Plymouth Chronicle Central & Waterfront November 2021

Chronicle Plymouth

November 2021

Gables Dogs and Cats Home are caring for a tiny kitten called Fun-Sized Freddo For details See Page 3

# PLYMOUTH TOGETHER

Central & Waterfront

The Box has celebrated its first anniversary with a host of awards and 100,000 visitors See Page 24

A very special party was organised for city youngsters by the charity Friends and Families of Special Children See Page 22

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

We’re dance crazy!

Plymouth’s Barbican Theatre is one of just eight companies commissioned

by BBC Arts and One Dance UK to create a new dance film as part of Dance Passion 2022. It has proposed a groundbreaking new dance film that built upon their hugely successful Petrol Headz Project, which reached over 4,000 people in Plymouth this summer • See page 23 Photo: Greenbeanz Photography

Devonport High School For Girls

Sixth Form Open Event Wednesday 10th November 2021 Check website for details

‘Best state funded secondary school in the greater Plymouth area’ Real Schools Guide 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020

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2 November 2021

2 November 2021

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Get protected for evenings indoors As the nights draw in, it’s important to remember that Covid is very much with us.

At time of going to print, Plymouth’s rate of cases per 100,000 population is 406. This is higher than the England average of 364 per 100,000. This means on average we’re seeing over 150 new cases of COVID-19 every single day in Plymouth. People are still being admitted to hospital and, sadly, we are seeing several Plymouth residents pass away each week with Coronavirus.

As winter sets in, we might be less likely to meet outside and so we need to think about the steps we need to take to keep each other safe.

This includes: Getting vaccinated If you haven’t had your vaccine yet, there’s plenty of opportunity to get it now – it’s not too late. Anyone aged 16 or over can book or attend a walk-in vaccination session at Home Park. If you have had both vaccines over six months ago, you will now be eligible for a booster vaccine just to top up your levels of protection.

This will be for anyone who: • is aged 50 and over • lives or works in a care home • is a health or social care worker

• is aged 16 and over and has a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 • is aged 16 and over and is a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19 • is aged 16 and over and lives with someone who is more likely to get infections Also look out for your invitation for flu vaccination if you are eligible – with less social distancing, we expect flu to be affecting people again this year.

Ventilation Remember, it’s still safest to meet outdoors, so please take the opportunity to explore a new park, beach or wood when seeing others. If you must meet indoors, open a window to blow the virus away and try to keep your distance from others. Wearing a mask is still strongly advised, especially when in an enclosed space and handwashing is a must.

Rapid testing Make sure you’re still taking regular lateral flow tests; you can pick them up from our libraries, Place de Brest, pharmacies or order them online.

Due to uncertain winter weather our targeted COVID Community Engagement Team will no longer be setting up the mobile testing unit

at static sites. Instead, they will be travelling around Plymouth, engaging with residents and distributing test kits at various locations.

Getting test kits from a pharmacy Before you call in to your nearest pharmacy to collect lateral flow tests to do at home, you now need a ‘collect code’. You can get your code, which you will need to show when you collect your test packs from your pharmacy, by registering at https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/collectlateral-flow-kits. Pharmacies will be displaying posters or leaflets explaining this new change, with a QR code that will take you to that webpage.

You do not need a collect code to pick up test kits from any other location or from our targeted community testing team.

With these high rates, please also remember that if you have symptoms, you must isolate immediately and get a PCR test. If you miss out on work because of isolation, support is available from the Government. For more information, please go to our website: www.plymouth.gov.uk.

By Dr Ruth Harrell

Director of Public Health for Plymouth

City leaders unite in public letter urging Plymouth to protect jobs and businesses from COVID-19 As levels of COVID-19 remain high across the city, Plymouth City Council, HM Naval Base, Babcock, the Theatre Royal, Princess Yachts, Marjon University, Plymouth College of Art and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network, Plymouth Octopus have come together to urge local people to protect businesses and jobs this winter from the impact of Coronavirus.

In a letter to all residents of the city, the organisations ask local people to remember that if we don’t get COVID-19 under control by the winter the consequences could be devastating for the business community – particularly if mandatory measures are brought back.

Businesses across the city are asking their staff to do their bit and are also asking local people for their help.

Face coverings and social distancing may no longer be compulsory but they will still protect us. We know these measures are effective in helping to reduce transmission and everyone is being asked to continue with these in settings such as shops, on public transport and in cinemas and theatres. Businesses are also urging customers and visitors to wear a mask.

These measures not only help to protect you, they reduce the risks for others around you, including those who are vulnerable or anxious.

For more information go to: www.plymouth.gov.uk.

Changes to COVID-19 testing Rates of COVID-19 are still high across Plymouth.

Around one in three people with COVID-19 don’t have any symptoms but can still pass it on.

Although you might not be showing any symptoms, you could still be carrying the virus without knowing and putting other people’s lives at risk.

Taking a regular test is an opportunity to control COVID-19, save lives and get back to a more normal way of living.

You should do a lateral flow test twice a week (every three to four days) to check if you have the virus, even if you are double vaccinated. If you test positive you should self-isolate and apply for a

confirmatory PCR test.

Please remember, if you display any symptoms of COVID-19 you must isolate immediately and take a PCR test.

You can still pick up a box of lateral flow tests from a pharmacy, local library or Place de Brest or order them online. Remember, before you call in to your nearest pharmacy to collect your tests to do at home, you now need a ‘collect code’.

You can get your code by registering online https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/ collect-lateral-flow-kits. You do not need a collect code to pick up test kits from any other location or from our targeted community testing team.

Where to get your vaccine jab

If you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccination yet, or you’re due your second jab, you can get one at Home Park or the Council’s mobile vaccine van – and you don’t need an appointment or NHS number.

Our mobile van will be visiting the following locations next week between 10am and 3pm. Only

the Pfizer vaccine will be available for first and second jabs. No appointments are needed: • Tuesday 19 October: Salvation Army, Devonport.

• Thursday 21 October: Plymouth Market.

Home Park is also offering walk-in vaccinations.

Go to: www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/gettested for more information.

can check the latest number of COVID-19 cases in Plymouth on the HOW TO KEEP You Council’s website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/COVID-19.

The information on this page was correct at the time of going to UP-TO-DATE NOTE: press on October 14.

Out and About Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

Journeys from Plymouth Until Nov 14 The latest exhibition at Ford Park Cemetery’s Visitor Centre is Journeys from Plymouth, which looks at how local people went out into the world to explore either on military service or to make their fortunes. The exhibition is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am t0 3.30pm and from 12.30pm to 3.30pm at weekends.

Illuminate is back at the Royal William Yard from November 25 to 28 Photo: Dom Moore

Quest for the Ice Dragon Oct 15 to Oct 24 Stiltskin Theatre Company present their winter show. An immersive promenade performance in and around The Soapbox Children’s Theatre in Devonport Park. For times and other details visit www.stiltskin.org Halloween Trail Oct 23 to Oct 31 Locate the 15 Halloween characters displayed in shop windows in the city centre to be in with a chance of winning £100 to spend in Waterstones.

Details and entry form at www.visitplymouth. co.uk/whats-on/major-events/the-halloweentrail Boo at the Zoo Oct 29 and 30 Boo at the Zoo is back, and scarier than ever! Dartmoor Zoo is opening its gates after dark to invite families to join a spooktacular trail through the Zoo! For details visit wwwdartmoorzoo.org.uk Winter Food & Craft Fair Nov 5 to Nov 7 Buckland Abbey, near Yelverton hosts a winter fair full of festive sparking, food and shopping opportunities. For times and admission prices call 01822 853607.

Funky Llama Festival Oct 29 and Oct 30 Theatre Royal Plymouth’s flagship community event Funky Llama Festival is back! This October half-term, step right up to the greatest show in town for two big days! Visit Plymouth’s Central Park for some Big Top magic and funky Halloween fun. With wild costumers, wacky workshops and magical moments for everyone to enjoy, this is the festival fix you’ve needed after lockdown. Expect live music, DJs, craft stalls, a fully licensed bar, circus acts, comedy and magic from local and national performers. Including the latest show Human by Extraordinary Bodies, the UK’s leading disabled and non-disabled circus company, created in partnership with show makers Cirque Bijou and leading arts and diversity practitioners Diverse City.

Boos in a Barn October 30 Halloween charity event in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer at Higher Bughill Farm, Shaugh Prior PL7 5EW. Halloween themed party with live music, charity raffle and fun prizes to be won for costumes! Bar and food wagon serving hot food.

Doors open 7.30pm tickets £10. For details email steph.hobbs89@gmail.com

Bonfire Night Nov 5 Spectacular bonfire and fireworks display on The Hoe. Katherine Ryan: The Missus Tour Nov 6 Award-winning comedian, writer, presenter and actress Katherine Ryan makes a welcome return to the Plymouth Pavilions stage with her brand new show Missus. More information at www. plymouthpavilions.com Poppy Run Nov 6 The Royal British Legion is encouraging people to lace up their trainers and take part in its annual Poppy Run in Central Park to help

support service and ex-service personnel and their families. The Plymouth Poppy Run is £15 to enter and under 18s go free. Entry includes a Poppy Run t-shirt and a special finisher’s medal. Participants can choose to run, jog or walk 5km on 6 November and the event is open to all ages and abilities, including four legged friends. Alternatively, there is a virtual version, My Poppy Run during October and November, where people can show their support for the 2021 Poppy Appeal. For details visit www. britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/ events/poppy-run All Together Now! Nov 12 to 14 Sounds Music Theatre Company are presenting their long awaited return to live stage entertainment with an aptly named musical theatre concert, All Together Now! The concert is staged at three venues to choose from: The Woolwell Centre on Friday November 12 at 7.30pm; Elburton Methodist Church Hall on Saturday November 13 at 2.30pm and Plymstock School Hall on Sunday, November 14 at 2.30pm. A live performance which will appeal to all tastes and age ranges with songs from musical theatre, including popular favourites and those from contemporary shows. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/ sounds at £6.50 (includes booking fee) or call 01752 343472. The venture is part of Music Theatre International’s celebration global event to be held in 36 countries in 1,600 venues.

Christmas Lights Switch On Nov 18 The Christmas holiday calendar officially kicks off with the switch-on of this year’s beautiful Christmas lights, marking the start of late-night shopping. More information from visitplymouth.co.uk Roots Up! Nov 19 The sensational Roots Up! Hip Hop festival is back on track as the high energy team from Plymouth’s Street Factory get set to stage a spectacular two-hour show in Plymouth City Centre at 6pm, the day after the Christmas Lights Switch.

Christmas at Saltram Nov 19 to Jan 3 This Christmas it’s the perfect time to meet up with family and friends to see the well loved story of The Nutcracker bought to life within the house. The grandest room at Saltram, the Saloon, will be transformed into a magical fairytale forest with decadently decorated trees

and magical interventions to make the house feel alive. Plus, have fun on a walk round the garden and learn about the natural ‘nutcrackers’ that live within the gardens and parkland at Saltram.

Plymouth Christmas Show Nov 20 After the very successful Plymouth Christmas Shows of previous years, the show returns to Plymouth Guildhall with a festive market, live music, food, drink and Santa’s Grotto. Free entry 10am to 4pm.

Andy Parsons Nov 25 Mock the Week regular Andy Parsons is back on the road with his Healing the Nation tour which was postponed because of COVID. He will be appearing live on stage at Marjon University’s Quad Theatre. Tickets from tickets.ents24.com Illuminate Nov 25 to 28 The spectacular Illuminate light festival, will once again transform Royal William Yard through light art installations and projection mapping. Created by local and international artists, tech designers and students, the festival promises to deliver an inspiring, immersive experience which will delight visitors of all ages. Illuminate is free to attend. Families are welcome and there are plenty of interactive and playful workshops for everyone to get involved in, both during and in the lead-up to the festival. For more information visit illuminatefestival.co.uk/ Plymouth Together fundraiser Nov 26 An evening of music poetry and performance at The Junction pub on Mutley Plain raise funds for the families and communities affected by the tragedy in Keyham. The evening’s entertainment, which kicks off at 7.30pm, will feature sets from local bands, including The Busketeers, Tailfin, and acclaimed Cornish singer Ezmay Grace, while spoken word and poetry will also be performed by the likes of former Plymouth laureate Thom Boulton and Plymouth arts collective WonderZoo founder Peter Davey. Admission £5 on the door Barbican Lights Switch-On Nov 27 Head to the Barbican for the annual Christmas lights switch on with family-friendly entertainment, free activities and some very special guests.

Breakfast with Santa at The Box Nov 27 to Dec 19 If you’ve got little ones who like eating out, you can enjoy ‘Breakfast with Santa’ in The Box Kitchen & Bar from 9am to 11am every Saturday and Sunday. Santa will be on hand to greet you as you arrive and sit down to either pancakes with maple syrup or blueberries, a breakfast bap or a breakfast flatbread. All washed down with a hot chocolate, tea, coffee or fruit juice.

Love Local Christmas Festival Nov 28 Miss Ivy Events present their popular Christmas Festival at Plymouth Albion, Brickfields from 10am to 3.30pm. The day will be jam packed full of festive treats from over 50 artisan, upcycled and gift exhibitors selling a selection of jewellery, candles, gifts and many other amazing items. On offer will be a gnome trail for the little ones, Festive Punch & Judy Show, rides and face-painting. There will also be local choirs, street food, mulled wine bar and lots more! Entry £2 (under 16s free).

Plymouth Christmas Market Dec 2 to Dec 21 Pick up some individual and unique Christmas gifts at Plymouth Christmas Market, located in the heart of the city centre. With an open air festive bar, food and drink and plenty of artisan gift stalls it’s the perfect place to pick up some Christmas gifts and get into the Christmas spirit.

