Plymouth Chronicle Central & Waterfront

Chronicle Plymouth

See inside for news and information from Plymouth City Council Pages 2 and 3

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Central & Waterfront

March 2021

COVID UPDATE

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Gables Dogs and Cats Home are caring for a 13 year old cat who has been evicted from his home See page 15

Talented singer Esther Cole has made her way through to The Voice Battle Rounds See page 13

ALSO INSIDE: • Dial the Experts • Cross Rhythms • Local news and Experience views • Useful numbers

Toby says: Dance away those Covid blues!

Toby Gorniak of Plymouth’s Street Factory is encouraging local people to get up on their feet and join a global dance phenomenon...

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth is a registered charity number 280681

and help blow away the COVID blues • See story on page 6

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2 March 2021

2 March 2021

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We will make Plymouth stronger

By Councillor Tudor Evans Leader of Plymouth City Council Over the past few weeks I have been reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on Plymouth.

The pandemic has been devastating for so many people – not just in Plymouth but across the globe. The danger of COVID-19 is self-evident. As I write this today we have lost 187 local people to this terrible virus, with many more fighting for their lives.

Whilst the pandemic has been (and will continue to be) hugely challenging, it has also been inspirational seeing how we, residents, community groups, charities and businesses have pulled together

to support one and all through such turbulent times.

Now there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. The NHS vaccination roll-out programme is well underway.

But that isn’t the end of the COVID-19 story. The cost of the pandemic will have a lasting impact – to our local economy, to our NHS, to our people.

We have recently published our Council budget, which outlines how we will invest in future local services that will continue to protect Plymouth despite a greater demand on our services.

We now have more people than ever claiming Council Tax Support. There has been an increase in the number of residents who are homeless or threatened with homelessness – with at least 2,760

now needing our help. We’ve also seen a rise in those who are furloughed or unemployed.

Over 3,580 vulnerable adults need our social care support and since March 2020 we have seen significant increases in the number of children who are in care, costing over £4 million a year.

We must be braced for these numbers to rise. And we must prioritise our finances for those most in need.

Therefore, at the heart of this budget is the need to keep Plymouth safe and help the city come back stronger.

I would like to end by thanking you for everything you are doing to keep our infection rates low. I know it has been tough. We will get to the other side of this and there will be brighter tomorrows.

LET’S NOT TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS

I am pleased that as I write this, our COVID-19 infection rates are continuing to drop. This is great news, although I think the increase we saw was a bit of a wake-up call that it really doesn’t take much for case numbers to escalate.

Once again a huge thank-you for your hard work, the sacrifices you have made in not seeing your families and friends and the upheaval in your working lives and education of children.

But when it comes to saving lives, it has been worth it.

We must not take our foot off the gas. You will have all heard the news about the new strains of COVID-19 across the country. This new strain is virulent and spreads fast.

The NHS vaccination programme is accelerating across the city and thousands

of people have already had their first dose, either at a hospital, GP Hub, the new largescale vaccination centre at Home Park or a local pharmacy.

You will have hopefully seen the NHS call-out to those who are 70 or over, or clinically extremely vulnerable, who have not yet received the vaccine. If that is you please contact the NHS now and register for your vaccination. You can do this online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119. Everyone else, please wait until you are contacted.

In the coming week we will also be launching our new Community Testing Programme, where we will be inviting local key workers who are not displaying symptoms to have a regular COVID-19 test.

Please make sure you watch the Council’s website and social media feeds for more information.

And finally – I know I don’t need to remind everyone – but please help us keep our infection rates down by continuing to follow the lockdown rules.

I know everyone is tired and restless, but if we get this right, it will save a lot of anguish in months to come.

Stay Safe Plymouth.

By Dr Ruth Harrell Director of Public Health for Plymouth

HOW TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE

You can check the latest number of COVID-19 cases in Plymouth on the Council’s website at: www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19. There are also daily updates on the Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Vaccine continues to roll out across Plymouth Thousands of people in Plymouth are now being vaccinated against COVID-19, as the biggest vaccination programme in the NHS’s history gathers pace.

A few weeks ago the Home Park vaccination centre opened. The centre is managed by the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and will provide local people with another option when they receive their invitation for an appointment.

More than 145,000 people have received their first jab in Devon, with around 80 per cent of people aged 80 and over already vaccinated.

We know you will have questions about the vaccine and we hope the following information will help.

Who is being offered the vaccine?

The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus. At this time, the vaccine is being offered to people over 70, those who work in care homes and health and care workers at high risk. The vaccine will be offered more widely, and at other locations, as soon as possible.

How will I know it is my turn to get the vaccine?

The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It is important NOT to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then, unless you are

over 70 or clinically extremely vulnerable and haven’t yet been invited. When it is the right time for you to receive your vaccination, you will receive an invitation either by telephone or letter from your GP or the national booking system. This letter will include all the information you will need to book appointments, including your NHS number.

Is the vaccine safe?

Yes. The MHRA, the official UK regulator, says the vaccines are very safe and highly effective. As with any medicine, vaccines

are highly regulated products. There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process and continued monitoring once it has been authorised and is being rolled out.

Do I need to have the vaccine if I have already had COVID-19?

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection.

Can I have the vaccine if I am pregnant?

The vaccines have not yet been tested in pregnancy, so until more information is available, in general those who are pregnant should not have this vaccine.

It is best to delay until after the baby is born; the vaccine is safe to have if you are breastfeeding. There may be a few exceptions such as when the woman is at very high risk for COVID-19, where they may decide to proceed after discussion with their GP or specialist. There is no evidence that the vaccine can affect fertility, and you do not need to avoid pregnancy after the vaccine.

Do I still need to follow the lockdown rules if I have received the vaccine?

Yes. It is really important to remember that it takes about three weeks for your own immune system to respond to the vaccine and for you to be protected. Those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are reminded that they must continue to follow the public health rules, including staying at home, social distancing, regularly washing hands and wearing a face covering.

For more information about the vaccine visit www.togetherfordevon.uk.

March 2021

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Don’t get caught out by scammers As the COVID-19 vaccination programme steps up a gear, Plymouth City Council is urging residents to beware of vaccine fraudsters.

The vaccine is a vital tool in our fight against COVID-19 and a safe and effective way to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.

Sadly, there have been cases reported of dishonest individuals approaching members of the public to offer vaccines in return for payment. Therefore, we want to remind everyone that the COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge and that the NHS will get in touch when it is your turn to receive it.

If you’re contacted by anyone claiming to

be from the NHS who asks for payment or a fee – or who gives you a link to a website to take payment for the vaccine – it is a scam.

No-one from the NHS would come and knock on your door unannounced and you would not receive emails inviting you to click on links.

If anyone approaches you in this way, or attempts to force or coerce you into handing over funds – in person or otherwise – always contact the police.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk

24/7 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE IN PLYMOUTH

Livewell Southwest is here to support you if you’re struggling with your mental health.

Livewell is the social enterprise delivering free NHS mental health support for children and adults across Plymouth, including the First Response Service and Crisis Response Service, who provide 24/7 dedicated support if you’re experiencing a mental health crisis.

First Response supports people aged 18 and over who might be feeling unsafe, distressed or worried about their mental health.

The free service is available 24/7 on 0800 923 9323. Calls are answered by a trained mental health professional who will offer

dedicated support and advice or signpost or refer you to another service.

Face-to-face visits are made when necessary and the team can support people virtually via the Livewell Connect app.

Children and young people struggling with their mental health can also access round-the-clock support from their Crisis Response Service by calling 01752 435122.

And if you’re generally struggling with anxiety, depression or you’ve been feeling down lately, you can access help from Livewell’s Plymouth Options service.

It’s perfectly normal to be feeling this way during uncertain times and it’s important to access support if you are.

It’s a free, confidential NHS talking therapy service that can help you feel better, by giving you the tools and techniques to help improve your wellbeing.

Options is open to people aged 16 and over who are registered with a Plymouth GP and you can self-refer by emailing PCHCIC. plymouthoptions@ nhs.net, by calling 01752 435419 or by searching for ‘Plymouth Options’ online.

Financial support available to help Plymouth businesses Plymouth business owners are urged to check what financial support is available to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Invest Plymouth website (investplymouth. co.uk) is regularly updated with the latest news and advice for businesses and you can sign up to receive the email newsletter to get all the information you need directly into your inbox.

The Plymouth City Council-run website also contains all the details of the coronavirus business grants, the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) and the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

This includes everything business owners need to know about eligibility, if and how you

can claim and guidance about the process.

The LRSG is available to support rate-paying businesses that have been forced to close due to lockdown restrictions, while the ARG is a discretionary fund to support other businesses that have been severely impacted by the pandemic.

These grant schemes are intended to help with fixed business costs rather than to replace lost income.

Since April 2020, the Council has paid out more than £64 million in grants to thousands of local businesses to support them through the challenges of the last year.

You can also stay up-to-date with all the latest business news in Plymouth by following @InvestPlymouth on Twitter.

NOTE: The information on these pages was correct at time of going to press on February 18.

Please visit plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19 for latest updates or sign up for email updates with the latest news and information at bit.ly/plymouthemailalerts

3

Major funding boost for key city projects

4 March 2021

@PlymChronicle

Almost £7m will be pumped into Plymouth to help important new construction projects get off the ground in 2021.

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership has announced it will be allocated money from the government’s Getting Building Fund to invest in major infrastructure projects to support economic growth across the city. Working in partnership with Plymouth City Council and local businesses, it is expected that this investment will create or safeguard more than 80 jobs or apprenticeships.

The projects, chosen after a robust selection process, will play an important role in Plymouth’s economic recovery programme, Resurgam, by supporting employment, regeneration, skills and innovation in the region.

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Tudor Evans, said: “This is a major shot in the arm for Plymouth’s economy and will make a significant contribution to our recovery from the pandemic. We put forward business cases for a number of exciting shovel-ready projects and I’m excited that they will now have lift off in the near future.

“Through Resurgam we want to deliver economic recovery and growth for Plymouth by improving the city’s infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions and saving or creating jobs for local people. Frankly, construction can’t start soon enough and we expect workers to be on-site this spring.”

Karl Tucker, chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The HotSW LEP’s Getting Building Fund aims to support ready-to-go projects that will deliver new jobs and contribute to our area’s postCOVID recovery. We are delighted to have been able to award nearly £7m through the fund to Plymouth City Council, to help deliver a range of major projects that will improve the city’s infrastructure, create new jobs and significantly support Plymouth’s economic recovery.”

The projects given the green light by today’s funding announcement are: An additional £4.17 million for Phase 2 of Brunel Plaza/train station concourse development. The city has ambitious plans to transform the station, which has not seen significant investment in decades, by creating a thriving new plaza with operational staff accommodation. Phase 2 of these ambitious plans will create more than 60 new jobs.

Around £2 million will be spent on two of the city’s business parks. Up to 10 low carbon, flexible workspaces will be created at Plymouth International, while a former computer complex at the City Business Park in Stoke will be demolished and groundworks undertaken to develop a viable site for future construction. £300,000 will be spent on helping make more than 600 homes around the city more energy efficient. The households selected will be in fuel poverty meaning they spend a greater than average proportion of their income on energy bills. The project is also expected to give a £1m boost to local small businesses. £350,000 to invest in state-of-the-art third generation technology to create the largest Augmented Reality welding training lab in Europe at City College Plymouth. This will showcase the Heart of the South West LEP region as a world-leader in adopting disruptive technology to improve productivity and results in the welding sector, and attracting a much-needed new generation to welding through gamification and innovation.

Toby’s spreading cheer again!

Plymouth’s Street Factory is encouraging people to get involved with a dance movement which is connecting people globally.

The charity, creators of the UK’s first Hip Hop theatre want people of all ages to learn the steps of the trending Jerusalem dance.

The Jerusalema Challenge is a gospel-influenced house song by South African producer, Master KG and performed by singer-songwriter, Nomcebo.

Co-founder of Street Factory, Toby Gorniak, has created a tutorial of the dance moves for people in Plymouth and beyond to learn and post online, tagging their friends, family and co-workers, challenging them to also do the dance in a bid to forge connections on a global level during the global pandemic.

The dance trend began in February last year, when Fenomenos do Semba, a group in Angola, south-west Africa, recorded themselves dancing to the song while eating and without dropping their plates. The dance gained momentum almost immediately, entering the western world.

The Street Factory team were so taken with

this global dance phenomenon that they will be incorporating it into their Mayflower honorary commemorative dance activity in July 2021, titled ‘Roots Up!’, more details of which are to be announced shortly. As part of this activity, the team will focus on links between Plymouth, the USA, the Netherlands and the Wampanoag tribes.

However, this dance spans all nations.

The song’s lyrics, ‘Go with me, protect me and don’t leave me behind’ resonates with Toby G’s life story. Toby arrived in Plymouth from his native Poland aged just 14, unable to speak a word of English.

He and his family, all members of the Romani gypsy community, were fleeing persecution and came to Britain seeking refuge. The lyrics also resonate with the wider Mayflower story and generally echo the sentiment of the world right now as we collectively battle through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some Plymouth-based businesses have already reached out to the team to advise they are super keen to learn the dance. These include well-known master locksmith, Sir Fix a Lock and One Plymouth,

the city’s independent media group.

Toby G, said: “We are so excited by the Jerusalema dance challenge and love everything this stands for as a literal mass ‘movement’. It’s fun, positive, uplifting, joyful and uniting. So much so, that we will incorporate this into our Mayflower 400 commemorative activity later this year, as it is topical, contemporary and relevant to today with the overarching theme of connection across borders.

“This is particularly important during a time when everyone is feeling isolated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dance and music are universal, they see no boundaries. Here at Street Factory, we also don’t see boundaries or race, we believe we are all one. So, come on people of Plymouth, get learning this dance, remaining socially distanced of course and strictly within your bubbles.”

The dance can be viewed and learnt by visiting www.youtube.comwatch?v=l1qtKcaYXlA&feature =youtu.be Send videos through to Street Factory’s Facebook page and the team will share across their platforms.

than the furniture fly tipping began. Two days later a large brown arm chair had appeared. But that wasn’t the end of it. The next day I had a message from a resident to say that the arm chair had been joined by two sofas and a bedframe, creating a giant pile of furniture behind Estate Agent DC Lane.

“Once again I contacted the council about the mess and appealed for witnesses who may have seen this criminal activity.

“The problem is that it’s two steps forward and three steps back. You clear up an area of the neighbourhood, then the mess comes back again.

We’re in the middle of a pandemic and I’m having to contact traders to tell them about the mess on their properties. That’s just not fair.

“So how do you solve a problem like Mutley?

