Tilbury growth

Thurrock Youth Zone

What will the project do?

Thurrock Youth Zone is a facility that will provide young people of Thurrock with a facility for physical activities, access to education and an opportunity to socialise in a safe and positive environment.

It will provide local young people with affordable access (£5 annual membership and 50p entry fee) to over 20 fantastic activities every session.

Facilities to expect at Thurrock Youth Zone

  • a 2-court indoor sports hall
  • Indoor climbing wall
  • Fitness Suite with state-of-the-art gym equipment
  • Boxing and martial arts room
  • Performing arts studio
  • Music suite with instruments and recording equipment
  • Large open plan recreation area
  • Project rooms, including arts, crafts and fashion
  • Film and multi-media facilities
  • Teaching/mentoring kitchen
  • Café serving hot nutritious meals costing no more than £1
  • Multi-use games area/kick pitch with flood lights
  • Breakout room to include activities such as employability workshops, general and gender specific health/youth issue topics/projects and youth participation.

Where are we now? - 2025, Quarter 2

  • Tender docs and programme cost received
  • OnSide have begun revenue fundraising and have already received commitments from international organisations.
  • Onside to receive first tranche of revenue funding from TC
  • Young Persons engagement group to be set up. Local person employed to take this forward.
  • Future Youth zone in Dagenham – visit carried out by Jen Craft, MP and other key stakeholders

Next Steps and Timescales

  • Finalisation of Freeport Seed Funding – Full Business Case.
  • Lease, grant and operation agreements to be finalised

Scheme Completion Autumn 2026