There will an array of entertainment on various dates including live music, funky hooping, illuminated roller skating and a sofa driving Santa. For dates and other information go to www.visitplymouth.co.uk The Christmas Mouse Dec 8 to 24 Stiltskin Theatre Company’s festive winter show for little people at the Soapbox Theatre in Devonport Park. A wintery tale for under 5s.

Details stiltskin.org.uk Santa’s Christmas Party Cruise Dec 11 and 12 Get into the seasonal spirit on board Plymouth Boat Trips’ Christmas Party Cruise which departs from the Barbican Landing stage. Enjoy a complimentary glass of mulled wine or Prosecco from the bar, then dance and mingle the night away to festive tunes. Adults only event. Tickets £15.50. Details at www.plymouthboattrips.co.uk Send details of your event to info@ cornerstonevision.com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About

4 November 2021

4 November 2021

@PlymChronicle

Freddo’s fight for survival A tiny kitten who needs critical lifesaving care has recently been rescued by Gables Dogs and Cats Home.

Joanne is new skipper at The Gold Hind pub Popular Plymouth pub the Golden Hind has appointed Joanne Purchase as its new general manager.

Joanne Purchase previously worked at The Tamar pub in Plymouth for four years as an assistant manager.

Speaking of her appointment, Joanne said: “Its always been a dream of mine to run a pub and I couldn’t have wished for a better one. The locals and staff have made me feel so welcome and part of a massive family. I have lived in Plymouth for ten years now and thanks to the people around me I feel so at home.”

The Golden Hind has recently launched a new menu which features a range of dishes including small plates, Alabama BBQ Bacon Burger and Katsu Curry.

The pub also fundraises for Macmillan Cancer Support and more recently Joanne walked 29 miles with some of her team raising £1,000. The fundraising efforts continued this year with the pub hosting a Ladies Night on October 15.

Fun-Sized Freddo is the sole survivor of his litter, as his three siblings sadly died as a result of a massive flea infestation. Although he is more than a month old, he weighs less than a two week old kitten and is severely emaciated and dehydrated due to the infestation of fleas. The charity were contacted by a local vet to ask if they would take this poor little boy into their care to try to save his life and they agreed as they knew they could give him a fighting chance.

Even though Fun-Sized Freddo received treatment for fleas at the vets prior to arriving at Gables, he still had over 100 blood-sucking fleas on him, as they take a while to die off. The charity’s general manager Claire Sparkes took him home to provide the specialist 24 hour care he desperately needed. Claire initially spent several hours meticulously removing the fleas from his scrawny body to try to reduce their burden on him.

For the last two weeks Fun-sized Freddo has precariously clung to life despite only weighing 160g, the equivalent weight of an avocado.

Claire has been feeding him specialist kitten milk every hour, including all through the night.

Despite the devoted care he has received, he remained at this dangerously low weight for 10 worrying days. However the charity’s dedication has paid off as he is starting to eat small amounts of specialist kitten solid food and has gained a small amount of weight.

The charity are hopeful that with this round-the-clock love and support he will survive.

General manager Claire said: “When we were approached to help Fun-Sized Freddo we just had to give him the best possible chance at life. As the only survivor of his litter we owe it to him to help him succeed in his fight for survival, as he has already proven to us that he has a strong desire to live. It is so frustrating to see animals suffer like this when it is so easily preventable with basic vet care such as flea and worm prevention treatments. We are determined to help him recover and gain weight so he can go on to live a happy and healthy life. We would be so grateful for any help that our fantastic supporters can give towards the cost of his treatment and care.”

It is estimated it will cost Gables an additional £600 for all the lifesaving nutrition, expert veterinary treatment and 24 hour care that Fun-Sized Freddo will need to save his life. If Gables is lucky enough

to raise more money than is needed it will go towards helping the other animals in their care.

Anyone wanting to help ease Gables financial burden can make a contribution to ‘Fun-Sized Freddo’s Vet Appeal’, call 01752 331602 or visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/funsizedfreddo to donate online.

Also featuring works by Beethoven and Plymouth’s own Clive Jenkins Performed by violin and piano duo Peter Fisher and Margaret Fingerhut

“It’s so great to see live musicians performing in Plymouth again!”

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Two friends are given massive fines for littering from car

Two young men have been handed massive fines for throwing litter from a parked car window.

Taylor Scarff, aged 21 of Finch Close, Laira, and his accomplice Kalen McLuskie, aged 22 of Charlotte Street, Morice Town, had their cases heard before Plymouth Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court was told how in June 2021 a resident in Benbow Street found a pile of litter, including fast food packaging and used nitrous oxide canisters, discarded on the pavement in front of his property.

The resident then checked his own CCTV, which showed a white BMW pull up outside the house. He could see the driver lower his window and throw litter onto the pavement.

The male in the front passenger seat then started to throw a number of empty gas canisters out of the driver window onto the pavement. The front passenger then unwraps some more canisters and throws the plastic wrapping out of his window.

Once the driver had finished some fast food, he then opened his door and placed the box along with other items onto the ground and then drives off.

Angered, the resident sent the CCTV to the Council’s environmental enforcement team who swiftly identified Scarff as the owner of the car by using DVLA records.

Scarff was sent a number of questions in a formal Interview Under Caution, which he returned, confirming he was the driver and identifying McLuskie as his front seat passenger.

Ordinarily, offences like this are dealt with via a fixed penalty notice but it was decided that due to the amount of items that were littered and the fact that gas canisters and fast food packaging are regularly thrown from vehicles all over the city, the offences should result in prosecution.

Neither Scarff nor McLuskie attended court but Scarff did plead guilty by post.

McLuskie was found guilty in his absence.

Scarff was ordered to pay a fine of £1,026, costs of £335 and a victim surcharge of £103, while McLuskie was fined £1,400, ordered to pay £355 in costs and a £140 victim surcharge.

Payment must be made in full within 28 days. Both will now carry a criminal record.

Councillor Maddi Bridgeman, Cabinet member for the Environment and Street Scene, said: “When we are presented with hard evidence of environmental crime, we are not afraid to act.

“These are big fines for a completely avoidable offence so I’m pleased that we have been able to make an example of these men in court.

“Littering out of car windows is the epitome of laziness and it will not be tolerated in this city. These guys now have to pay over £1,000 each. Keeping their litter in their car would have been free.”

The CCTV footage can be viewed at https://youtu.be/nVBcJdQB0K4

6 November 2021

6 November 2021

@PlymChronicle

Professor Chris Whitty praises city’s health and wellbeing initiatives

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, met with Council chief executive Tracey Lee and colleagues from public health in September to learn about Plymouth’s partnership work in addressing health inequalities and improving local residents’ wellbeing.

Professor Whitty visited a number of venues after delivering a lecture on his 2021 Annual Report, Health in Coastal Communities, at the University of Plymouth, where he had also received an Honorary Doctorate.

He was interested to find out more about the city’s collaborative approach to supporting vulnerable people and those with complex needs, for example through the Plymouth Alliance, where service providers and commissioners take collective responsibility in tackling issues such as homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse, mental illness and offending.

He heard about Plymouth ‘trauma informed’ network, where partners work together to recognise, understand and respond to the impact that different kinds of stress and trauma can have on people’s emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.

He also learned how Thrive Plymouth is helping to prevent and reduce the number of deaths caused by coronary heart disease, stroke, cancers and respiratory problems by tackling poor diet, lack of exercise, tobacco use and excess alcohol consumption.

During his time in the city Professor

Professor Chris Whitty pictured with Lord Kestenbaum and Vice-Chancellor Judith Petts

Whitty called in at the Four Greens Wellbeing Hub in Whitleigh, one of the first community hubs set up to help people in more deprived neighbourhoods lead longer, happier and healthier lives by focusing on prevention and making services easier to access.

He also visited Hamoaze House in Devonport, a support and rehabilitation centre for those with problematic drug and alcohol use and their families.

Council chief executive Tracey Lee said: “We were delighted to welcome Professor Whitty and show him the excellent partnership work taking place to address Plymouth’s health and social care challenges and improve the wellbeing of our communities.

“We are proud of our close, collaborative links with the NHS and other partners, as well as the community

and voluntary sector, in reducing inequalities and helping people to live longer, healthier and happy lives.

Professor Whitty said: “It was very interesting to hear about the impressive and innovative partnerships in Plymouth working to tackle complex health challenges. I was struck by the dedication of colleagues to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community, and who continue to work tirelessly following an extremely difficult last 18 months.”

Professor Whitty was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Plymouth during its 2021 Graduation celebrations. He was presented with the doctorate by the University’s Chancellor, Lord Jonathan Kestenbaum, in the ceremony for the School of Biomedical Sciences and the Peninsula Medical School.

MP backs Laira speed campaign Plymouth MP Luke Pollard has backed a campaign from local councillors and residents to introduce new measures to slow traffic in Laira.

Since lockdown restrictions ended local residents are reporting more and faster traffic along this accident blackspot.

A significant volume of fastmoving traffic joins Old Laira Road from the adjoining Plymouth Road heading into the city.

The narrow street – along Laira Narrows - has been the scene of many crashes and near misses for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Numerous residents have raised concerns with their MP and local councillors about safety in the area, as they view the speed and quantity of vehicles entering the area to pose a risk to the community.

Under the previous administration the scheme, which includes installation of a pedestrian crossing and extension of the 20 mile an hour zone, was supported by the council.

But under the new Conservativeled council little headway has since been made, according to Luke Pollard MP. He said: “Lives could be lost unless this essential road safety work is carried out. That is what I hear from local residents and local councillors each time I’m canvassing in Laira and they’re right. Extending the 20mph zone, making junctions safer and

installing a new crossing will slow traffic, make the roads safer and save lives. It is a no-brainer and with money allocated by the last council, I call on the new administration to get on with it.

All it takes is a green light for this scheme to start and the sooner, the better.”

Councillor Neil Hendy, who represents Efford and Lipson ward said: “Together with Laira’s other local councillors I have been pressing the council to extend the 20mph zone and introduce new pedestrian crossings. We have seen accidents here before and I’m worried that with more and faster traffic we could see lives lost along this stretch of road. We now have the plans, we have the support of local people, we just need the City Council to say yes and start this essential work.”

The traffic scheme has the backing of local people. One Norfolk Road resident said: “There’s just far too many cars coming into the area at the minute and the speed they travel at just doesn’t feel safe.”

Another resident, who lives in Old Laira Road said: “The lack of pedestrian crossings on the road makes getting from one side of the area to the other really difficult, it means that people are forced to make unsafe crossings in-between fast moving traffic. The way things are at the moment it’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident.”

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Plymouth is joining more than 100 independent high streets across the UK to put on special £5 offers across two weeks in October, as the Totally Locally Fiver Fest returns.

Starting on October 9, there will be a selection of £5 offers across the city, aimed at encouraging more people to shop locally and support our independent shops, cafes and restaurants which have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steve Hughes, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: “Fiver Fest is now a big part of our work for our independent businesses. The community support for local businesses has been amazing during lockdown, so these offers are to say thank you to customers, and to highlight the great value and economic impact of shopping locally.”

The special offers available in Plymouth can be found on the Shop4Plymouth website at shop4plymouth.co.uk/fiverfest and there’s still time for independent businesses to join in.

The Shop4Plymouth website and social media channels are part of the #GeddonPlymouth marketing campaign, which was set up by the Plymouth City Centre Company in partnership with Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership to support businesses through the COVID-19 crisis.

Fiver Fest is a free-to-join campaign, devised and run by Totally Locally, a grassroots high street organisation that has been helping businesses and high streets to help themselves since 2010 with incredible results.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “If every adult in Plymouth spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean more than £50 million per year going directly into our local economy which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy and a nicer place to live. Makes you think doesn’t it?”

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8 November 2021

8 November 2021

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Exciting new blueprint is launched for the Plymouth Waterfront

Improving economic prosperity, enhancing the environment and increasing footfall: Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID) has shared its plan to achieve all these aims with the launch of a new business plan for 2022 to 2027.

PWP BID currently represents around 900 businesses located all around the edge of the city’s Waterfront from Mount Batten to Royal William Yard and Millbay, encompassing the Barbican, Bretonside, Sutton Harbour and Plymouth Hoe. The new business plan, BID3, sets out a new ambitious vision for the Waterfront area: ‘Creating the Waterfront of Tomorrow, Today!’. There are four key, inter-related themes at the heart of the plan, which align with wider city plans: Transformational: Supporting the physical aspects of the Waterfront, including the creation of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, working to connect neighbourhoods, and improving the resident and visitor experience Vibrant Tourist Destination: Increasing visitor numbers and spend by working in partnership with Destination Plymouth and visitor attractions, hosting events, supporting and growing cultural assets and the hospitality sector, and maximising marketing opportunities.

Environmental Excellence: As well as committing to the environmental sustainability of the Waterfront, ensuring it’s an attractive and welcoming place (e.g. removing graffiti, reporting environmental issues, maintaining street furniture)

Business Voice: Giving BID levy payers a collective voice, bringing the diverse local business community together and advocating for the area at a local, regional and national level Waterfront businesses will be asked to vote in favour of the plans during the BID’s renewal starting on the 27th October and concluding on the 25th November this year.

Chair of PWP, Nick Buckland said: “We’re delighted to be presenting the new PWP business plan, which will carry us through to 2027. We have listened to our businesses, taking their feedback on board and worked closely with partner organisations to develop a plan that supports the eclectic and vibrant Waterfront business community.

“We’ve achieved a huge amount in the last ten years: attracting more visitors, reducing business costs and creating more attractive places. But there’s even more potential to unlock, which we can do together with the support of businesses.”