Having cleared the waste the city council was forced to quarantine it for 72 hours. The task that then followed was to sift through the waste to identify culprits. Those individuals will face enforcement action in the form of a fine.

“But what really is required, is a behavioural change,” she said. “The mess in the lane demonstrates a lack of understanding around waste and recycling – what can and cannot be recycled. Overflowing commercial bins need

to be emptied more often, and businesses are responsible for that.

“There’s little evidence of ownership of a waste problem, and I’ve watched individuals try and cram more waste into overflowing bins. Needles, tin cans and human waste is a sign of a more unpleasant anti-social and criminal activity in the lane.

Street drink and drug taking has not gone away in Lockdown, and it’s not an easy problem to fix.

“The fly tipping is blatant criminal activity. If you have a set of wheels to cart your junk to the street corner, they you have the means to take it to the tip”, she argued. “We will be checking CCTV in the area – moving a sofa is a two person job, I’m looking for you, and if we find you, you will be fined.” She is calling for residents, landlords and traders in the area to take responsibility for their individual waste and to dispose of it responsibly.

The recycling centre at Chelson Meadow is open, and Weston Mill is open at the weekend for the disposal of excessive domestic waste and bulky items. She invited residents to offer any suggestions that they may feel will help improve the area.

Councillor Johnson can be reached via social media, email: andrea.johnson@plymouth.gov.uk or telephone 07825 034809

Councillor slams Mutley fly-tippers Independent Plymouth City Councillor Andrea Johnson had a big shock when she took her daily exercise through Mutley Plain’s service lane known as Mutley Plain Lane recently.

The sight that met the her was a street littered with abandoned waste, human waste, broken glass, beer cans, KFC food waste, used drug needles, overflowing bins and commercial containers, fly tipping and graffiti.

Cllr Johnson, whose ward of Compton includes the shopping district of Mutley Plain flew into action by photographing the extensive mess, and contacting Plymouth City Council.

“I have never seen anything like it” said Cllr Johnson, “I turned to my husband and asked him if he was seeing what I was seeing. We both agreed it was shocking, the worst we’d ever seen the lane look, a complete public health risk.” She added: “I cannot understand how anyone would want to live in this filth. The lack of pride in the community hit me really hard. I penned a heartfelt message to my council colleagues and begged for help.

“It’s a mixed use shopping area,” she explained “this side of Mutley Plain features shops, takeaways, bars and fast food. There’s also occupied accommodation above the units.

It’s a busy area and whilst service lanes are rarely designed to look great, they do perform a function, and they should be safe for the public.”

What then followed was a rapid clean-up operation and by the next day the area had been stripped of the waste, bins emptied, and food waste removed. Two fixed penalty notices were immediately issued. “The transformation was instant,” said Cllr Johnson, “and the crew who cleared the lane did an amazing job.”

But what happened next really did upset the community. “No sooner had the lane been cleared,

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MPs join forces to lobby for bluefin tuna fishery Two South West MPs have joined forces to call for Ministers to approve a catch and release fishery for bluefin tuna to help boost the recovery of seaside communities.

Plymouth’s Luke Pollard MP and Derek Thomas MP for St Ives, have called on the Government to pilot a science-led project that would allow for these fish to be caught, studied, tagged and then released back into the wild.

Coronavirus has hit the charter boat and recreational fishing sectors with businesses across the region facing real financial difficulties.

This new fishery would give a new selling point in an industry that is worth more than commercial fishing to the UK economy.

Blue fin tuna are now coming back into South West waters in increasing numbers and Ministers will soon decide whether to grant fishing licences to catch these fish.

The two MPs believe that instead of catching the fish for food consumption there should be a special catch and release fishery created to enable better scientific understanding of why local waters are seeing an increase in this species of tuna.

This catch and release pilot would also support the environmental recovery of bluefin numbers that are still classed as endangered due to past overfishing. They are the largest tunas, can live up to 40 years and can grow to between six and 10 feet in length and weigh up to 1500 lbs or 700kg.

Bluefin tuna are able to survive being caught and so can be released back into the ocean providing a boost to tourism businesses as well as providing scientists with more data about this species’ increasing presence in South West waters.

The two MPs have met with the Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis MP, to lobby for the creation of a science-led catch and release fishery that could enable tagging of these fish as well as a big boost in tourism for the region.

The Minister is currently considering whether to approve the first catch and release fishery for Bluefin Tuna in south west waters and this crossparty, cross-county work is building the case for granting this licence.

Luke Pollard MP said: “In Parliament I have argued that a new catch and release fishery would create new jobs in tourism across the south west and give a boost to charter boat operators after a tough year. It would also help us better understand the changing migration patterns of this majestic fish and support the recovery of coastal communities. It is a win-win proposal that I hope Ministers support.”

The MPs are in continuing discussions with the Fisheries Minister and hope that an announcement can be made by Government later this year about the creation of a limited pilot project allowing for the processes of measuring, tagging and releasing to be perfected before being rolled out on a wider basis in future years.

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Popular milkman is kept even busier during the pandemic Milkman Steve Cornew - delivering to Plymouth customers for 40 years

Soroptimists helping with laptops for children who study at home

Plymouth Soroptimists have so far donated seven used laptops in response to the appeal to ensure that children having lessons at home during the pandemic have the IT equipment they need.

Lorraine Gillings co-ordinated the collection and delivery to Cutec Ltd who clear all the data and get the laptops ready for distribution where they are needed. Lorraine said: “We’re delighted to contribute to this initiative as it’s so important that all children can access remote learning while they can’t attend school.” Pictured are Lorraine Gillings and Sylvia Bedbrook of Plymouth Soroptimists.

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Plymouth milkman Steve Cornew has been a lifeline to many local residents over the last year as he has continued, come rain or shine, to deliver milk and other vital groceries to his customers.

The health crisis, along with the increased demand for environmentally-friendly products, has meant Steve now has more customers than ever before. As a result, he delivers over 3,000 pints of milk a week, in the iconic glass bottles – which are themselves reused up to 25 times.

A milkman for over 40 years, Steve is a trusted figure in the community and often acts as the ‘eyes and ears’ of his rounds in areas such as Hartley Vale and North Prospect as he delivers to customers through the night and into the early morning.

Over the years, Steve has helped a customer who has locked themselves out from their house, helped catch wanted criminals and has gone above and beyond his role in so many ways – all while managing a local football team and winning a Pride of Plymouth award in 2014.

Steve said: “It makes me incredibly proud that myself and the team at Milk & More’s Plymouth Fulfilment Centre have been able to play a part in feeding the residents of Plymouth.

Delivering customers their milk and grocery products to their doorstep has always been my number one priority, but it has never been more vital than now.”

Steve, who is 60, completes over 1,440 deliveries a week and since the third lockdown began his product sales have risen by over 300% as customers took advantage of the additional offerings that Milk & More deliver Steve decided to become a milkman after longing for a job

that allowed him to be a part of the community, but also fitted in well with his own family life Steve’s favourite part of the job is working outside, and he has enjoyed seeing how the role of the milkman and milkwoman has evolved over the years.

STEVE’S HERO STORIES The eyes and ears of the community Steve was on his round one night when he noticed two suspicious men checking cars in the area that he was delivering in. Steve noticed something wasn’t right, so he drove past them to keep an eye and then when out of sight, Steve phoned the police - within a couple of minutes the police arrived and arrested the men. Later that day, the police officers phoned Steve to take a statement and informed him that one of the men was a wanted criminal, so they were very grateful to Steve for being the ‘eyes and ears’ of the community and taking the time to phone them.

Rescuing locked out customers One day Steve was on his round and he noticed a regular customer who was looking very anxious, standing outside of her house. From speaking to the customer, Steve found out she had locked herself out of her house and was beginning to become increasingly worried.

Steve relaxed the customer and said he would help her find a way back in, and then noticed an upstairs bedroom was open.

After obtaining a ladder from a neighbour, Steve climbed up and went through the window. He was able to open the front door from inside and after making sure the customer was okay and settled, Steve carried on delivering the rest of his round.

New Plymouth project to help tackle flooding A new project to help communities in Plymouth tackle flooding has been given funding from the Interreg France (Channel) England programme.

The two-year Building Resilience in

Flood Disadvantaged Communities (BRIC) programme is designed to build networks between individuals, community and non-profit organisations and public authorities in the UK and France, to find better ways to tackle flooding and test flood risk management.

Plymouth City Council will use the funding to support people and communities likely to be affected by flooding, particularly vulnerable groups.

This will include awareness raising using novel approaches such as augmented

reality to ‘experience’ the effects of flooding scenarios and help co-design solutions.

Smart devices and public information totems designed by one of the programme’s partners OgoXe will provide up to date community information and personal alerts. New volunteer community networks will develop Flood Champions trained in safety measures and incident reporting.

An interactive web platform will also provide local data and information alongside guidance, good practice and education materials to support city-wide flood risk management.

The €3.4m programme, which includes €2.36m from the European Regional Development Fund, will also see pilot

schemes tested in Dorset, Essex, Kent and northern regions of France. The aim is to create a guide and new tools and resources that can be used more widely in areas affected by flooding across the UK and France.

Councillor Sue Dann, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene said: “Flooding can have a devastating impact on our communities and we are pleased to secure this funding to help us build networks with residents and community groups.

“By working together we can better tackle flooding – just one example is a targeted smart early warning system so people can be better prepared if their home or business is facing being flooded.”

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Plans to install plaque to honour role of Devonport Dockyard in Falklands War

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Plans are being developed to unveil a plaque in Devonport Dockyard in recognition of the part its workforce played during the Falklands War.

The proposal has come from a former sailor who served on HMS Hermes during the conflict.

Andrew Cave, who lives in Portsmouth, said: “In August 2019 I contacted Portsmouth MP Penny Mordaunt regarding possible recognition in the form of a plaque for the dockyard workforce at Portsmouth Naval Base for all they achieved during the Falklands Conflict in 1982.

“As a result, she very kindly wrote to the Commodore of Portsmouth Naval Base who supported the proposals and agreed the design and location for their plaque, which was officially unveiled in October last year.

“When I first contacted Portsmouth there was no intention on my behalf of contacting other dockyards who were involved in this conflict, but I decided to research this subject matter further and was amazed by the achievements and sacrifices made by all dockyard personnel to ensure that the Task Force was ready for war.

“Nearly 40 years have now passed since the start of this conflict and I believe that these dockyard workers, their families and indeed the dockyards have waited far too long and deserve a lasting recognition as our nation was facing a severe crisis and they played a massive part in the success of the operation.”

Andrew has now contacted all Royal Navy dockyards and former Royal Navy dockyards and plans are now under way to unveil a plaque in Devonport Dockyard in 2022 - 40 years after the conflict.

Andrew added: “The reason that I concentrated on Portsmouth initially was because I was a 17-year-old sailor serving on HMS Hermes who vividly remembers on the April 2 1982 the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher receiving news of Argentina’s impending invasion of the Falkland Islands.

“The decision was taken to retake these bleak islands in the South Atlantic and a Task Force was assembled. A large number of ships were prepared in a matter of days in the dockyard at Portsmouth including the two aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible which sailed just three days later on the morning of April 5.

“I can remember our Captain Lyn Middleton RN signalling the dockyard thanking them for their magnificent support and this was repeated by other departing ships. I can also remember being told by one of these dockyard workers after the conflict that many of the jobs that were done in order to make sure that everything was ready for the ships to sail on time would normally have taken weeks but had been done around the clock in just days.”

Plans are also being developed for plaques at Chatham Historic Dockyard; Gibraltar Dockyard; Portland Dockyard; Rosyth Dockyard; Clyde Naval Base; Ascension Islands; Hull and Southampton.

8 March 2021

8 March 2021

Big £42,000 boost for community projects in North Stonehouse Stronger North Stonehouse has handed out almost £42,000 of grants from its Community Sparks fund.

Stronger North Stonehouse, which last year was granted over £500,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Street fund, is delivering a series of infrastructure and community improvement projects – Community Sparks being one of them. The people of North Stonehouse responded magnificently when asked to come up with ideas activities and projects which help make their community a stronger, safer and better place to live. The scheme received 30 funding applications ranging from £150 to the maximum of £3,000.

All applications were assessed by a panel made up of members of the Safer Stonehouse Board and independent judges. The panel was asked to make recommendations based on the

merit of the potential impact they could have in the community.

“The number and quality of applications was astounding,” said Wendy Hart, director of Nudge Community Builders who has administered the Community Sparks project. “The panel were set quite stringent parameters to work within, but the bids were so strong the vast majority past the threshold.

“As a result, the £20,000 budget needed to be doubled to accommodate them all and in total we have awarded £41,904 in grants. To help as many projects as we can we have been able to re-direct some underspent funds from other parts of the project and increase the initial £20,000 budget for the Sparks Fund.

“As these projects have all to be delivered before the end of March, North Stonehouse will be a hive of activity for the next few months and the

@PlymChronicle Tom Pointon has received £3,000 for his green boxes project which will create a mapped trail of painted utility boxes around North Stonehouse

impact on the community will be very visible, very quickly. It is an exciting time.”

Organisations and projects which received the maximum £3,000 grant included Snapdragons, Inner City Seeds, Claremont St Community Room, Friends of Victoria Park, Green Boxes, Rhythm City, Generous Earth, Conscious Sisters, Exim Dance , Wonderzoo and The Kitsugi Project.

Smaller awards were made to Community Composting; Wantage Gardens make-over; Patna Park equipment and activities; Exeter St Clean-up; Winter Wanderland; Mindful Art Club Melbourne Place Clean-up; Fotonow; St Peter’s Church; Online Family Dance Classes; Fashion Fix; Friends of Wyndham Square - Keep Talking; and Omnium Radio.

To find out more about the work of Stronger North Stonehouse visit strongernorthstonehouse.co.uk

Near miss after battery ignites in refuse truck Plymouth residents have been reminded not to put batteries in their bins after a refuse collection crew escaped serious injury after a fire in their lorry.

Top honour for Devonport water polo coach Robert A volunteer water polo coach from Plymouth has been named as Devon’s Coach of the Year.

Devonport Royal Water Polo coach Robert Coleman Year was announced as the winner at a recent meeting of Devon County Amateur Swimming Association.

Robert said he was delighted to receive the award, which he saw as recognition for the dedication and hard work of the Devonport water polo coaching team and players over recent seasons.

He added: “I would like to share this award with our water polo coaching team of John Williams, Chris Newton, Simon Searl, Dave Rostron and Richard Harding.

“This is a nice pat on the back for our work developing young water polo players. I also have to thank all of the players. They really are a great bunch to coach, and we are

very lucky to have so many talented players in all age groups.”

