The Plymouth Chronicle Plympton & Plymstock December 2020

Chronicle Plymouth

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

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Plympton & Plymstock

December 2020

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Amanda Lumley, chief executive of Destination Plymouth, is appointed to top tourism role See page 17

PLEDGE to SHOP LOCAL in lockdown - special four page supplement inside

Moor changes planned!

Moor please! This is how Plymouth’s new city centre play area is going to look - a piece of the moors, but with a slide. New images show the play area which will be created in front of the House of Fraser and Debenhams buildings for children and parents to play and relax. It will sit on one of the islands that will be appearing along Old Town Street as part of a major project to transform the upper end of the city centre.

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2 December 2020

2 December 2020

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Lockdown is an opportunity to stop rise in COVID-19 cases

By Ruth Harrell Director of Public Health for Plymouth This lockdown gives us the chance to get the number of cases and the infection rate back down again and to help ease the pressure on the NHS. As difficult as this is, it is going to help save lives.

Councillor Tudor Evans Leader of Plymouth City Council Help each other out, be kind to each other and work together to do whatever it takes to reduce the infection rate.

This is not going to be easy, but we have proved that we can look after each other before and we will do it again. If we go in hard and fast and knuckle down to get the rate of infection – the R rate – down, we can hopefully come out of lockdown in time for Christmas.

The Council has been looking at the implications of the lockdown on residents and businesses and how it can help support and soften the blow.

This has been the toughest of years for those businesses who make Plymouth a great place to live – the bars, the pubs, the shops.

That’s why we will be going all-out to help them when they most need it.

We will be lobbying for more support, we will be proactive in getting grants out as swiftly as possible to them and we will be there for them.

We will also up the ante on our ‘Geddon’ campaign. While we won’t be able to get to the shops, cafes and bars, we will be doubling our efforts to make sure those at home shop online with Plymouth businesses. This is how we can all help each other.

Plymouth largely escaped the first wave.

This time we are not so fortunate. There is no COVID blocker at our boundaries, it is among us and increasing. Stay at home and help save lives.

The last few weeks have seen an increase in cases of COVID-19 in Plymouth and although there has been more testing, the number of positive cases, together with the spread in our city, has been worrying.

We are now, with the rest of England, going into another lockdown. The measures introduced under the tier system helped, but were not enough to keep R down as low as needed.

While our figures in Plymouth are below

the England average, the virus is having a considerable impact on the NHS locally and the lack of capacity across South West hospitals was specifically highlighted by the Prime Minister as an issue.

The messages on how we should all behave have not changed and it is more important than ever to make sure you are doing your bit.

Keep your distance, keep your face covering on and keep your hands clean.

I can’t say it often enough. COVID-19 is a killer and it affects all age groups. We also know that many who have caught it have endured months of slow recovery.

The more we get behind these restrictions and measures the sooner we’ll be able to open up again.

Lockdown isn’t forever but it is for now and that means you are helping keep your family and friends safe.

Dr Ruth Harrell, Director of Public Health

COVID-19 cases have been rising rapidly The number of COVID-19 cases in Plymouth rose sharply during October.

By the end of the month the number of new cases each week exceeded 400.

The increase in cases has happened very quickly. The first case of COVID-19 in Plymouth was confirmed on 13 March and it took until 8 October (seven months) before the city reached 1,000 coronavirus cases.

By the end of October there had been a total of 2,000 cases in the city. That’s a further 1,000 cases in just 22 days.

While this is partly a result of more tests taking place, the percentage of tests carried out that are positive has also risen sharply, reflecting the spread of COVID-19 in the Plymouth community.

The majority of the cases are in the working age population (18-64) and they are occurring in all parts of the city.

This highlights the need for everyone to follow the guidance and protect themselves and others.

This will also save lives. More than 100 Plymouth residents have now died following

a positive test for COVID-19.

Unless cases of COVID-19 fall in Plymouth during the lockdown the city will be at risk of being designated a ‘high risk’ area, meaning further ongoing restrictions.

You can check the latest figures for Plymouth by visiting the Council’s website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19 or by checking its Facebook and Twitter sites.

How Council services are operating during lockdown Plymouth City Council has pledged to keep as many local services as possible running during the lockdown period, while ensuring the safety of residents and staff.

Here’s an update on some of the Council’s key services:

Bin collections and recycling centres Refuse collections are continuing as usual and both the Chelson Meadow and Weston Mill household recycling centres remain open during their usual opening hours.

Garden waste collections are continuing until the end of November as planned.

Parks, open spaces and play areas Parks and nature reserves are all open, as are play areas and skate parks. However, tennis courts are closed.

Libraries Central, Plympton, Plymstock, St Budeaux and Southway libraries are providing a Select and Collect service and PC use by appointment. All other libraries are closed but the digital service is available and offers e-books and magazines, as well as audio books.

The Box

The Box has closed to comply with the Government guidance. Anyone with booked tickets is being contacted

about new dates. The Tourist Information Centre on the Barbican is also shut.

Registration service While no ceremonies such as marriages, civil partnerships or citizenship ceremonies are being held, the Register Office remains open for birth registrations and notices of marriage by appointment. Death registrations can continue to be made over the phone.

Support for businesses The Council will be administering a grant scheme for businesses affected by the lockdown. Visit www.plymouth. gov.uk for information.

Licensing and Public Protection teams The Council has a duty to ensure that businesses and venues are complying with the Government guidelines.

Teams are providing them with information and support on how to do this.

Support for vulnerable residents Caring for Plymouth, the partnership between the Council, Livewell Southwest and a large number of voluntary and community sector organisations, is being stood up to provide a vital lifeline for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Schools Schools, colleges and universities remain open in line with the Government guidance. Early years settings and childminders remain open, and you can continue to use these settings as normal.

When dropping off or picking up children from school, please remember to observe social distancing.

Public toilets All Council-run toilets that have opened since the first lockdown remain open.

Plymouth Market Plymouth Market remains open for stalls selling essentials and food. The New George Street and Cornwall Street entrances are closed.

For the latest information about Council services visit: plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19

December 2020

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Ways you can stay fit and healthy during lockdown Many people will understandably feel worried or anxious about the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the prospect of a second lockdown.

We all know that by staying at home we’re helping to protect ourselves and others but it’s been a challenging time for most of us and social isolation can often add to the pressure.