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “There’s a reason we are known as Britain’s Ocean City – the Waterfront is one of Plymouth’s most precious assets and the area has so much potential.

“A huge amount of work has been done by PWP over the last ten years, but there’s so much more to come. The new business plan has very clear goals and we’ll continue to work closely with PWP to achieve them, supporting businesses, bringing in more investment and making it a better place to live, work and visit.”

The BID3 business plan is available to read in full at www.waterfrontbid.co.uk

...and a Gold award for a blooming beautiful effort!

Plymouth’s Waterfront has been awarded a Gold award at the 2021 South West in Bloom Awards, a regional heat of the renowned Britain in Bloom competition.

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID) led the entry into the awards’ BID category and judging took place in July.

Diane Mansell, chief executive of PWP said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received a Gold award at the South West in Bloom awards! We’ve been working hard throughout 2021 to make sure that Plymouth’s beautiful Waterfront is looking as good as it possibly can, to give visitors the best welcome and make it an amazing place to live, work and play.

“This would not have been possible without the support of our Plymouth Waterfront in Bloom organising committee and the local community, including our brilliant BID businesses, so I’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved.”

A huge amount of work has been done across the city’s Waterfront, from Royal William Yard to

the Barbican and the Hoe, to ensure the area is looking its best.

This included some brand new flower power along Southside Street and the Barbican with the installation of 19 new planters.

Over the summer, these were filled with 2,000 stunning trailing petunias and they’ve now been replanted with new seasonal flowers to ensure they offer a colourful welcome throughout the winter.

The planters have also been decorated with new signage, which includes fascinating facts about Plymouth and artwork created by local schoolchildren.

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Huge congratulations to the PWP team and the wider organising committee on their fantastic achievement at the South West in Bloom awards.

“The Waterfront is absolutely the jewel in Plymouth’s crown, and we’re proud to work closely with PWP to support the improvements being made across the area.

Work starts on short-term care centre Refurbishment work is now underway to create the first ‘short-term care centre’ for Plymouth, to help people to recover from illness and to stay well.

said: “We are delighted to be making progress on such an important project to support more people to be able to recover from illness and stay well rather than occupying a hospital bed at Derriford.

Plymouth City Council is working in “Partnership working with Age UK Plymouth partnership with Age UK Plymouth and NHS has been key to getting the project to this Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (Devon stage and we are really excited to take the CCG) to refurbish the upper two floors of the next steps in getting the building ready to William and Patricia Venton Centre, which is support the people of Plymouth.” near to Mount Gould Hospital.

The building used to be a residential The short-term care centre will provide care home and the refurbishment works accommodation for patients to stay after will update the 24 en-suite bedrooms and they have been in hospital. This could be for provide space for lounges and offices. Age UK up to six weeks, with support from therapists Plymouth’s day centre for adults will remain and assistive technology and opportunities on the ground floor. to engage in social Age UK Plymouth activities in the rest Chair, Liz Edwardsof the building. The Smith said: “Trustees aim is that when are delighted that people leave the work is commencing centre they are on the short-term feeling much better, care centre. We are and ready to go pleased to have home and live as been able to work independently as The exterior of the William and with partners in the possible.

Patricia Venton Centre city to develop a The centre will facility that will offer help with making those in later life a chance to regain their sure people don’t stay in hospital any longer strength and confidence before returning than they need to and will also be accessible home to continue to live as independently as to wheelchair users. possible.”

The care centre will also offer support to Age UK Plymouth’s new chief executive older people who would otherwise be at officer, David Wood said: “The short-term risk of being admitted to hospital. This will care centre will act as a catalyst as we look also support the wider Plymouth health and to enhance and develop the services we offer social care system to reduce pressures on to those in later life in Plymouth. We are Derriford Hospital. determined to contribute more extensively Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Cabinet and to positively impact on older people’s Member for Health and Adult Social Care

Pictured at the centre (from left) Clinton Brewer of Ian Williams Ltd; David Wood, chief executive of Age UK Plymouth; Elizabeth Edwards-Smith, Age UK Plymouth; Sandra Pentney, project manager for Plymouth City Council and Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council

quality of life in our communities.”

The refurbishment works are being carried out by Ian Williams Ltd. Business manager Clinton Brewer said: “We are one of the UK’s largest independently-owned property services companies and have been a longterm major employer in Plymouth for the last 40 years. We are extremely proud to be supporting this project.

“We currently employ 64 colleagues

including 50 trade operatives with various skillsets including multi-trade, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers, tilers, roofers and decorators. We are also proud to have eight apprentices and two trainee surveyors taking their first steps on the career ladder in Plymouth with our business.”

The council is investing £823,410 capital funding into the refurbishment and will lease part of the building from Age UK Plymouth.

November 2021 9

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Furniture collection with compassion Visiting people’s homes to collect furniture they no longer need could be seen as purely a physical endeavour, but for the team doing this for one of Plymouth’s best-loved charities there’s much more than brawn involved.

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth sells goodquality second-hand furniture in several of its charity shops, including at Sugar Mill; Plympton; the Barbican; the former Toy R Us store at Western Approach, and in Hurdon Road, Launceston. The income generated helps the charity meet the rising cost of providing its specialist service for local families affected by terminal illness which, as well as expert care and support for patients, includes bereavement support for their loved ones.

Recognising that not everyone who wants to donate bulky items of furniture has the means to transport them to its charity shops, St Luke’s runs a handy collection service, which is straightforward to book and free of charge. With just one phone call to the charity, or by booking via its website, you can arrange a morning or afternoon collection of everything from sofas and armchairs to wardrobes and dining tables.

With six years’ service, Mark Stansbury is the longest-serving van driver in the collection team covering Plymouth, South West Devon and East Cornwall.

During that time he has visited hundreds of homes across these areas, picking up furniture from people not only keen to clear space in their houses but to support local hospice care, too.

Mark, one of seven drivers in the team, said: “Not everyone we collect from has had personal experience of St Luke’s, but many have. It is always heart-warming when they

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share their memories of a family member or friend looked after by the hospice team, and I often hear anecdotes that highlight the great compassion and respect St Luke’s has for everyone in their care.

“Sometimes – particularly if the person has recently been bereaved – you can see them struggling emotionally. I’m prepared for that and mindful that the items they’re donating might have belonged to the person who has died.

“Recently, my colleague and I made a call to a man in Ivybridge. Straight away, I could see he was upset, and when he explained

that his mother had died just a few days before and that he had the difficult job of clearing out her house before the owner needed it back, my heart went out to him.

“I listened as he spoke very movingly about his mum and how well she had been looked after by St Luke’s, first at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and then at home, where she passed away. We had a bit of general chitchat, too, and by the time we left him, I could see his spirits lifting.

“I didn’t want to leave it there, though, because it was obvious he was going through a very difficult time. The aftercare St Luke’s

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provides is there to make sure people who are grieving have the listening ear and emotional support they need, so I spoke to my manager and we were able to arrange for one of our social care team to get in touch with him.

“It felt good knowing I’d helped, not only in a practical way by collecting the furniture but by showing him some kindness and reminding him that he wasn’t alone.”

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10 November 2021

10 November 2021

Bigger, better Fish Market on the cards Plymouth could get a bigger, better Fish Market at Sutton Harbour under plans being discussed with the fishing industry and key stakeholders.

Council Leader Nick Kelly called a round table discussion over two days to meet with the industry, discuss the current facilities and listen to the views of the fishers and the shore-based fishing community who run their businesses from there.

The meetings will help further shape ideas for a major redevelopment of the Fish Quay at Plymouth Fisheries in Sutton Harbour which will keep Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City as a major port of English fishing.

Aspirations to improve this facility have been discussed for many years, but we are now at a key time to progress these plans with the operators of the fish market, traders, site owners Sutton Harbour Group and fishers.

He said: “The fishing industry in Plymouth is incredibly important to the city and we must ensure we take steps to maintain and improve the facilities to ensure this sector thrives for future generations.

“The fishing industry is an important part of our history and needs to be part of our economic future.

“The current market needs to be reconfigured to provide improved and future-proof facilities for

Plymouth City Council leader Nick Kelly (centre) pictured with representatives from the fishing industry

the entire fishing community of Plymouth, which is why we are working with Sutton Harbour and people such as Plymouth Trawler Agents to plan for the future. We are committed to work with the industry as the scheme develops.

“Through our Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, we are working on exciting plans to encourage more

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people to benefit from our coastline and waters. We see those who work at sea as well as on shore as a crucial part of the Plymouth story.”

Ideas being explored include a new fish market at Plymouth Fisheries – doubling the size of the existing building - with improved refrigeration facilities, more space for crews to carry out maintenance.

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These plans will also resolve circulation conflicts between vehicles related to fishing operations and those visiting the National Marine Aquarium. The plans will also improve pedestrian routes to and from the NMA, Rockfish and the footbridge across the lock The revamp would also include plans for public retail space and restaurants overlooking the quay, offering a view into the workings of one of the city’s key industries.

As well as looking at design ideas the council and Sutton Harbour Group are also planning to submit funding bids to Government to help pay for the redevelopment.

David Pessell from Plymouth Trawler Agents added: “The council’s continued support of the industry is greatly appreciated. We are delighted that Councillor Nick Kelly and his officials met people from the industry to hear first-hand what needs to be done to create modern port facilities of which Plymouth could be proud. We look forward to working with the Council as the proposals are developed.”

The fisheries complex opened in 1995 following a substantial investment by owners Sutton Harbour Group in conjunction with Plymouth Trawler Agents, who run the daily fish auction. In 2019, the value of fish and shellfish landed at Plymouth Fisheries was £13.4 million.

Part of the Reopening High Street Safely Fund, funded by

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Efford arson attacks alert

Police have increased patrols in parts of Efford following a spate of anti-social behaviour.

A group of youths have been causing problems in the area surrounding Yeo Close, Colne Gardens and Blandford Road Park Play area.

The incidents have been taking place since the beginning of October and have involved youths entering properties, removing the bins and setting them alight within the Park.

The group or groups of youths have intimated that they will continue to burns the bins up to Halloween and Bonfire Night. The main times the incidents have occurred so far are between 5pm and 11pm. However there have been reports of anti-social acts during the day at the weekends.

Police have urged residents to remain vigilant, be aware of the location of bins and if possible secure them away from view.

A police spokesperson said: “We would like to reassure residents we are taking steps to prevent this behaviour in the future.We are in process of identifying those involved as well as increasing patrols in the area. We also encourage residents to report these incidents and any information will be treated confidentially.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact their local policing team via 101@dc.police.uk or by calling 101.

November 2021 11

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Major investment leads to new home for the Valuation Office Agency A major property investment by Plymouth City Council has provided a new home for the Valuation Office Agency in Plymouth which was officially opened at the end of September.

The council acquired Crownhill Court to provide new premises for the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) increased workforce as they searched for a new base in Plymouth.

The property is one of two major customer service centre hubs in England for the VOA which employs more than 3,600 staff who are responsible for compiling and maintaining lists of council tax bands for 26 million domestic properties and the rateable value of more than two million commercial properties for business rates.

Jonathan Russell, chief executive of the Valuation Office Agency, who formally opened the offices said: “I am delighted to be in Plymouth to officially open our new VOA office. This modern, fit-for-purpose building is one of our two customer service hubs across the country and is absolutely vital to the work of the agency.

“It’s important for the agency to be in the right locations to attract the right people and skills, now and in the future. I’m really pleased we have been able to work with Plymouth City Council to secure Crownhill Court as our new home in the city.”

Deputy Leader of the council Councillor Patrick Nicholson said: “I am delighted to see the new VOA office formally open in Plymouth. The Council’s Economic Development team secured the VOA Plymouth office as one of only two service centres in England. This is a major coup that has accommodated around 300 civil servant jobs in the area let by Plymouth City Council to the VOA. “This was an empty office building that we as a council have brought back to life, buying the building, completing a comprehensive refurbishment and securing a valuable employer at the property for the benefit of the city.

“Not only are we creating and safeguarding quality jobs, we’ve re-purposed an empty building and through our contractors provided work and apprentice training opportunities for local people.”

The council brought the freehold of the empty office building in 2018 through its Property Regeneration Fund.

The refurbishment was carried out by Midas Construction with Ward Williams Associates project managing the scheme Improvements included to the mechanical and electrical systems, new partitioning as well as floor, wall and ceiling finishes.

Cutting the tape: Jonathan Russell and Councillor Patrick Nicholson. Photo: Valuation Office Agency

Andy McAdam, executive director at Midas Construction, part of the Midas Group, said: “As a locally based business we have been very proud to work on this hugely important project for Plymouth which provided a significant boost for the local economy during construction and, now complete, will continue to create high quality jobs for the city.

“Through working in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Ward Williams, we estimate to have kept more than 90 per cent of the project spend (about £4.2 million) in the local area at a time when this economic activity was much-needed. We had eight apprentices on site over a 60-week period, more than 2,600 operative weeks were worked on the project and at its peak there

were 120 people on site.

“It’s been a great team effort and having successfully and safely delivered the project we’re delighted to see the building handed over and being brought back into use.”

Nikki Griffiths, partner at the Plymouth Office of Ward Williams Associates added: “It has been great to be a local consultancy on a local project in Plymouth! The new VOA office will provide brilliant employment opportunities for the community through the refurbishment of this previously unused space.

“Delivering this project during the pandemic wasn’t without its challenges but we are proud that it has enabled us to continue to contribute to the local economy though these difficult times for the city.”

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12 November 2021

12 November 2021

Music, poetry and performance at special fundraising gig An evening of music, poetry and performance is being held in aid of the families and communities affected by the tragedy in Keyham.

