Supporters gather at Youth Zone’s Site Celebration

On 3 June, local supporters, partners and young people came together for the OnSide Youth Zone Thames Gateway Site Celebration event, to get an exciting first look at the construction's progress.

The Youth Zone is a state-of-the-art youth centre being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with Thurrock Council and Tilbury Towns Fund. Once complete, the Youth Zone will be an independent charity and part of the growing OnSide Network of 18 Youth Zones nationwide, supporting more than 60,000 young people annually to explore their potential. The Youth Zone has also received generous capital funding from Thames Freeport, DP World's London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund , Lord and Lady Harris of Peckham and Matchroom Foundation. Other k ey supporters include ASOS, Tilbury Green Power, Google and John Bothamley.

The event began with guests being welcomed at Tilbury Community Association for refreshments, followed by speeches from Chair of Tilbury Town's Fund, Kevin Sadler, the Youth Zone's CEO Bethanie Cundy, President of Matchroom Sport Ltd and supporter of the Youth Zone, Barry Hearn OBE, and members of the Young People's Development Group (YPDG). The Youth Zone's YPDG is a group of engaged local young people who play a pivotal role in developing what the Youth Zone will become.

Barry Hearn OBE, President of Matchroom Sport Ltd said: 'All my life I've loved nurturing talent. We know everyone's DNA is unique, so we are all good at something different. All young people should have access to places like Youth Zones to discover their talent - and especially for blue collar careers or entrepreneurs like me. For several years I've been supporting the Youth Zone near where I grew up in Barking and Dagenham and now I'm so proud to help bring one closer to my business HQ in Essex. Let's all get behind our young people and help them fly.'

Following the speeches, guests made the short trip to the site itself on Anchor Fields, to see the construction in action, and learn about the key milestones achieved so far. These include the near completion of the foundations and underground infrastructure work,

which will provide a strong base for the building, as it begins to rise above ground. And it will be rising very soon! The steel frame - which is the underlying structure of the building, supporting the roof, floor and walls - will start to be erected in the coming weeks. Each of these key construction milestones is paving the way to the Youth Zone's opening, which is planned for late 2027.

Cllr Richard Bingley, Leader of Thurrock Council said of the event: "It looks amazing. I actually used to come down to this area as a child, so it's quite hard to get my head around, actually - it's awesome. The size of it was way beyond what I was expecting and I'm aware of the other Youth Zones in other parts of the country, but ultimately, I can't wait for this to open.

You've got so many important businesses here in Thurrock and so many global companies. There have been a lot of contributions from the private sector and also public sector organisations into the Youth Zone. It's ultimately a microcosm of how we need to progress things as we reset Thurrock as a borough council."

Stuart Rimmer, Interim CEO, Thames Freeport, said: 'We are proud to support the OnSide Youth Zone Thames Gateway, a transformational investment in the future of our young people locally. By providing a safe, inspiring space for young people to develop their skills, confidence and aspirations, the Youth Zone will play a vital role in connecting local talent to the jobs and industries emerging across the Freeport, and in and around Tilbury and Thurrock. This is exactly the kind of inclusive growth we are working to deliver, where regeneration, skills development and community benefit go hand in hand. We are committed to supporting the creation of jobs and long-term opportunities for local residents and investing in young people today is essential in this journey.'

Alan Shaoul, Chief Financial Officer, UK Ports & Terminals, DP World, said: "The Youth Zone will be a fantastic resource for young people across Thurrock, providing a place where they can develop new skills, make friends and build confidence for the future. It will also create jobs and volunteering opportunities that will benefit the wider local community. "The DP World team at London Gateway is committed to creating a lasting positive impact in the community. Supporting the Youth Zone is a natural extension of that commitment, and it is great to see the project reach such an important milestone."

Once open, the Youth Zone will offer a safe and welcoming space all year round to young people aged between eight and 18 (up to 25 for those with additional needs), for just £5 annual membership and 50p a visit. Those who sign up will have access to an indoor climbing wall, two-court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym with boxing facilities, a performing arts space, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, sensory room, and an enterprise and employability suite.

The Young People's Development Group said: "The Youth Zone can help make a difference in the area to help get kids in this generation off their phones, off the street and start socialising with others."

In addition to these incredible facilities, trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available to offer guidance and holistic support, to help the area's young people to thrive. The Youth Zone will also benefit the wider community and create permanent full and part-time jobs, as well as many volunteering opportunities.

Bethanie Cundy, OnSide Youth Zone Thames Gateway CEO said: " OnSide Youth Zone Thames Gateway would not be possible without our dedicated supporters. To be able thank them and come together today to celebrate its progress, has been fantastic. Not only will you find the Youth Zone's strong foundations on site, you'll also find them building amongst a community determined to empower Thurrock's young people."