It’s really important that we remember to pay attention not just to our physical health but also our mental health.

Making sure we find ways to stay connected with others, share our worries, take time to relax and do things we enjoy can have a big impact on how we feel.

If you need help managing stress or anxiety or just some tips on improving your overall health and wellbeing there is lots of advice and support available.

Check out our ‘staying well at home’ page at plymouth. gov.uk/publichealth, where you’ll find useful ideas for staying in touch, learning new things, finding new activities and keeping positive.

Public Health England have published online guidance at GOV.UK and the NHS website is full of tips for dealing with stress, anxiety or low mood.

Their Every Mind Matters site has practical advice on a range of topics including dealing with loneliness, sleeping better and working from home and there’s a short quiz that will give you a tailored ‘mind plan’. You’ll also find support sections for parents and carers and young people.

Visit www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters.

Plymouth City Council is offering guidance of ways of coping and staying healthy during this period.

Get daily exercise

Making sure we get outside in the fresh air during the day is even more important now it is winter and the evenings are dark.

A daily stroll or run can help both your physical and mental health.

The Government guidelines are that you can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or one person from another household. Children under school age and those dependent on round-the-clock care (who are with their parents) do not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside.

Outdoor public places include: parks, beaches, countryside, public gardens, allotments and playgrounds.

Remember, you should not meet others in a private garden.

The NHS website also has 10-minute workouts and home exercise videos and Sport England have loads of suggestions at sportengland.org/jointhemovement.

Take advantage of the digital library

The City Council’s library service offers a big range of e-books and magazines, as well as audio books. Visit www. plymouth.gov.uk/libraries

Three test sites now available in Plymouth Getting a test for COVID-19 is being made easier for many Plymouth residents with the opening of new local test centres in the city centre and at Plymouth Marjon University.

The centres, sponsored by the DHSC and operated

by Serco, are in addition to the regional test centre at the former Seaton Barracks site off William Prance Road.

The city centre site is in the lower Guildhall and was selected as it is easier for many people to get to without using a car. Anyone going for a test is asked to walk or cycle to and from the site and not use public transport or taxis.

The centre at Plymouth Marjon University is in the lower car park outside the gymnasium and is separated from the rest of the campus.

Testing is available only for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms

should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. The three Plymouth centres are provided as an option when booking a test, subject to availability.

Those being tested are asked to wash their hands before leaving home, wear a face covering on their journey to and from the centre and to not stop anywhere on the way.

Anyone testing positive for the virus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts.

This will help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.

Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, asking them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms. However, they should not book a test if they don’t have symptoms.

3

Explore The Box (virtually)

Unfortunately The Box is closed during the lockdown but you can explore its website. The Box team will be adding more ways to explore its excellent collection online at www.theboxplymouth.com.

Get ahead with your Christmas shopping

You can get ahead with your Christmas gift buying while also supporting Plymouth retailers by shopping local during lockdown.

While shops selling non-essential items are closed, many independent stores in Plymouth are selling online or providing click and collect services. Visit Shop4Plymouth.co.uk for information.

Discover hidden Plymouth on foot

There are some great walks on which to explore some of Plymouth’s great history.

The Co-operative Way is a 15-mile circular route around the north of the city.

It is a fascinating mix of nature and history, taking in stunning nature reserves and parks, as well as old forts and forgotten estates of some of Plymouth’s former great houses.

There’s also the Devonport Heritage Trail and the Waterfront Walkway.

The routes and descriptions are available by searching online.

4 December 2020

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Laptops for Sherford Vale

Pupils at Sherford Vale Primary School are able to access more online learning material thanks to a donation of refurbished laptops from a local Rotary Club.

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learning material and so the Rotarians got together to see how they could help.

In a matter of months, they have been able to collect over 100 devices, both laptops and tablets, that have been kindly donated by local businesses and individuals. In addition, the project has been supported with generous financial donations and grants from local councillors. Monies have,

in part, paid for the devices to be refurbished professionally, although much has been done voluntarily by Dan Tucker of Dan’s Computer Services, Ivybridge.

The project welcomes further donations so if any companies or individuals can help, please contact Saltram Rotary Club via email at saltramrotary@outlook.com

The 800m-square new park, situated in the midst of Sherford’s residential streets, will be packed with interesting, accessible and familyfriendly features to explore and enjoy.

Blending formal and informal, elegant landscaping will be mixed with the type of natural planting that would have been found when the site was a field boundary. There are benches to sit and relax, with space for wheelchair users, and a lawn to spread out on.

A large new evergreen oak tree is also planned for the park, which the expert team of landscape architects - Lavigne Lonsdale - hope will grow into a main feature of Old Boundary Park and become a treasured part of Sherford. It is a nod to the mature Oak tree that once stood on the same spot on the boundary line.

Sherford is already known for its abundant green space and commitment to increasing biodiversity, and this new public space will

continue to reflect these green goals. The park will boast native, shade tolerant and pollinatorfriendly plants at low level, including ferns and grasses.

The outer edges will be planted with Rosemary, in a treat for the senses. And the trees within the park will reflect those found locally.

Bradley Davison, managing director of Vistry Partnerships South West, part of the Sherford Consortium, said: “We wanted the route through the park to step across this boundary and join the two together within Sherford; it’s a symbolic gesture that reflects how this community spans traditional districts and unites them in one unique space.

“We hope this new and accessible park will bring joy to those living in or visiting Sherford.

There is plenty of space to relax, connect with nature and meet neighbours in a safe outdoors environment.”

New community space for Sherford

Work is soon to be completed on a special park in the middle of the new community of Sherford, loaded with symbolism and fascinating new features.

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Saltram Rotary collaborated with their neighbours at Ivybridge Rotary, to launch a campaign to enable local schoolchildren to access learning materials and study online. They put out a plea to local communities, councillors and businesses, for unused laptops, tablets and funding.

Donations have started coming in, enabling the clubs to begin distribution of much needed equipment to schools in their area and help children to continue their studies.

Members from Saltram Rotary recently delivered their first batch of refurbished boxed laptops to Sherford Vale Primary School. Club President Sam Cross and Rotarian Jo Derrick met with headteacher Carla Bennett and some children from the school are pictured.