The Plymouth Together fundraising gig will take place on November 26 at The Junction pub on Mutley Plain.

Admission will cost £5 on the door, with all proceeds going to the Plymouth Together Recovery Fund, coordinated by the Wolseley Trust.

The evening’s entertainment, which kicks off at 7.30pm, will feature sets from local bands, including The Busketeers, Tailfin, and acclaimed Cornish singer Ezmay Grace, while spoken word and poetry will also be performed by the likes of former Plymouth laureate Thom Boulton and Plymouth arts collective WonderZoo founder Peter Davey.

Event organiser Sam Blackledge said: “The awful tragedy in Keyham affected everybody in Plymouth. We hope this event can play a small part in helping the families of the victims, and all of those who are still recovering and trying to process what happened.

“We are very grateful to The Junction for providing an excellent venue for the gig, as well as the local acts who have generously agreed to come and support with their art.

For more information about the Plymouth Together fundraising gig event page on Facebook, or follow on Twitter. To get in touch with the organisers directly, email plymouthtogethergig@gmail. com. The Plymouth Together Recovery Fund aims to generate £20,000 to support those most affected by the Keyham tragedy.

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Street Factory’s Roots Up! Hip Hop Festival announced The sensational Roots Up! Hip Hop festival will now take place at 6pm on Friday November 19 in Plymouth city centre, the day after the city’s Christmas lights have been switched on.

Underneath the sparkling festive lights, Street Factory will shine their own spotlight on Hip Hop music, dance and culture – including a mass dance challenge for the whole community.

The event is part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations, but has been delayed due to the pandemic.

Working closely with Plymouth City Council, Street Factory is now able to present Roots Up! by utilising the fantastic stage set-up on the Piazza for the Christmas lights switch-on event.

Toby G and Jo Gorniak, founders of the multi award-winning Street Factory Hip Hop social initiative, were determined to fulfil their dream to showcase the talents of professional and emerging artists and to demonstrate that Hip Hop is a positive and inspirational culture that people of all backgrounds and ages can connect with.

Toby G said: “We are buzzing and so excited to bring Plymouth a night of Hip Hop culture and shine a light on talented artists from all over the city. Featuring home grown talent, dancers, rappers, and musicians, and it will be a night to remember 100%.”

The thrilling three-hour production will present multiple creative elements of Hip Hop, including breaking or b-boying,

MCing, DJ-ing, graffiti, rapping, poetry and spoken word, plus a bonus touch of R&B. A series of thoughtful Hip Hop theatre pieces will feature the skills of current members of the Street Factory family as well as those who have gone on to reach professional level in the wider world of Hip Hop, dance and production, plus original music and with themes chosen to reflect the Mayflower and the core values of Street Factory: Freedom, Humanity and the Future.

There’s also a mass dance, set to the inspirational soundtrack of a brand new Hip Hop track called STF That’s the Fam, its lyrics written by Jman & Lincoln Gorniak, to deliver a powerful message promoting the Street Factory values of respect, peace, love, freedom and having fun.

Street Factory has created

instructional videos, so that everyone in the audience can learn the routine in advance and join in on the day.

Charles Hackett, chief executive of Mayflower 400, said: “The Street Factory family have been working incredibly hard on this fantastic performance, which reflects on the Mayflower’s journey in a new and exciting way.

“We’re delighted that they’re now able to present the Roots Up! show during Plymouth’s festive season and will be bringing a brilliant party to the Piazza.”

The event has been made possible with support from Arts Council England, Mayflower 400, Plymouth Culture and Plymouth City Council.

Find out more at www. visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/majorevents/roots-up.

Railway Beacon team gets a fast-food boost

Plymouth McDonald’s franchisee David Wynne and his New George Street restaurant have partnered with Railway Beacon FC to help fund kits for the club’s U11s team for the upcoming season.

David and his restaurants have been supporting grassroots football in the Plymouth area as part of McDonald’s ongoing partnership with the FA. McDonald’s has worked with the Home Nations Football Associations for the last 19 years, making it the longest

standing provider of grassroots football in the UK David, who owns 13 restaurants across Plymouth and Cornwall, said: “My restaurant team and I are proud to be supporting grassroots football in the local area, especially at a time when support is needed more than ever.

“After such a tough year, it’s so important kids are able to get back playing the sport they love – and I hope our sponsorship can play a part in facilitating this. We will continue our long-term relationship with the club providing support to the both players and coaches.”

Plymouth wins Local Authority of the Year Award

November 2021

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Plymouth City Council has won the local authority of the year award in the 2021 Municipal Journal awards beating five other councils who were shortlisted for the prestigious trophy.

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Plymouth City Council Leader Nick Kelly and chief executive Tracey Lee with the Municipal Journal Award

targets. It sets out action plans for the city’s 11 key economic sectors; including a focus on increasing spend in the local economy; a Skills Launchpad and supporting Marine, Green and Culture priorities.

A total of more than over £92 million was distributed to 7,440 Plymouth businesses.

The Skills Launchpad worked with over 100 businesses to identify 8,000 job creations over 18 months, and enabled 10,000 citizens to access self-support.

Infrastructure: £200 million investment including the Forder Valley Link Road and Interchange, the Brunel Plaza redevelopment at the railway station; £47m of highway maintenance and engineering projects and 12 projects under the Transforming Cities Fund for sustainable travel and green infrastructure.

Culture: The Box, the £42m redevelopment

delivered emergency PPE, and stood up local testing arrangements for residents and staff prior to national testing programmes.

Caring for Plymouth: Through the council’s partnership with Livewell Southwest and the voluntary and community sector, over 8,000 Council leader Nick Kelly, Deputy shadow calls from vulnerable people were taken, leader Councillor Sue Dann and chief 3,000 welfare checks carried out, hundreds of executive Tracey Lee were presented with the food parcels were distributed and medicine award by Ed Balls at a ceremony in London. and prescriptions were collected and The judges said: “Pride in the city leaps delivered 1,600 times. off the pages of Plymouth’s submission. It Through the Plymouth Alliance Contract has taken a novel, consistent and effective the council is taking a systematic approach approach to putting the city on the map as for people with complex needs, covering Britain’s Ocean City. substance misuse, homelessness, mental “The council is clearly ambitious, strongly health and offending and have seen a engaged in its communities and is working dramatic drop in rough sleeping and the well with partners on key agendas.” The prevention or relief of homelessness for 988 citation said that Plymouth was an authority households over the last year – double the that put culture led regeneration and a sense annual target. of place at its heart, one that is determined City Climate Emergency and Corporate to put its city on the map for all the right Carbon Reduction: Plans were agreed reasons and where political and officer “I am absolutely thrilled that we have which have over 100 realistic, achievable leadership is genuinely a single voice for and deliverable actions. Successes so far the benefit of all residents. been named the local authority of the include upgrading homes of vulnerable Council leader Nick Kelly said: “It’s been a year like no other. I know staff year. I want to build a real sense of pride residents with energy efficient measures; installation of 77 electric charging have worked around the clock to in Plymouth and to get this award is just points; a rolling investment in LED deliver services as well as handle every lighting in subways and other highway challenge the pandemic has thrown at fantastic” infrastructure. us all. I am absolutely thrilled that we Plymouth City Council Leader Nick Kelly The Transforming Cities Fund have been named the local authority of programme includes 300 public electric the year. I want to build a real sense of vehicle charge points, 400 electric bikes, pride in Plymouth and to get this award is of the Grade II listed former museum and art setting up an electric car club, 14 kilometres just fantastic.” gallery and central library buildings with a of off road-cycle improvements, junction Chief executive Tracey Lee: “I could not contemporary extension was formally opened improvements and a new control centre, be more proud of all the staff and our Social care: Improvement continued in hosting the latest in technological signal councillors who have helped us to win this supporting children and young people in advancements accolade. The commitment and the can-do need of social care.

In Spring 2020, social Plymouth City Council’s Pause Social attitude that our staff show day in day out is workers completed risk assessments for Outcomes Partnership was highly humbling.” every child and young person in the service. commended in the ‘Delivering Better Leader of the Opposition Tudor Evans These identified which children needed faceOutcomes’ category. Pause is a charity that added: “We are all believe fiercely in to-face visits. works with women who have experienced, Plymouth, in its potential and all work Education: 800 laptops were delivered to and are at risk of, having children removed phenomenally hard – from the directors vulnerable children, enabling regular contact from their care. to our street sweepers to do our best for and better management of schoolwork.

The programme offers an intensive the city. It’s great to have this hard work Education: School meals provider CATERed, relationship-based, trauma-informed model acknowledged.“ which the council owns with the city’s of support to women, so the removal of a 2020 was always going to be a big year for schools ensured free school meals were child should never have to happen more than Plymouth, with years of preparation leading available to all eligible pupils throughout once. up to the 400th anniversary of the sailing Plymouth was the first local authority school closures – nearly 14,000 meals a week of the Mayflower – but instead the council, in the summer 2020, rising to 47,000 meals a in the UK to commission a Pause service like many others, found itself dealing with a week when schools reopened. through an innovative Social Outcomes global pandemic, lockdowns and the myriad Adult social care: 97 care homes were Partnership, in which the council works of challenges it brought. Here are some of supported with the council’s adult social collaboratively alongside other local and the council’s achievements: national organisations including Trevi, care provider Livewell Southwest, University Plymouth Economy: The Resurgam Hospitals Plymouth and the Devon Clinical Bridges Outcomes Partnerships and the programme was launched to address the Commissioning Group, and provided Pause national charity, with a shared aim to unprecedented economic challenges caused dedicated infection control advice and improve outcomes experienced by some of by the pandemic and to get back on track training, managed staffing and resources, the city’s most vulnerable families. in meeting the city’s ambitious growth

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14 November 2021

14 November 2021

@PlymChronicle

National recognition for city’s innovative IGNITE festival

An innovative digital platform that connects arts graduates with creative agencies and employment and volunteering opportunities has been shortlisted for a prestigious major national education award.

Huw Lewis of the Motivational Preparation College for Training and Jackie Grubb of City College Plymouth, sign the Memorandum of Understanding

Colleges sign new agreement to establish closer working relationship Students at a leading military training college officially graduated at a special ceremony, which also forged new links with a Plymouth college.

The graduation ceremony for 35 16-19-yearold learners at MPCT Plymouth was held at its Millbay Barracks base, at Millbay Park, in front of their friends and family and special guest MP Johnny Mercer.

MPCT’s 28 Military Preparation Colleges across the UK offer free courses, all led by ex-British Armed Forces personnel, to help learners achieve qualifications in English and mathematics and vocational qualifications.

Emphasis is placed on improving their physical fitness and they are also taught to become proficient at problem solving, public speaking, leadership and communication.

And, along with marking the successful completion of their studies, the occasion heralded a new relationship between MPCT Plymouth and City College Plymouth.

Huw Lewis, CEO of the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT), and City College Plymouth chief executive, Jackie Grubb, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, cementing an ongoing working partnership to benefit students and the wider city alike.

The declaration officially recognises an agreed commitment to provide students with a richer learning experience and enhanced enrichment and progression opportunities.

Huw Moores, MPCT director of Partnership Development, said the ceremony was ‘a great opportunity for the City College Plymouth Senior Leadership Team to witness and form a greater understating of the benefits of the partnership.

“Having worked with the Senior Leadership Team up until this point, we all agreed that the partnership will be a clear benefit to the young people of Plymouth,” he said.

The Cardiff-based organisation has helped more than 20,000 school leavers gain the practical and academic skills they need for civilian or military careers, since it was founded in 1999.

And, following the graduation ceremony, Johnny Mercer MP tweeted: “At one of the jewels in Plymouth’s education system this afternoon the Military Preparation and Training College in Millbay.

“Whatever you do in life, the military will give you the best start - bar none. Some amazing young people, and inspirational instructors.”

To find out more about the Military Preparation Colleges, prospective learners and parents and guardians can visit www.mpct.co.uk or call 0330 111 3939.

The IGNITE Futures digital platform, the online hub at the heart of the city-wide IGNITE Festival of Creativity, is among six UK higher education projects shortlisted for a highly competitive THE Award in the Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year category.

Created by the University of Plymouth and Plymouth College of Art, in collaboration with creative agencies Just Enough Brave and Altitude Design, IGNITE Futures has helped to showcase the work of more than 400 students and resulted in the creation of 11 new graduate jobs.

The third IGNITE Festival of Creativity took place across the summer, putting a unique spin on the traditional art degree show model by combining online technology with physical installations and exhibitions in community spaces to showcase work by graduates from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth College of Art. Professor Chris Bennewith, interim executive dean, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business at the University, said: “To be shortlisted by the THE Awards is outstanding recognition of the innovative and collaborative spirit that has driven the creation of the IGNITE Futures platform. It has transformed the very nature of the traditional arts degree show, and created an interactive portal

Plymouth Citybus supported the IGNITE initiative

that connects our creative industries with new and emerging talent.”

Ian Hutchinson, head of development at Plymouth College of Art said: “Creative skills aren’t just needed in the arts and media sectors.

That is the great value of the IGNITE platform; it offers a portal that connects people with the creative talent of graduates who can add value to a wide range of industries. IGNITE is incredibly efficient way of connecting people, whether as a means of generating employment or kick-starting community campaigns.”

For the 2021 IGNITE Festival of Creativity, the digital platform was one of a number of key innovations. With help and support from organisations including Real Ideas, Plymouth

Work by University of Plymouth arts graduates on display on Plymouth Waterfront

Citybus, Barclays, Open Media, Drake Circus, the Plymouth City Centre Company, Oyo Hotels, Ocean Studios, and Plymouth Arts Cinema, graduating students from Plymouth College of Art and University of Plymouth transformed the city of Plymouth into a living gallery, hosting more than 70 public exhibitions at multiple sites across the city.

