News

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: 

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. 

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