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| Why Thurrock is fast becoming a multi-cultural home | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Marin Gobjila, Adekunle Omirin and Rachael Onafuye have all put down roots in Thurrock | Marin Gobjila, Adekunle Omirin and Rachael Onafuye have all put down roots in Thurrock |
| Thurrock is home to more people born outside of the UK than any other district in Essex. A total 21% of its 176,000 residents were born abroad, compared with the 12% recorded 14 years ago. With its mix of urban sprawl and marshland countryside on the banks of the Thames, what attracted people here and how has it changed? | Thurrock is home to more people born outside of the UK than any other district in Essex. A total 21% of its 176,000 residents were born abroad, compared with the 12% recorded 14 years ago. With its mix of urban sprawl and marshland countryside on the banks of the Thames, what attracted people here and how has it changed? |
| A European supermarket, Romanian cake shop and Romanian accountancy firm can be found on Grays High Street | A European supermarket, Romanian cake shop and Romanian accountancy firm can be found on Grays High Street |
| Half of the people born outside of the UK in Thurrock are European, according to the 2021 Census. | Half of the people born outside of the UK in Thurrock are European, according to the 2021 Census. |
| Over the last decade, the number of Romanians in the district has gone from about 300 to 5,200. | Over the last decade, the number of Romanians in the district has gone from about 300 to 5,200. |
| Walking down Grays High Street, there is now a Romanian supermarket, cake shop and an accountancy company catering for the community. | Walking down Grays High Street, there is now a Romanian supermarket, cake shop and an accountancy company catering for the community. |
| This is the firm that Marin Gobjila opened a year ago. | This is the firm that Marin Gobjila opened a year ago. |
| "I believe here you can find cheaper rents and places to work that brought our community closer to areas like Grays," says Mr Gobjila, who moved to Essex four years ago. | "I believe here you can find cheaper rents and places to work that brought our community closer to areas like Grays," says Mr Gobjila, who moved to Essex four years ago. |
| "It's cheaper than London. | "It's cheaper than London. |
| "Amazon is the main thing [Romanian] people go to [for work]." | "Amazon is the main thing [Romanian] people go to [for work]." |
| Family feel | Family feel |
| Silvian Marin says Romanians moved to Thurrock to raise their families as it is cheaper and quieter than London but close to the capital for work | Silvian Marin says Romanians moved to Thurrock to raise their families as it is cheaper and quieter than London but close to the capital for work |
| Romanian Silvian Marin came to work in the UK in 2012. He and his wife later moved from London to South Ockendon. | Romanian Silvian Marin came to work in the UK in 2012. He and his wife later moved from London to South Ockendon. |
| He now runs his own travel and transportation company. | He now runs his own travel and transportation company. |
| The 42-year-old says Romanians typically moved to Thurrock to raise their families, and had "integrated in the community". | The 42-year-old says Romanians typically moved to Thurrock to raise their families, and had "integrated in the community". |
| "When I decided to purchase a house, we decided to look for somewhere very quiet and where we can send the kids to the park by themselves. It takes me 25 minutes to get to central London. I think most Romanians had the same idea." | "When I decided to purchase a house, we decided to look for somewhere very quiet and where we can send the kids to the park by themselves. It takes me 25 minutes to get to central London. I think most Romanians had the same idea." |
| Alongside the Romanian businesses are several hairdressers and barbers aimed at African communities, Asian food stores and Turkish restaurants. | Alongside the Romanian businesses are several hairdressers and barbers aimed at African communities, Asian food stores and Turkish restaurants. |
| Bubble tea and bao buns are available, but you can still get the ubiquitous Essex pie and mash. | Bubble tea and bao buns are available, but you can still get the ubiquitous Essex pie and mash. |
| 'Really changed' | 'Really changed' |
| Gillian Rainbow was born and raised in Thurrock, and says a lot of older people have moved away | Gillian Rainbow was born and raised in Thurrock, and says a lot of older people have moved away |
| Gillian Rainbow was born and grew up in Thurrock and says the area has "really changed" in the last 15 years - and, in her view, not for the better. | Gillian Rainbow was born and grew up in Thurrock and says the area has "really changed" in the last 15 years - and, in her view, not for the better. |
| "There's not as many locals as there used to be. Things have really changed," explains the 62-year-old, who volunteers at the Grays Town Park Cafe. | "There's not as many locals as there used to be. Things have really changed," explains the 62-year-old, who volunteers at the Grays Town Park Cafe. |
| "It's not as vibrant, it's not as homely. It's just got so many different things. | "It's not as vibrant, it's not as homely. It's just got so many different things. |
| "If you walk into Grays, it's mainly chicken shops, takeaways and charity shops. | "If you walk into Grays, it's mainly chicken shops, takeaways and charity shops. |
| "Whereas before there were clothes shops, ironmongers - you could get everything you wanted. Now you can't." | "Whereas before there were clothes shops, ironmongers - you could get everything you wanted. Now you can't." |
| On the growth of new communities in the area, Ms Rainbow says: "It's not bad, it's OK. | On the growth of new communities in the area, Ms Rainbow says: "It's not bad, it's OK. |
| "A lot of the older people that were Thurrock-based have moved out and have gone more rural. | "A lot of the older people that were Thurrock-based have moved out and have gone more rural. |
| "They wanted to go more quieter because it is a busy place." | "They wanted to go more quieter because it is a busy place." |