Work by graduates was showcased across the sides of public transport led by Citybus, inside Barclays Bank, at the Market Hall in Devonport, on digital screens outside the Barcode, inside Ocean Studios and across the local waterfront.

Steve Hughes, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: “We were delighted to be able to support the festival, which fits in perfectly with our aim of bringing new life to the city centre and finding new uses for empty shops.”

Dan Howson, IGNITE producer, said: “We have seen IGNITE evolve to offer both a physical and digital celebration to great success. We created a unique spin on the traditional arts degree show with online technology working in tandem with physical community engagement.

“As a result, we have been delighted to surpass our expectations and achieved a massive footfall of tens of thousands of people during the festival and more importantly IGNITE has been successful in creating 11 jobs for creative graduates.”

IGNITE is supported by Plymouth City Council as part of the iMayflower project, and by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who fund the Cultural Development Fund administered by Arts Council England.

Mayflower Marina wins prestigious award Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina has won the Yacht Harbour Association’s 2021 Coastal Marina of the Year Award for over 250 berths. Voted for by members of the public and marina berth holders, the prestigious Marina of the Year awards focus on the quality of the marina facilities and the customer service provided by marina staff.

Jon White, general manager of the Yacht Harbour Association, who announced the awards commented: “We are in the second year of operating in this new environment where marinas have to protect their staff, protect their customers and above all deliver excellent service. Marina managers and staff have risen to that challenge in an outstanding way. We recognise that this has been complex to manage and so it’s fantastic to see the number of votes that have been placed for these awards, which recognise superb efforts.

“We are very excited to announce that Mayflower Marina has been awarded Coastal Marina of the Year (over 250 berths), huge congratulations to Charles and the team.”

Charles Bush, managing

director of Mayflower Marina, said: “It feels really special to win such an award after the challenges of the past 12 months, and for us to be considered worthy of so much customer support is really quite humbling. I am so pleased for our staffing team for whom this award is a testimony to their individual and collective contribution in upholding the high standards we aspire to.”

Mayflower Marina’s deputy arbour master, Mike Knowles also received a special mention in the Employee of the Year category at the awards.

The Marina of the Year Award comes on the back of news that Mayflower Marina has retained it’s Five Gold Anchor status.

This externally assessed accreditation was confirmed after an extensive review of the marina by assessors from The Yacht Harbour Association.

The internationally recognised award is highly regarded with the objective of raising standards and providing customer-focused services. Mayflower Marina is one of just over 100 marinas in the world currently achieving Five Gold Anchor status, highlighting its high standard of facilities, its commitment to customer service excellence and operational competence.

David Crouch, chairman of Sailport PLC who own and operate Mayflower Marina says “We are delighted to learn that Mayflower Marina has retained its Five Gold Anchor status.

Against the COVID backdrop and the increasingly high standards required to achieve this prestigious award, Charles and his team are to be congratulated. For Mayflower Marina to be ranked amongst the very best is hugely to their credit.”

November 2021 15

@PlymChronicle

City College Plymouth offers more taster sessions

After a turbulent two years for recent school-leavers, City College Plymouth has made the unprecedented decision to extend its application deadline until the October half-term for those wishing to study this year.

very skilled when it comes to supporting young people and they all feel they could take on new recruits even at this stage, and they will work with them closely to get them

up to speed.” The October half-term taster sessions are usually held for current Year 11s, but the College has now opened these up to all 15 to 18-year-olds who wish to learn

Every year the college will welcome a small number of late enrolments that are admitted on a case-bycase basis, but after receiving daily enquiries from people wishing to join at this late stage, the college has taken the decision to open this up to all who might be having second thoughts.

Those aged 16 to 18 who are rethinking their current situation are invited to visit the college for taster sessions during the upcoming halfterm.

Ellen Cotter, marketing and student recruitment officer said: “Those of us who have already completed our education cannot imagine having to make these important decisions after such a trying time.

“The upheaval of school closures and lockdowns appear to have left many 16 to 18-year-olds feeling lost and that they might have made the wrong decision about their post-16 options. However, our lecturers are

about the hundreds of courses offered at City College.

Taster sessions are also a great opportunity to see the College’s cuttingedge facilities, which include the new Digital Learning Quarter and Augmented Welding Suite.

Ellen added: “Nobody - especially someone as young as 16 - should feel that they can’t change their mind when it comes to something as important as their future career.

We know so many have missed out on careers activities and work experience at school due to the pandemic, so it is only natural some will be rethinking their futures.

“Attending a taster session is a great way to see if the College is a better fit for you without interfering with what you are currently doing.”

Taster Week will run from Tuesday October 26 to Thursday October 28, with sessions taking place between 10am and 3pm. Those unsure about their future can attend more than one session providing these times don’t clash. Lunch is included on the day.

To secure a place at the college’s taster sessions visit www.cityplym. ac.uk/event/year-11-tastersessions-3/.

Old gas works site in Ford all set for new lease of life

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An old gas works site is set for development after a crucial intervention by Plymouth City Council.

The site, off St Levan Road in Ford, was formerly home to two large gas holders which dominated the local landscape for nearly 100 years before their demolition in 2012.

The site is already allocated as a potential site for housing in the Joint Local Plan, with 57 homes earmarked to be built potentially providing valuable affordable accommodation in the area.

Because of the nature of its former use, the site had been designated as a Health and Safety Executive Zone, which allows hazardous substances to be stored.

With this zone in place, the site, and several neighbouring plots, couldn’t be developed for housing or any other development.

Now, in order to bring the site forward for development, the Council is using planning legislation to remove the zone.

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader with cabinet responsibility for the Joint Local Plan, said: “Having grown up in the area and seen the old gas holders on my way to and from work at the Dockyard for a number of years, I’m really pleased that we’re using our powers of intervention to turn this tired brown field site into a potential development opportunity.

“For me, this is what good planning looks like. Identifying redundant sites, clearing the barriers to redevelopment and then offering it to developers to address the on-going housing needs of our local community.”

The original gas holders were built in 1901 and held gas for use in the Dockyard, Devonport, Stoke, St Budeaux and also for Saltash.

16 November 2021

16 November 2021

The e-Voyager was completely rebuilt over several months and underwent rigorous trials before carrying its first paying passengers Photo: University of Plymouth

Plymouth leading the way with shore-side charging for e-boats

Plymouth is set to become the first city in the UK to install a network of shoreside charging facilities for its expanding fleet of electric maritime vessels.

Over the past year, the city has become home to the UK’s first marine electric passenger ferry and an electric water taxi that will operate 364 days a year.

However, access to infrastructure is currently a barrier to ensuring further growth in this emerging sector can happen in a coordinated and sustainable way.

With that in mind, a consortium of city partners is joining forces to create Plymouth’s Marine e-Charging Living Lab (MeLL), which will provide the pivotal infrastructure required to accelerate innovation and growth.

The project has received more than £570,000 funding as part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. It will develop a network of charging facilities around Plymouth Sound, offering multiple, flexible sites and responding to the Maritime 2050 route map for maritime net zero.

The project is being led by the University of Plymouth in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Princess Yachts Limited and Aqua superPower.

Between now and March 2022, it will identify suitable locations for charging facilities that can be easily linked to the National Grid while meeting both consumer and commercial demand. It will also develop and deploy an array of sensor technologies that can assess the environmental and operational impacts of e-charging.

The scheme furthers Plymouth’s reputation as a centre of excellence in clean maritime innovation, and will be designed to complement existing and emerging initiatives including Oceansgate, Smart Sound Plymouth, the Plymouth Freeport

and the UK’s first National Marine Park.

Professor Will Blake, director of the Sustainable Earth Institute at the University of Plymouth, said: “This is an exciting project that has the real potential to showcase Plymouth as a trail blazer in clean maritime innovation.

“It builds on our existing partnerships and shows that there is a concerted effort to make positive and lasting changes that will benefit both our city and the environment as a whole.

The University has a long track record of using its world-leading sustainability research and partnerships to both highlight challenges and develop new ways of working. This project, and the opportunities it brings, is the perfect way to continue expanding that work.”

Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport at Plymouth City Council, said: “This is a big deal – not just for the council and its partners – but also for our sizable maritime community from weekend anglers to the fishing crews, who I hope will be looking at this with real interest.

“We need to plan for a future that is less reliant on fossil fuels and our marine sector can play a key role in ensuring a greener future. This exciting project fits in so well with so many of our city aspirations to tackle climate change through our Climate Emergency Action Plan but to also encourage more people to enjoy the waters around Plymouth, through our National Marine Park status.

“It’s also putting Plymouth’s name out there as a city that’s innovative, that’s prepared to support and invest in the right infrastructure that could lead to a significant step towards becoming more sustainable. If we are asking businesses, organisations and individuals involved in our marine economy to go greener, we need to make it as easy as possible for them to do this. That’s what this project is about.”

Photo: Aqua superPower

One of Aqua superPower’s rapid charging facilities, similar to that which could soon be appearing around Plymouth Sound

@PlymChronicle

Leading healthcare company announces drive to create 375 new jobs in Plymouth A leading healthcare provider has announced that it is creating 375 jobs in Plymouth. The roles will be made available across its branches in Plympton, Plymstock, Wembury and Kingsbridge.

Cera, which provides healthcare at home, was launched less than five years ago and is now one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies.

The company has reached its initial goal of filling 10,000 jobs during the pandemic and by the end of 2021, several months ahead of schedule.

The new roles have been announced to further bolster the social care sector, and put thousands more people back to work.

The majority of these new roles will be in frontline healthcare services such as professional carers and nurses, but Cera also wants to employ professionals across operations, technology, finance and data to accelerate and facilitate its growth.

Cera hopes to incentivise prospective professional carers to join the company by introducing

a new £500 ‘Golden Hello Bonus’, applicable to care professionals who have joined the company since late August.

Applicants for professional carer roles do not need to hold specific skills or qualifications to apply for an advertised role at Cera. The company’s technology enables the firm to recruit, train, certify and deploy new professional carers in a matter of days.

Commenting on the jobs drive, and Cera’s rapid growth, cofounder and chief executive Dr Ben Maruthappu said: “At the start of the pandemic, we set out to solve two of the most pressing issues facing the UK. Firstly, we wanted to reduce pressures placed on the NHS due to the pandemic by bringing more talent into the Care sector and, secondly, we wanted to offer jobs to thousands of people to help counter the unemployment crisis, allowing them to retrain and gain fulfilling careers in healthcare.”

“We’re enormously proud of the role we’ve been able to play thus far.

However, this is just the beginning

- in the short-term we plan to grow Cera further, and bring an additional 375 new professionals into the health and social care sector in Plymouth during a period of unprecedented pressure.”

Cera’s pioneering technology predicts changes in the condition of those it cares for by more than 30x faster than traditional methods, by combining digital analytics with real-time monitoring of vital health data.

It’s technology is used by 2,000+ companies, while Cera responds to more than 5,000 ‘high-risk’ alerts among older and vulnerable people every day, drastically reducing hospitalisations and protecting vital NHS resources.

As one of the UK’s largest healthcare-at-home providers, Cera delivers more than 40,000 healthcare visits to older and vulnerable people up and down the country every single day. The company has overseen more than 10 million healthcare visits since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To apply for a role at Cera, please visit www.ceracare.co.uk.

Children of foster carers play key role in helping to make difference in young lives Plymouth City Council is celebrating Sons and Daughters Month, the Fostering Network’s annual campaign to recognise the vital contribution the children of foster carers make to foster care.

The sons and daughters of foster carers are an integral part of a fostering household and for most of them, their relationships with fostered children has many positive aspects. They gain companionship, friendship and a sense of selfworth in sharing their homes and themselves with children who need them.

Some of the now adult children of foster carers say that being part of a fostering household has helped them understand how for some children, their start in life has been very different and less fortunate than their own.

Jack and Lewis’ parents foster for Plymouth City Council. They said: “We love being part of a fostering family.

We have loved being part of watching young people grow and still feel appreciated by the ones that have left us but still call them our foster brothers and sisters.”

Councillor Dave Downie Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Skills and Education said: “The sons and daughters of our foster carers really are unsung heroes and we want each and every young person who is part of a fostering family to know just how important they are.

“It can be a challenge to share both their parents, and home with children they don’t know so it is heart-warming when we regularly

Jack and Lewis with their little cousin Josiah

hear from foster carers that their sons and daughters look upon the children who are fostered as part of the family.

“On behalf of everyone at Plymouth City Council I would like to personally thank all the young people in our fostering households for the contribution they make in supporting the children in our care.”

There are currently 502 children and young people in care in Plymouth and there is an ongoing campaign to recruit more foster carers. When a child cannot be cared for by their birth parents, the council’s first priority is for them to be looked after by a local authority foster carer, as they often live in the area near to a child’s family, friends

and school so it is less disruptive for a child.

Fostering is a way to make a really positive difference to a child’s life, providing children and young people with a stability, a loving home and the support and encouragement they need to flourish and achieve.

Training and support is given to foster carers, who are matched to one or more of the different foster care schemes, depending on what suits their lifestyles and commitments.

Carers are paid an allowance which reflects the real cost of looking after a child. Anyone who would like to learn more about fostering can contact the council’s Fostering Recruitment Team on 01752 308762 or visit www.fosterforplymouth.co.uk.

November 2021 17

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Plympton firm plays key role in Matrix project A Plympton manufacturer is playing a key role in helping develop a new seating system for wheelchairs that improves function and corrects body posture.