President Sam said that headteacher Carla Bennett was pleased that they could help assist children’s learning during this unpredictable time and that the club would welcome any further donations to help more children in need.

Saltram Rotary Club have teamed up with fellow Rotarians from Ivybridge Rotary for a collaborative project to support school children in their communities.

The ‘Online Learning Project’ began during the period of lockdown when children were homelearning with resources and lessons delivered online. It became apparent that children, both primary and secondary, were struggling to access

Known as ‘Old Boundary Park,’ it marks the exact point where the boundaries of Plymouth and the South Hams meet, uniting the two in an exciting new community space set to open in a few weeks.

Historically a hedgerow would have indicated where Plymouth ended, and the South Hams began. To signify the dividing line, the park will include a contemporary twist on what once stood there.

The Sherford Consortium is creating a new stone-faced hedge bank to represent the historic district boundary and the steps that once crossed over it. This will be crafted using dry-laid local stone, with wildflowers planted on top to attract pollinators.

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Persimmon Homes Cornwall has made the donation through its Community Champions scheme.

Fundraisers for the hospice say they have been restricted by the effects of COVID - but are determined to keep boosting funds and providing care for local people.

Emily Paton, for St Luke’s Hospice, said: “Despite all the challenges the pandemic had brought, we’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure our nurses have continued to be there for people who desperately need their compassionate care in their last weeks and days of life. “With people living longer and with more complex conditions, we’re seeing a year on year increase in the number of people referred to St Luke’s so are having to stretch our limited resources further at a time when our income is falling.“It is imperative that we are here and able to care for them in the way they deserve, not just now but next year and into the future.�

Emily added: “This generous gift from Persimmon Homes Cornwall is so appreciated. Donations and fundraising for St Luke’s mean our community is a kinder place for people living and dying with terminal illness and helps ensure they get the specialist care they need and deserve.�

Jane Cartwright, sales director for Persimmon Homes Cornwall, said: “It is important to remember the far-reaching effects of Covid-19. “We have all been affected in some way, but the reality is there is a huge need for support beyond those causes that are immediately obvious. “The hospice is vital to the community and we are pleased to be able to help by gifting our Community Champions fund.�

Persimmon Homes’ national matchfunding programme Community Champions seeks to support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life for local people.

Each month the Launceston-based builder donates up to £1,000 to two community groups across the region. This also happens across Persimmon’s other 31 operating areas, meaning up to £64,000 is dished out every single month – a total of £768,000 a year.

Jane added: “If people were unsuccessful last month, we urge them to visit the Persimmon Homes website and to try again and hopefully they will become our next Community Champion.�

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6 December 2020

6 December 2020

Mark Ormrod’s MBE for outstanding service Mark Ormrod from Plympton, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Mark Ormrod Photo: Blesma

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He was bestowed with the award for outstanding services to the Royal Marines, and the wider veteran community.

Mark was born and brought up in Plymouth and in 2001 he achieved his lifelong ambition of joining the Royal Marines.

Misfortune struck though on December 24 2007. While serving on operations in Afghanistan with 40 Commando Royal Marines, he was blown up by an improvised explosive device. This resulted in the traumatic amputation of both of Mark’s legs, and his right arm. He was even pronounced dead - twice!

Although Mark wasn’t expected to survive, he made a remarkable recovery, and became the first triple amputee survivor of the battlefield.

His consultant initially told Mark that he would never walk again, but, 14 weeks after his injury, Mark marched onto parade, on his new prosthetic limbs, to be awarded his Operational Service Medal.

This was received in the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh.

For the next three years, Mark remained in the Royal Marines, working through his recovery pathway. As he progressed with his recovery, Mark’s talent for engaging and motivating people of all ages, soon became apparent, especially after he wrote and published his autobiography - called ‘Man Down’.

Mark continues to challenge himself. While working with the Royal Marines Association, he has taken part in a number of endurance challenges.

He ran 3,500 miles across the USA to raise awareness of wounded veterans; he

cycled 3,000 miles around Britain, using a hand cycle, which he powered with his one remaining arm.

At the Invictus Games, Mark has won 11 medals, including five golds — one of which he won for an event he had not even trained for. He only took part in it at the last minute, so that the event would go ahead with the other remaining competitors.

In the words of the Royal Marines Charity - Mark Ormrod is remarkable: he is a tremendous ambassador for a range of military charities, and a genuinely humble person. Despite his horrific injuries, he has not allowed his disability to define him; he lives his life with no limits.

Mark has motivated thousands of Royal Marines, and tens of thousands of others, to be all that they can be.

Story courtesy of www.PlymptonPodcast. org.uk

ANOTHER BANK IN PLYMPTON’S RIDGEWAY IS SET TO CLOSE Plympton is set to lose yet another banking outlet, a little over 18 months after it extended its opening hours to include Saturday mornings. Barclays has announced that its branch in Plympton’s Ridgeway will close on January 11 2021.

After this date the nearest Barclays branches will be in Plymouth City Centre and in Tavistock.

Explaining the decision to close the branch Barclays revealed that only 129 of its customers exclusively use the Plympton branch for their banking transactions with 87% of branch customers also using other methods such as online and telephone

banking. This use of other methods has increased by 14% since 2015.

The bank’s analysis of customer trends also showed that 49% of branch customers used other nearby branches in addition to Plympton and that the number of counter transactions at Plympton has gone down over the course of the past 24 months.

Customers are being told they will ‘still have plenty of options, including online banking and the Barclays app,’ which are available 24 hours a day.

Barclays customers will also still be able to withdraw cash from any LINK cash machine, the nearest of which is outside the Santander branch on Ridgeway. Cash withdrawals and

deposits in cheque or cash will also be able to be done at branches of the Post Office of which the nearest is in Ridgeway Co-op.

In a statement Barclays said: “Before we make the decision to close any branch, we think carefully about how it has been used so far. We consider how many customers have been visiting, what kind of transactions they’ve been making, and all the other ways they’ve been choosing to bank with us. We also take into consideration the availability of other branches in the wider community.

Proposals to close any branch are made by the Barclays local leadership teams and verified at a national level ahead of any closure announcement.

“In a booklet which will be available from the branch prior to it closing or online at home.barclays/ukbranchclosures we’ll share concerns and feedback from the local community.

