News | Thurrock Council

Donate gifts to help Thurrock's vulnerable children celebrate Christmas

14 November 2024

Residents of Thurrock can help to ensure that some of Thurrock's most vulnerable children can celebrate Christmas through the Give a Gift initiative at Impulse Leisure Centre.
Impulse Leisure Centre is accepting donations of toys and gifts at any of their leisure centre sites, which will go to vulnerable children in Thurrock and those at Little Havens Children's Hospice.
Donations are being accepted at the following Impulse Leisure sites:
- Blackshots, Grays, RM16 2JU

Remembrance Services in Thurrock

12 November 2024

Remembrance Services took place across the borough, including a ceremony which took place at Grays War Memorial on Sunday 10 November which saw wreaths laid in honour of those who have served.
Organised by the Royal British Legion, the service brings together veterans and dignitaries as a crowd of hundreds join in marking Remembrance Day.

Sheltered Housing residents raise over £1,000 for Thurrock hospice

8 November 2024

Sheltered Housing residents at Arthur Barnes Court in Grays held a fundraising event for St Luke’s Thurrock hospice on Saturday 26 October and raised more than £1,000.
Residents, their families and friends raised a grand total of £1,075 for the hospice by holding a raffle, disco and fancy dress competition. A special mention must be made of resident Evelyn Bodimeade (pictured) who was sponsored to shave her head at the event.
She said: “It was a great event for a great cause that is close to all of our hearts.”

Thurrock Foodbank's Reverse Advent Calendar

8 November 2024

Thurrock Foodbank is now collecting for its Christmas Appeal, which aims to give Thurrock's communities a helping hand in enjoying the festivities.
The Reverse Advent Calendar encourages those who can donate long-life food and festive items so that families struggling can enjoy Christmas without worrying about the added stress of finding food.
The full list of items Thurrock Foodbank are collecting are:

Crunch point reached in discussions between Thurrock Council and APSE regarding legal proceedings

7 November 2024

With one week to go until the deadline for legal claims against APSE to be issued, Thurrock Council is urging APSE to urgently agree a way forward with its members following months of negotiations.
The claim is in relation to the valuation by APSE of an investment made by Thurrock with an individual called Liam Kavanagh and companies associated with him operating under the name Rockfire Energy. The council has been in discussions with APSE management since last September, but the clock is ticking on a decision as the legal claim must be submitted by 19 November.

Ask the council! Thurrock Council’s top team invites residents to Public Question time

1 November 2024

Thurrock’s residents and businesses are invited to a special ‘Ask the council’ Public Question Time event on Monday 11 November at the Thameside Theatre, in Grays.
Attendees at this free event will have the opportunity to ask a question of a cabinet members (councillors) and the officer senior leadership team and to hear about the council’s upcoming plans.

Sheltered Housing residents enjoy visits from Thurrock’s Mayor

31 October 2024

Residents living in Sheltered Housing in Chadwell St Mary and Aveley have met with Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Kairen Raper, in the first of several visits to Sheltered Housing sites across the borough.
Cllr Raper spoke to residents at Arthur Barnes Court on Wednesday 23 October where she heard their views, answered questions about her role as Mayor and reminisced about Thurrock’s heritage.
She also met residents at The Sycamores on Thursday 24 October, where she was joined by her Consort, Cllr Steve Liddiard, and Cllr Cathy Sisterson, ward Councillor for Aveley and Uplands.

Primary school garden built as part of Growing Communities project

30 October 2024

An outside food-growing garden, designed by pupils has been built at Benyon Primary School, South Ockendon.
Capacity building was delivered alongside the creation of the garden to allow teachers to use the space as part of an outdoor classroom.
The garden, which is situated in the heart of the community of the Flowers Estate in South Ockendon aims to connect pupils to the wider natural environment, understand where our food comes from and encourage healthy eating choices with pupils voting on what they would like to grow and eat.

Still time to have your say on Grays Riverside proposals

29 October 2024

There is still time for residents to have their say on the planning application for the first stage of work to rejuvenate the Grays Riverside area, the planning application is open for comments until Monday 4 November.
A public consultation on proposals developed by the Grays Town Board and Thurrock Council which will open up the riverfront and make it more accessible by creating a new footpath linking Kilverts Field and Grays Beach Riverside Park and adding new seating areas have shown that residents support the scheme.

Children’s Social Care & Early Help Services celebrate ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted result

29 October 2024

Thurrock Council’s Children’s Social Care & Early Help Services have been graded ‘Outstanding’ across all four judgement areas, following a recent full inspection by Ofsted.
The Ofsted report published today (Tuesday 29 October 2024) found that various effective services had been developed to meet local need, and that the council’s Children’s Services had improved significantly since the previous inspection in 2019 where services were rated ‘Good’ overall.