The University of East London ( Longbridge Road , Manor Ward ) not only provides tertiary education for adults , but also have other facilities such as a staff & students day care nursery for fifty children of 2 - 5 years, with sometimes also places available to other local children. The Adult College of Barking & Dagenham in Fanshawe Crescent also offers a range of courses for parents with young children, and can provide creche facilities to enable parents to attend. For example there are the Pre-school Learning Alliance sponsored programmes and parent & toddler workshops. First aid and baby & child resuscitation is taught , as well as Alexander Technique , aromatherapy, aerobics, karate, Tai Chi Chuan, yoga etc . Goresbrook Leisure Centre ( adjacent to Ripple Road, in Cambell Ward ) likewise offers a creche service for children of 6 months to 6 years - along with swimming pools, fitness and dance studios, health and beauty suites, indoor & outdoor courts and pitches for a wide range of sports and games. Adjacent Castle Green has a childrens playground. Additional well-maintained recreation and / or sports facilities exist in Barking Park ( Longbridge Ward ) , Mayesbrook Park ( Parsloes ) , Parsloes Park ( parts in Parsloes and Fanshawe wards ) , Old Dagenham Park ( Village ) , Eastbrookend country park ( Village ) and Goresbrook Park . Barking & Dagenham have twenty allotment sites adding up to ~ 74 acres total. Plots of 5 or 10 rods may be rented at £2 - £11 ( according to site and water supply ) , or at a reduced rate for elderly and unemployed . Here a wide number of crops can be grown , often cheaper than buying shop produce, and without the unwanted chemical sprays or artificial methods associated with bulk commercial growing. This can be conducive to healthier eating, improved socialisation by making friends with other gardeners, as well as good exercise and relaxation . Locality 7 has rentable allotments within the boundaries of Longbridge, Manor, Cambell, Goresbrook and Village wards.

                          There is good reason to believe that a willingness to participate in physical communal activities such as are made possible by the above provided borough facilities will help to keep people healthier and fitter for longer during adult life. Health of the Nation priorities for this locality include a reduction of coronary heart disease , obesity , smoking , lung cancer & suicides : and not only peoples' physical , but also mental health can be improved by proper exercise. The Barking & Dagenham 18 + social club (in oxlow lane adjacent to Fanshawe ward) provide an extensive program of events for the age group < 30 ; and the Erkenwald Youth Club in Manor ward addresses needs of the 12 - 25 years age group. The cockatoo disco is located by Barking Football Club in Mayesbrook sports ground (Parsloes), and Cambell ward has a borough education department sponsored youth club in Arden Crescent. There are eleven public houses in or close to Locality 7 , but in Goresbrooke there are none - the nearest being Church Elm pub in Village. Village ward has an additional three pubs. River ward has one pub - the Admiral Vernon. Cambell ward is served by the Ship & Shovel and The Pipers public houses. Fanshawe is served by the Cherry Tree , and Parsloes by the Round House . Longbridge ward has the Royal Oak ; and Manor ward ( actually without a pub ) is partly served by the Robin Hood in Becontree ward.

                           The 1994 Barking & Havering Health and Lifestyle Survey found that overall 17% of men and 13% of women consume more than the recommended Health of The Nation limits of 21 and 14 units respectively of alcoholic drink per week. Excess male consumption is greater at ages < 44 years , but there is no clear relation to social class. The B. H. B. Alcohol Advisory Service has been formed as a charity providing free help and advice for local people suffering as a result of their own or others drinking, and this supplements the help already available through Barking & Havering Health Authority and the Barking and Dagenham Social Services Department.