Langage-based Source Engineering, a specialist in pressed and machined components, has supported Matrix Seating with a complex stamped part that acts as a locking clamp for the unique micro modules that are shaped to deliver customised support.

A five-strong engineering team has worked with inventor Dr Steve Cousins to come up with an 11-stage progression tool capable of producing the ‘lock’ in spring steel – vital for delivering strength and flexibility at a unit price that works.

120,000 of the components have already been manufactured and delivered, with an increase in sales from the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the US set to result in a surge in volumes.

“This is a really exciting project to be involved in and we are delighted to be able to use our design and manufacturing expertise to help people enjoy a longer and better standard of life,” explained Pablo Gutierrez, technical director at Source Engineering.

“Steve approached us about coming up with a stamped metal part to replace what was previously a plastic and then hybrid component. He’d been to a number of other suppliers, but we were the only one prepared to invest the design time in trying to come up with a solution that worked.”

He continued: “There was a lot to consider.

We had to deliver a critically strong part that still allowed the system, which looks like a robust mesh and is fitted in place of the usual wheelchair back, to move to deliver the potential orthotic spinal correction.

“Initially, it was deemed to be just one part for the locking clamp, but after a number of

Technical director Pablo Gutierrez (left) pictured with Source Engineering colleagues Andrea Taylor and Ian Matthews

prototypes and iterations we found that it was best to manufacture two components - a top and a bottom that would be connected with a bolt. Tolerances were really tight and also had to meet clinical specification.”

Source Engineering has a long track record of taking projects from design and prototyping to volume production and this experience really came to the fore with this opportunity.

The 11-stage progression tool has been

proven to deliver both parts successfully, with the firm’s wire erosion capabilities producing an accurate tooling insert that fits like a jigsaw to create the different circular and hex-shaped holes.

Repeatable quality has been outstanding and stringent lead times have been met on the initial orders allowing Matrix Seating to fulfil current orders.

Dr Cousins, who spent 19 years at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability before founding

the company, continued: “This is the fourth generation of locking clamp that holds our unique structure together and I believe we’ve found the long-term solution.

“Our manufacturing is all completed in the UK and Source Engineering is a very welcome addition to our supply chain, understanding the potential of our product and going above and beyond to deliver parts that have come through a tough engineering challenge.

“What was especially impressive was the ability to create parts that have a sharp edge in just the right place, so they dig into the nylon ball in the middle of the module. This was very technical and had to serve its main role, as well as not being exposed to the user of the chair.”

He concluded: “We feel that we finally have the right locking clamp and look forward to moving forward with Pablo and his team.”

Source Engineering, which is approaching 30 years in business in 2021, employs 32 people across its two divisions on the Langage Business Park.

Investment in a new high speed press line from Bruderer UK has given it additional capacity to secure reshoring contracts from abroad and support its desire to increase annual sales by 20% over the next twelve months.

For further information, visit www.sourceengineering.co.uk. More details on Matrix Seating, can be found at www.matrixseating. com.

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Plymouth Samaritans host mental health talk Plymouth Samaritans are hosting a talk on mental health and stress management at 7pm on October 27 at the Copthorne Hotel in Plymouth.

The speaker, An Swinnen, will explain in a simple and fun way how the brain works, what the causes of anxiety and depression are, and what can be done about it.

Attendees will be given a copy of An’s book titled Brain Based Stress Management.

Norman Holmes, Plymouth Samaritans’ Director said: “We are delighted to invite An to help us all learn to manage our mental health and emotional well-being.

This is an open event so feel free to invite friends and family along.”

Tickets for the event – at £15 per person - can be reserved by emailing norman. holmes@live.com Entrance fees will be collected on the night.

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18 November 2021

18 November 2021

@PlymChronicle

City organisations support for Fab City Plymouth Open Day Local projects and organisations across Plymouth opened their doors as part of the first Fab City Plymouth Open Day celebrating Plymouth’s status as the first, and currently only, Fab City in the UK.

Co-hosted by Plymouth College of Art’s Smart Citizens Programme and the University of Plymouth’s Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Laboratories, the Open Day saw 12 local hubs come together to share access to and information about their work relating to the Fab City initiative, which champions local production, circular economies, digital social innovation and global collaboration.

Over 300 local people, businesses, entrepreneurs and students visited the Fab City hubs, to discover more about Fab City and take part in a range of free activities and tours. The hubs celebrated multiple themes, including digital innovation and technology, food, art, nature, sustainability and business support. Bringing together such a diverse range of sectors, the Open Day was the first large-scale Fab City event to be held in Plymouth, showcasing how organisations, projects and local people can work together to make a truly Fab City.

Social enterprises Bikespace CIC and Nudge Community Builders opened their doors to celebrate the different ways that they support local communities. Visitors to Bikespace’s workshop learnt how they offer training for young people outside of mainstream education, vulnerable adults and supporting refugees. At The Plot, one of Nudge Community Builder’s sites, visitors explored how the previously disused site is now a thriving hub for local businesses.

Motivated people

Hannah Slogget, co-founder of Nudge Community Builders, said: “The day brought some interested parties looking to learn more about how digital manufacturing might benefit them. It was fantastic to meet so many motivated people in Plymouth and the surrounding areas who want to do their bit, socially and environmentally.”

AJ Bishop, workshop manager at Bikespace, said: “Through the Open Day we made useful links with other organisations - we hope this is the beginning of future collaborations with Fab City projects across Plymouth!”

Vanessa Crosse, a community development officer and BA (Hons) Craft & Material Practices student at Plymouth College of Art, said about her visit to Fab Lab Plymouth: “During the Open Day I discovered the incredible design and fabrication possibilities at the Fab Lab and how these digital technologies are supporting Plymouth to become a Fab City. The Smart Citizens team were very approachable and knowledgeable. Their enthusiasm for their work and their commitment to sustainability clearly showed. I loved the opportunity to laser cut my own coaster, which was great fun!”

Food Plymouth offered foraging tours in Blockhouse park, while in Central Park the Green Minds Living Lab and Pollenize CIC shared how they use digital technologies to monitor and protect the environment and wild species such as bees. Sophie Paterson, Sustainable Food Places Coordinator at Food Plymouth, said: “Our team were able to speak to people of all ages and invite them to consider new ways of engaging

Brittany Clarke, marketing and communications assistant at Pollenize, with their E-cargo bike and decorated beehive in Central Park. Photo: University of Plymouth

with sustainable food, learning how to safely forage in Blockhouse park, sampling delicious local apple juice thanks to the All Ways Apples initiative and exploring how to get involved with a forthcoming campaign to put Plymouth’s #BestFoodForward.

“Collaborating with The Village Hub in Stoke as a venue for the day resulted in the joy of getting to know their fabulous team even better and the unexpected privilege of hearing some beautiful poetry, courtesy of volunteer and talented poet Sarah. It was a day that felt rooted in community at every level. Thanks to all who made it happen.”

The University of Plymouth Sustainability team showcased how they are tackling climate change through the research and testing of a range of low carbon solutions, and working with the creative industries on the low carbon agenda. Dr Paul Hardman, Bethany Holmes, a student of the University of Plymouth MSc Integrated Design Innovation programme, displays her work at the Plot.

Photo: University of Plymouth

Manager of the Sustainable Earth Institute (SEI) and Deputy Director – Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon, said: “Participating in the Plymouth Fab City Open Day was a great opportunity to welcome visitors to the Sustainability Hub after an extended period of ‘closed doors’ due to the pandemic.

It provided a valuable forum to share opportunities, with organisations and individuals, to collaborate with the University on projects working towards a more sustainable future.”

Promoting Fab City values of circular economy, open data and digital fabrication literacy, the University of Plymouth Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Labs showcased community-oriented student work created at the labs.

Bethany Holmes, a student of the University of Plymouth MSc Integrated

Design Innovation programme, displayed her work at the Plot. Bethany, making use of her Computing background, links material flows and circular sustainable processes around Plymouth. She demonstrates the cross-disciplinary potential of Fab City as well as its distributed nature across a range of companies, social enterprises, research organisations and civic institutions. Her work at the Plot involves working with local residents and community organisations on the co-design and prototyping of products and ideas using digital fabrication tools such as 3D printing and CNC cutting.

Creativity and sustainability combined at Precious Plastic Plymouth, where waste plastic was transformed through injection moulding into new objects like soap dishes, while at Plymouth Scrapstore CIC, visitors created their own artworks from materials saved from landfill by the Scrapstore initiative.

Ocean Studios, where Precious Plastic Plymouth is based, also opened their doors as part of the Open Day. Jane Hembrow, volunteer and co-Founder of Plymouth Scrapstore, said: “We offered the opportunity to rummage and chat about how we give waste material a new life through creativity, and have a tour of our site. We welcomed our regular visitors and some new faces, one of which completely fell in love with what we do!”

UK’s first Fab City Plymouth is the first Fab City in the UK, in 2019 joining the global Fab City network of 38 cities committed to producing nearly everything they consume by 2054. Together, Plymouth College of Art, University of Plymouth, Real Ideas, Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Culture worked jointly on the citywide commitment to become the UK’s first Fab City.

Originally growing out of the Fab Lab rapid prototyping movement, the Fab City manifesto covers everything from farming and manufacturing to making and culture, asking how communities can make the best use of the resources on their doorstep and fully realise the social, economic and environmental benefits of a more circular economy.

Through the Fab City initiative, cities are challenged to enable an urban transition towards locally productive and globally connected cities. By embracing strategies in circular economy and digital social innovation, Fab Cities foster collaboration between a global network of cities and territories to meet the planetary challenges presented by climate change and social inequalities.

The Fab City Plymouth Open Day marks the start of Fab City events in the city, which will invite even more organisations, projects and people to realise the incredible potential of the Fab City initiative and implement strategies for sustainability and local and global collaboration into their practices, supporting Plymouth to achieve its Fab City aims by 2054.

To learn more about Fab City Plymouth go to www.fabcityplymouth.org.uk The activity is part of the iMayflower project and has been supported by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who fund the Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England.

POP goes the AGM! Book your place and join us as we celebrate a year of outstanding community action

On Your Bike Created by the artist Kate Crawfurd, from the Plymouth Eco Collective with funding from POP. Kate says, “This mural was inspired by the Scrapstore; the incredible community who run it; their compassion and their love for a lost member of their community. Like ants, the scrapstore workers, play a vital role in the collecting and redistribution of materials around ecosystems, working in harmony with others and preventing waste.”

How being ‘too big for their boots’ gave kids a sporting chance

An ongoing relationship between the social enterprise, Bikespace and Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support has provided people the freedom to get around; a means of exercise and a little bit of joy.

At the beginning of 2020 DCRS acquired some funding to rent out part of the Bikespace workshop for a new project one day a week to repair old bikes which would then be given to members of Plymouth’s asylum seekers community.

The project ran for several months and during that time more than twenty bikes were repaired by Ronnei, a trained mechanic and Kurdish refugee, who helped to devise the programme with Suvi Rehell, project manager with DCRS at the time. Almost immediately, Suvi saw how the project was making a difference; “I was going for a walk and I saw two guys cycling by the seaside and I knew that they had got their bikes from us.

So, not only are they able to get to their appointments and college and where they want to be for free, but they could cycle to the seaside and get some fresh air and that made me very happy.”

And it worked out well for Ronnei too.

Once the project with DCRS came to an end he was taken on at Bikespace.

Now, after completing a course at the City College, he is once again working as a qualified mechanic in one of the city garages. As Suvi from DCRS confirms: Integration of refugees through sport is about more than sport.

Wheels keep turning: if you have a bike that you no longer require you might like to donate it to Bikespace. www.bikespace.org.uk

POP gets to hear about many wonderful initiatives that begin because someone somewhere has a good idea: that idea then turns into action and, before-you-know-it, a fantastic grassroots community project has been born.

Take local painter & decorator, Luke Riggs, for example: two years ago he was a Dad helping out with a bit of coaching at his son’s football team (Marjons U14s) the next minute, he’s established a Football-BootBank and providing thousands of boots to hundreds of families across the city freeof-charge. The need for the project has, he says, taken him, completely by surprise: “It started off with me polishing up my son’s football boots and offering them up on facebook. And then it just got bigger, now we’ve got about two hundred pairs of boots going out every month; we’re sending to Cornwall and looking at starting one in Exeter.”

Luke reckons that since it began, he has sent out more than 3,000 pairs of boots. The majority – about 90% - stay in the city, the rest, which are often of a slightly inferior quality, travel to Gambia where “they literally play in bare feet”. As a parent, Luke understands that some families will find it hard to pay between £30 and £100 every time their children need a new pair of boots: “There’s so much pressure on parents with financial problems trying to keep up with expensive uniform and sportswear and this is just a great way of being able to support them.”

With £1000 grant via POP from the Streetto-Scale fund and the willingness of several local companies to support the project and sponsor a bin, the Football Boot Bank has been able to pay for forty eight ‘collecting’ bins and set them up at schools, sports clubs and businesses across the city. A charity match last year helped to raise another £1800 which has meant that the boot bank can now rent a garage which has helped enormously. With several hundred pairs of boots coming in every month Luke was running out of storage room:

“I’ve got a 4’ by 6’ shed and that soon filled up and then the boots were taking over the spare room as well!”

And there have been a lot of redundant boots: with lockdown, all club sports stopped, and thousands of pairs of football boots sat idle, while, at the same time, children continued to grow. The problem post-lockdown: children had got too big for their boots.

“We passed on a brand-new pair of boots”, says Imogen Potter, “with no games, the boots just hadn’t been worn.” Imogen also gave Luke some advice. As the capacity building manager for POP ideas, Luke had approached Imogen for help with the development of the boot bank. Now, with a committee and a constitution, the Football Boot Bank has evolved into a formal organisation. As Luke admits there’s a bit difference between being a football ‘Dad’ to running a city-wide project: “It’s been a bit mad at times and it’s taken up a lot of time and effort. But I couldn’t stop now, not knowing that there’s such a demand for it and the difference it makes.