Devonport water polo has had a fantastic couple of years having established itself as one of the strongest youth set-ups in the South West. In 2019 they won every Devon competition at U13, U15 and U17 level, and in 2018 won every youth competition run by the Bristol & West League.

The Devonport water polo team successes have also led to individual successes with many players achieving county, regional and international selections.

Anyone interested in taking on a new sport in 2021 and would like to give water polo a try, get in touch with Rob who would be delighted to introduce you to the sport.

Information is available at www.devonportroyal.com/page/ waterpolo.htm or on their Facebook page.

While collecting waste in a built up area of the city, one of the loaders smelt smoke coming from the back of the truck. They immediately got clear of the vehicle and called the fire service.

Luckily, a fire appliance arrived within minutes and put out the fire before any lasting damage was done.

The cause of the fire was soon found to be an old laptop battery that someone had put out in their green recycling bin.

Batteries of all kinds, from AAAs right up to car batteries, should not be put in any bin, but instead taken to one of our household waste recycling centres.

“It was certainly a scary moment,” said one crew member, “but it could have been a lot, lot worse. I’m just glad we spotted it when we did before the fire took over.

“The compaction mechanism in the back of the vehicle is so powerful that if you put a battery in, it gets crushed and if then leaks out on to something flammable, generally in the recycling waste, it’s not long before we’ve got a big problem.

“I know it might seem easy to put little tiny batteries in the bin, but on behalf of all the guys I work with, please don’t.”

Crew manager Carol Frances, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Batteries in household waste and recycling can lead to large scale and protracted fires.

“These incidents are often very challenging for fire services to deal with and can cause significant disruption

Firefighters tackle the blaze in the refuse truck

to communities.

“Many people may not realise the importance of the correct disposal of batteries so this simple advice can make a real difference in preventing waste fires.”

If residents can’t take their The small battery which caused the blaze

batteries to the recycling centre there are other ways to dispose of them as many supermarkets have disposal points.

For the last decade, any shops selling more than 32kg of batteries have to provide battery recycling collection facilities instore. This means there are now lots more places where old batteries can be taken for recycling.

To find the nearest battery bin go to the Recycle Now website: www.recyclenow. com/what-to-do-with/ batteries-1 For more information on what should or shouldn’t go in your household rubbish, go to the council’s waste page at www.plymouth.gov.uk/ binsandthings

Join our city’s amazing cast of characters

#geddonplymouth #shoplocal #shop4plymouth #geddon

Part of the Reopening High Street Safely Fund, funded by

Across the city, Neighbourhood Care Networks continue to support individuals in their communities. Whether it has been help with shopping; prescriptions; debt-advice or some much-needed company on the end of a phone, the NCN’s have been there throughout. If you or your organisations would like to volunteer, text 07411 949 742.

NCN’s Helpline Numbers:

Here at POP we love a community! It’s what we do and the reason we are here: supporting and encouraging organisations that help to bring about ‘change’ and make the world a better place. Big or small, we support existing ones and help new ones begin.

At the heart of everything POP does, is a belief that being part of a community makes our lives better, whether that’s the area in which we live; the sport that we play or follow or the interests we share.

We know that being a part of something is good for us: we are physically and mentally healthier when we ‘belong’. POP supports the community projects; the charities, organisations and social enterprises that make up our wonderful voluntary and community sector. But we also know that you cannot have strong, healthy and sustainable projects, and expect them to work their magic, without the fundamental ingredients of ‘relationships’ and ‘trust’. And it is for this reason, that everything POP does focuses, one way or another, on supporting our communities through the creation and strengthening of these two elements.

Without them, we have nothing.

With more than 350 members, POP gets to hear about the many wonderful projects ‘doing good’ across the city and strengthening communities; building relationships and creating trust. Some are radical; some inspirational and some are creating lasting and meaningful change. One such project is all these things and more: The Diversity Project.

Changing perceptions Set up in 2014 in Ernesettle by the charity Barefoot, the Diversity Project was created as a way of tackling racism by introducing young people to some of the many ‘different’ cultures and religions in Plymouth. It was a huge success and can be credited with changing perceptions; creating empathy and dispelling racist attitudes. In November 2019, a third Diversity Project began in November 2019 in nearby Whitleigh, at the request of a group of 13 and 14-year olds who, having seen what had happened

Gabby Lloyd and Kiera Chown at the Plymouth Synagogue

in Ernesettle, wanted their own ‘diverse’ experience. The effect it has had on those who participated has been profound. Fourteenyear old, Kiera Chown, says it’s made her a better person; “I’ve become a nicer person to the religious people,” she says. “I do not judge them anymore because I learnt about them and their beliefs and how they live.”

Talking with youth workers, the young people decided what and who they wanted to learn about and how they might do it. They have visited the Plymouth Piety Mosque; participated in ‘refugee awareness sessions’, where they met and listened to the stories of refugees now living in the city and volunteered (and ate) at Cultural Kitchen. For Gabby Lloyd, also fourteen years old, these experiences have been a revelation;

“It opened my eyes” “Before we started it we thought that some religions, like Muslims were like… not scary, but we was just wary of them, and we went up to the mosque and they were really lovely people and it opened our eyes and showed us that what you read in the newspapers isn’t true. It’s just other peoples’ opinion.”

Efford Community Network traditional funding applications which are often quite onerous, S2S is straight-forward.

One of the youth group, fourteen-year old Courtney Smalley, wrote the expression of interest, and was thrilled to hear that her Efford application had been successful, and they Efford Efford Community Efford would receive the money.

07380 309 586 Community

Efford Network

07380 309 586 Efford

Networkshock A Community positive 07380 309 586 Network

And what an experience it turned out to be.

Hosted by the council-run youth club, Bollo Brook, in inner-city Acton – home to a lot of gang activity - the group of eight young people from Whitleigh were able to experience one of the most diverse cities in the world. As Jon Dingle the youth worker running the Diversity Project explains, it was an eye-opener for both groups; “It always seems to come as a bit of a shock to both groups but by the end of the week they always start engaging positively with each other which is always amazing to see.”

Efford 07380 309 586

Currently waiting for Covid restrictions to be lifted, the Whitleigh group is looking forward to showing their new friends from London around Plymouth. There are also plans to take a group of older residents to London and, in doing so, help to strengthen the relationship between the different generations in their own community. Meanwhile, another group of young people waits for Diversity Project 4 to begin: a pioneering initiative that has proved to deliver significantly more than it costs.Thanks to all these wonderful individuals and organisations that have helped to bring about greater tolerance and understanding in Ernesettle & Whtileigh: The Plymouth Synagogue; Piety Mosque; START; Cultural Kitchen; Jabo Butera at DBI; Plymouth & District Equality Council; Jonathan Marshall MBE, Plymouth Centre for Faith and Cultural Diversity; Four Greens Wellbeing Hub; Julie from Barefoot; POP+ and the Street-2Scale fund and Cllr Jonathan Taylor.

Visiting the Mosque proved to be a lifechanging experience for the groups from Ernesettle and Whitleigh. As well as having a tour of the mosque; an inspirational talk from the Imam and a frank Q & A session the young people were invited to attend one of the prayer sessions. As Josh Mills (also 14 years old) recalls; “Going to the Mosque opened my eyes to a lot I didn’t know about Muslims: it was fun!”

Designed to take place over ten sessions, the young people in Whitleigh wanted more: they wanted to learn about Black History; Judaism and the Holocaust and so it ran for a further four weeks. As part of their ‘Jewish’ studies, they visited the Plymouth Synagogue; watched “Anne Frank” the film and learnt about the horrors of the concentration camps. As a result of their interest, they were invited to attend the memorial service on the Hoe on Holocaust Memorial Day and to put up a display about their own Diversity Project in the Guildhall as part of the day’s events.

At the end of the project the young people were rewarded with a trip to London – a result of an application to POP for £1000 from the Street-to-Scale fund. Unlike

Young people from the Whitleigh Diversity Projec t at the Delve youth club in Acton, London (found ed by Jamal Edwards MBE).

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Come and join the POP team and meet some of our amazing members.

Chat about your project; learn about theirs and see if there might be a magic spark between you. Our network sessions bring people from the voluntary & community sector together and, in doing so, inspire, engage and connect.

Monday 22nd February & Tuesday March 23rd www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pop-bites-tickets-133691263167

March 2021 11

@PlymChronicle

Go the distance for St Luke’s while staying close to home Much-loved local charity St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth is sending out a rallying call to the community to take on the challenge of quite literally going the extra mile to support its vital service while staying safe, close to home.

The compassionate care and support St Luke’s provides for terminally ill people across Plymouth and surrounding areas is given at no cost to them or their families, but it does not come cheap to the charity.

The extra pressure of looking after more people throughout the pandemic – coupled with a decline income due to cancelled mass participation fundraising events and the temporary closure of its shops – means community support is needed now, more than ever, to keep its vital service running.

The charity, whose team gives not just hands-on medical care to patients but also the crucial emotional support and practical advice they and their families need at the most vulnerable of times, is inviting people to sign up for its Landmark Challenge this month to raise much-needed funds.

The challenge is flexible, giving everyone who registers the opportunity to walk, run or cycle the distance to a well-known landmark – either a special one of their own choosing or Yelverton Rock (9 miles), Tintagel Castle (39 miles), Land’s End (85 miles), Stonehenge (131 miles) or Big Ben (213 miles). (Mileage is approximate from Plymouth city centre.)

Though they may not be able to get to their chosen landmark in person due to the national Covid-19 safety restrictions in place, participants can use their choice of GPS tracking app and clock up the miles virtually, either outside within their local area or even at home.

Unrushed visits from carers you know

Argyle Community Trust receives £23,000 for pandemic projects Plymouth Argyle Community Trust has been awarded nearly £23,000 to contribute towards community projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking about the Landmark Challenge, Penny Hannah, head of fundraising at St Luke’s, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our local community to take on a physical challenge to suit any ability, particularly at a time when many people want to be more active during lockdown because they recognise how beneficial it can be to body and mind.

“Other people may choose to get involved because they want to raise awareness of the vital service St Luke’s provides to so many families or because they want to celebrate the life of a lost loved one by taking part in

gloves when I visit a customer to introduce

support that they need to live in their own

a carer. We social distance during the visit,

home because of their “Covid concerns”.

and disinfect door handles and furniture as we leave. The carers registered with us are just as careful - it is important that everyone feels safe and is safe!

There’s regular key worker testing and measures

Jo Craythorne Branch Manager

memory of them.

“Whatever their motivation, what matters is that they’re not going for just a walk or run.

The sponsorship they raise with every step will make an important difference, ensuring more local people with terminal illness get the high-quality care they need – and deserve – at the end of their lives.”

Sign up for the Landmark Challenge by 31 March 2021 at www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/ landmarkchallenge - you’ll have five weeks from your sign-up date to complete the challenge and all participants will receive a medal to celebrate your achievement.

We will always be pleased to discuss requirements and concerns without any pressure or obligation on your part.

Our branches cover the whole of South Devon

to ensure

and we will be

that contact

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with the

your requirements

outside world is

whether you need

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minimal, following

an occasional, daily

naturally become a great concern for

had great feedback

arrange care. Most domiciliary care

that we were able to work around

carers that are unknown to their clients.

Extra help around the home can be of

Covid19 pandemic, arranging care has

best practice. We’ve

those shielding but still needing to

from customers, who found

companies will often send “strangers”,

their requirements, being ultra-careful.”

Our way of working is totally different.

Our clients only receive visits for their personal care and extra help around

the home, from care-professionals that

customer visits, there’s time to ensure that

Jo, our Plymouth Branch Manager says:

the correct PPE and precautions are always

they have in their home. Whatever is needed to reassure them regarding Covid concerns, we do. I wear PPE masks and

details on this page.

have the personal care or extra help and

Your chosen carer will get to know you and your needs - you can ask for what makes you feel comfortable and safe.

A single point of contact to address any concerns and reassure you.

Full PPE as standard.

(01752) 648 320

no corners are cut. Our standard is that

We certainly don’t want anyone to not

Your choose your carer from our vigorously vetted team.

Call us on

“Because we don’t ever have rushed

taken.”

Absolute continuity of care.

Contact us to discuss your requirements and to arrange a free initial visit, without obligation on your part to discuss your requirements.

meal.

known to them.

“Our Clients can pick and choose who

contact Jo in our Plymouth Branch using the contact

or delivering the shopping or preparing a Chloe based in the Plymouth branch adds,

only receive un-rushed visits from those

visit or live in care. You can

course social distanced, such as cleaning

we have introduced to you. Our clients

The grant, which totals £22,858, came from the Chairities Aid Foundation Resilience Fund as part of the Community Match Challenge funding scheme from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Argyle Community Trust’s chief executive officer, Mark Lovell, said: “We are delighted to have received this grant, which will help with our charity restart projects, alongside creating new provision. It’s a difficult time for people in Plymouth and we will continue to do our utmost to support our community through a range of different projects over the coming months.

“Through the funding made available we will be able to offer new community provisions for families and help provide support in keeping families active, alongside enhancing life skills and employability.’’

Dan Hart, the Trust’s community engagement manager, said: “The project enables the Trust to work with those most affected by COVID-19 and develop support groups, resources, workshops and challenges for families to participate in.”

For more information on the vital work that the Argyle Community Trust delivers in the community, go to argylecommunitytrust.co.uk or email community@pafc.co.uk.

We provide a safe, friendly and professional service that enables you to remain living in the comfort of your own home.

Email:

plymouth@friendshelpingathome.co.uk

Find us online at: friendshelpingathome.co.uk

12 March 2021

12 March 2021

Protecting Plymouth must be the priority for the next 12 months, says Council Leader Protecting Plymouth as the city continues through and comes out the other side of the pandemic must be a priority according to Cllr Tudor Evans, leader of the City Council.

He has emphasised the need for shrewd financial management of the council’s budget, particularly as the pandemic is far from over, and the true impact to the council’s finances and indeed to the wider city, will not be known for some time.

He said: “In what has been an extremely difficult decade for local authorities, we have proved here in Plymouth that we are a prudent, financially well run council. This is despite seeing huge slashes in our core funding from the Government. We received over £100million in 2011/12 and this year, we are only set to receive £10million.

“We have received some Government funding to help cover the immediate costs of the pandemic – but this funding does not address the real and enduring social, health and economic impacts of the pandemic on the city. As the threat of COVID-19 is far from over, we won’t know the real costs for some time.

“But, we do know that when you consider the increased demand on our services, the loss of existing income streams such as Council Tax, leisure centres charges, commercial rents and the Tamar Bridge toll, the reduction in our income is immense.

The loss of our parking related revenue is almost £5.5million alone. Whilst the Government is giving us some compensation, it only covers 70 per cent of our losses.