“We’ll also detail how we are helping people transition from using the branch with alternative ways to carry out their banking requirements.”

The departure of Barclays will leave just two remaining banks in Ridgeway, Lloyds and Santander, in a shopping district which once also had the presence of Natwest, HSBC and TSB. (Story courtesy of www.PlymptonPodcast. org.uk)

December 2020

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£4,000 raised in memory of brave Oliver

A young boy from Plymstock who died last year has inspired incredible fundraising in his local community with over £4000 being raised for a local charity.

Eleven-year-old Oliver Brown died in November last year, following a three year battle with a rare blood cancer. Oliver was supported by, and passed away at, Little Harbour children’s hospice in St Austell which is run by Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Little Harbour is the local children’s hospice for children with life limiting conditions from across Plymouth and Cornwall.

Oliver’s brother Benjamin is a keen footballer and was always supported by Oliver from the touchline with flags, whistles and a megaphone.

Following Oliver’s death Jay Hensman from Morley Rangers Football Club and Joe Geraghty from We Do Football arranged a charity memorial match to raise funds for CHSW in Oliver’s memory.

The match between Morley Rangers first team and the Morley Rangers’ Managers was played at Plymouth Speedway in September. After a competitive game, the final score was 7-2 and over £1900 was raised.

Joe Geraghty also took on his own personal challenge in memory of Oliver which saw him walk 110 miles on the South West Coast Path.

Joe walked from Paignton to Plymouth over four days in early September with his husky Blue.

Originally setting out to raise £500 for CHSW, Joe’s fundraising total soon doubled and then tripled with friends and family from near and far making donations, with his total reaching over £2000 in the end.

In total, Joe and Jay raised an incredible £4,405 for CHSW. Since Oliver’s death his dad, Mike Brown, has been keen to spread the word about CHSW and Little Harbour to the Plymouth community and was delighted to hear about Joe

and Jay’s fundraising efforts.

Mike said “We have been overwhelmed by the support from our Morley family and Jay’s commitment to support our boys, our family and this incredible local charity. Benjamin always enjoyed his football and Oliver loved to cheer for all his worth. He would have been so proud to see such a great turn out. Thank you to Jay, Joe and to everyone that supported the match and Joe’s incredible challenge.”

Little Harbour, Plymouth’s local children’s hospice, is run almost entirely on voluntary donations and has continued to provide care and support to 137 families throughout the pandemic at the hospice, in families’ homes and virtually.

Raising funds to ensure the charity can keep providing this support to local children and families is a top priority, so for anyone interested in fundraising in any way or making a one off donation to help make the most of short and precious lives please visit www.chsw.org.uk or call Sherelle Puertas, CHSW Community Fundraiser, on 07500 081971.

Oliver Brown who died in November last year

Joe Geraghty and his dog Blue on their 110 mile walk from Paignton to Plymouth

Pictured left to right – Joe Geraghty and Jay Hensman with Oliver’s parents Mike and Nicola Brown receiving a donation of £3250 which has since risen to £4,405 raised by Joe and Jay

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8 December 2020

News in Brief Rafts of new double yellow lines are set to be painted on a number of residential streets in Plympton. Parts of Copse Close, Longcause, George Lane and Merafield Road have been earmarked to receive the new parking restrictions.

Plympton animal charity, Gables, has been selling knitted purple poppies in the lead up this year’s Remembrance. As well as raising much needed funds for the Dogs & Cats Home the purple poppies serve to remember the animal victims of war.

8 December 2020

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Brickfields is back on track!

Pupils at Plympton St Mary Infants and Old Priory Junior Academy wore yellow on October 9 to raise money for YoungMinds on their #helloyellow mental health awareness day. Allowing for a boost by Giftaid the two schools raised an amazing sum of around £575.

Kiddi Caru Day Nursery at the Langage Business Park in Plympton is celebrating after achieving a Top 20 Nursery Award from day nurseries. co.uk. Plympton’s Kiddi Caru has been recognised as a top 20 nursery in the South West section of the awards. The Kiddi Caru group itself also achieved a listing in the Top 20 Large Nursery Group 2020 Awards.

(News Briefs provided by www.PlymptonPodcast.org.uk)

Photo shows (left to right): Keith Reed from Armada Athletics Network, Deputy Council Leader Peter Smith, Jeanette Munton from Smith Construction, Paul Crutchley from City of Plymouth Athletic Club and Ben Blundy from Everyone Active

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The Brickfields athletics track and field facility in Devonport has reopened following a £700,000 upgrade.

Its 400-metre running track has been completely re-laid and the long jump, high jump, shot put, throwing cage and water jump have all been refurbished.

The site will also benefit from extra storage facilities and a new hut for officials, as well as a new two-metre perimeter fence and an upgraded CCTV system.

Deputy Council Leader Peter Smith said: “I’m delighted that Plymouth can once again boast a high-quality athletics venue, following these major improvement works. It’s not just for super-fit club runners and athletes – it’s a facility that everyone can use.

“We will continue to work with Everyone Active to develop a year-round activity programme that not only supports local clubs and athletes but also includes activities that promote health and wellbeing for all.”

UK Athletics have awarded the outdoor facility Track Mark accreditation under their new quality assurance scheme, meaning it is well managed and maintained and accessible to participants of all abilities.

The site attracts over 18,500 attendances a year from clubs, schools, universities and the MoD and has produced top-class athletes such as sprinter Katherine Endacott and hurdler David King. It is also home to the City of Plymouth Athletic Club and is well-used by the Armada Network (representing 11 local running clubs).

Paul Crutchley, Chairman of the City of Plymouth Athletic Club, said: “We would like to thank Smith Construction and Plymouth City Council for the refurbishment of the Brickfields track and field facility. It is now a really high quality arena that everyone can use come rain or shine. We hope that local organisations, schools and other community groups will utilise these facilities going forward.

“The City of Plymouth Athletic Club is a voluntary sports club and is always looking for volunteers and assistants to help with coaching and running the club. Anyone interested in joining our club and trying out track and field can contact us at www. plymouthac.co.uk.”

Facilities can be hired by clubs, groups or schools on a regular basis or for one-off events.

Individuals can also access the facilities for personal training.

For more information call 01752 563320 or visit www.everyoneactive.com/centre/brickfieldssports-centre.