And I’ve got to know some of the families and some of them are so grateful they send me photos of the kids in their boots … no, I couldn’t stop now.”

We are back in the room! On Tuesday the 9th of November, we will be delighted to welcome members, new and old, to the POP AGM 2021. Come along to The Beacon in North Prospect and hear about the work that we have been doing during the pandemic and meet some of our wonderful members. Entitled “Voices”, we will be giving individuals; partnerships and organisations the opportunity to be heard and to have their voices amplified. We want them to tell their stories of the work and the change that has been achieved through the collaboration of communities.

Because we know that together we are stronger.

We are delighted to announce that our guest speaker knows a thing or two about collaboration. Regarded as a world leader in community-driven change and citizencentred democracy, Cormac Russell, the MD of Nurture Developments, has worked with communities, NGO’s and governments in more than thirty countries over the last twenty years. Cormac will be joining us, via zoom, to help us consider

“How can we help people to live a good life? Instead of trying to right what’s wrong within a community, we need to start with what’s strong.”

To book your place: www.plymouthoctopus.org/events/ pop-agm-2021

Helpline Numbers:

If you’d like to donate a pair of boots; get involved; support the Football Boot Bank in your community or if your child is in need of a pair of boots contact Luke at Plymouthfootballbootbank@yahoo.com or visit their facebook page.

Putting the boot in - Luke Riggs, founder of the Football Boot Bank

Efford Community Network

Efford 07380 309586 Glenholt 07849 413125

20 November 2021 THE

Experience No matter who we are we all have weaknesses and none of us are immune to things going wrong – even Facebook, one of the most powerful and wealthy companies in the world.

During their recent outage, which saw Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp all going down, they were inaccessible to users around the world for several hours. With so many people using these platforms all day, every day, that’s quite a problem.

The same week as this happened we at Cross Rhythms Plymouth experienced some technical difficulties with our transmitter. It is a vital piece of kit which broadcasts our FM stream.

As I write this we’re working hard to resolve the problem but, like the Facebook outage, this was unexpected and not something we foresaw.

It made me think about the weaknesses in our lives. Those things that we know might cause things to go wrong for us. It might be

20 November 2021

@PlymChronicle

The strength of weakness...

By Dave Simpson, Station Manager Cross Rhythms Plymouth

we’re prone to certain behaviours that we from Alcoholics Anonymous and they said know are unhelpful. Possibly an addiction exactly that. You can listen to that interview that we keep hidden but could surface at and others on the listen again pages at any time and derail our lives. crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth. They prove In general we don’t like to stop and think that when we face our weaknesses we can about our weaknesses. We’d find strength. rather focus on what we’re There is a quote in the good at and where we know Bible which states that God’s we are strong. strength is made perfect in Being self-aware enough our weakness. An interesting to know our weaknesses is statement which says to vital if we want to thrive. It’s me that there is divine help only then that we can do available to us if we are something about them and, willing to be honest with in many cases, get the help ourselves and God about our we need with them. weaknesses.

Taking addiction as an So why not take the time example: so many ex-addicts to think about your life and will talk about the value the areas that you know of sharing their struggles are weak. Perhaps there with other people who is someone you can share are seeking a way to deal these with whom you know with the same weakness. is likely to want to help or Dave Simpson We’ve interviewed people give you good advice. Maybe

even take these things to God in prayer and see what happens.

As these Cross Rhythms Experience articles have been written over the years we’ve often mentioned Cross Rhythms Plymouth and I hope that you may have listened and enjoyed it as a result. In the spirit of acknowledging our weaknesses it seems right I share that it is a charity run community radio station with only a small team behind it and a limited budget. When it comes to broadcasting all day everyday this can be a weakness, especially when we find ourselves with equipment failures like those mentioned! If you like the station and want to help in this, please email me on dave@crplymouth.co.uk.

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

Wampum belt to return to Wampanoag Nation National

Marine Park is seeking first chief executive

Four centuries ago, the passengers of the Mayflower arrived in Native America in the home of the Wampanoag people.

400 years on, a representative of the Wampanoag Nation was in England as a new wampum belt - that has been touring the UK - is prepared to return to the Wampanoag in Massachusetts.

Steven Peters, a tribal member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation received the thanks of Mayflower 400 in Plymouth, England at a reception held at The Box in September. Steven has been key to the Mayflower 400 partnership, which has delivered the national programme and ensured a shared history has been told for the first time.

At the event he was reunited with the wampum belt, made by people of the Wampanoag Nation. It was significant, as a famous wampum belt that was brought to England more than 300 years ago has not yet been returned. The wampum belt of the Wampanoag chief Metacom, taken from his dead body, was sent to England in 1677 and went missing. It has been the subject of an intensive international search that began in late 1970 and continues to this day.

Steven Peters said: “Together, with our partners in the UK, we have corrected historical inaccuracies while properly commemorating a historic event that shaped the world we live in today. We have forged stronger relationships while engaging the public on both sides of the water with interactive exhibitions and unique art installations. Art is a powerful way to tell our story…a story that involves perspective from four nations. I want to thank our partners for taking this journey with us.”

Commissioned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower, the new wampum belt formed the central part of Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America – a touring exhibition co-curated by the Wampanoag people alongside The Box, Plymouth and The British Museum.

Adrian Vinken, chair of the Mayflower 400 Partnership said: “I’d like to thank Steven and other members of the Wampanoag advisory committee for their support and partnership throughout the many years of the Mayflower 400 commemorative programme.

“Ultimately it was their involvement and support that gave the commemoration its

The hunt is on for an interim chief executive to steer Plymouth’s vision of a National Marine Park.

Steven Peters pictured with Adrian Vinken and the Wampum Belt

legitimacy and has been key to the success of the anniversary and its cultural programme.

“The Mayflower commemorative programme has had a significant impact across our international partnership, creating new cultural products and experiences here in Plymouth and across our partner locations in the UK, US and Netherlands, reaching thousands of people directly and millions online and via the media. It has widened the awareness of the Mayflower voyage but, more importantly, the impact of that voyage on people on the other side of the Atlantic and how it has profoundly shaped our world today.

“We could not have done that without the support of all our partners but especially our Wampanoag colleagues. Without Steven and his compatriots we could not have realised the excellent ‘Legends and Legacy’ and ‘Wampum Belt’ projects we see here

today nor the many wider programmes that address this history more honestly and more challengingly than ever before.”

Steven Peters talked to those attending the reception about the significance of the Mayflower 400 partnership, the symbolism of the new wampum belt and its tour of the UK, as well as his work on the Legend and Legacy exhibition at The Box, Plymouth.

The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer and Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Nick Kelly, personally thanked Steven and the Wampanoag people for their support for Mayflower 400 and their defining contributions to commemorations on both sides of the Atlantic. The reception was attended by dignitaries, partners and contributors to the Mayflower 400 programme including representatives from the US Embassy and Plymouth City Council.

Partners across the city created the UK’s first ever National Marine Park in 2019 and the ‘Park in the Sea’ was awarded £9.5 million earlier this year from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Horizon Awards to fully develop the idea.

Now the search is on for an interim chief executive officer to set up all aspects of the park, shape a city wide programme, support the community and stakeholder engagement and help make the park vision become a reality.

Council leader Nick Kelly said: “Plymouth is home to the first ever National Marine Park. The city council has already done incredibly well to win considerable funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund Horizon Awards and I’d like to thank all of the lottery players who have helped us to make our dream a reality.

“We are on the cusp of something incredible but we must ensure that the park is sustainable into the long term. We need someone at the helm able to make sure all the Sound’s users – those who work or play in it, on it and under it feel part of this journey.”

The ‘Park in the Sea’ aims include supporting the ongoing enhancement of the world class natural environment and heritage landscape and also position Plymouth as a UK top dayvisitor destination.

It also aims to get the entire city and surrounding communities involved with the Sound.

Over the next two years the interim chief executive will guide the National Marine Park into being a legal entity in its own right, to further develop relationships with over 100 organisations involved in the Sound and establish a marine parks operating model.

To find out more with details on how to apply go to www.visitplymouth.co.uk/ invest/news/plymouth-sound-nationalmarine-park-interim-chief-executiveofficer

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22 November 2021

Plymouth gives warm welcome to cruise ships during 2021 Plymouth’s cruise industry has seen a

positive restart with seven cruise calls to Britain’s Ocean City this summer.

The city has welcomed visits from ships including the Golden Horizon of Tradewind Voyages, the world’s largest square rigged sailing cruise ship; the boutique cruise ship Hebridean Princess; and most recently the maiden call of Vasco da Gama of Germany’s Nicko Cruises, part of the Mystic Cruises Group.

The seven visits during 2021 were warmly welcomed after all visits during 2020 were cancelled due to COVID-19. A further 11 cruise calls are already scheduled to take place in 2022.

Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth said: “We’ve been working hard to grow the number of cruise visits to the city and develop the offering for passengers so were delighted to welcome seven ships this year.

“Cruise tourism is a huge opportunity and provides a real economic boost for local businesses as many passengers will choose to remain in Plymouth and explore our attractions, shops and eateries.

“We’ve pledged to get serious about cruise, increasing the number of visits and the financial and reputational benefits that each of those visits brings.”

This has included appointing a new cruise development manager, Glen Gardner, who joined the Destination Plymouth team earlier in 2021.

Throughout the year, extra effort has been made to improve the welcome that cruise visitors receive when they arrive in Plymouth.

A team of Cruise Ambassador Volunteers have been on hand to provide a warm welcome and share information and advice about what to see and do. In addition to this, Town Crier John Pitt and Deputy Town Crier David Green have joined the welcome parties.

During the call of the Vasco da Gama in September, a newly refurbished Destination Plymouth cruise caravan trailer was set up onsite at Commercial Wharf to provide ‘pop-up’ tourist information, staffed by the team of Cruise Ambassador Volunteers.

Material provided for the guests included maps and information in German as well as leaflets and flyers about city attractions. Tasty samples of locally produced food and drink were also on offer, thanks to donations from Plymouth Gin and Burts Snacks.

A plaque exchange also took place in the Harbour Master’s Cattewater office, where senior officers from the Vasco da Gama were presented with a City of Plymouth plaque by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer. In return, the staff captain of the ship presented their own plaque to the city.

This is a tradition going back centuries, whereby a port representative will hand over a plaque of the port of call and in exchange the ship’s captain, or senior officer, will present a ship’s plaque to the port city.

Prior to calling at Plymouth, Vasco Da Gama has been cruising around the British Isles with stops in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. For most of the ports, including Plymouth, it was been the first time an international cruise ship has visited since the pandemic began in 2020. Strict protocols were in place for all guests and crew on board, with access only being allowed at each port after stringent checks including a full testing regime and other safeguards.

22 November 2021

@PlymChronicle

Very special party for city youngsters

It was party time at last for dozens of children and young adults in Plymouth who have been more affected than most by the pandemic.

Many of the youngsters at the party thrown

by Plymouth-based charity Friends and Families of Special Children had to shield throughout lockdown and are only now starting to socialise and take part in activities again.

The party at the Mountbatten Centre was their first full get-together since Christmas 2019, and everyone was determined to make up for lost time. The children threw themselves into the activities that were laid on and took an active part in the sensory entertainment provided by Rob Pudner of Entertainingly Different.

Some also joined in with well-known folk musician and singer Jim Causley, whose sea shanties by the waterside went down a treat - as did the party food and ice cream van! Sadly, the wind conditions meant that planned trips on board the historic Tamar barge, Lynher, had to be rescheduled until a later date.

The charity provides an integrated, holistic support service to 1,700 families and carers of children and young adults with special needs in the Plymouth and surrounding areas. Services include specially tailored activities and a Fun and Freedom Club for young carers who help to care for their siblings.

The summer party proved particularly special for one young carer, with a surprise award. Taylor Hardy, 12, was presented with a trophy for being the charity’s Fundraiser of the Year.

Taylor, from Plympton, raised £4,469 with his 603-mile static bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Two of Taylor’s brothers, Danny, 13, and Sonny, 9, have disabilities, and Taylor and his younger brother Jack both help to care for them.

Great fun for youngsters at the special party organised

by Friends and Families of Special Children

Mum Theresa said she felt ‘ridiculously proud’ of Taylor’s achievement: “He told us he wanted to do something good during lockdown that everyone could remember as a positive memory.

He hoped to raise £1,000 but he did that in the first week!

To raise almost £4,500 was absolutely amazing.”

All four boys take part in the charity’s activities and Theresa said: “They are happy to have some normality back in their lives. Taylor loves the activities that the charity organises in the Fun and Freedom Club, so it’s great to have those back again.”

Over 300 families have accessed the charity’s much-needed activities since they re-started this summer.

The charity’s chief executive, Tim Tod, said: “It’s lovely to end the summer holidays by bringing everyone together again. It’s been a challenging year for many of our parents. But here, we have created a space where they feel comfortable and where they are among friends.

“There are some things that most people take for granted, but that’s not the case with many of our families. Today, they have felt happy to come along and have some fun - and that’s what the party was all about.”

Special guest for the afternoon was the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mrs Terri Beer, and Consort Mr Colin Beer. The Lord Mayor chatted with families and paid tribute to the charity for its ‘absolutely splendid’ work.

Spaniel Marley helped by shelter’s new mental health scheme A nervous Springer Spaniel who survived for days alone with his deceased owner, is among the heart-breaking cases being helped by a new mental health scheme at a Plymouth charity.