Councillor Evans and his Cabinet colleagues, explained that whilst the money coming into the council has declined, the impact on services has increased and is expected to continue to do so over the months ahead.

“The situation is fast moving. However, pressures on our services are at an alltime high – particularly in areas such as adult social care and children’s services.

“We have more people than ever claiming Council Tax support, we have an increase in residents who are homeless or threatened with homelessness – with at least 2,760 people now needing our help.

“We have seen a rise in the number of residents who are furloughed or unemployed, while more than 3,500 vulnerable adults need our social care support and since March we have seen significant increases in the number of children who are in care, costing over £4million a year.

“We must be braced for these numbers to rise. And we must prioritise our finances for those most in need.

“Therefore, our budget for the coming year considers all of this. It supports local people to be safe, whilst ensuring that our finances are sound.”

“We must prioritise our finances for those most in need”

@PlymChronicle

Local manufacturing and construction apprentices’ achievements celebrated Outstanding local construction and manufacturing apprentices have been recognised for their efforts and abilities at a virtual awards ceremony held as part of Plymouth’s National Apprenticeship Week 2021.

The Awards were led jointly by Building Plymouth and the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG), with nominations submitted by local employers and training providers, with 30 finalist apprentices celebrated, and five overall winners presented top awards.

Tommy Burr was awarded the prestigious Building Plymouth Construction Technical Apprentice of the Year 2021. Tommy is undertaking a Higher Level 4 in Construction Contracting Operations/Construction in the Built Environment Level 4 with Midas Construction and Exeter College.

On winning his award Tommy Burr, trainee quantity surveyor at Midas Construction, said: “I am very happy and proud to have won this award. To be nominated and then to win this particular award is really gratifying and makes all the hard work worthwhile. After just three years in the industry, I understand the importance of having experienced mentors at Midas to assist in my development and I thank them for all their support.”

Sophie Graham was next up, winning the highly respected Ron Simmonds Construction Trade Apprentice of the Year 2021 Award. Sophie is undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 in Painting and Decorating with JWB Décor and City College Plymouth.

Sophie Graham Sophie said: “I am so proud to Construction Trade have achieved this award, it Apprentice of the Year shows that it is never too late to go back into education and change career for the best. I am so happy in my job at BLKC and having the education and competitions alongside it makes me strive to be the best I can be. It’s what we do as a great team at BLKC Decorators.”

Employer Jamie Both said: “Sophie is an outstanding student who prides herself in her work and will always go that extra mile to make sure it’s perfect.”

2021 marked the second year that the PMG has run an apprenticeship competition. This year three apprentices were recognised as overall winners.

The first award announced was the PMG Manufacturing Rising Star Apprentice for 2021 which was awarded to Cleopatra Thatcher, a Level 4 Higher Level Mechanical Apprentice at Babcock International, studying with City College Plymouth.

Cleo said of her award: “I am so proud to have represented Babcock International Group at the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group Apprenticeship Awards and I was completely taken aback to find out I had won the Rising Star Award. A huge thank you to everyone at Babcock who has supported my development. Joining the apprenticeship programme was the best decision I ever made!”

Next up was the award for PMG Business Rising Star Apprentice for 2021 which went to Beth Tout from Collins Aerospace, who is undertaking a L4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship with Achievement Training. Beth said: “Choosing to pursue an apprenticeship was one of the best decisions I have made.

It’s a great way to learn and achieve a qualification and I’m very grateful to have been recognised with this award.”

Last but by no means least, the Award for PMG Manufacturing Final Year Apprentice for 2021 went to PMG Business Rising Owen Baylis, who completed a Level Star Beth Tout 4 Higher Level Apprenticeship with Babcock International and City College Plymouth in September 2020.

Owen, who is now a junior technical engineer at Babcock, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have received the PMG Manufacturing award! For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be an engineer so it means a great deal to me. To anyone thinking of doing an apprenticeship, I could

Cleopatra Thatcher PMG Manufacturing Rising Star Apprentice 2021

not recommend it enough. It has given me essential practical engineering knowledge and experience, including a number of qualifications that I now use every day.”

Paul Foster, managing director Devonport Royal Dockyard commented: “Babcock is proud to continue investing in a wide range of long established apprenticeship programmes. Last year we recruited 145 apprentices, fulfilling a variety of roles, including Welding; Electrical, Mechanical and Marine Pipe Fitting; and Fabricating, with similar numbers being sought for the next cohort of apprentices to start in September of this year. “Our apprentices work across our business alongside a variety of knowledgeable and passionate employees who pass on their skills and experience to help build the capabilities we need for the future. We’re extremely proud of Cleo and Owen and everyone that has supported them in the business.”

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Tudor Evans, said: “It has been a pleasure to present Plymouth’s Construction and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year Awards which has given us a great platform to shine a light on the amazing opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy.

“I would like to thank our local employers and training providers who have gone above and beyond to ensure apprentices have been able to continue their studies and on the job learning during this unprecedented time. I would also like to pay tribute to all our apprentices for their dedication and efforts in working so hard to continue advancing with their apprenticeship despite the challenges and impact of the pandemic.”

At the awards ceremony, the finalist and highly commended construction and manufacturing apprentices were all celebrated for their success and commended for the high standards they have shown in their achievements and skills developed during their apprenticeships.

Details of Building Plymouth winners, highly commended and finalists can be found at www.buildingplymouth.co.uk/news/the-winners-are Details of the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group highly commended and finalists can be found at plymouthmakes.co.uk/news-blogs/plymouthmanufacturers-group-hosts-a-virtual-the-apprentice-of-the-yearawards-2021/ Owen Baylis PMG Manufacturing Final Year Apprentice 2021

March 2021 13

@PlymChronicle

Babcock’s continuing commitment to apprenticeships Council leader as another big intake is planned for September invites new US

President to Plymouth

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans has invited President Joe Biden to visit Plymouth, the city where the Mayflower set sail.

Babcock International was one of many employers in Plymouth who showed their continued support for National Apprenticeship Week in February.

Last year the number of apprentices that were recruited at Devonport Dockyard doubled, with nearly 150 young people starting their careers and fulfilling a variety of roles, including welding, electrical, mechanical and marine pipe fitting and fabricating.

Similar numbers are being sought for the award-winning apprenticeship programme this year and is now inviting applications for the next cohort of apprentices to start in September.

Further information, including details how to apply can be found at www.babcockinternational. com/careers/apprenticeships/marine/devonport.

Throughout National Apprenticeship Week Babcock shared inspiring apprenticeship stories on LinkedIn, building on the themes of ‘train, retain and achieve’ by highlighting how their trainees bring positive benefits to the business.

Katie Elliott, a mechanical engineering apprentice, grew up with a keen interest in mechanics, influenced by family members.

She is really enjoying her apprenticeship and said: “My dad did his apprenticeship many moons ago in the dockyard and this ultimately helped me make my decision to do an apprenticeship with Babcock; allowing me to earn whilst I learn with the company.

“It wasn’t a hard choice for me to go into the mechanical trade as I’ve always had a passion for mechanics and enjoyed getting my hands dirty!

From a young age I grew up with my dad who

always had projects with cars and bikes on the go and he encouraged me to go outside and help him.

My grandad was also a car and bike mechanic by trade, so even as a kid my grandad would tell me stories and explain how things work.

“It’s great learning on the job and I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone.”

Paul Foster, managing director Devonport Royal Dockyard, said: “It is fantastic that our apprentices have such a sense of pride when going about their work. Our business has a great legacy and a really exciting future.

There has never been a better time to join with so much investment in the site and a wide range of apprenticeships on offer. I strongly encourage anyone exploring their future career options to check out the numerous opportunities available with Babcock at Devonport.”

Talented singer Esther gets a million views after appearing on The Voice A former City College Plymouth music student has hit the headlines after appearing on ITV’s The Voice.

Esther Cole, 22, lives in South East Cornwall and appeared on the popular show with her good friend Yana Bing from Torpoint. They had been invited to take part in auditions after a You Tube video of the pair singing a duet attracted the attention of the show’s producers.

After a series of virtual performances on Zoom and auditions in Manchester, they were both chosen to appear live on the second of The Voice’s Blind Auditions in January.

Esther’s stunning performance of ‘Let Me Down Slowly’ won the support of judges Sir Tom Jones and Olly Murs as both turned their chairs for her.

Tom said: “You have a beautiful, beautiful voice.

I thought, I don’t want to let this girl go. I couldn’t not hit the buzzer. You have a lovely voice.”

Olly added: “You’re brilliant and it was beautiful.

Last time I had a girl from Cornwall on the show, she won the show - just saying!”

Deciding between the two, Esther said: “It’s a really hard decision but I’m going to go with Tom.” Before appearing on stage Esther had watched from the wings as Yana performed Lady Gaga’s ‘Stupid Love.’ Sadly, none of the judges turned their chairs - which left Esther in tears.

She said: “Having been on the audition journey together since March it really upset me when Yana failed to win over the judges, but I had to pull myself together and get on with my own performance.”

Watched by her proud parents Chris and Kerry and boyfriend Josh, Esther showed no nerves as she hit each note perfectly. Since appearing on The Voice her performance has been viewed more than a million times on You Tube.

Esther, who studied a music practitioners course for three years at City College, first started singing at school and got her first guitar at the age of 12.

Her vocal skills as well as her songwriting

Speaking on the day of the president’s inauguration and following the announcement that the G7 summit is heading to Cornwall in June, he said: “I think it is brilliant news. The eyes of the world will be on this part of the country and all of us will benefit from the attention this stunning area will get.

“It’s a great opportunity for the whole region and for Plymouth as the region’s major city.

“I have this week written an invitation to the president and his wife Dr Biden to visit Plymouth, to stand where the pilgrims stood in their final moments in England; to look out from the Mayflower Steps to the ocean they crossed to America and to join us in marking this important international history.

“The Mayflower voyage is one of the most influential journeys in global history and a defining moment in the shared history of Britain, the US and the Netherlands.”

The commemoration is an important international collaboration between partners in the USA, the Wampanoag nations, Holland and the UK, with the UK epicentre of the whole commemoration in Plymouth.

With government support, an international partnership has been working to create this shared commemoration and while the COVID-19 pandemic hugely changed plans, we are still aiming to close our commemorations in spectacular fashion this summer, he said.

The culmination of the Mayflower 400 commemorations is the Mayflower International Festival and Four Nations Ceremony on 10 and 11 July 2021.

President Biden will have visited the south west of England just a month earlier for the G7.

Councillor Evans added: “We would love to also welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to join us in Plymouth to mark the anniversary of this world shaping history and the cultural ties between our nations.”

A formal invitation will be sent to Vice President Harris and the US Ambassador to the UK when they have been appointed.

President Biden - heading for Plymouth?

Photo credit: The Voice UK

ability, led Esther into performing at an increasing number of local gigs and events over the years.

For the last three years she has also been a worship leader at St Matthias Church in North Hill.

Now she is preparing to appear in the Battle Rounds of The Voice when she will go head-tohead with another member of the Tom Jones team

in a sudden-death duel.

“It has already been an amazing experience and I am so proud to have got through to the Battle Rounds. It will be really tough as there are some extremely talented singers in Tom’s team,” added Esther.

The Voice UK, Saturdays, 8:30pm on ITV.

14 March 2021

14 March 2021

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Freezone bid Inspiring new education facility to develop could be worth marine and engineering skills in Plymouth millions to the local economy and boost employment A new dedicated learning environment is opening at Oceansgate, Plymouth’s marine enterprise zone, with teaching expected to start this September.

Plymouth City Council has joined forces with neighbours at Devon County and South Hams District Council in a bid to unlock £35 million pounds of funding for the area.

The Freeport bid, which was submitted to the government in February, would see the area become one of 10 zones around the country to benefit from import and export tax reliefs to help drive jobs, growth, and innovation.

A Plymouth and South Devon freezone would create space for businesses to import goods and materials, add value to them (by manufacture), and export them and leverage the city’s marine innovation strengths to attract big marine sector tech companies.

Industry giants Babcock and Princess Yachts have already backed the bid.

In the submission, the freezone would include sites at South Yard, Langage Energy Zone and Sherford Business Park. Estimates suggest that it could create more than 1,000 new jobs in the first two years and up to 9,000 over the next 10 years and 50 new apprenticeships and 10 internships every year by 2027.

Meanwhile, more than 70 local businesses would benefit from the scheme, which is forecast to bring in over £100m investment in the next six years.

The recent Centre for Cities annual report identifies Plymouth as the only major city in the south of England with a major levelling up agenda to address. The freezone will play an important part in addressing this challenge.

Councillor Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Quite simply, this bid is a no brainer for the south west and could help our thriving marine sector to build upon its already strong national and international reputation.

“It also makes complete sense to partner with our neighbours, who we already have strong ties with through our development of the Joint Local Plan.

“Between the three authorities, we have the facilities and we have the industries so if we can get the money and the help from government, then we’ll be looking at a much brighter future in these most uncertain of times.”

Leader of Devon County Council John Hart added: “This is an excellent example of the type of cross-party cooperation and partnership between councils that we will need to get the economy moving again once the pandemic is over.

“We have worked together quickly to submit this bid which will benefit Devon and Plymouth and we look forward to financial backing from the Government for a scheme which will help to level up the regional economy and provide good jobs for local people.”

The government funding aspect is for £17.5 million which with matched funding will become £35 million.

The knock-on effect locally will enable Devon County Council to bring forward works at the Deep Lane junction on the A38, unlocking housing at Sherford.

More details on freeports can be found on the government website – www.gov.uk/ government/news/freeports-bidding-processopens-for-applications

City College Plymouth is transforming over 630 square metres of industrial unit into a bespoke facility to deliver new university-level courses that will provide high-quality and up-to-date training to people both looking to work and already working in the marine and engineering industries. Alongside the development of the new state-of-the-art building, new degree programmes have been developed as part of the South West Institute of Technology project.

The college has worked closely with local employers to identify the skills required and has used this to develop four Bachelor of Science degrees linked to naval architecture, marine engineering, integrated technologies and autonomous engineering. These programmes will further shape the future workforce, and allow students to continue their studies on a part-time basis beyond levels 4 and 5.

Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “With Oceansgate, we set out to create a dedicated space for the marine and maritime industry in an unbeatable waterfront

location, attracting new businesses to our city and enabling them to flourish.

“But attracting the businesses is just one piece of the puzzle – we need to make sure we are developing the right skill sets locally, so that Plymothians are able to meet the needs of businesses and benefit from these high-earning jobs. City College’s new facility will help to do just that and we’re delighted to welcome them to Oceansgate.”

