News

Thurrock memorial remembers the 39 Vietnamese victims six years on

26 October 2025
Today (Sunday 26 October), a memorial event was held to remember the 39 Vietnamese people whose bodies were found in Eastern Avenue, West Thurrock, in 2019, having tragically died at the hands of a criminal people-smuggling gang. 
Families of the victims were joined by local faith, civic and community leaders at West Thurrock Memorial Park, Hilltop Road, West Thurrock, where a permanent memorial and 39 trees honour those who lost their lives. The service included readings, a moment of silence, and the laying of wreaths.  

Hundreds attend careers fair in Thurrock

24 October 2025
Over 200 residents in Thurrock attended a careers fair to learn about the growing opportunities in Construction, Green Skills, Transport & Logistics. 
The free event took place on Friday 24 October at The Old Court House in Grays, and was hosted by Thurrock Council in partnership with Jobcentre Plus (DWP). 
Residents in attendance had the chance to meet with a range of exciting employers and training providers, including: 

Mayor celebrates Get Online Week

23 October 2025
Cllr Sue Shinnick, Mayor of Thurrock, visited Grays Library this week to help celebrate Get Online Week, a national digital inclusion campaign, led by the Good Things Foundation.
The library’s digital team hosted special sessions helping residents explore both the benefits and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Mayor attended a session, spoke to the attendees and even picked up a few digital tips.

How adoption changed the lives of two Thurrock families

23 October 2025
Every year, families across Thurrock open their hearts and homes to children through adoption, offering love, stability and a fresh start to those who need it most. 
The decision to adopt can come with many questions, but for two Thurrock families, it’s been one of the most rewarding journeys of their lives. 
We spoke to two couples about how adoption helped them build the families they had always dreamed of. 

Thurrock’s Member of Youth Parliament joins national committee

23 October 2025
George Hare, Thurrock's Member of Youth Parliament, has been selected for a national committee that enquires into the most important topics for young people. 
George was invited to join the Youth Select Committee (YSC), which brings together select Members of Youth Parliament from across the UK, to scrutinise and hold inquiries into topics that matter most to young people. 
The YSC is a National Youth Agency initiative, supported by UK Parliament and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.  

Hundreds of unsafe electrical products stopped at Thurrock ports

22 October 2025
Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards Import Surveillance Team has intercepted hundreds of unsafe and non-compliant electrical items at the borough’s ports, preventing them from entering the UK marketplace. 
As part of ongoing work to check the safety of goods coming into the country, officers stopped three 40ft containers carrying household appliances including food processors, grills, toasters, fridges, and blenders, which were destined for sale via an online marketplace. 

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: 

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