Follow us at Facebook.com/PlymptonPodcast for regular stories, pictures and videos of life in Plympton and surrounding areas To hear our audio podcasts and to find other useful community information go to:

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December 2020

9

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Plymouth Festival to look at what future holds for city’s economy Plymouth Social Enterprise Network is giving everyone the chance to explore what the city’s economy could look like in the future, both in Plymouth and further afield.

The Social Enterprise City Festival will run from November 16 to 21 with a mixture of online and face to face events, in accordance with guidelines at the time. The theme is Educating the Economy, particularly timely as many businesses are thinking about how to adapt and recover from the impact of COVID-19.

Festival organizer Jess Holliland said: “This year’s festival follows on from our discussions about youth action for the climate during last year’s festival, and the conversations started in the fantastic Regenerate Devon and ALTwork events earlier this year which explored the idea of a new economy and building back in better ways.

“This is an ideal opportunity to look in more depth at what the next generation of consumers, workers and business owners really want and how this can be implemented.”

Research shows that 73% of Millennials (24-28 year olds) are willing to pay more for sustainable products, and 62% of Gen Z (up to 23 years old) prefer to buy from sustainable brands, with increasing numbers in each group taking part in upcycling and reselling.

The Social Enterprise City Festival will look to encourage this younger demographic to consider social enterprise as a model if they want to set up their own business or are looking for a more sustainable employer.

They will also work with those already in business about how to engage with the more ethical generations and what can be done to move our economy towards the more sustainable, caring model that is essential for a healthy economy and planet.

There are over 20 events confirmed so far, including: • Launch event covering PSEN’s plans to make sure the city maintains and builds on its reputation as the most socially- minded city in the UK • ‘No Health, No Economy’ - A workshop from Iridescent Ideas CIC exploring the impact health has on the economy • Information about how to set up a Repair Cafe from Borrow Don’t Buy CIC • A session looking at ethical

entrepreneurship from Marjon • Drop-in surgeries to get advice about using your data better from social enterprise The Data Place A full list of events is available at https:// plymsocent.org.uk/social-enterprise-cityfestival-2020/ The festival is open to everyone, and there is still the opportunity for individuals and organisations to get involved as a Friend of the Festival.

Traditional sponsorship options are also available, with this year’s Gold Sponsors being RIO and Livewell.

For more information about being a part of the Festival, contact Jess at jess@plymsocent. org.uk

10 December 2020

10 December 2020

Support the Poppy Appeal as city’s first annual Poppy Run goes virtual The Royal British Legion is encouraging Plymouth people to lace up their trainers this October and November to take part in its free to enter Virtual My Poppy Run to help support service and ex-service personnel and their families.

The Legion’s Poppy Run events, which usually take place in ten cities across the country – this year including Plymouth – are unable to go ahead in their usual format this year due to social distancing measures. Instead, people can show their support for the 2020 Poppy Appeal with the ‘virtual’ version, My Poppy Run. The My Poppy Run participants can choose to run, jog or walk a distance of their choice and get family, friends and pets involved too. Wherever and whenever runners choose to do their Poppy Run, from the treadmill to local park, they will be helping to transform and support the lives of many in the Armed Forces community, raising vital funds to ensure that those who have served are offered the life changing support they need and deserve.

Sharon Wells, Events Partnerships Manager for The Royal British Legion said: “My Poppy Run is a fantastic way for people to show their support for the Royal British Legion and have some fun with family and friends at the same time.

“Members of the Armed Forces community need the Legion’s help now

@PlymChronicle

Over £3 million secured to make Plymouth homes more energy-efficient A £3.3 million grant is set to improve energy efficiency in hundreds of Plymouth homes. The money, which comes from the Government’s Green Homes Grants scheme, will help to go towards measures in the homes that are most in need of energy saving improvements.

more than ever, and we are working tirelessly to ensure that those who have served are being looked after, no matter what challenges the country faces.”

Ex-soldier Lawrence Philips took out a small loan to help the family get through Christmas, but with Lawrence unable to work due to COVID-19, the debt quickly spiralled out of control.

However, with the help of the Legion’s Benefits, Debt and Money Advice team (BDMA), Lawrence was able to clear his debts.

Good care and support should be norm, not the exception!

Jo Craythorne Branch Manager The provision and delivery of social care is in the news on a daily basis. Sadly, it’s rarely a good news story. The pattern is all too familiar: overstretched, stressed staff, running from rushed visit to rushed visit, with insufficient time to make a positive difference. Those receiving care so often don’t know the carers that are being sent, and visits are often late.

Families reliant on social care will know and share these frustrations.

Care needn’t be this way!

We established Friends Helping at Home to do things differently, the way that we would want care provided for ourselves or a loved one.

Care at Heart We have always put care at the heart of everything we do. At the very start of our

Lawrence said: “The Legion saved my life. They have helped me sort out both my mental health and my financial health. I’m debt-free and looking forward to starting a new career, I cannot thank them enough.”

My Poppy Run can be completed any time until November 30 and is free to enter.

For more information and to sign up, visit www.britishlegion.org.uk/ get-involved/things-to-do/events/mypoppy-run

journey we have insisted that those giving care must be those doing so because it’s vocational, rewarding and sustainable.

We set out to engage with those that can provide excellence, good care experience and a genuine passion to make a positive difference to those receiving care.

We have enabled professional caregivers to earn significantly more, whilst providing our customers with the time, choice, value for money, safety and continuity of care that they need. This should be norm, not the exception!

Jo Craythorne, our Plymouth branch manager, acts as a single point of contact to be on hand to discuss initial requirements, and to be there to react to changing needs and maintain an ongoing and important relationship. Jo is there to help coordinate and take the stress away from finding continuity of safe, reliable care and support that’s flexible as requirements change.

We have never advocated rushed visits and know that extra help and support are needed to remain living comfortably at home, including light domestic duties such as: shopping, cleaning, cooking, and occasional chores such as changing light bulbs or getting the grass cut. Every customer is different and so are their

The programme will support the Plymouth City Council’s Climate Emergency commitment to make Plymouth carbon neutral by 2030. Around 300 homes will benefit from the funding through the installation of energy efficient measures each costing on average of £10,000 per property.

This is estimated to save £4.5 million in energy bills and deliver 19,000 tonnes of CO2 reductions over the lifetime of the measures.