The Oceansgate facility

Jackie Grubb, Principal and CEO at the college, said: “Plymouth is a world-leader in marine technology and engineering. The facilities on offer to students at the new Oceansgate site will be

world-class, and the training on offer - that has been developed with guidance of industry experts - will equip our students with the skills necessary to continue to take this industry forward. The marine industry has played a vital part in Plymouth’s history, and City College Plymouth is committed to ensuring it is a vital part of the city’s - and wider region’s - future.”

The waterfront facilities will maximise on their location, surrounded by key marine businesses and organisations including the Marine Business Technology Centre (MBTC). Students will be able to access specialist equipment through the MBTC’s proving area, Smart Sound Plymouth, which is used for designing, testing and developing cutting-edge marine and autonomous products.

The college’s new facility is based in Oceansgate’s second phase, which includes a new three storey office building and 15 light industrial units. The already complete Phase 1 has a mix of offices and industrial units, home to several marine and maritime businesses.

The £7.6 million Phase 2 development has been funded by Plymouth City Council and a £2.25 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Find out more at www.oceansgateplymouth.com.

Caring couple start a new chapter A Plymouth couple who dedicated most of their working life caring for others have decided to call it a day.

It all started in 1976, when Jacky and Jim van Deijl welcomed their first resident, the mother of a local businessman, into their family home, and they haven’t looked back since.

Jacky, who also had two young children to care for during this time, was the main carer, whilst Jim worked as chief draughtsman and designer for a local company.

This was until the company was sold on and Jim received redundancy which led to the family’s decision to invest in their first care home - Park View in Peverell. Six years on from welcoming their first resident, they now had a Care Home registered for seven residents in the heart of Plymouth.

This was also to be their own family home and made for a rather busy, way of life for the family.

Later, when the house next door become available, Jim and Jacky purchased it making alterations which increased the capacity of the care home to 20 residents, employing 18 staff.

Whilst Jacky was busy running the Home, Jim One from the archive...

Jacky and Jim

was heavily involved with other work, including the Plymouth City Council Adult SafeGuarding Board, which led on to a Steering Group for the Dignity in Care Forum.

Working closely with various members of the local authority and other care homes, Jim and Jacky built lifelong friendships and in the early days were part of the Plymouth and District Care Homes Association of which Jim became Chairman for many years.

The family sacrificed a lot, with Jacky having to cook meals for the residents first, then for the family and doing this in between doing the school run for their children who also came home for lunch!

Even though this was a busy time Jacky studied the NVQ in social care and went on to become an assessor. She and Jim also spent 18 months together studying business management and both became members of the British Institute of Management.

In 1989 the couple purchased Thornbury Villa, their second care home, also located in Peverell Park Road, and registered for 14 residents.

Their love and dedication to their residents and family members has always shone through and both homes have been held in high esteem by the local community, with a waiting list for residents desiring a placement.

The family’s motto for their care homes has always been ‘somewhere special enough to call home’ and no doubt everyone who knows Jim and Jacky appreciates that it is because of them and their genuine interest in people that it has been so special.

This ethos is shared by all the staff who they have employed over the years, and who have also always been highly thought of within the community. They have never had to use agency staff, which speaks for itself, and they have appreciated the loyalty and longevity of their staff members, with the current manager having been employed by them for 27 years.

In 2007 Jim and Jacky decided to sell Park View to concentrate on Thornbury Villa.

Now, some 45 years after it all began, Jim and Jacky have made the difficult decision to step back, or rather step forward, into a new chapter of their lives. At the beginning of February Thornbury Villa was transferred to the new owners of the business who will continue to run it with the current staff and management.

Jacky and Jim (bottom centre) celebrate the Outstanding rating from CQC

After decades of providing outstanding care, they both confirmed that despite the sacrifices they had to make – especially in the early days – they would not hesitate do it again. For them, seeing the difference they made to people’s lives, has been priceless. They have consistently received high marks for the care they have provided and in January 2020 they received a well-deserved Outstanding rating after CQC’s inspection of Thornbury Villa.

Thornbury Villa care manager Jane Ayliffe said: “Jim and Jacky van Deijl have been pillars in our community and from everyone whose lives they have touched, we all wish them the very best in this new chapter of their lives and thank them for the years of outstanding care they have provided to so many.”

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Barbican Theatre’s £135,000 funding boost Plymouth’s Barbican Theatre has been awarded a grant of £135,550 to help them face the continuing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, supporting local young and emerging artists and providing income for freelance artists and practitioners in the area.

Barbican Theatre is one of a number of cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving part of more than £30 million of investment from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The fund was created by the Weston family in response to the devastating impact of COVID-19, and is supporting a diverse range of organisations from museums to regional theatres and national touring ballet companies. Grants range from £100,000 up to £1.5 million based on the size of the organisation.

Garfield Weston Foundation director Philippa Charles said: “Our cultural sector is at the heart of our local communities providing not only entertainment but education and inspiration for many.

Our Trustees were impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit shown across the arts in response to COVID-19 and it was a privilege to hear what organisations had been doing to not only survive but also to reinvent the way they reach audiences. What really stood out was the level of collaboration and support they had for each other and the determination to keep going, despite the increasingly difficult situation.

“We all want and need our cultural sector to thrive and, if anything, our time away from the arts has shown just how important they are to us – bringing much needed pleasure and enrichment to our lives.

“Arts organisations are desperate to reopen and get back to what they do best, and we hope that this new funding will help many

Renters urged to check if they might qualify for extra financial help Tenants in Plymouth who are receiving Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit are being reminded by Plymouth City Council that they may be eligible for extra financial help if they are struggling to cover their rent.

A Discretionary Housing Payment may be available if there is a shortfall between the amount of housing related benefits people receive and the rent they pay, if they are in rent arrears or need to pay removal costs or rent in advance to be able to move to somewhere more suitable for their needs.

People may also be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment if: • they have a spare bedroom that Housing Benefit or Universal Credit does not pay for • there is someone in their property who has a disability • a benefit cap has reduced the Housing Benefit or Universal Credit they receive These are only examples and don’t cover all the circumstances in which a Discretionary Housing Payment can be awarded. To find out more information including how to apply visit: www.plymouth.gov.uk/benefitsandgrants/ discretionaryhousingpayments or ring 01752 668000.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development said: “We would encourage tenants to see if a Discretionary Housing Payment could give them some welcome financial assistance. Anyone who rents and receives Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit may be eligible, so please look into whether this payment could help you and your family.”

In December members of Barbican Theatre’s ReBels Training and local dance artists Mercedes Romero and Vibha Selvaratnam entertained Plymouth Christmas shoppers with an open air event fusing Afro Beat, Commercial, Flamenco and Bharatanatyam. More than 4’000 people watched the performances live from the Piazza and via Facebook live, which was also featured on ITV Westcountry News.

of them do exactly that.”

Barbican Theatre is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) and a registered charity established in 1980. We are an inclusive organisation and get excited about people creating and enjoying theatre, dance, culture and live entertainment on stage and in unusual spaces.

Barbican Theatre chief executive, Laura Kriefman said: “This vital funding will allow us to continue our extensive work across Plymouth: helping us build people’s creative voices.

“We are relieved to be successful and are looking forward to continuing to create extraordinary work with the community and artists in Plymouth and the UK.”

Barbican Theatre will be concentrating on creating pay-what-you-can site specific events around Plymouth - taking creativity and culture to communities directly, whilst people cannot go to the theatre. From live music and dance, to giant puppets and comedy.

The Barbican Theatre adapted to the first lockdown by taking performances out into the community.

For example, the popular monthly Café Acoustica was moved to Teats Hill Amphitheatre in Coxside. Held on the last Friday of the month this brought live music, dance and spoken word to the local community in a safe and secure way offering entertainment and performance

opportunities to emerging artists in the city.

During the third lockdown the theatre used YouTube Live Stream to stream their January ‘Wassail and Warmth’ event, which was watched live by more than 290 people, with a further 300 watching the recording.

The funding will enable the live streaming of open air events to continue throughout 2021 and beyond.

It will also ensure Barbican Theatrecan continue to run successfully re-designed talent development work, which was relaunched in September 2020 with 16 classes for 12-25 year olds, adaptable for online teaching during lockdown.

A total of 119 places have been taken by participants ages 12-25 in subjects such as Character and Stage Combat, Online Stories, Comedy Sketches, Composing & Choreography and Acoustic Performance.

Classes cost £60 for an entire year and participants can attend as many sessions a week as they want. Introducing more classes has enabled Barbican Theatre to offer increased employment for freelancers across Plymouth and increases the quality of training available for 12-25s.

The funding will enable further site specific productions to take place, with the Barbican team currently working on a summer 2021 spectacle in a unique Plymouth space, offering paid employment to more than 60 local creatives.

Barbican Theatre was facing a reduction in turnover in the region of £425,000 in the 2020/21 financial year, so this grant is vital in enabling it to continue its work and support people to gain employment in the arts.

For updates on Barbican Theatre activity, events and opportunities visit the website barbicantheatre co.uk or follow them on social media channels: Instagram: @ Barbican_Theatre; Facebook: Barbican Theatre Plymouth; Twitter: @BarbicanTheatre; Youtube: BarbicanTheatrePlym

New baby causes Tattered Tom’s eviction Gables Dogs and Cats Home in Plympton have taken in a dishevelled 13 year old cat, as his owners were expecting a new baby and were concerned that the cat would make the baby ill and get the baby dirty!

When Tattered Tom, as he has affectionately been named, arrived at Gables it soon became obvious that he was suffering from more than just his rundown, untidy looks.

His fur was matted, greasy and heavily discoloured – the result of not being able to groom himself.

This has also left him with a rather distinctive odour. He was born with a cleft lip, which makes eating and breathing normally much more difficult for him.

Poor old Tattered Tom

The poor old boy will require immediate treatment for dental disease, blood tests to see if he has any underlying conditions and basic care such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatment. He also has a heart murmur, which will require treatment once fit enough.

Tattered Tom has done nothing wrong, he is just one of the thousands of unlucky pets that find themselves needing a new home each year, due to a change in their owner’s circumstances. Sadly this trend is likely to increase when people start to go back to work once the pandemic is under control and we come out of lockdown.

Ruth Rickard, deputy manager at Gables said: “As soon as I saw a picture of Tattered Tom’s face, I saw another golden oldie that desperately needs our help! We certainly appear to be seeing an increase in the amount of older dogs and cats needing help, which is such a shame.

Tattered Tom has turned out to be a very sweet and affectionate old boy who wants nothing more than to just curl up on someone’s lap”.

It is estimated it will cost Gables around £4,000 to treat all of Tattered Tom’s medical issues, and provide ongoing medical support to ensure that he will be happy and comfortable for the rest of his life.

Gables Dogs and Cats Home

Tattered Tom...in safe hands at Gables Dogs and Cats Home

does not receive any government funding and has felt the financial strain from the Coronavirus pandemic, but they are determined to help Tattered Tom. To help ease

Gables financial burden please make a contribution to ‘Tattered Tom’s Vet Appeal’, please call 01752 331602 or visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/ fund/ttom2021 to donate online.

16 March 2021

New plan for hotel, takeaways and shops on derelict site

Revised plans for a multi-million pound development on one of the most prominent gateway sites in Plymouth have been submitted to planners.

Developers have put forward new proposals for the derelict former Western National bus depot between Gdynia Way, Laira Bridge Road and Embankment Lane.

The plans submitted by Bailey Partnership on behalf of Goldmix Limited - which acquired the site in 2016 - allow for an 88 bedroom hotel, convenience store, drive through fast food takeaway outlets and a cycle hub.

Bailey Partnership’s submission states: “The site layout proposed aims to achieve a safe, secure and welcoming environment. The concept is to create an environment whereby people wish to ‘stay and play’ and enjoy the offerings on site.

“The design team have adopted a landscapeled approach and this has allowed for a quality pedestrian and cyclist environment to be created which encourages people to stay.”

A number of previous applications by other developers had been rejected by Plymouth City Council’s planners, but the involvement of city-based Bailey Partnership has brought the project closer to fruition.

Revisions have been made to their original plans following a public consultation and in-depth discussions with the city’s planning panel.

16 March 2021

@PlymChronicle

University was first class experience for Plymouth sports student Charlie A student from Plymouth has spoken about achieving First Class Honours in his university degree during the pandemic.

Charlie Haynes, who lives in Hartley, was among those to have completed their studies at the University of Worcester.

He achieved First Class Honours in his degree in Sports Coaching Science.

“Having fully committed to my three years at university, developing as a coach both in the classroom and on the court, it is a proud achievement to have my passion be rewarded with a First Class Honours,” said the 22-year-old.

Charlie is now working at the John Madejski Academy and Reading Rockets as a full-time basketball coach. He hopes to continue to develop as a coach and positively impact as many players as possible.

The former Exeter College student said studying during the pandemic was challenging at times but his organisation prior to the lockdown helped, along with lecturer support.

“The greatest impact was the adaptation to independent study. Not being able to get away from my laptop – being in a lockdown – added to the psychological struggles of getting through

Basketball coach Charlie Haynes

such a long project,” he said. “The support from my module lecturers made the process less stressful and made the assessments more engaging.”

Plymouth pilot scheme for country’s first pharmacy-led digital consultation service Push Doctor, the leading digital healthcare company, has partnered with Well Pharmacy, to launch the country’s first pharmacy-first digital service in Plymouth.

The pilot scheme is providing over 50,000 patients living in the area with direct access to local community pharmacists via the Push Doctor platform.

It is estimated that one-third of GP appointments nationally could be treated by pharmacists who are clinically trained to treat minor ailments such as eczema, hay fever, indigestion, and cystitis.

By adopting a pharmacy-first approach, patients who access the Push Doctor platform with such concerns will be directed to a pharmacist who will be able to offer quick and effective treatment online. This will free up GP appointments for those with serious or chronic health issues, easing the burden on the local NHS at a time of unprecedented demand. The service is now available at four GP surgeries across the Plymouth Sound primary care network: Oakside Surgery, Friary House Surgery, Estover Surgery and Elm Surgery.

By using the Push Doctor platform patients will be able to access a highly trained Well Pharmacist flexibly at a time that suits them. Patients can conduct digital consultations using any device with video capability and internet connection. These consultations are COVID safe, confidential, and conducted at no additional cost to the NHS. Over the next six months Push Doctor and Well will be increasing the number

Charlie chose to study at the University of Worcester because of the opportunity to study his passion, whilst also gaining practical experience.

He added: “I feel extremely appreciative to have had such supportive and understanding lecturers and to have been given the practical opportunities that I have had over the past three years – coaching with Basketball Wales, the University Basketball programme and being involved in the Worcester Wolves setup. I also couldn’t be more thankful to my close family for the incredible amount of support, motivation and love they have given me.”

