Thurrock locality
176,788 residents live in Thurrock. With over 18 miles of riverfront, Thurrock covers an area of 64 square miles and is a unitary authority that sits within part of the Active Essex south west hub.
Despite a median age of 36, there is a reduced life expectancy in Thurrock, due to high levels of obesity, which is notably worse than both the East of England and nationally. 35.7% of adults are living within NSSEC groups, which again is 3.9% more than the national picture. Both of which contributes to the low level of active adults in Thurrock – 54.2% against England’s 63.4% active adult population.
Measuring impact in Thurrock to improve outcomes for residents
55.8% of Tilbury residents are leading an active lifestyle.
With Tilbury identified as a priority area needing additional support to help residents become more physically active and utilising locally trusted organisations with community connections have helped activate local green spaces.
17.9% of children in Thurrock lack park/outdoor sports spaces.
Thurrock Big Lunch events began last summer as a way to unite the
community in local parks, using a collaborative working group consisting of council teams, leisure sector, children’s services and Active Essex.
60% reduction in reported anti-social behaviour in Thurrock since 2020.
The Active Essex Foundation Sport and Life Skills project is using a blended approach of sport, mentoring, volunteering and life skills to divert vulnerable young people from exploitation, gangs and anti-social behaviour.
Making movement a priority in Thurrock
Thurrock was chosen as a new Place Partner due to its significant wealth and health divide, with some areas seeing extremely high levels of deprivation and poor health. Additionally, 35.7% of young people in Thurrock are inactive, which is considerably higher than England’s active lives data.
Work in Thurrock is focusing on areas of greatest need, particularly regarding increasing levels of physical activity and building the capacity of voluntary and community organisations in the most inactive and deprived areas, including Tilbury, Chadwell St Mary and South Ockendon. With a shared purpose of ‘connecting people to place through physical activity’, the Place Partnership opportunity in Thurrock is helping to ensure there are more inclusive and accessible physical activity opportunities available to key target audiences.
Thurrock is united by ambition and driven by movement, the following case studies show how the district is contributing to the Fit for the Future Strategy.
