News

Thurrock schools take to the stage to celebrate Black History Month

18 October 2024
Over 60 students from across Thurrock performed at the Thameside Theatre in Grays on Thursday 17 October to celebrate Black History Month.
Students from Thames Park Secondary School in Grays, Warren Primary School in Chafford Hundred, and Woodside Academy in Grays came together to participate in a range of performances celebrating black history. 
Each school was given a brief to create a performance around what black history meant to them. The evening featured a diverse array of entertainment including African drumming and dance, choir songs and drama performances.

Thurrock Council partners with over 100 local authorities for a new fostering campaign

17 October 2024
Thurrock Council have collaborated with over 100 councils to produce a powerful new fostering film which showcases the impact fostering can have on everyone who is involved.

‘Everything’ is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet, with participants from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Essex.

Mayor pays tribute to Margaret Jones, the first Mayor of Thurrock

16 October 2024
Cllr Kairen Raper, Mayor of Thurrock, has paid tribute to Margaret Jones, the first Mayor of Thurrock, who sadly passed away on Tuesday 15 October.
Cllr Raper said: “It is with great sadness that I learnt of Margaret Jones’ passing. For more than five decades Margaret has been an important figure in public life in the borough. She was the first Mayor of Thurrock in 1974. Today the flag at the Civic Offices is flying at half-mast as we mourn her loss.

Thurrock awarded new funding towards Aveley affordable housing redevelopment

15 October 2024
An affordable housing project in Aveley will benefit from more than £700,000 of government funding to kickstart the redevelopment of three blocks of flats into modern, high-quality homes.
On Tuesday 15 October 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced it had awarded Thurrock Council £734,370 to rejuvenate the council-owned brownfield site in South Ockendon into a thriving estate.

Successful open weekend at Coalhouse Fort

15 October 2024
More than 1,000 people attended two open days at Coalhouse Fort over the weekend of 12 - 13 October, after it re-opened its gates to visitors for the first time in over four years.
The two open days were an opportunity for residents with an interest in history an opportunity to have their say on how it should be run in the future while surveys to establish what work is required to make the site safe are required.

Thurrock Council welcomes DP World investment

14 October 2024
Cllr John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council, has welcomed the announcement that DP World is set to invest £1bn in the expansion of London Gateway. Plans will see two new shipping berths added to the six berths able to take the world's largest container ships which will make it Britain's largest container port within five years.
Cllr Kent said: “This investment is welcome news for Thurrock and will play a critical role in the development of Thames Freeport, which is set to create thousands of jobs locally and contribute £5.1 billion to the UK economy a year.

What is a walkabout?

11 October 2024
The Council want to create a shared vision for home improvements in Thurrock and develop a way to support delivery of this work including existing guidance including updates to council guidance (Thurrock Council - Design guide: residential alterations and extensions).

Calls for more members to join Thurrock's SEND Youth Group

10 October 2024
Thurrock's SEND Youth Group is calling on passionate young people to join a powerful platform designed to give them a voice in shaping the future. 
The SEND Youth Group offers an incredible opportunity for those aged 16 to 25 with additional needs to socialise, develop skills and have a say on policies and future decisions that may affect them.  
Members are directly involved in initiatives that impact young people's lives across Thurrock, working closely with Thurrock Council's Youth Cabinet to share their views on the topics most important to them.

Thurrock Council drives forward support for care leavers

10 October 2024
Thurrock Council is taking the steps to enhance the support available to young people leaving care, building on its previous commitment to recognise 'care experience' as a protected characteristic.
On 24 July 2024, the Full Council supported the motion to treat people who have been cared for by Thurrock Children's Services as a group with special protections, similar to those covered under the Equality Act 2010.
Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday 9 October, Cabinet Members approved the use of protected characteristics for care leavers.

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