News

How fostering changed the lives of two of Thurrock's foster carers

17 April 2025
Every day foster carers across Thurrock provide safe, loving homes for children who cannot live with their birth families, whether for a few nights, several months or even years.
The decision to become a foster carer may come with plenty of questions about how it could affect your life, but often it will be one of the most fulfilling choices you could ever make.
We spoke to foster carers, Dave and Rachel, who started fostering in 2021, about how fostering had changed their family's life.

Over 91% of all primary pupils will attend their top preference school

16 April 2025
Almost all children in Thurrock will be starting their educational journey at one of their top-preference primary schools this September.
From a total of 2,221 applications, 91.63% have been offered their first preference of primary school. Over 98% of children have been offered a place at one of their top three preferences.

Easter recycling tips

11 April 2025
As many of us indulge ourselves with chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and other sweet and savoury treats over Easter we should keep in mind that it is becoming easier than ever to recycle packaging and leftovers.
Every Easter as well as buying around 80 million Easter eggs as a nation we throw away around 9,600 tonnes of cardboard waste, over 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste and 8,500 tonnes of food waste, including 8 million hot cross buns wasted, 19 million leftover potatoes and 8 million Easter eggs.

Thurrock Council's Planning Team nominated for award

11 April 2025
The Council’s Planning Team has been shortlisted for an award in the country’s leading planning awards show.
The team are in the running for the Use of Digital Technology in Planning Award at the annual Planning Awards, run by Haymarket Publishing.
The nomination recognises the ground-breaking Thurrock Planning Reference database, which uses data and digital tools to drive faster, more efficient decision making.

Easter fun at Thurrock libraries

11 April 2025
Libraries across Thurrock have kicked off the Easter holidays with a range of spring-themed activities, and there's still plenty of fun for families to enjoy.
The sessions started on Monday 7 April with children enjoying a range of entertaining activities including colouring, storytimes, and hands-on crafts like making their very own Easter basket.
For budding young artists, Grays Library is hosting colouring-in sessions on Monday 14 April, from 10am to 10:30am and again from 3pm to 3:30pm.

Join our 80th anniversary VE Day celebrations

10 April 2025
This May, we are marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, and we want you to join in.
Tuesday 8 May, 1945 was declared Victory in Europe day, after the Allies accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender and the war in Europe came to an end.
A special exhibition telling the personal stories of local people who lived through this time will be held at the Thameside Complex from 12 April to 15 May. See the link below.

Grays shop closed for selling counterfeit tobacco and vapes

8 April 2025
Magistrates have ordered a Grays tobacconist to close for three months and pay over £4,500 costs after they were prosecuted for selling counterfeit and illegal tobacco and vapes for the second time in less than six months.

Contractor appointed to pave the way for new affordable homes in Aveley

4 April 2025
Thurrock Council has appointed a building contractor to commence work for an affordable housing project in Aveley that will redevelop three blocks of flats into modern, high-quality homes.
On 25 March 2025, Marfleet and Blyth were selected to help redevelop Teviot Avenue in Aveley into a thriving estate with homes fit for modern living.
The redevelopment project will see three existing blocks of flats containing 36 council homes demolished, before being transformed into 48 affordable, modern council homes made up of a mixture of flats and houses.

Thurrock unites to bring Easter joy to vulnerable children

4 April 2025
Cllr Vikki Hartstean, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education, has praised Impulse Leisure for its inspiring efforts to ensure Thurrock’s vulnerable children receive a special treat this Easter.
Through its ‘Do Good, Feel Good This Easter’ campaign, Impulse Leisure is offering 50% off joining fees on gym memberships for those who donate two boxed Easter eggs. Those who donate four boxed Easter eggs can start a membership without paying a joining fee.
All donated chocolate eggs will be distributed to vulnerable children across Thurrock, including those in care.

Candidates announced for Ockendon ward by-election 2025

4 April 2025
Nominations for the Ockendon ward by-election have officially closed and the names of all candidates standing on Thursday 1 May have been released. Details of candidates running can be found on the Thurrock Council website.

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