Activating Neighbourhoods across Thurrock
Increasing physical activity through community-led engagement
Tilbury was identified through Place Partnership funding as an area needing targeted support to help residents become more physically active. Achieve Thrive Flourish (ATF), already rooted in local schools and employing sports leaders from the community, partnered with Active Essex to activate green spaces and better understand what local people wanted from physical activity opportunities.
With support from the Find Your Active Physical Activity Co‑ordinator and the Tilbury Physical Activity Network, ATF hosted a well-attended Discovery Day at Koala Park on 15 July. The event brought together families, councillors, schools, charities and volunteers to try activities such as Kangaroo Jumps, dance, Performing Pets and a community food share, while sharing their views on what Tilbury needs. Following its success, ATF introduced weekly free youth sessions at Koala Park and Anchor Park, attracting around 20 young people each week. ATF has since grown its offer through LeapSprog session's for preschoolers and social prescribing support, embedding physical activity across multiple age groups.
Active Essex supported the initiative through Place Partnership funding and by working closely with ATF and local partners to understand community needs. The Find Your Active Physical Activity Co‑ordinator played a central role in bringing organisations together through monthly Tilbury Physical Activity Network meetings at Tilbury Library, offering a shared space for collaboration, training and planning. This leadership strengthened partnerships, generated new ideas, and helped initiatives such as the LeapSprog trial at Tilbury Library become regular sessions. Active Essex’s involvement has created a more connected system around physical activity in Tilbury and helped build momentum for long-term change.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Locally trusted leadership
ATF’s Locally Trusted status reinforced the value of community partners.
Transparent communication
Initial feedback highlighted gaps in communication around funding.
Shared learning through networks
Shared learning through the network helped spread successful delivery.
Coordination across places
Delivering across multiple venues highlighted the need for clear coordination.
System working over competition
Collaboration helped partners align priorities and strengthen local provision.
The Place Partnership process identified ATF as a strong Locally Trusted Organisation due to its community roots and evidence-based approach. However, some local groups initially felt excluded from funding opportunities, highlighting the need for transparent communication and collaborative planning. By using the Tilbury Physical Activity Network to connect partners and encouraging shared learning, Active Essex and ATF are now helping other organisations adopt successful delivery models. Logistical challenges also arose, such as coordinating delivery across multiple parks and managing expectations around who leads new provision.
When ATF began delivering at Koala Park, the grass was too overgrown for sport. After Active Essex raised this with Thurrock Council, regular maintenance was introduced. Local residents have noticed the improvement, and the park is now being used more frequently by families and young children, creating a more active community environment.
Active Essex and ATF plan to expand physical activity activation into more areas of Tilbury and neighbouring districts over the next two years. Discovery Days and insights gathered by the Find Your Active Co‑ordinator will help identify gaps and priority neighbourhoods. The aim is to continue working with community organisations to build ownership, develop local leaders and strengthen the long-term sustainability of physical activity provision.
