News

Thurrock to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 with memorial service and library reading events

19 January 2026
Thurrock Council will mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 with a public memorial service and a special shared reading session, giving residents the opportunity to remember the victims of the Holocaust and more recent genocides. 
Holocaust Memorial Day is observed annually on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and is a time to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of others persecuted under the Nazi regime and in subsequent genocides. 

Top employers to attend Apprenticeship and Jobs Fair

16 January 2026
Residents can speak to some of the UK’s leading employers and training providers at an upcoming Apprenticeship and Jobs Fair. 
The free event, which is taking place at the Thameside Theatre in Grays between 10am to 1pm on Tuesday 10 February, will give residents the opportunity to speak directly to both local and national employers across a wide range of industries about their apprenticeship and job vacancies. 
Local training providers will also be in attendance to discuss the qualifications and training that could support residents career development. 

Ways for young people to get active in Thurrock

15 January 2026
A new survey by Sport England has revealed that over half of children in Greater Essex are active, and there are plenty more opportunities to enjoy physical activities across Thurrock.
The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey found 51.6% of children in Greater Essex take part in physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day, which includes walking, cycling, scootering, active play, sport activities.
There are a range of free and low-cost ways parents and carers can help their child to keep active.

Free creative arts programme designed by and for Thurrock residents returns

13 January 2026
A two-week programme of exciting, free creative activities is returning to Thurrock for the third year running between Monday 9 February and Sunday 22 February. 
Organised by Start Thurrock, each activity, workshop or show in the Green Light programme has been booked as a direct response to feedback from residents on the types of fun activities they would like access to locally. 

Sunday service is just the ticket for the 88 bus

12 January 2026
The Council is extending the popular 88 bus service to a seven-day operation.
Currently the service, which runs from Orsett to the bus station at Grays, via Stifford Clays, operates Monday to Saturday.From the 18 January, the bus will also be running an hourly service on Sunday.
Cllr Victoria Holloway, Cabinet Member for Place and the Environment, said: “We know many of our residents are reliant on bus services to get around and we are committed to improving services. Making this popular and well used route available seven days a week is part of that commitment.”

Thurrock residents invited to a webinar for practical advice about cost of living support

8 January 2026
Thurrock Council is inviting residents to join a special webinar to learn how they can access advice and support about the rising cost of living. 
From 4pm to 5pm on Monday 19 January, a Thurrock Cares webinar is being hosted to share more information about the wide range of support available to help manage the ongoing cost of living challenges. 
Thurrock Cares is a campaign run in partnership by Thurrock Council, Thurrock CVS, and local Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprises. 

Thurrock's Care Leavers enjoy a community Christmas celebration

8 January 2026
Care leavers in Thurrock were able to celebrate Christmas Day at the new Stanford-le-Hope Aftercare Hub and Children’s Centre, thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses, charities, and volunteers. 
The event, which aimed to make sure no young person spent Christmas alone, brought together 20 care leavers to enjoy the festive celebration with volunteers from Thurrock Council.  

Thurrock Council welcomes funding boost which is supporting young people

7 January 2026
Young people in Thurrock are benefitting from major investment which has been secured to create new opportunities, improve wellbeing, and help prevent youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
It’s been six months since the Active Essex Foundation secured a groundbreaking three-year partnership through the London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund (LFGCIF), helping expand its support for young people in Thurrock and Thames Estuary communities as part of the Sport and Life Skills prevention and intervention projects.

Adam Buxton shines a light on the need for more foster carers in a new documentary

6 January 2026
A new mini documentary has launched, following writer, comedian and family man Adam Buxton as he visits two local authority foster families in the East of England. Approaching fostering from the perspective of someone who “doesn’t know anything about children in care”. 

Over cups of tea, emptying the dishwasher, Top Trumps, a dog walk and a kick-about in the garden, Adam asks Gary and Catherine the kinds of questions people often have when first considering fostering. 

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