The energy improvements will be subject to the Energy Performance Certificate recommendations at each property, but could include solid wall insulation, under floor insulation and the fitting of solar panels.

The installation programme, due to be complete by April 2021, complements the Council’s Resurgam COVID-19 recovery plan by creating and securing local contractors employing 43 full time staff, including five apprentices.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene, Councillor Sue Dann said; “This is very welcome funding and will help households in Plymouth, by reducing their energy bills and fuel poverty. “Improving energy efficiency in our homes not only saves money, but reduces carbon emissions and contributes to curbing climate change, this helps local people and the planet.

“Given the current economic challenges, it’s positive that the installation of these energy-efficient measures will further support the local economy by providing jobs and opportunity.”

Residents who wish to apply for national Green Home Grant vouchers directly, can find out more at Plymouth Energy Community’s webpage https:// plymouthenergycommunity. com/news/green-homes-grant

requirements.

We also understand that as well as giving the time with unrushed visits, familiar faces are also needed. Every customer has a choice of carer known to them and will have been introduced by the Branch Manager, so those receiving care and support always have choice with care-professionals known to them.

Jo says: “Good care and support means living well at home, with less repeated hospital admissions.

The little things, like having your tea made in your favourite cup and taking time for a chat, are important. Our customers know their carers and they have continuity of care. Most days I have zoom calls with customers, or their families, discussing increasing their care package or what other services we can provide. For example, shopping during lockdown.”

Absolute continuity of care.

Your choose your carer from our vigorously vetted team.

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

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

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

Call us on

(01752) 648 320 We provide a safe, friendly and professional service that enables you to remain living in the comfort of your own home.

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Find us online at: friendshelpingathome.co.uk

December 2020

@PlymChronicle

11

Double win for community art group A community art group which first set up in Plympton before spreading its wings across Plymouth is celebrating a double boost to its cause.

The Mindful Art Club is receiving £250 of new funding, as well as £3000 worth of business support. The £250 has been awarded to them by Plymouth Octopus Project to cover some of their volunteer expenses and the year-long business support package has been offered to them by The Real Ideas Organisation.

Peggy Melmoth and Emma Sprawson, who both have BA(Hons) degrees in art, had only been running community art groups for a few months when the first coronavirus lockdown in March forced them to cancel all of their groups.

They immediately began offering online versions of all their sessions using Zoom video conferencing software and broadcasting via Facebook Live. Before the March lockdown their groups had been partfunded by individual voluntary donations, but since the end of March 2020 Peggy and Emma have been running the groups purely as volunteers.

When the original lockdown restrictions began to ease in July they then started running small outdoor mindful art groups in a park in Plympton, In August they launched an additional new weekly group at The Sunflower Women’s Centre in Plymouth.

Prior to the second national lockdown they were running a total of four weekly groups around Plympton and Plymouth. They hope to continue these once the latest lockdown ends. They also continue to run their free online group for those who can’t make it to a real-life session.

Celebrating...Peggy Melmoth and Emma Sprawson

Peggy said: “We started Mindful Art Club to improve mental health and social connection in the Plymouth community by offering mutual aid support groups and teaching mindfulness and art for self-care. We were literally trying to fight social isolation at a time when we were all advised to isolate ourselves.”

Emma said: “We used to be part of the support team at Broadreach House addiction treatment centre. When Broadreach closed last year we were both made redundant, but

decided that we still wanted to use our skills to support people in the community.”

In October The Real Ideas Organisation offered a number of free membership packages, worth over £3,000 each, to entrepreneurial people with ideas that they thought could become brilliant businesses.

To apply for a fully funded ‘Start Something’ membership Peggy and Emma submitted a written business proposal and a three minute video outlining their ideas.

Peggy said: “We are so excited to win this

and are really looking forward to networking with the other businesses that won a place.”

The fully funded membership package from Real Ideas gives Mindful Art Club access to workspace at Ocean Studios in Royal William Yard, business support mentors and access to events, workshops and one to one coaching.

The Start Something project 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.

Emma said: “Just after winning the Start Something membership we also received £250 funding from Plymouth Octopus Project (POP), which covers some of our expenses volunteering at The Sunflower Women’s Centre.” POP offers funding advice, business and planning support to Plymouth’s voluntary sector.

The Sunflower Women’s Centre is a women’s only outreach centre set up by Trevi House in 2016. Sunflower is a traumainformed women’s wellbeing hub, providing opportunities for any woman who has support needs.

Paula Carnell, Team Lead, said: “We have been very happy to have had Peggy and Emma come into the Sunflower Women’s Centre and give their time volunteering to run their wonderful Mindful Art group for our women. This has been a valuable service and given many of our women support and some purpose and stability, with their patience and gentle listening ears during the lockdown period.”

To find out more about Mindful Art Club’s usual weekly groups and wellbeing courses visit www.mindfulartclub.co.uk and www. facebook.com/mindfulartclub

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12 December 2020

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College of Art graduate’s big break with global video games giant King

A Plymouth College of Art graduate has secured an internship with one of the world’s biggest video game development companies.

Local Chef is all set to clean up in Plymouth and surrounding areas Adam Cole is launching his own Oven Cleaning Business as part of the Oven Wizards Franchise. Adam lives in the local area and as he knows the area well; he believes there will be a strong demand for his services.

Adam says, “I was looking for a business idea that I would enjoy doing and would provide a great service to local people. I came across the idea of an oven cleaning business and then started to research the market. I soon realised that becoming an Oven Wizard offered me a great opportunity, particularly with the support of a successful Franchise Brand.

Mark Abbott, owner of the Oven Wizards business said, “From the first time we met Adam and his wife Kerri, we knew they would make a great success of running an Oven Wizards Franchise, particularly because of their great passion for customer service.”

Mark went on to explain, “There is a growing demand from people who want to have their ovens professionally cleaned because it is probably the hardest job in most households.”

Oven Wizards have provided Adam with comprehensive training which will enable him to professionally clean all sorts of makes and models of ovens, extractors and microwaves.

As well as Plymouth, Adam also covers Plymstock, Newton Ferrers, Woolwell, Plympton, Sherford and Elburton.

A recent Survey indicated that oven cleaning is one of the most hated chores in the home.

