out and about, and I’ve heard from residents who really enjoyed the day – whether that was getting something valued or simply spending time with friends and family in a great setting. It’s always good to see Redbridge on show like that.

On Wednesday, I was in Parliament meeting the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed. We spoke about fair funding and our priorities for Redbridge. I’m focused on making sure our borough is properly represented in those conversations, and that we’re making the strongest possible case for what our residents need.

I ended the week at Seven Kings School for the Better Life Chances Conference. It brought together people from different sectors to talk honestly about what more we can do to ensure every child in Redbridge is able to realise their potential. What really stood out is something many of us will recognise – that a child’s experience at school is shaped by much more than lessons alone. Things like housing, health and family circumstances all play a part.

We’re working across those areas – whether that’s helping with the cost of living, building new council homes, supporting local groups who work with children, or introducing family hubs so that people can access support in one place. There’s a lot to do, but there’s also a real commitment across the borough to get this right.

One thing I left the conference thinking about was just how much our schools do for our communities beyond education. To everyone working in our schools: thank you for all that you do.

Cllr Kam Rai
Leader of the Council