Breaking Ground on Opportunity: Thames Gateway Youth Zone
A major milestone for young people across Thurrock and the Thames Freeport was marked this week, as partners gathered in Tilbury to celebrate the ground breaking of the new OnSide Thames Gateway Youth Zone.
The event brought together local leaders, funders and community partners to see progress on what will become a transformational space for young people. Construction is underway and the event was joined by, young people from the Young People’s Development Group, who have helped shape the plans, and also spoke at the event.
Delivered by national charity OnSide in partnership with Thurrock Council and Tilbury Towns Fund, the Youth Zone will provide a state-of-the-art facility for thousands of young people each year. It will offer sports, creative arts, skills development and employability support, helping young people build confidence, ambition and pathways into work.
The project reflects strong public and private sector collaboration around a shared goal: investing in the next generation. Contributions from Thames Freeport through seed funding, and from DP World’s London Gateway, have been key to unlocking delivery and keeping the scheme moving.
As highlighted by London Gateway:
London Gateway said the groundbreaking marked a major moment for the project. The London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund (LGFCIF) has contributed £1.3 million to the capital funding alongside Thames Freeport, Thurrock Council and the Tilbury Towns Fund. Two fund committee members, Craig Cripps of London City Bond and Marcin Rutkowski of Ranson, also attended, and the Youth Zone project team is now looking ahead to the official opening in 2027!
This investment reflects Thames Freeport’s wider commitment to inclusive growth, ensuring regeneration and economic opportunity deliver real benefits for local communities.
With construction progressing, attention now turns to the Youth Zone’s opening and for Tilbury and the wider Thames Freeport it represents more than a building; it is a long-term investment in opportunity, skills and community.
Alongside the Barking & Dagenham Youth Zone already within the Freeport area, the new Tilbury Youth Zone will create another major opportunity for young people across Thurrock and Tilbury.