University of Worcester Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, Professor Sarah Greer, said: “The class of 2020 faced some unique challenges in completing their final year, in very difficult external circumstances. I congratulate them all on their degrees, earned through their hard work and dedication in the face of adversity. I would also thank our outstanding academic staff who worked really hard to support students to achieve their full potential. Our students who earned a First Class Honours should rightly feel very proud of their outstanding achievements and I wish them all the very best in their future careers.”

Ellie working on the mural at The Fish Lounge

Mrs Murals makes an art of supporting charity

Plymstock artist Ellie Johnson has been brightening up the lives of families and businesses across Plymouth and raised money for charity in the process. of surgeries offering digital pharmacist consultations, with Well looking to recruit more clinical pharmacists as the partnership expands.

Wais Shaifta, chief executive, Push Doctor, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Well Pharmacy to provide the residents of Plymouth with better access to primary care. By directing patients to the most appropriate clinician in the first instance we can treat them faster and more effectively, delivering better health outcomes across the local area.

“By fully utilising the skill and expertise of pharmacists, we will remove non-essential footfall for GP practices, freeing up more time for GPs to see patients with more serious medical issues.

“We hope this will be the start of a new pharmacy-first delivery model that

will set up a future digital NHS across the country.”

Seb Hobbs, CEO, Well Pharmacy, said: “Through this unique, pharmacy-first approach our aim is to provide the local community with increased access to our highly trained pharmacists who are skilled at treating a variety of health conditions.

“Throughout the pandemic pharmacists across the UK have shown that they can help take some of the pressure off the NHS and GPs. Our partnership with Push Doctor, once again shows the important role pharmacists have within the healthcare system. We are pleased to offer flexible pharmacy services to a greater number of people across Plymouth and contribute to sustainable health services in the local area.”

For more information visit www. pushdoctor.co.uk

Ellie, who is also known as Mrs Murals, raised well over £100 for Children’s Hospice South West after reading about the charity in the Plymouth Chronicle.

She said: “A couple of months ago there was a story in the Plymouth Chronicle about funds being raised for Children’s Hospice South West in memory of Oliver Brown. I painted a mural in memory of Oliver for his family on the outside of their home back in June, so when I saw the article I contacted the family as I wanted to help.

“To celebrate my Facebook business page getting 1000 likes I wanted to say thanks and give something back to the community by helping a local charity.”

She donated £20 for every mural she painted in January and also

raised money online through a donate button on a time lapse video she posted of one of her mural commissions.

One of her latest commissions was for a new restaurant in The Barbican called The Fish Lounge, which is due to open in the spring.

Ellie said: “While painting the mural of a gold fish, I was told that the last artist to paint a mural there was Robert Lenkiewicz.

“His work was uncovered during the renovations over the last few months, but unfortunately couldn’t be saved. If saved they would have been worth tens of thousands of pounds.

“I doubt my artwork on the walls in the building will be worth that much in the future, but I can dream!

“I’m hoping that this story might help raise awareness and support for Children’s Hospice South West.

Life in lockdown is hard enough for us all but I can’t imagine how difficult it is for children with life limiting conditions and their families,” she added.

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Plymouth’s largest martial arts school is thriving - despite the pandemic Discovery Martial Arts Academy in Plympton has had its most successful month ever, despite Covid, as more people turn away from Netflix, Nintendo and their refrigerators to don Doboks, bust out their Taekwondo moves and virtually train together in live streaming classes, five days a week.

After experiencing a worrying membership decline at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the new year has seen the club attain

Cobey and Lola Jackson enjoying their virtual martial arts session

Weird things which passengers have left on the buses False teeth and a prosthetic leg were among the weird and wonderful items left on Plymouth Citybus services in 2020.

In an effort to raise awareness and return more lost property, Plymouth Citybus have revealed some of the most surprising items left behind by passengers. Among the thousands of other unusual items left on bus services in 2020 were a lateral flow COVID-19 test, a sex toy, a professional chef’s knife set and even a dog!

The Plymouth Citybus lost property team recorded over 2,000 found items in 2020, down from the previous year due to the significant decrease in ridership during COVID-19. Many of the items were safely returned to owners, including the dog (after enjoying a brief stay at the lost property office). All unclaimed items are donated to local charities or disposed of safely and sustainably.

Some of the most commonly lost items on the buses included: AirPods, travel cards, smartphones, glasses, bank cards and towards the end of the year, gloves, hats and Christmas presents! Last year also saw a rise in medical items such as PPE, a single crutch and even a lateral flow COVID-19 test.

At the beginning of 2020, Plymouth Citybus became one of the first bus operators in the UK to adopt new technology to better manage their lost property. With the innovative NotLost platform, customer experience staff at Plymouth Citybus can register items found on bus services in seconds by simply taking a photo. Passengers are able to fill out an online report if they have lost something whilst the software gets to work matching lost/found items automatically.

James Church, customer experience manager, said: “Despite a decline in ridership this year, we naturally still saw huge amounts of lost belongings on our services.

“Losing something whilst travelling can be distressing and inconvenient. We think it’s incredibly important to highlight some of the bizarre items left on our buses as it helps remind passengers that ‘all is not lost’ when it comes to getting items back. We have a reliable lost property operation in place and it is always worth enquiring using the lost report form on our website.”

its strongest position yet. Participation is now significantly higher than it was preCOVID with more members fighting lockdown boredom and training online then they ever did in person.

“The pandemic hit our club hard because the social aspect of training has always been a massive motivating factor,” said Gary Burdock, chief instructor and director of Discovery Martial Arts Academy, which is based in Longbridge Road, Marsh Mills.

“Adults made the transition to virtual training with relative ease, but we did struggle to retain some of our youngest members who missed that personal touch and went on hold during the crisis.”

Fast forward a year and the club has evolved into a different position where teaching students remotely has become second nature for Discovery’s instructors and they have found success in unknown territory through collaboration, fun and creativity. Members have

reactivated, youngsters have adapted to change, there is renewed interest in the live streaming format, and Discovery is once again thriving.

“Membership hasn’t fully recovered to pre-COVID levels yet, but participation has skyrocketed, and our training family has been the driving force behind it,” added Gary.

“They’ve been absolutely fantastic and have shown so much positive spirit, support and encouragement of each other. We can’t wait until all this craziness stops and we can resume in-person classes but in the meantime, we’ll enjoy fighting it out.” adds Gary.

January is historically the club’s busiest month and this year has been no exception.

Gary attributes the club’s turnaround to small changes which have boosted engagement and reconnected members to the club they love. Black belts have taken over breakout sessions and it’s being future proofed from within.

Nick Jackson, first degree black belt, whose family has been heavily involved in Discovery Martial Arts Academy since it was set up six years ago, said: “Training together is something our whole family looks forward to! It gives us a chance

Gary Burdock of Discovery Martial Arts Academy

to connect to others, stay active, support local and keep motivated. The instructors have done a great job in keeping everyone moving and fighting fit during the pandemic.”

For details visit www.discoverymaa.co.uk

102 Mayflower hats knitted for modern day seafarers in need More than 100 international seafarers are set to benefit from some handmade woolly hats produced by local ladies during lockdown.

The hats were created as part of a special Mayflower-themed ‘Knitting Challenge’ that The Box set its’ Women’s Craft Collective in 2020.

The initiative saw the group take inspiration from the stories of the 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower and then knit a hat to represent each of them.

The Box posted parcels of wool, patterns and stories to the group who kept each other up to date with their progress through social media and telephone calls. The challenge provided them with a fun activity to get involved with during last year’s lockdowns, as well as a way to stay connected while they’ve been unable to meet face-to-face.

The colour coded hats were displayed at The Box throughout December and represent the different groupings and families that made up the passengers on the Mayflower. There were 28 different groups of families, friends and workmates and each group was given its own colour. The selected colours are common to the clothing of the early 1600s which, although not quite as bright as modern dyes, included colourful russets, pinks and oranges.

Now the display has finished, the hats have been presented to seafarer charity, Stella Maris.

Established in 1920, and originally named the Apostleship of the Sea, Stella Maris is the largest ship-visiting network in the world. It works to improve the lives of seafarers and fishers

Ann Donnelly, regional port chaplain (left) pictured with Jennifer Biscoe from The Box’s Women’s Craft Collective

through a network of local chaplains and seafarer centres that provide information, advocacy and spiritual support.

Ann Donnelly, Plymouth’s Regional Port Chaplain said: “The seafarers, like the passengers on board the Mayflower, are often at the mercy of the sea, sailing away from their loved ones in the hope that they can provide them with a more stable future. They’ll wear the hats with pride and are really grateful to the Women’s Craft Collective for taking the time to knit them.”

The Craft Collective currently has over 40 members and reaches

women from across the city and beyond, all of whom benefit from the creativity and companionship that the group provides.

Chloe Hughes, engagement programmes manager at The Box said: “Everyone really enjoyed knitting the hats and the group has produced hundreds of items for a range of charities over the last few years. This particular challenge has given them a chance to explore the stories of the Mayflower passengers who were confined to their ship just as we’ve been confined to our homes at times. It’s also given them a purpose and a reason to stay in touch with each other at a difficult time.”

Although face-to-face meetings are currently on hold, more information about joining the Women’s Craft Collective can be obtained by sending an email to TheBoxLearning@plymouth.gov.uk.

Find out more about The Box at www. theboxplymouth.com

18 March 2021

Over 10,000 hospital appointments are conducted by video since the start of the pandemic in Plymouth Thousands of patients at Derriford Hospital have used video consultations for their healthcare appointments instead of having to attend in person and rate their experience very highly.

Since the new scheme was launched in March last year, 10,000 consultations have taken place. Patients from the South West peninsula have benefited from this new service that has allowed more vulnerable people to see and talk to their clinicians without leaving their home. Having a video appointment also means some patients did not need to travel for over an hour to see their consultant, or pay for parking at the hospital.

Patients have also found it more relaxing to be able to talk to healthcare practitioners with a cup of tea in hand, and have been able to manage their time around an appointment more freely. Video consultations also allow patients to have their partner or family member with them during the consultation, which is not currently the case in face-to-face appointments, during the pandemic, due to the rules in place to reduce footfall into the hospital.

Simon Cowls, oncology patient said: “Meeting with your consultant in the setting of your own home is psychologically better.

And there is flexibility with it as well. If I got an appointment at say three o’clock, I’m not having to write off huge chunks of the day to travel, to park. You can literally, 10 minutes before, come into the lounge and get set up”.

Staff have been monitoring the experience of patients using video and telephone consultations very closely. Nearly 2,000 patients have taken part in survey work.

Overall satisfaction with video consultants was high, with 92% of respondents rating their experience as either very good or good.

Patients’ willingness to use remote consultations as a regular part of their healthcare in the future is also high - 83% of patients using video consultations and 70% of patients who underwent a telephone appointment said that they would be happy to have a remote consultation in future.

Mathew Swabey, project lead for video consultations said: “This uptake really demonstrates the use of technology at its best; allowing those in most need to access their health care, without having to travel and increase footfall in the hospital during times where social distancing is paramount.”

Video consultations have also brought benefits to some clinicians who have been able to see patients while they’ve been isolating or shielding themselves.

Richard Walters, specialist physiotherapist, said: “Some of my patients have liked video appointments more than other kind of appointments. They felt safer in the environment of their own home, emotionally safer. We also see people from quite big distances away, like Bude or Launceston, and that is a long way to travel, and there is a lot of cost to travel as well, so being able to have at least a first appointment via a platform that allows you to be at home makes a vast difference.”

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust patients can request video consultations by phoning the number on their appointment letter and the team will accommodate where possible.

For more information on how a video healthcare consultation works visit www. plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/videoconsult

18 March 2021

@PlymChronicle

Councillor’s community work during pandemic recognised with award A Plymouth City Councillor has picked up an award for her community work during the pandemic.

Compton Ward Councillor Andrea Johnson was presented with her award at the South West Conservatives Digital Conference in February, for the councillor who has most helped their constituents during the pandemic.

When COVID-19 landed, Cllr Johnson sprung into action. As a councillor for a ward with a high percentage of over 60s, shen knew that there would be residents who would need additional support with shopping once the Government shielding instructions were issued.

Cllr Johnson embarked on a telephone calling campaign resulting in a list of residents who were thrilled to be contacted and were delighted to have help with shopping.

From March through to September she became a community shopper, collecting groceries from resident’s supermarket of choice, paying bills, collecting prescriptions and posting letters.

“At the start of lockdown it was taking me hours to go shopping, until the supermarkets got themselves into a flow. I was in and out of supermarkets from dawn until dusk and initially it was exhausting. One particular day I stood in an ASDA queue for two hours – thankfully it was sunny!”

However, Cllr Johnson relished the task, as she knew, for many of her residents, she was the only person that they would see for a week.

In conversation with residents, it soon be came apparent that they were missing making charitable donations in the collection tins in shops, so she came up with an arrangement to collect up the shopping spare change, round it up and donate to local charities.

Over a period of six months they raised over £200 for local charities including: Gables Farm for Cats and Dogs, St Lukes Hospice, Foodbank charities, Dartmoor Zoo, Clean Our Patch and the Air Ambulance.

“Residents were worried that these charities were suffering, so between us we nominated a charity for the month, and that’s where the spare change went. My residents know that even in lockdown they were able to make contributions to charities close to their hearts,” she said.

She threw herself into supporting local residents, many of whom were not aware at the time that she had her own personal worries.

“My husband was working overseas when the lockdown instructions came. He subsequently wasn’t able to return to the UK for seven months and I spent that lockdown period with just myself and my dog. My residents will never know that I needed them

Cllr Andrea Johnson

as much as they needed me during that period.”

Nominating Councillor Johnson for the award, Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport Conservative Association Chair, Tony Carson said: “This is just Andrea to a tee – she’s only been a Plymouth City Councillor for three years, yet she immerses herself completely into her Compton ward work and her community. We are really lucky to have a councillor of this calibre in our Association.”

Steven’s perfect recipe for survival A long-serving Plymouthbased soldier who served in Afghanistan and other overseas postings, is using his experience to teach young people survival and bushcraft skills.

Staff Sergeant Steven Kelly has served with Citadel-based 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery for over 18 years and established South West Survival as a hobby in 2015.

The idea for South West Survival came about after Steven came to terms with a serious eye disease.

“I was potentially getting discharged from the British Army. It gave me a scare, so I started to look at ways to pay the bills,” said Steven.

“Then I thought I will use my skills that I have gained from 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and set up my own company, and that was when South West Survival was born.

“Luckily for me, the British Army retained me and I have progressed in my career. I have less than five years left in the British Army and I want to run my survival company full time.”