| 'Fabulous place' | 'Fabulous place' |
| There are hopes to make better connections between Grays High Street and the railway line down to the River Thames | There are hopes to make better connections between Grays High Street and the railway line down to the River Thames |
| Austin Bedeau describes Grays as "a fantastic area". | Austin Bedeau describes Grays as "a fantastic area". |
| He has seen Thurrock change since he moved here from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire a decade ago. | He has seen Thurrock change since he moved here from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire a decade ago. |
| "It's really developed, it's more multi-cultural," he says. "We've got people from all cultures walking around enjoying and embracing the culture that's around us. | "It's really developed, it's more multi-cultural," he says. "We've got people from all cultures walking around enjoying and embracing the culture that's around us. |
| "It's a fabulous place to live." | "It's a fabulous place to live." |
| 'Strong community' | 'Strong community' |
| Ruth Onafuye's Nigerian-born parents moved to Tilbury 30 years ago - one of the first Nigerian families to come to Thurrock | Ruth Onafuye's Nigerian-born parents moved to Tilbury 30 years ago - one of the first Nigerian families to come to Thurrock |
| After England, Nigeria is the country where most people living in Thurrock were born - representing 3% of its population. | After England, Nigeria is the country where most people living in Thurrock were born - representing 3% of its population. |
| The total number of Nigerians has increased by 62% between 2011 and 2021 - up to 5,500 in the district. | The total number of Nigerians has increased by 62% between 2011 and 2021 - up to 5,500 in the district. |
| Ruth Onafuye's family moved to Tilbury from London in the 1990s. | Ruth Onafuye's family moved to Tilbury from London in the 1990s. |
| Growing up, she says they were the only Nigerians living on their street for five or six years. | Growing up, she says they were the only Nigerians living on their street for five or six years. |
| "All of a sudden, Nigerian families started flocking in." | "All of a sudden, Nigerian families started flocking in." |
| Ms Onafuye - who is laughing over biscuits with her sister Rachael in the Thameside Complex - recalls: "Our dad likes to think he was a trend setter | Ms Onafuye - who is laughing over biscuits with her sister Rachael in the Thameside Complex - recalls: "Our dad likes to think he was a trend setter |
| "He is always like 'ah they came because we came!'." | "He is always like 'ah they came because we came!'." |
| The pair are both teachers and run their own education business. | The pair are both teachers and run their own education business. |
| The Empire Windrush brought hundreds of Caribbean migrants to the Port of Tilbury in 1948, and the 75th anniversary was celebrated at the port in June 2023 | The Empire Windrush brought hundreds of Caribbean migrants to the Port of Tilbury in 1948, and the 75th anniversary was celebrated at the port in June 2023 |
| For Nigerian-born Adekunle Omirin, the large African community already in Essex was the main pull factor for his partner and two daughters, who are from Hendon in north-west London. | For Nigerian-born Adekunle Omirin, the large African community already in Essex was the main pull factor for his partner and two daughters, who are from Hendon in north-west London. |
| "Family, community, was very key. The Nigerian community is very, very strong round here. | "Family, community, was very key. The Nigerian community is very, very strong round here. |
| "I wanted an enabling environment where my kids can play in the park because compared to what you have in north London, with all the police vans, it is a very busy place." | "I wanted an enabling environment where my kids can play in the park because compared to what you have in north London, with all the police vans, it is a very busy place." |
| The 42-year-old says food was a big factor too: "For someone like me I still love to eat our African dish - I would not live somewhere where I could not easily get it!" | The 42-year-old says food was a big factor too: "For someone like me I still love to eat our African dish - I would not live somewhere where I could not easily get it!" |
| Racheal Onafuye, 26, agrees: "When we were quite young we were still going to Upton Park to do our hair for so many years. | Racheal Onafuye, 26, agrees: "When we were quite young we were still going to Upton Park to do our hair for so many years. |
| "But for 10 years - we found our Essex hairdresser who is down the road and she moved from London." | "But for 10 years - we found our Essex hairdresser who is down the road and she moved from London." |
| Elsewhere in Essex | Elsewhere in Essex |
| Harlow has the second highest proportion of people born outside of the UK in Essex. Most are European with about 2,100 people born in Romania and 1,800 born in Poland. | Harlow has the second highest proportion of people born outside of the UK in Essex. Most are European with about 2,100 people born in Romania and 1,800 born in Poland. |
| On the other hand, 94.7% of residents in Rochford were born in England. | On the other hand, 94.7% of residents in Rochford were born in England. |
| It is in stark contrast to London, where 41% are born abroad. | It is in stark contrast to London, where 41% are born abroad. |
| Essex district % population born outside of the UK in 2021 | Essex district % population born outside of the UK in 2021 |
| Thurrock 21% | Thurrock 21% |
| Harlow 18.3% | Harlow 18.3% |
| Colchester 14.5% | Colchester 14.5% |
| Epping Forest 13.9% | Epping Forest 13.9% |
| Southend-On-Sea 12.5% | Southend-On-Sea 12.5% |
| Chelmsford 11.9% | Chelmsford 11.9% |
| Basildon 11.8% | Basildon 11.8% |
| Brentwood 11.2% | Brentwood 11.2% |
| Uttlesford 8.7% | Uttlesford 8.7% |
| Braintree 7.2% | Braintree 7.2% |
| Tendring 5% | Tendring 5% |
| Castle Point 4.8% | Castle Point 4.8% |
| Maldon 4.5% | Maldon 4.5% |
| Rochford 4% | Rochford 4% |
| Source: Census 2021 | Source: Census 2021 |
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