OVER a dozen members of the Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions (TLS) undertook an arduous Firebreak course at Corringham Fire Station recently. The course taught first-aid, working as a team and to have confidence in yourself.
Thurrock Council seemed to be making in-roads in challenging shops that were serving under-agers alcohol. The year seemed to be punctuated with fires at disused buildings in Tilbury. Each month seemed to be decision time for the Dartford Crossing.
A LOOK back on what was making the headlines in January, February and March in Thurrock in 2013. There is always a fascinating array of stories from across the subjects in the borough.
THURROCK elves have been working overtime this Christmas to make a new Father Christmas suit for one of the Borough's politicians. Essex Euro MP Richard Howitt donned the home-made costume when he acted as not-so 'Secret Santa' at Thurrock Labour Party's Christmas Social.
ADULT SOCIAL CARE boss, cllr Barbara Rice has pledged to improve the number of health checks Thurrock GPs are giving to people with learning needs. In October, YT reported that since 2009, doctors across Thurrock have signed up to the Directive Enhanced Service (DES), which is an extra payment of £50 given to individual GP’s for each person registered with them who has a diagnosis of a Learning Difficulty.
THE Thurrock Coalition has announced an initiative with Thurrock Council to improve the availability of accessible and inclusive sports opportunities in the borough. Feedback from the recent Thurrock Coalition “Sport For You” conference indicated that too few accessible sporting options are available for disabled people. The opportunities that were available were not widely advertised and transport was costly getting to and from venues.
EARLIER THIS year, Tilbury stalwart, Charlie Lawrence ran the London Marathon for charity. It looks like Charlie has not stopped since as he recently completed a charity run for Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions.
SOUTH Ockendon won the toss and elected to bat. Kelly-Marie opened the batting and hit an impressive 22 but Grant from STCT took a wicket and so managed to restrict her to 17 – still the top score of the day. After further worthy contributions by Keith and Terry - 14 respectively and a 16 from Allen, the only other Socks wicket to fall was that of James to the tight bowling of Phillip. Team Captain Sunny was last man in adding another 12 to the total. Hitting a team total of 84 runs and losing only two wickets meant Socks ended their innings looking strong on 274.
LAST WEEK over two hundred members of Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions gathered at Grays fire station for a one day seminar entitled Stay Safe. The event did, as its title suggests, cover how individuals and more specifically, those with learning difficulties can stay safe and be aware of the danger signals.
"The figures speak for themselves. We have been contacted by individuals, parents, groups and organisations who support residents in Thurrock with Learning Difficulties (LD) and been told of those who’s GP’s have openly refused to carry out the checks of our residents with LD who have life limiting diseases or who have in fact died of conditions that MAY have been avoidable had they been picked up sooner."
IT WAS a great night down at the Thameside, where funky beats and amazing grooves were pounding from the third floor. The whole event was organised by Liam from Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions. As he was busy on the wheels of steel, we spoke to Chloe Levelle about how the night came about.
IF YOU ever want to be reminded why there are people who help other people, then go to the five minute mark in this film. Cricket for All spent a week at Stanford-le-Hope CC with the team at Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions.