Taking into account the fact that there are over 26 million households in the UK and that nearly each one has at least one oven and a hob, the growing domestic cleaning market provides unlimited opportunities to delight our customers.

Adam is providing an introductory discount for his first 20 bookings - so feel free to contact him to discuss your oven cleaning requirements on 01752 545221 and 07825 954356, or go onto his web site www.ovenwizards.com/plymouth

www.ovenwizards.com

Plymouth College of Art BA (Hons) Game Arts graduate Liliana Pita has secured an internship role at King, the company responsible for smash hit mobile games such as Candy Crush Saga, Farm Heroes and the upcoming reboot runner game Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, due for release next year.

King has over 200 titles, with over 271 million active users across the world and has studios in London, Stockholm, Barcelona, Malmo and Berlin. It was acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016, the company behind the rights to games such as Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and Spyro the Dragon.

Liliana, also known as Lili, said: “I’ve been a big fan of King and their games for Liliana and (below) an example of her work many years and it was always a company I wanted to work for when I’d finished my degree. I would check their website for job opportunities and I’d done a lot of networking and events to get me familiar with their culture and to get to know some of their talent.

“I saw that there was a User Interface (UI) Art internship, and I applied straight away even though it was in Barcelona. I did a couple interviews and an art test, but unfortunately came second, but was recommended for the London studio! A huge inspiration to me, they are so incredibly couple of interviews later and I got a yes! It talented and create such beautiful visuals was a dream come true, I even cried a little! effortlessly, which is truly inspiring. Everyone “I have learned so much already from the on the team is always ready to give me great role, with each new task more challenging feedback, which has improved my knowledge than the last. As a UI art intern, I help create of art fundamentals massively.” the visual components through which a Originally from Madeira, Lili came to player interacts with a game. This could be Plymouth College of Art after struggling to anything from menus, buttons, leaderboards find a game arts course back in Portugal. or icons. I make sure these elements are She attended the college in 2015, leaving in intuitive, appealing to the eye and make 2019 with a First Class Honours degree in BA sense in the game. You learn how to work in (Hons) Game Arts. the game’s style and as a team, bring new “I was unsure as to what I wanted to study experiences to players. exactly until my aunt, who had been living “The team at King have become such a

in Plymouth for about two years told me about the college. I didn’t know whether to do illustration, animation or game arts so thought it was best to do the Extended BA degree.

“This gave me the opportunity to explore different subjects and I decided on Game Arts. I felt this covered my need to create art within illustration and animation and felt the Game Arts course would give me the biggest set of skills to help me fulfill my dream of working in the games industry.

“My advice to anyone trying to get into the industry themselves would be never stop creating art. It’s easy to see your casual part time job as a career path, but think of it as a Plan B for when you’re not successful with applications or interviews.

It’s easy to get comfortable and think of it as temporary, but never give up!”

Lecturer on BA (Hons) Game Arts Luke West said: “While studying at Plymouth College of Art Liliana was a hardworking and dedicated student to her practice, exploring a variety of techniques and processes that would benefit her as a game artist.

“During the third year she was focused on the direction she wanted to go in terms of working in the industry and then took every opportunity in order to succeed.

It is a great pleasure to see Liliana take her first steps into working within the entertainment industry.”

Globally, the gaming industry is predicted to be worth £140 billion by 2021, with the animation industry estimated to be worth £170 billion.

Plymouth College of Art recognises the importance of these industries, and their contribution to the UK economy, which is why Plymouth College of Art has announced its BA (Hons) Animation & Games programme launching in September 2021, which combines the relevant transferable skills needed for these industries into one course.

Find out more about Plymouth College of Art on the website.

Talented artist’s work to feature in exhibition A former Plymouth College of Art graduate has been named as the winner of the Brownston Fresh Talent Award for 2020.

Sianan, who is 25 and lives in Eggbuckland, was given the award for her series of four portraits of her boyfriend which she completed during lockdown.

She graduated in the summer with a degree in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking.

Sianan’s work will be on display alongside work by other artists including Theresa Pemberton and Sabina Pieper at The Brownston Gallery’s annual Winter Exhibition in Modbury which runs until the end of January.

Talking about her final semester at Plymouth College of Art, Sianan said: “Apart from the work, when I think of my final term it also fills me with sadness that I didn’t get the closure of finishing my degree like every third year before me. ““Back in March when the lockdown was announced, we all thought nothing of it, that we’d all be back in a month and work towards

building the degree show that we had already started planning at the time. But that never happened, we had all said our goodbyes without even knowing it, we had all attended our last lectures, working alongside each other at our desks, having our casual chats in the corridors and inbetween lectures, we were to never experience it again.

“It’s a weird feeling, knowing that we’ll all never probably be in the same room again, and we never got the final goodbye that we had been promised at the start of the degree at our end of year show.

“It actually doesn’t feel like I’ve finished. But I guess that’s life, and it did certainly make us all stronger as we all got through to the other side.”

“Along with her artwork, Sianan plans to go down the route as an art therapist. “I have always looked at art as a way of expressing my emotions and feelings, as a tool to discovering more about ourselves as creative individuals. I’ve also always had a caring mindset, so both naturally go hand in hand,” she added.

December 2020

@PlymChronicle

Christmas is back at Theatre Royal!

13

Christmas is Back at Theatre Royal Plymouth - with a pantomime and seasonal shows.

The Christmas programme at TRP will include a socially distanced pantomime produced, thanks to support from the National Lottery, with long standing TRP partners Qdos Entertainment. The all-new production, Robinson Crusoe will run for three weeks only from Saturday December 12.

In the Drum, Stuff & Nonsense will present The Gingerbread Man for families and their little ones - the adventure of the deliciously smelling Gingerbread Man who finds his feet fast and sets off on the journey of a lifetime.

Gonzo Moose will present The Thing That Came From Over There - inspired by the Horror movies of the 1950s, a fast-paced rollicking ride, mixing paranoia, suspense and hilariously gruesome deaths - an alternative Christmas comedy.

Adrian Vinken, CEO at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “This announcement marks an exciting and really important moment in the life of TRP and the city as we welcome back our audiences in a socially distanced and safe way, hopefully taking the first step on a cautious road to recovery.