Prior to COVID lockdowns Steven was running regular survival courses at Saltram as well as team building exercises and other programmes for schools, colleges, corporate events, birthday parties and stag and hen parties.

Steven said: “Survival and bushcraft skills today are almost a forgotten art. Simple things such as lighting a fire in the wild with just a flint are skills that are being lost in this very modern world in which we live.

“Survival and bushcraft can

Experienced soldier Steven Kelly has launched an award-winning venture

Youngsters learn about the importance of team work

also really bring out the best in people – it will challenge and show hidden resilience and toughness, it can develop a great attitude, determination and leadership.

“To quote Ray Mears ‘every man, woman or child who visits wild places by whatever means will benefit from bushcraft knowledge.’

“That’s where South West Survival comes in, teaching the fundamental skills and more, to confidently survive and find shelter, water, fire and food.”

Steven’s company was recently given a Prestige Award for ‘best survival experience’ in the South West. “I am just overwhelmed and happy that my company won a award,” he said.

Steven has a passion for teaching and is truly happy when outdoors, and he hopes to be able to impart that knowledge on those who wish to learn.

He has been on numerous survival courses in the army gaining valuable experience but maintains you can never know enough and continues to learn and practice new skills when and wherever he can.

For more information visit www. southwestsurvival.co.uk

Moss is a good source of water

March 2021 19

@PlymChronicle

Helen and Dan celebrating a year of cornering the housing market It takes some courage to leave your job as an estate agent and open an office of your own just across the road from the office you worked in for nearly 25 years.

But, after all, the mantra of estate agency is Location, Location, Location and that, according to Helen Somauroo, is as important for where your office is as it is for the properties you’re selling.

The corner spot on Mutley Plain is ‘a brilliant position, nothing beats a corner site’ said Helen, who - along with business partner Dan Collier - recently celebrated a year since the launch of their estate agency DC Lane.

She and Dan have worked in corporate estate agency for decades and realised there was a place for a much more personal way of doing things and that’s how DC Lane was born.

Of course neither of them dreamed that their first year would include dealing with buying, selling, letting and managing properties in a pandemic but, typical of the pair’s can-do attitude, they immediately rose to the challenge.

DC Lane has also played a really practical role during the lockdowns too, working with charities throughout helping to secure property for a variety of tenants.

“Because of the investment we made in our IT and digital infrastructure when we opened we were very easily able to make the transition from working from home when the first lockdown started and that has continued during the subsequent lockdowns,” said Dan. They are continuing with their COVID-safe viewings sticking to the very rigid procedures they have instituted since the start of the pandemic.

“We are minimising those, though, by using our innovative technology, video and virtual tours during this lockdown,” he said.

The office also lends itself well to being divided into two COVID-secure areas for clients to be safely accommodated when they arrive for pre-arranged appointments. “Our office is so welcoming - people wave at us as they pass by or from the bus because we look friendly because

you can see us,” said Helen. “We took the decision not to fill our windows with property details, we want to retain that open, welcoming feel.”

And there is also a large banner of Helen on the side of the building which they know helps attract clients.

“It took a bit of getting used to,” laughs Helen, “but I’ve been involved in property in Plymouth for a long time and it makes it easier for past clients to find me and it’s a bit of a talking point too!”

So what do Helen and Dan think is different about their approach? “For me it’s about that seven-day-a-week contact,” said Helen.

“Our clients know they can contact us any way

they like, when it’s convenient for them, whether it’s Messenger, WhatsApp or over the phone – the traditional constraints of traditional agency don’t apply at DC Lane.”

They also have high standards about the type of property they will have on their books for lettings.

“We support quality housing and we simply won’t offer housing that is sub-standard,” said Dan. There are many ways their first year hasn’t panned out as they anticipated when they first opened their doors – but in the face of the pandemic DC Lane has ended its first year 30% up on their own forecast for their first 12 months and their initial staff of three has now expanded to six.

“We really have picked the best in the business – each member of our team is excellent in their own right,” said Helen.

The team also works closely with another local business Velvet Shaw who ‘dress’ properties so they look their best when the photographs are taken.

“We really want our buyers to be able to envisage what it would

Above: Helen Somauroo in front of the big banner on display at DC Lane’s Mutley Plain office. Below: Menbers of the DC Lane team (from left) Amy Calder,Helen Somauroo, Emily Cobb and Dan Collier. Photos: 241photography

Plymouth High School for Girls joins Thinking Schools Academy Trust Plymouth High School for Girls joins Thinking Schools Academy Trust One of Plymouth’s oversubscribed secondary schools has joined the highperforming Thinking Schools Academy Trust.

school. Our teachers are experienced, dedicated and possess a real passion for teaching lessons that have the students engaged and interested. All staff at the school really do want the very best for our students and engage enthusiastically in continually developing their own practice.

Plymouth High School for Girls and Thinking “We and Thinking Schools very much share the Schools have been in discussions and sharing same values and we are very excited about this practice in recent months, leading to the transfer partnership, and the potential it offers our school, of the school to the trust formally taking place our staff and above all our students to achieve today following approval by the Department for even more.”

Education.

Stuart Gardner, chief executive of Thinking Plymouth High is rated Good by Ofsted and led Schools Academy Trust, said: “We are thrilled to

by Headteacher Simon Underdown, who joined welcome Plymouth High School for Girls to the in September 2019. It is the 16th school to be Headteacher Simon Thinking Schools family, making us a close-knit Underdown part of Thinking Schools, which was rated by the 16 schools. Their motto ‘For Life, Not School, We Department for Education as the best academy Learn’ is very much on brand for our trust as we trust in the South East for GCSE results in 2020 and whose other are unique in ensuring that our students leave school fully primary and secondary schools are across coastal cities and equipped with the tools they need to reflect on the knowledge towns - in Medway, Deal (in Kent) and Portsmouth. learned in life.

Some of the immediate projects that the school and “The transition period has seen teams from the school and trust will work on include a large investment in PHSG’s IT the trust working collaboratively to provide a firm foundation to infrastructure, creating a platform for Trust wide student kick-start our new and exciting beginnings. leadership opportunities and support for PHSG to become the “We are really looking forward to working even more closely first accredited Thinking School in Plymouth. with PHSG as they become an incredible part of our Trust, with a Simon Underdown, headteacher of Plymouth High School for Girls, said: “We provide a high-quality learning experience at our successful future ahead.”

be like for them to live there and the team at Velvet Shaw are so creative and clever and do a fantastic job of doing that,” said Dan. So the new year ahead is more of the same – more hard work and, hopefully, more satisfied customers. Opening further offices is also part of the plan but this will only happen Helen says, unsurprisingly, if the location is perfect.

Helen said being on Mutley Plain – especially during the pandemic - has demonstrated the strong community spirit of fellow traders. “We’ve had cakes dropped in and all kinds of offers of help,” she added. “The independent businesses are all so supportive of each other and the community wants us to succeed and our clients are telling their friends about us because they want us to be successful too.”

DC Lane’s corner site on Mutley Plain

20 March 2021

20 March 2021

@PlymChronicle

Music is definitely a gift from God! THE

By Chris Cole, founder of Cross Rhythms Charity

Experience

The saying ‘if music be the food of love, play on’ is a famous line from one of Shakespeare’s plays, Twelfth Night. It refers to the idea that music can fill a person’s heart and make them stop feeling heartbroken, just like food can fill a person’s stomach and make them stop feeling hungry.

When the idea for Cross Rhythms was conceived back in the early 80s, its genesis was at a time in my life when I was seriously searching within myself for the meaning of life.

At the time, my heart was broken and my soul was in tatters. A song from Bob Dylan’s album Slow Train Coming called ‘Gotta Serve Somebody’, released in the late 70s, had a profound impact on my life.

It was beyond inspirational; it was at a time when Bob Dylan was expressing his Christian faith and the lyrics powerfully impacted me as Providence was compelling me to explore the deeper spiritual meaning of life.

For me, music is a gift from Creator God, the Intelligent Designer who expresses and

demonstrates the power and influence of music within creation through ancient scripture and how it can inspire and encourage the human heart and soul like nothing else.

I can list songs that Chris Cole ‘speak deeply’ to me, from classical music that does the same without lyrics to classic pop music with amazing lyrics, which like the opening quote in this article can satisfy and replenish deeply.

A serious exploration of faith is hard to undertake without truth of the inner personal/individual condition being part of the process.

We may believe now that all truth is relative to the individual’s worldview and beliefs and in a way that can be true.

For a Christian, however, who believes by experience that there is an Absolute Truth, and He is 100% Divine, and 100% human, truth can be awesome. His

TimeNominate to nominate your Dementia Hero in a dementia Plymouthhero from Plymouth Individuals and organisations in Plymouth who have gone the extra mile to support people affected by dementia over the past year could be recognised at a prestigious national awards ceremony.

Nominations are now open for Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Heroes Awards 2021 which will be hosted by Alzheimer’s Society supporter and TV presenter, writer and journalist Richard Madeley in May. The awards, which are sponsored by Tunstall Healthcare, will take place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic on May 20 during Dementia Action Week (May 17-23) and will showcase the stories of people doing outstanding things during the pandemic – Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia heroes.

Derek Dodd, Alzheimer’s Society’s area manager for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Lockdown has been tough for all of us. But imagine how much worse it would have been if you couldn’t understand why it was happening: why you no longer saw your loved ones; why your carers stopped visiting or why they wore masks. Tragically, this was reality for tens of thousands of people living with dementia in the UK. And it was also the reality

for carers, who were left unable to visit their loved ones, or without precious respite.

“Throughout the pandemic, individuals, groups and organisations have shown incredible support for people affected by dementia. We want to recognise these dementia heroes. The awards will recognise the inspirational achievements of those who care for people with dementia, those finding innovative solutions in research, and the campaigners and media fighting for the rights of people with dementia.

“Since the pandemic began, Alzheimer’s Society has helped huge numbers of people affected by dementia get the support they need, from speaking to one of our Dementia Advisers, to accessing information and advice on our website. Our services have been used nearly three million times since lockdown began in March 2020, showing that people affected by dementia need us now more than ever.”

Nominations close on March 5.

It’s quick and easy to nominate your dementia hero. Just visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/ dementiaheroawards For more information about Dementia Action Week visit www. alzheimers.org.uk/DAW

name is Jesus Christ, and He has come to give us true freedom.

Like Pontius Pilate when facing Jesus, we all can ask, ‘and what is truth’?

That is a question God wants us all to ask if we are searching the bigger questions of ‘why life, and what is the point of existence’?

The answer begins when we are truthful with ourselves. These are very deep questions and they take us on a life changing journey.

During the 60s and 70s a spiritual revival hit parts of the Western World called the Jesus People Movement. The profound impact of this ‘spiritual awakening’ was the conversions of many mainstream musicians, like Bob Dylan, who used their gifts and influence to speak into society about some of the cultural challenges we were facing back then.

The sixties was a time of cultural revolution that would change the Western World forever.

Much of this musical history is documented on the Cross Rhythms website and one of our young presenters on Cross Rhythms Plymouth, Esther Cole, has found herself propelled to prominence with her appearance on ‘The Voice’.

I can assure you that behind her experience on TV her motivation is still at heart her faith in God, who has nurtured and upheld her in the good and bad times of life.

I am so proud of her as her dad, but not as proud as her Heavenly Father is because he sees the depth of who she truly is and the choices she has made even at such a young age in the challenging times.

For me she is a winner in life.

Listen to Cross Rhythms Plymouth on 96.3FM or online at the new Cross Rhythms Plymouth website at www. crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth

The smiles say it all...

...enjoy the great outdoors - go for a ramble!

With the prospect of lockdown easing in the not too distant future, it’s time to think about getting out and about again - and rambling is a great way to exercise and enjoy spectacular scenery.

Whether it’s getting out on Dartmoor, trekking along the coast path or exploring all the quirky bits in between, there are two local official rambling groups which offer a range of interesting walks led by enthusiastic and well-informed volunteers.

Plymouth Ramblers is a branch of the National Ramblers and a full walks programme is advertised on their website - just as soon as the government allows people to walk in a group. Visit plymouthramblers.co.uk, then click on the walks to find quite a range of distances and dates.

Dartmoor Rambling Club, is an independent group and costs just £5 a year to join. Everyone is welcome to try out one of their walks - even on a number of occasions - before signing up.

The group walks every other Wednesday, using where possible public transport: bus train or perhaps ferry from Plymouth.

Walks are generally eight or nine miles.

For information contact the group by email or telephone: ronaldfwsmith@gmail.com or 07780913546.

There are many benefits in joining a group. To start with participants will be led in directions that they might not have thought of for themselves, or had the confidence to embark on for a first time. Then there is the company, cheerful, chatty, full of genuine friendship.

Ron Smith from Plymouth Ramblers, who is also walks coordinator for the Dartmoor Rambling Club, said: “There is just one caveat; walking boots are essential for all rambles. We do try to avoid tussocks and bog, but Dartmoor can be a little bit uncompromising. Mud is inevitably omnipresent until high summer dries the paths out. Superb views are dangerously addictive. Give us a go!”

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22 March 2021

New memorial for victims of slave trade to be installed A memorial dedicated to the many victims of the slave trade is set to be installed in the Plymouth Hoe Peace Garden later this year.

The memorial, which will be mounted on a

limestone plinth, will feature a plaque that not only commemorates the many lives lost to the slave trade but will play tribute to the work of Plymouth residents who worked tirelessly in their campaigns to end slavery.

It will be unveiled on March 25 to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “It is so important that we recognise the role that Plymouth played in the Slave Trade and the devastation which this caused to lives and communities all over the world.

“Although slavery was abolished over 200 years ago the trauma of these atrocities - the legacy of racism and discrimination can still be felt today.

“As a city, we must not try to hide from our past. We must raise awareness of the horrors of this cruel trade and most importantly the people and communities it affected.”

An image of the British slave ship Brookes, designed by Plymouth MP and artist Sir William Elford, will adorn the plaque.

This image was first published in a pamphlet by the Plymouth chapter of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and became one of the most important symbols of the national abolitionist campaign.

This story and Plymouth’s contribution to this history can be explored in more detail at The Box and its 100 Journeys gallery.

Sir William Elford

22 March 2021

@PlymChronicle

Rockfish boost for National Marine Aquarium following third closure Sutton Harbour’s award winning seafood eatery, Rockfish has donated a further £8,000 to its neighbour, the National Marine Aquarium, in a bid to help the much-loved city attraction in wake of another lengthy closure.

This brings the total donated to £23,000 in the past twelve months from the popular restaurant, despite the hospitality industry being badly hit by the impact of the pandemic.

The vital funds were raised by Rockfish over the six months prior to its enforced lockdown closure, and come from their optional £1 table donation from customers.

