Thurrock Sport and Life Skills
Expanding Early Intervention Through Sport
The Thurrock Sport and Life Skills programme has expanded significantly in 2025/26 following the establishment of a groundbreaking three year partnership funded by the London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund (LFGCIF).
Building on a successful pilot delivered in 2024/25, the expanded programme will use sport as a hook, combined with mentoring, volunteering and life skills development, the programme supports young people aged 11–24 who are at risk of exploitation, youth crime or anti‑social behaviour.
The initiative is now embedded within Thurrock’s wider prevention approach, aligning with local priorities around youth crime reduction, mental health and community safety.
Building a Trusted Local Delivery Network
Active Essex Foundation, alongside the Active Essex South West Hub team, has played a central role in developing and scaling the programme. Through a strong partnership with DP World, Active Essex Foundation was able to demonstrate the impact of the 2024/25 pilot.
Active Essex Foundation now leads the coordination of more than 20 locally trusted organisations delivering sport and life skills interventions across Thurrock. In addition, Active Essex provides training, monitoring and evaluation support, ensuring delivery meets agreed KPIs and contributes to whole system change. To further strengthen collaboration, Active Essex has established the Thurrock Sport and Life Skills Network Forum, supporting shared learning and partnership working.
This partnership is more than just about funding; it’s a lifeline for young people in Thurrock… creating safe spaces, building confidence, and opening doors to brighter futures.Suzanne Page, Project Manager, Active Essex Foundation
Wider System Impact
Stronger trust and collaboration are being created between community, statutory, and voluntary sector partners, supported by increased political and corporate commitment to early intervention and youth development. At the same time, the profile of sport as a powerful tool for social change in Thurrock is being raised, creating new pathways for young people to access qualifications, volunteering roles, and leadership opportunities.
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.
Relationships
Take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken.
Sport as a Hook
Sport combined with mentoring and creativity builds confidence and reduces risk.
Quality at Scale
Scaling across partners requires strong quality assurance.
Accountability
Shared outcomes and clear monitoring protect impact as programmes grow.
The programme will continue to scale over the next three years, aiming to reach hundreds more young people and further embed sport‑based interventions within Thurrock’s prevention system. Planned developments include expanded mentoring pathways, access to recognised qualifications, and the creation of sustainable volunteering and employment routes.
The Thurrock Sport and Life Skills Network Forum will continue to grow, with ambitions to engage new partners and extend this work across a wider Thames area footprint from 2026 onwards.
