Investing in the places that matter most to local people
The Pride in Place Impact Fund is designed to support communities within the geographical area of Thurrock. The fund is part of a national programme which aims to provide investment to restore pride in local areas, strengthen community cohesion, and stimulate local economic activity through visible, community-led improvements.
Pride in Place Impact Fund
£1.5 million investment across Thurrock
The Pride in Place Impact Fund (Small Grants Programme) is a boroughwide programme delivering visible improvements in local communities by March 2027.
Projects must align with one or more of the following three grant funding objectives:
Community spaces – Improve or create community facilities and support community ownership of valued local assets.
Public spaces – Enhance the public realm, including green spaces, play and leisure areas, street furniture, public art and wayfinding and signage.
High Street and Town Centres – Revitalise those areas to make them more attractive, welcoming and economically active.
The deadline for applications is 1 November 2026.
Find out more about the funding in our guidance document: Pride in Place Guidance Document.pdf
Find out more and apply: https://consult.thurrock.gov.uk/pipif-26
Tilbury Pride in Place Programme
£20 million investment over 10 years
In addition to the boroughwide Impact Fund, Tilbury has been awarded £20 million of Government funding, which will be invested over the next decade to support long-term improvements chosen by the local community.
The programme is being guided by a Tilbury Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, bringing together local residents, businesses, community organisations, councillors and other partners to create a shared vision for the town. The programme is designed to ensure local people are at the heart of decision-making.
Find out more about Tilbury Pride in Place: About Pride in Place – Tilbury Town
Initial allocations of the Pride In Place Impact Fund
Following a meeting in July 2026, the council's Cabinet agreed to allocate initial Pride in Place funding. Proposals are being explored, including the above mentioned small grants round, to inform final funding decisions across the areas below:
Area | Project | Indicative Cost | Community Impact |
| Chadwell St Mary | Public space improvements around the tower blocks Investment in the green spaces around the high rise block flats in Chadwell St Mary e.g. potential for play equipment, gardening / growing. Also, investment in improving the small community kitchen that provides daily community facilities e.g. breakfast club | £150k | The initial request came through the Communities in Action project. The details are being co-designed with the community through a survey and engagement events. |
| Chadwell St Mary | Other investment in the local area to support pride in place, in line with the Plan for Chadwell St Mary Up to £150k A Plan for Chadwell St Mary.pdf The plan identifies many opportunities to improve the local area and we will work with the established community steering group, local political representatives and the community forum to agree on projects | Up to £150k | A Plan for Chadwell St Mary |
| Grays | Investment in Grays Town Park to improve the park and community facilities | £100k | Residents regularly raise the need for investment in Grays town centre and the park, and this is supported by the MP. Other improvements are budgeted for through the Towns Fund in the Grays riverside area, but the wider town has not received recent investment. |
| Grays | High Street improvements Grays town centre lacks appeal to many local residents and work is required to create a nicer, more appealing environment. Improvements to the high street will enhance the local environment and encourage footfall. | £150k | Responses to a recent consultation about antisocial behaviour in Grays, suggested a wide unhappiness with the town centre, and a reluctance to go there due to its rundown feel and lack of shops or restaurants. |
| Boroughwide | New playgrounds and exercise equipment in parks Investment in upgrading parks / play facilities, adding accessible play equipment, and improving green spaces across the borough. Initial reviews are underway and development of criteria to define selection process for playgrounds to ensure there is Boroughwide coverage and investment. Looking at approx. 5-6 playgrounds.
| Up to £600k to install or renovate 5-6 playgrounds across the borough, with the potential for match funding from adult social care grant funding to encourage activity in older/less able groups. | Resident engagement through surveys and forums have indicated high demand for improvement to parks and green spaces across the borough, with some particular parks being noted by residents. Public Health data also flags the need for more opportunities for outdoor activity across the borough for both physical and mental health priorities. Investment in parks and open spaces was also supported by both MPs, particularly investment in accessible equipment. |
| Boroughwide | CCTV expansion Investment in additional CCTV equipment to help the council address persistent antisocial behaviour (ASB) and illegal fly-tipping at identified hotspot locations within Thurrock. | £100k | Complaints data, resident engagement and service reporting has flagged a significant increase in cases of fly tipping and targeted fly tipping hotspots. Residents frequently complain about flytipping and other forms of antisocial behaviour, and also that often perpetrators go unpunished. CCTV evidence will help the council pursue action against those responsible, as well as acting as a deterrent. |
| Boroughwide | Pride in Place community grants scheme Smaller investments in visual, sustainable improvements to neighbourhoods such as: High street signage, lighting/decoration, or trees and other planting Community litter picking or gardening equipment. Improvements to parks and open spaces, such as | Up to £250k | We know from all our data sources and resident engagement that in every area there are issues that residents know how to solve, and that with a small amount of investment and community effort, could be achieved. |