These come at a crucial time for the Aquarium which relies on visitors to cover its operating costs – and to keep its animals fed, which is upwards of £5,000 each month. But due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it was forced to remain closed from late December.

Mitch Tonks, chef and Rockfish owner said: “The aquarium is an iconic part of the Plymouth landscape who do such important work in the community and it is wonderful that we can do something to make a difference, especially during this incredibly challenging year for ourselves and for the aquarium. We want to come out of this alongside our neighbour, the NMA, thriving so it feels particularly important to look out for each other.”

Roger Maslin, chief executive at the National Marine Aquarium, said: “We are delighted to receive another generous donation from Rockfish and their customers.

“We share many of Rockfish’s values when it comes to helping preserve the marine environment and their support means we can continue in our vision of creating a healthier Ocean for all.

Rockfish’s Mitch Tonks (left) pictured with council leacder Tudor Evans and Roger Maslin, chief executive of the National Marine Aquarium

“One of the biggest challenges that face aquaria at this time, is the ongoing costs of feeding and maintaining the fish and animals. Even when closed to the public, the cost of operating the largest Aquarium in the UK remains up to £10,000 a day. This fantastic donation means we can continue to care for our animals, as well as continue our free education lessons for home schoolers and classes across the UK.” Leader of Plymouth City council, Tudor Evans, said: “How wonderful to see two Plymouth institutions working together to help each other out during this incredibly difficult time. The customers and teams

at Rockfish, most of whom are Plymouth locals, are looking out for their neighbours, something that is reflected in many areas of our city. This is why we have such a good community here and long may it continue.”

Despite the aquarium’s closure the Ocean Conservation Trust, which runs the attraction, is continuing with their vital education and conservation work, including weekly Ocean school lessons on YouTube and cultivating ocean habitats in their lab to replant in the ocean.

For more information go to www. national-aquarium.co.uk or www. oceanconservationtrust.org

(not including public health budgets) will increase by just £9.338 million with £7.922 million of this rise expected to come from increasing Council Tax. Issuing the call for Government to finally publish the figures, Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board for Plymouth Council, said: “We are in the middle of the worst public health crisis in a hundred years, and yet the Government are forcing us to fight with one hand tied behind our back. The ongoing silence on public health is holding us back and that puts lives at risk. We need answers – now.

“From test and trace, to rolling out the vaccine, and now giving councils certainty in public health funding, the Government has repeatedly been too been slow to act, systems have failed, and lives have been lost.

“Council budgets have been ripped apart by the cost of COVID, and now the Government’s answer is to simply ask local people to pay more in their Council Tax, whilst risking a reduction in services.”

The Local Government Association, which represents councils, has said that Directors of Public Health and their teams desperately need certainty on how much they can budget for in 2021/22 to help their communities deal with the immediate impact of COVID-19.

According to LGA figures, public health funding grants to councils have been reduced by £700 million in real terms from 2015/16 to 2019/20.

The lack of any new money for public health in the recent Spending Review will also likely lead to greater demand pressures on the NHS, which is already facing unprecedented challenges.

Public health silence risking lives in the middle of a pandemic, says councillor With the new financial year just weeks away, the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board for Plymouth City Council is demanding the Government finally publish this year’s Public Health funding allocation.

The city council is providing a range of services to help tackle COVID-19 infection rates, support the roll out of the vaccine and protect the vulnerable, yet Ministers have failed to publish the 2021/22 public health funding allocation – making detailed planning for the year ahead impossible.

The prolonged uncertainty comes at a time when councils across the country are facing wider budget cuts and pressure from central government to raise Council Tax by 5 per cent.

The Government has announced that Plymouth City Council’s Core Spending Power

Financial help for low-income families told to self-isolate

Plymouth City Council is once again stepping in to help residents who need financial support while self-isolating.

It is to extend its discretionary Test and Trace Support Scheme until the end of March and will run alongside the national scheme which is designed to support low income households who need to isolate.

Since the launch of both the main and the discretionary scheme a total of 554 households have received financial support while they self-isolate.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet member for Housing and Cooperative Development, said: “The infection rates are going down - which is great news - but we all know how

quickly they can go back up and with more testing due to come, any one of us could be told to self-isolate. Nobody should be struggling to make ends meet because they are doing the right thing, which is why we are stepping in to bridge a gap left by the Government.”

The council has so far received £120,500 for the discretionary scheme but that sum and more has already been spent supporting families.

At the moment no further funding has come from Government. Councillor Penberthy added: “Our overriding objective must be to protect our communities and look after the most vulnerable. If we had to end the scheme those

who are financially vulnerable and unable to look after themselves, or their families may return to work putting others at risk of infection. We cannot allow that to happen.

“We have written again to the Government asking them to review their funding. The allocation did not take account of the infection rate at the time, the city’s demographics and nature of employment, where many are in low paid jobs and cannot work from home.”

An emergency decision is being signed to allocate up to £17,000 to meet additional demand and to set a further £50,000 from the Test & Trace Support Grant should the forecasted demands increase.

USEFUL Plans to celebrate 125th anniversary of NUMBERS March 2021 23

@PlymChronicle

Devonport High School for Boys in 2021 Devonport High School for Boys is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2021.

Founder Alonzo J Rider opened his new school, Devonport High School for Boys – incorporating the Stoke Naval and Civil Service School – on January 16 1896, in a building at the top of Albert Road in Stoke which he had purchased for £3500.

Mr Rider was no stranger to education, or the area, as he had previously been headmaster of Stoke Public Elementary School. He retired in 1906 when the local education authority bought it in a reorganisation of secondary education.

He didn’t go far though, as his home adjoined the school and that is where he passed away 100 years ago in 1921. He kept a close eye on his school and was Chair of Governors until his death.

In one of his final speeches he expressed his paternal pride in Devonport High which he had founded 22 years previously. Many parents had no confidence in this municipal school and consequently transferred their sons to alternative ones!

By 1913, the subsequent headmaster, Mr A F Treseder, proudly announced that Devonport High School for Boys was now the largest boys’ school affording secondary education in the three towns of Devonport, Stonehouse and Plymouth.

Mr Treseder retired in 1932 and to this day is the longest serving head of Devonport High. It was said that he rarely smiled but did his best!

Cue the next headmaster – HATS! Mr HAT

Plymouth will come together to remember the 1,172 civilians who died during the 1941 Plymouth Blitz in a special series of commemorative events.

The events will include: • The Box will be sharing pages of the Bomb Book marking every raid on Plymouth during World War Two alongside other exhibits from our city’s wartime past.

• A special remembrance service will be held for the 76 people lost in the bombing of the Portland Square air raid shelter organised by the University of Plymouth.

• The Fire Brigades Union will be unveiling a new memorial to the 41 firefighters who died during the Plymouth Blitz in a special online service.

• CityBus will be publishing photographs of the bomb damage to their Milehouse depot that included buses blown onto the roof of the depot by the force of the blast.

• St Andrew’s Church will be holding a special livestreamed service to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the Minister Church and the placing of the ‘Resurgam’ inscription outside the church the day after.

The Marine Biological Association on Plymouth Hoe that was hit by bombs will also be publishing photos and diary entries from staff at the time recounting the raids. The

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From the archives...Devonport High School for Boys seen before Stonehouse Creek was filled in

Simmonds became the third headmaster, in 1933 at the age of 33 and made his mark by introducing the school blazer!

By 1940 the school had grown to 700 boys, from only 94 in 1906 at the time of the local education authority takeover. On May 14 1941, following the March and April air raids, the school was evacuated to Penzance - although some pupils opted to attend the Emergency High School within Sutton High School.

School did not resume in Plymouth until the September 10 1945 – in a new home. Local philanthropist Albert (Archie) Ballard had paid £10,000 for the empty Stoke Military Hospital and

gifted it to Plymouth for educational use.

Beverley Kinsella, who is co-ordinating plans to celebrate the anniversary, said: “Just last week a pupil from this period told me how excited all the boys were to be going to their new building and how impressed they were by the colonnade which is 165.5 metres long and linked by 41 arches.”

She said that tentative plans were being made for a celebration later this year.

Those interested should register at www. dhsb125.co.uk/She would also love to hear any DHSB memories and see any memorabilia which former pupils may have. Please email Beverley Kinsella at alumni@dhsb.org

80th anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz to be marked by series of special events A programme of special events will be taking place this year to mark the 80th anniversary of the Blitz which killed over 1,000 people in Plymouth and changed the city forever.

Emergency Numbers

A page from the Bomb Book

Lord Mayor will also be leading the city in a moment of remembrance.

Babcock, the Royal Navy and the Royal British Legion will all be participating in events. As will those organisations who remember those civilians who fell including Ford Park Cemetery Trust whose chapel is engraved with the names of every victim of the Plymouth Blitz.

Plymouth was targeted by the Luftwaffe as a major naval port, home to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and as a base to units of the Army and the Royal Air Force.

During the 59 bombing attacks, 1,172 civilians were killed and 4,448 injured Luke Pollard MP, who leads the organisation of the event programme said: “During this time of national crisis, it is more important than ever to remember the Plymouth

Blitz and the spirit that saw our city through that dark time. 80 years on we are faced with an invisible foe in the form of Coronavirus and the same spirit of rising again. Just as Plymouth got through the Blitz and the horrors of war, to rebuild, we will do that with this virus.

“As a proud military city, we remember those in uniform who served and gave their lives for our freedom, and during the 80th anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz I hope the stories of our city’s civilian population can be retold and rediscovered. I invite everyone in Plymouth to remember this anniversary, be proud of our city’s past and hopeful about the future true to the essence familiar to Plymothians eighty years ago embodied in the resurgam spirit.”

Councillor Pete Smith, Deputy

Leader of Plymouth City Council said: “As one of the most heavily bombed British cities during World War Two, this March and April mark 80 years since one of Plymouth’s darkest hours.

“The destruction caused by the Blitz changed the city forever – but so did the way it rose from the ashes and rebuilt itself. This is an opportunity for us to remember everyone who was lost and everyone who survived. As we continue to face the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic it’s also a really timely reminder of how resilient Plymouth can be in the toughest of times.”

Nicola Moyle, Head of Heritage, Art and Film at The Box said: “As one of the most heavily bombed British cities during World War Two, this spring marks 80 years since one of Plymouth’s darkest hours. The destruction caused by the Blitz is a subject we return to time and time again – not only to inform people about what took place, but also to remind them of how resilient Plymouth is and how it rose from the ashes.

“At the Box we are privileged to hold a wealth of material in our archives and in our galleries. One particularly iconic document is called The Bomb Book – it literally captures night by night all the bombs that fell across the city during the Blitz.

“We will be sharing highlights from this book as part of the anniversary commemoration.”

The events programme will be published by Plymouth City Council shortly.

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24 March 2021

@PlymChronicle

Plymouth’s Tracy Perkin flying the flag for female plumbers An apprenticeship can be daunting for anyone. But what about when you’re a woman entering a sector that’s stereotypically male-dominated.

over 23,000 homes in Central and Waterfront

Plumber Tracy on her way to another call out

that to change. I guess I am flying the flag for women.

“What I hope it will do is make people think and consider a career path regardless of gender and age.

“Luckily for me, LiveWest don’t hold any barriers and welcome people whatever their age or gender.”

LiveWest customer Dave Hogg, 74, was full of praise for Tracy after she completed a recent gas check on his property in Plymouth.

The former chief radio supervisor, who spent 22 years serving in the Royal Navy, said: “It’s fantastic, I’m all for female plumbers.

“Tracy came in and was extremely friendly, professional and competent.

“It’s good to see women doing what have traditionally been jobs done by males in the past.

“My daughter is a nurse at Derriford Hospital, and she has lots of friends who are male nurses. It’s about breaking down gender stereotypes.

Tracy: ‘More women should have a go at these trades’

“I was in the Royal Navy and they could do with more women at sea.”

Against a backdrop of coronavirus restrictions over the past 11 months, Tracy has still been able to carry on her apprenticeship thanks in part to the safety measures employed by LiveWest.

Tracy added: “I have learnt so much over the past year. At first it is daunting going into someone’s house to fix an issue or do a gas check.

“But you have a mentor with you at all times and Mark Malone has been an amazing support for me.

“There is no better satisfaction than fixing someone’s boiler so that they can get access to hot water and heating again. It puts a smile on my face every time.

“Of course, at this time of year it is extremely busy, and we also have to factor in all of the safety precautions in place to keep ourselves and our customers safe.

“It has been a challenging year for everybody but being able to help in a small way fills me with joy.

“Having worked with LiveWest in my former career, I knew they were the organisation I wanted to work for because of their focus on great customer services and the way they support and develop their employees.

“I am in the second year of my apprentice and it is the best thing that could have happened to me. It has literally changed my life.

“What I would say is that more women should have a go at these trades because you gain some fantastic skills.

“I am a practical person so the best way for me to learn is have a go at things. I have learnt so much already.

“If you are not a classroom person, on the job training is an excellent way to learn.

“And it is all thanks to LiveWest for believing in me and giving me the platform to show I can do this.”

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The April edition of the Plymouth Chronicle in Central and Waterfront will be published on March 19 with a copy deadline of March 8.

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Chronicle Plymouth

March 2021

COVID UPDATE See inside for news and information from Plymouth City Council Pages 2 and 3

Gables Dogs and Cats Home are caring for a 13 year old cat who has been evicted from his home See page 15

Toby says: Dance away those Covid blues!

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Central & Waterfront

Talented singer Esther Cole has made her way through to The Voice Battle Rounds See page 13

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For Plymouth-based Tracy Perkin, the trepidation was far outweighed by her overwhelming desire and enthusiasm to carve out a career in gas engineering and plumbing.

Having worked for the best part of 20 years for a plumber’s merchant selling boiler parts, Tracy, who lives in West Park, found herself at a career crossroads as she approached her 40th birthday.

Her determination to realise her dreams paid dividends as he was offered an apprenticeship with LiveWest, the largest housing association in the South West.

Estimates suggest that there are around 1,000 female plumbers and gas engineers in the UK which accounts for just two per cent of those working in the trade.

And there are only just 500 who have secured the Accredited Certification Scheme which is the accepted route for experienced gas operatives to gain the certificate of competence needed to become a member of the Gas Safe Register.

Although Tracy’s new career path still provokes an element of surprise for some people, she is thrilled to be able to ‘fly the flag’ for women plumbers.

At the start of National Apprenticeships Week, Tracy said: “I often get that look of surprise when I knock on the door of one of our customers.

“People generally expect a male to arrive and that’s perfectly understandable.

“Our customers are great, and I get lots of comments about how fantastic it is that a woman has come to look at their boiler.

“The plumbing trade has always been male-dominated and it will take time for

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