News

Thurrock Youth Zone – meet Elizabeth Leke, helping young people get the Youth Zone they really want

21 October 2025
A new fantastic Youth Zone is heading to Tilbury thanks to funding from the Tilbury Towns Fund which will allow the experts at OnSide; a national youth charity that champions youth work, to build a state-of-the-art youth centre and engage with young people living in in the area, to help them grow and develop.
The new space will create a hub for local young people to make new friends, learn new things and discover just how much they have to offer. It will be one of a growing network of Youth Zones that OnSide have set up across the country.

National Adoption Week 2025: Busting the Myth of the ‘Perfect Home’

20 October 2025
This National Adoption Week (20–26 October), a new campaign is challenging the idea that prospective adopters need to have a ‘perfect home’ to adopt – as new figures reveal a 12 per cent drop in adoption interest across England, leaving nearly 3,000 children still waiting for a permanent family. 

A new survey by You Can Adopt shows that 86 per cent of adoptive parents were worried they needed an ideal home to pass the adoption assessment process. Yet the reality is far more modest: 

Young reading champions honoured

17 October 2025
Young residents who volunteered to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge were thanked for their hard work at a special celebration held in their honour.
The youngsters were presented with certificates, medals and chocolates by Cllr Sue Shinnick, Mayor of Thurrock, at the ceremony held at the Civic Hall, Blackshots on Thursday 16 October.
This year’s Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge, held across all Thurrock libraries, encouraged 2,340 children to read over the summer holidays, beating 2024's figure.  

Thurrock heroes honoured in Pride of Essex Awards

17 October 2025
A volunteer-run pantry in Thurrock has been praised for their inspirational work at a prestigious award ceremony.
The Purfleet Community Pantry and Cafe was Highly Commended at the annual Pride of Essex Awards on Tuesday 14 October.
The volunteer-run pantry, which recently celebrated its first year of service, was nominated in the Team of Pride category, which celebrates those making a difference to other people’s lives and who put others’ needs before their own. 

Thurrock Voices Shortlisted for National Award

16 October 2025
Congratulations to Thurrock Voices, the adult community choir, which has been shortlisted for a national award.
The choir, organised by Arts Outburst, is in the running for the Best Age-Friendly Outreach award at the Fantastic for Families Awards 2025, organised by the Family Arts Campaign.

Free NHS Health Checks launch for Thurrock residents aged 40–74

16 October 2025
Starting this month (October), thousands of Thurrock residents will begin receiving invitations for their free NHS Health Check – a quick and simple midlife health check designed to help people stay healthy for longer. 
NHS Health Checks are available to everyone aged 40-74 who does not already have a pre-existing cardiovascular condition. Over the next five years, the programme will be rolled out across Thurrock to make sure every eligible resident is invited. 

Protect yourself and your baby – get your free flu vaccine this winter

15 October 2025
Pregnant women in Thurrock are being urged to protect themselves and their babies this winter by getting the free flu vaccine.
The flu vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women, no matter what stage of pregnancy they are at. It helps protect both you and your baby from serious illness and is completely free on the NHS.

Injunction will continue to prevent disruptive illegal protests in Thurrock

10 October 2025
An injunction which prevents protestors from blocking roads and vehicles at key fuel terminals and filling stations in Thurrock has been extended until 2029. It names 26 protestors, who have previously been involved in disruptive protests in the borough.
Under the terms of the injunction, the named protestors are prevented from blocking roads, stopping vehicles and gluing themselves to the road or vehicles. The injunction aims to prevent unnecessary disruption for local businesses and residents trying to access their premises, homes, petrol stations and travel near these sites. 

Councils across the country launch national fostering campaign

9 October 2025
Thurrock Council have partnered with over 90 other local authorities to launch a brand-new campaign to inspire more people to start fostering. 

Managed by CAN Digital, ‘The Run’ has been produced by award-winning producers, ReelTwentyFive and is set to be the most ambitious jointly funded fostering film project yet. 

The film focuses on Tom, an 11-year-old boy, contrasting his need to run - away from danger, a chaotic home life, to get to school in time for breakfast club because he’s hungry - with running as a sport. 

Sign-up for Thurrock News – our monthly email newsletter.

Media enquiries

Journalists and media professionals can make enquiries from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, 01375 652 017 or at communicationsteam@thurrock.gov.uk.

For emergency media enquiries outside of these times, phone 07912 782 470.

The communications team email inbox is not monitored outside of office hours, so email media enquiries received out-of-hours may not be answered until the next working weekday.

We advise our staff, when approached directly by a member of the media, not to answer questions themselves but to refer you to the communications team who will provide our response.

We do not normally comment on individual cases or enquiries relating to council staff.