Borough is to get a second youth hub
By Nub News Reporter 16th Jun 2026
DESPITE millions of pounds being invested into a new youth centre and hub in Tilbury which is set to open next year, the government has today (Tuesday, 16 June) announced plans for another facility for young people to be built in the borough.
Its location has not yet been agreed, though borough MP Jen Craft is hopeful it will be in Grays or the west of the borough – though she acknowledges there may be calls for it to be sited in the east.
Thurrock will be one of 180 areas to benefit from a new facility backed by government funding. The Thurrock hub will be a central point where local young people can ask for advice, develop skills, and be directed towards local employment or education opportunities.
The government says It forms part of a wider youth hubs network rolled out across the country, which will mean every young person can get high-quality career support and guidance within one hour of where they live.
The scheme is part of Labour's wider national drive to tackle youth unemployment, backed by £2.5 billion of investment in apprenticeships, job training, and mental health support.
Mrs Craft does not see the new facility as competitive with the Onside Youth Zone Thames gateway youth hub currently under construction in Tilbury.
"It's surely a good thing that we are going to get two sites for our young people," she said.
Money for the Youth Zone build in Tilbury has been provided by the Tilbury Town Fund, despite local opposition to its location on green space on the Anchor Field. It will be giving Youth Zone £1 million a year for three years to meet operational costs.
More than £4m of other capital funding has come from grants from Thames Freeport and DP World's London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund (LGFCIF). £3 million from Thames Freeport and £1.3 million from DP World was donated so work could start earlier this year on construction.
The siting of the Onside zone in Tilbury was a matter of controversy when the idea was first conceived in 2022. The centre was said to be for the while of Thurrock and many believe Tilbury is not a great location due to transport and distance issues from other parts of the borough.
However, Onside's David Mellis said at the time: "We've been looking at different sites to make sure it's in the right place. It fits in Tilbury really well." He is featured in the following video about the Tilbury project,
Continuing her support for the new project, Mrs Craft Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, said: "I'm delighted that Thurrock is one of the areas set to benefit from Labour's network of Youth Hubs.
"Having grown up here, I know the difference that high-quality careers support will make for young people in our area.
"By bringing training and advice closer to home, the hub will help young people develop the skill and confidence they to access good job opportunities here in Thurrock."
Related stories include: -
The government says It forms part of a wider youth hubs network rolled out across the country, which will mean every young person can get high-quality career support and guidance within one hour of where they live.
- A full list of the areas set to get a new Youth Hub can be found on the DWP website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
- Details of the £2.5 billion investment in young people https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-employment-drive-to-help-unlock-200000-new-jobs-and-apprenticeships-for-next-generation
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