Woodside Animal Welfare Trust has launched the Mental Health and Enrichment Sponsorship programme to support more animals like nineyear-old Marley, who was discovered by police at a flat in Plymouth this summer.

The unsocialised dog was scared of going for a walk, meeting other dogs and wary of people when he was first taken in by Woodside.

But with the help of the charity’s new mental health sponsorship programme, the once shut down spaniel has grown in confidence and is starting to understand that both animals and people can be his friend.

Three months after he first arrived at the sanctuary in Plympton, Marley is now ready for his forever home.

Assistant manager Dawn Cornish said helping animals like Marley was at the heart of the new sponsorship scheme. “Marley’s owner wasn’t found for days so Marley was alone in the flat with him before police visited,” said Dawn. “His owner struggled with severe mental health problems so poor Marley has really suffered both from watching his owner struggle and then grieving for him.”

She added: “The importance of mental health is becoming much more talked about and there has certainly been a push in awareness of how mental health affects each and every one of us. This is true for animals as well as people.”

The Mental Health and Enrichment sponsorship scheme is helping animals cope better with life in rescue, and ultimately their forever homes, by reducing stress and boredom and enriching their days.

When animals arrive at the shelter, many will struggle with their new environment and some have suffered years of treatment that has impacted on their mental health.

Dogs that have never learnt to chase a ball, dogs afraid to eat from a bowl and injured cats

Spaniel Marley is well on the way to recovery from his ordeal

struggling with confinement as they recover, are just some of sad stories seen at Woodside.

For these animals, the transition to shelter life can cause anxiety, boredom, skin disorders and even self-inflicted harm from chewing, for example.

Dawn said: “Whilst this is the newest sponsorship to be added, it is something that the sanctuary has been working very hard with for many years.

“When it comes to our young cats and dogs we know that being in a pen can bring boredom, which then hugely impacts on their mental health. We have a number of strategies to help combat this and we are always looking for new ideas.”

When Marley first arrived at Woodside, overweight and with a sinister lump that needed veterinary treatment, he ran away from balls in fear and was scared of eating from a bowl.

From initially feeding Marley by hand to ensure he had his medication, staff slowly introduced

a feeding tray and scattered food to encourage movement and weight loss.

Marley was regularly brought into the charity’s reception area to build his confidence and was introduced to the resident dog Lucky, whose company helped him to progress both mentally and physically.

“Marley is a completely different dog to the one that arrived at Woodside, Dawn said. “Staff have helped to build confidence in so many ways and with their experience he is now a dog who understands that a ball is for playing with, rather than running away from.

“Marley has since had his lump removed and is facing a much more positive future.”

Woodside’s new sponsorship programme costs £10 a month, which funds the enrichment of up to 19 animal species, including cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens and livestock.

Treat challenges, toys, games, activities, one-toone contact and animal interaction are just some of the methods used to enrich the lives of the animals.

For the livestock, there are mud baths and fruit ice lollies, a specially-made swing for the chickens, bathing pools for the dogs and special feeding mats, games and treat toys to keep dogs and cats entertained.

Among the other animals to be helped by the sponsorship scheme is young cat Woody, who arrived at the sanctuary with a broken jaw following a road accident.

Being young and energetic, staff knew Woody would struggle without enrichment activities adapted to help with his recovery.

This included stuffed treat toys, plenty of one-to-one time with staff and games such as a walkway ball challenge and catch the mechanical fish.

“His time with us, despite being longer than we would have liked, was most certainly a fun adventure for him and his recovery and progress was remarkable,” Dawn said. “Woody has since been adopted and is loving his new life.”

To support Woodside’s Mental Health and Enrichment Sponsorship scheme, please call 01752 347503 or visit www.woodsidesanctuary.org.uk.

November 2021 23

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Barbican Theatre is chosen for prestigious series of dance films Plymouth’s Barbican Theatre is one of just eight companies commissioned by BBC Arts and One Dance UK to create a new dance film as part of Dance Passion 2022.

Barbican Theatre proposed a groundbreaking new dance film that built upon their hugely successful Petrol Headz Project, which reached over 4,000 people in the summer.

Neon Romance is a love story about engineering, imagination, hybrids and rebels.

After dark, when the LED headlamps light the way and the rules want to be broken people slip into another place and dance on cars!.

This film has one message: Passion, imagination and creativity is the recipe for love, not judgement. Across Plymouth’s modified car, street sports and dance scene: when the music starts and the night begins - everyone’s soul is equal.

The piece brings five individuals together for a night on top of show cars - sharing grooves, headlights, and love. Afrobeat, Breaking, Chicago footwork, Contemporary and Parkour. Celebrating the neon lights, shimmering car-shells, whirring engines, and spinning bodies before pulling the audience into a slippery blurry world of light and sound.

The film will be available world-wide on BBC iPlayer and will showcase the exceptional creativity and talent in Plymouth, brought together

by Laura Kriefman and the Barbican Theatre in 2021. Including Drew Shears (Chicago Footwork), MaddyV (MC), Jack Dodds (Parkour), Beryl Tebug (Afrobeat), Charlotte Eaton (Contemporary), Perry Johnson (Hip Hop and Breaking) and leading local modified car company Dip Demon. It will be filmed by Dan Martin, and choreographed by Laura Kriefman.

Along with leading names and exciting new talent, Dance Passion will feature across television, radio and online on BBC networks, stations and platforms in 2022.

Laura Kriefman, Barbican Theatre’s chief executive said: “We’re so excited to be featuring Plymouth’s world-class talent as part of Dance Passion’s alongside so many brilliant companies in the UK. But mostly I am so excited to be able to bring our extraordinarily creative team back together to make Neon Romance and continue our collaboration with the modified car scene in the Peninsula.”

Dance Passion is a collaboration between BBC Arts and One Dance UK and is supported

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Photo: Brett Lockwood for Barbican Theatre

by funding from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme. BBC Arts and One Dance UK, along with BBC Connected Studio, are proud to be working with a network of dance companies, independent artists and technical providers to showcase dance talent from the UK. It is aimed at those who love dance and those who don’t yet know they love dance.

Lara Coffey, Head of Marketing & Communications for One Dance UK said: “The eight films we have commissioned are an excellent collection of visual storytelling that is exciting and memorable that are up to a maximum of five minutes. These films demonstrate the breadth of possibility offered by film, through stylistic innovation, experimentation with sound, image, structure, narrative and storytelling, animation, performance, scripted drama, music or other means. Above all, each film showcases what’s best about dance created in the UK.”

As part of this celebration, BBC Arts and One Dance UK invited dance companies, independent artists, choreographers and associated technical partners to apply for funding for short form films and interactive projects which will delight existing dance lovers and bring new audiences to the art form.

With funding provided by BBC Arts and Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme, Dance Passion will showcase dance talent from the UK with five short films (no longer than 5 minutes each, featuring live performance, behind the scenes insights or animation) and five interactive projects using tools in BBC Connected Studio’s MakerBox suite. This opportunity was open to dance companies, independent artists, dancers and choreographers based in the UK from both the professional and non-professional sectors, along with those based in dance education and dance medicine.

Station car park plan submitted

The massive regeneration of the area around Plymouth Station has reached another milestone with the submission of a planning application for a new multi-storey car park.

Plymouth City Council is submitting the application for the structure which aims to be more modern and accessible than the current concrete car park opposite the station entrance.

The new car park will have: Artist’s impression of the new • 460 parking spaces arranged over six multi-storey car park floors • EV charging facilities with capability to expand as demand increases in the future • A new mobility hub which will offer more transport choices to reduce private car use. This could include electric bikes, electric vehicles available for hire, bike parking, lockers for delivery and storage • Disabled and family parking spaces Should the scheme be given the goahead, the car park will be built to the east of Intercity House on the site of the former RISC building.

The proposed multi storey car park is another piece of a complex jigsaw that is seeing the gradual transformation of the entire area around the station and the creation of Brunel Plaza.

The new car park’s location heralds a significant change to how private vehicles will be allowed to use Station Approach.

It is intended that all private vehicle trips to and from the new multi-storey carpark once operational will enter and exit from North Road East (Station Approach) which will be widened into two lanes rather than the current oneway configuration.

This will remove the majority of the vehicle movements from out the front of the station, create more space and improve the welcome for visitors arriving at Brunel Plaza.

If all goes according to plan and permission is granted, work could start as soon as autumn 2022 and should be completed by summer 2024.

Once the new car park is open and operational, the old multi-storey will be knocked down creating developments sites for further university campus extensions and a new hotel.

Major work has been progressing at Intercity Place – the tower above the station, with existing fixtures and fittings being removed from the building to prepare for its wholesale refurbishment as a new Faculty of Health for the University.

Work is also nearly finished on the doubling the size of the ticket gateline to make it easier and smoother for passengers to get in and out of the station. Changes are also being made to the entrance to the station and to improve the retail offer on the concourse and the platforms.

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24 November 2021

24 November 2021

Awards galore and 100,000 visitors marks first anniversary of The Box The Box in Plymouth celebrated its first anniversary at the end of September – a landmark moment for the museum, art gallery and archive, cementing its status as one of the UK’s leading cultural institutions.

Since opening its doors to the public on September 29 last year, and despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, it has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors, showcased work by eight international artists, launched a major exhibition for the Mayflower 400 anniversary, secured a blockbuster exhibition as part of the forthcoming UK/Australia Season of Culture and won an array of awards.

In Plymouth, local residents have really taken The Box to their hearts. Three quarters of visitors during its first three months of opening were Plymothians and it’s received over 200 five star reviews online. Over the summer, when it offered a series of holiday activities for families and welcomed more tourists for the first time, it averaged over 1,000 visitors a day. Its shop has sold over 500 Gus Honeybun toys and nearly 1,000 woolly mammoths!

Victoria Pomery joined The Box as its new chief executive officer on October 4. Her arrival in Plymouth coincides with the start of The Box’s next phase of remarkable exhibitions, starting with the European premiere of award-winning Australian exhibition Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters, which opens on October 21.

The Box is also the first museum in the UK to be loaned artworks from the National Portrait Gallery as part of its National Skills Sharing Partnership programme. Six works have gone on display in its ‘100 Journeys’ gallery featuring Captain Cook, Charles Darwin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Ralegh, all of whom took part in or led some of history’s most momentous and notorious voyages.

The Box will also be one of the host venues for the final leg of British Art Show 9 next year.

Coming to Plymouth from October 8 to December 23 2022, the exhibition, which is just coming to the end of a highly successful run in Aberdeen, celebrates the work of 45 British artists who have made a significant contribution to international contemporary art including Turner Prize nominees Oscar Murillo and Hurvin Anderson.

Over the last twelve months, The Box has won or been shortlisted for a significant number of significant awards and accolades. They included being named winner of the Restoration/ Conservation Project of the Year for the Royal Naval Ship’s Figureheads in the 2020 Museums + Heritage Awards.

The latest accolade for The Box came on October 1 when it on the top prize at the South West’s most prestigious civil engineering event.

The Box was presented with the highly-coveted Showcase Award, from a shortlist of 10, with the judges praising the ‘clever civil engineering solutions underpinning a dazzling structure.’

The Box has also launched the largest

Mildred the wooly mammoth has been a big hit Photo Wayne Perry

commemorative Mayflower exhibition in history, co-curated with the Wampanoag Native American Advisory Committee: the award-winning Mayflower 400: Legend & Legacy. It’s also celebrated international contemporary art with a flagship exhibition titled Making It, featuring work by renowned artists Antony Gormley, Leonor Antunes, Christopher Baker, Alexandre Da Cunha, Eva Grubinger, Kehinde Wiley and Camille Walala as well as two new public art commissions by Gormley and Antunes.

Since re-opening to the public in May 2021

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Award winning naval figureheads Photo Wayne Perry

following the third UK lockdown, The Box has presented a new and ambitious exhibition titled Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America, centred on the creation of a newly crafted wampum belt, whose beads carry the history, culture and name of the Wampanoag people of Massachusetts. It was the first-ever wampum exhibition to be staged in the UK and formed another key part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations involving the UK, USA, The Netherlands and Wampanoag Nation.

In July, The Box re-opened two historic buildings and visitor attractions as part of The Box family: Plymouth’s famous striped red and white lighthouse Smeaton’s Tower and Elizabethan House. One of the few remaining buildings from this era in Plymouth, Elizabethan House re-opened this summer after a six-year, £1.7m restoration, providing a new visitor attraction that takes visitors on an immersive yet authentic journey through 400 years of history.

The Box also welcomed The Princess Royal for a visit in July to celebrate its reopening and its award-winning displays. Her Royal Highness was particularly interested to see the fourteen monumental naval ship’s figureheads suspended from the ceiling in The Box’s main entrance which underwent a two-year restoration process to save them for the nation.

Paul Brookes, outgoing chief executive of The Box said: “It’s been an amazing journey to get to this point and a challenging but massively rewarding year. I’m so proud of everything that’s been achieved, to have welcomed so many visitors and to have received so much amazing feedback. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the public, amazing funding support from Plymouth City Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, and most of all our fantastic staff and volunteers.”

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Gables Dogs and Cats Home are caring for a tiny kitten called Fun-Sized Freddo For details

A very special party was organised for city youngsters by the charity Friends and Families of Special Children See Page 10

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The Box has celebrated its first anniversary with a host of awards and 100,000 visitors See Page 24

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We’re dance crazy!

Plymouth’s Barbican Theatre is one of just eight companies commissioned

by BBC Arts and One Dance UK to create a new dance film as part of Dance Passion 2022. It has proposed a groundbreaking new dance film that built upon their hugely successful Petrol Headz Project, which reached over 4,000 people in Plymouth this summer • See page 23

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