“Like so many others, our theatre has been hit really hard over the

last six months. However, thanks to our loyal supporters, this bold commitment from the National Lottery and our successful bid for £1.9 million from the Culture Recovery Fund, we can now bounce back.

“We can once again afford to present pantomime and our usual full Christmas programme - with something for everyone on the stages of the Theatre Royal just in time for Christmas.”

TRP have been working hard to make the building safe to welcome audiences back to enjoy the magic of theatre. A number of changes and new safety measures have

been put in place for the protection of performers, staff and audience members.

These include reduced seating capacities, bookings restricted to household and support bubbles only up to a maximum of six people, digital e-tickets, temperature checks on arrival, social distancing on site, plenty of hand sanitising stations and enhanced cleansing of all public spaces, including use of electrostatic disinfectant machines.

Tickets for the festive fantastic season will be on sale to the general public from November 18 and available to purchase at www. theatreroyal.com/whats-on

Stars welcome Theatre Royal’s £1.9 million vital lifeline grant Theatre Royal Plymouth has been awarded nearly £1.9 million as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future.

Theatre Royal Plymouth is one of 35 major cultural organisations receiving the first grants between £1 million and £3 million through the Culture Recovery Fund – with £75 million of investment announced earlier this month.

Theatre Royal Plymouth is the South West’s principal centre for performing arts and has an extensive education and community engagement programme that reaches thousands annually.

The doors to Theatre Royal Plymouth have been closed to the public for over six months, the first time in its 37-year history, and saw over 90% of their income vanish overnight, leaving the charity in a precarious position. The £1,896,000 funding will enable them to continue to deliver their life-changing community engagement projects, support local communities and theatremakers, creative freelancers and to stage live socially distanced performance.

Actress Lesley Joseph and TV presenter and comedian Brian Conley - who have appeared at Theatre Royal on many occasions - have both welcomed the grant. Lesley said it was a ‘lifeline for the entertainment heart of the South West,’ while Brian added: “More power to the government for giving them the backing they need.”

Adrian Vinken, CEO at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “This funding will enable us to continue to deliver our life-changing projects and support our local communities and theatre-makers. It will help us to welcome audiences back to the theatre to see live shows in a safe and socially distanced way at Christmas.

“The news is a great relief to us, for Plymouth and the cultural landscape of the far south-west and it demonstrates that the government clearly recognises the great economic, social and creative value of an organisation like Theatre Royal Plymouth to this city and region.

Adrian Vinken

Thought For The Day “The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

Walt Disney

With another lockdown upon us; darker evenings; colder days and Christmas on-its-way it is time to resurrect the help and support we gave to our neighbours earlier in the year. It is crucial that the community spirit already in evidence, extends throughout the winter and all that it might bring.

Plymouth Octopus Project is just one of many partners working hard to set up and strengthen a web of Neighbourhood Care Networks across the city to see us through these dark and difficult times. Through the NCN’s we can offer practical support, reassurance and companionship, and let people know that they are not alone. From helping to pick up prescriptions to walking the dog, individuals have been amazing at supporting their neighbours. Now, as new needs emerge and the effects of the sustained impacts of the virus become more visible in our communities, so efforts are underway to widen the support to include other needs, such as people’s mental and emotional health.

Your Neighbourhood Needs You!

Better together – our communities are stronger; safer and more-resilient when we work together. Many people have already signed up and are giving their time & support

Want to help out in your community?

If you’re an individual or an organisation that wants to be involved text this city-wide number 07411 949 742 and you will be contacted by someone local to you, who will welcome your support.

Better Together Nearly seventy individuals and organisations across Plymouth - along with the involvement of St Luke’s Hospice; the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Devon Community Learning Academy - are collaborating, working across the digital platform ‘slack’ to strengthen and support the NCN’s in their geographic areas. The significant inclusion of these key organisations enables the NCN’s to access their expertise if – and when – the NCN’s are faced with individuals with individual challenges, such as, bereavement; concerns about ‘debt’ and digital inclusion. Now other areas across the city are exploring how they too might set up their own unique support group.

“Neighbourhoods like Efford and Lipson; Hooe; Plympton; Devonport and St. Budeaux are all curious about how they might employ their own Neighbourhood Care Network to help others in a way that works for them. There’s a genuine positive energy, and more people adding to that all the time” said Stephane Kolinsky from the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum.

POP+ continues to offer training and funding support to individuals and groups to enable them to help others - particularly during this period of a second lockdown. There is also digital training to help people become familiar with the different platforms that are being employed, such as, zoom, slack and open collective. For more information about the NCN’s and/or the training sessions call 395131 or email info@plymouthoctopus.org

Wonderzoo Arts Organisation,

Imperfect Cinema and Soapbox Culture are on a mission to explore how Plymouth could offer a collaborative and inclusive Literary Festival. The collective has recently employed a researcher to help with this work. As most events have been, and continue to be on hold due to Covid, the project has been re-shaped to try and find out what might be possible in the future by bringing people together and supporting collaboration across Plymouth’s literary groups.

Our Festival of Zoom 2020

POP+ went zooming online last mon th for its annual festival which, this year, was appropriately called “Bett er Together ”. More than 70 individuals, organisations and members turned up in the digital atmosphere and took part in training sessions; workshops & networking opportunities. Jane Hembrow from the Plymouth Play CIC & Scrapstore believes the VCS in Plymouth has been so well supporte d; enabled and encouraged that, she feels, “others must be slightly envious of what Plymouth is doing.”

Learning & Collaboration Part 2 In the midst of the first lockdown, POP+ awarded the second round of funding from its Learning and Collaboration initiative. Four projects received around £5000 each in April.

North Stonehouse had hoped to establish a vibrant gardening, growing & food-sharing cooperative called Street Meets:Street Eats bringing people together through ‘food’. The Friends of Wyndham Square; the community growing project, Seeds ‘n’ Feeds; Sovereign Housing and the Plymouth City Council’s natural infrastructure team had joined forces to nurture the community but as Covid 19 and its restrictions struck so the group had to adapt, abandoning its ‘veg garden’ plan and moving indoors.

“Incredible Edibles” took root in the nearby Talk Shop and, before long, it was clear that it had blossomed.

Many residents took to passing the community Talk Shop as part of their daily exercise; watching the plants grow and shouting Gin Farrow-Jones encouragement in the thick of it through the letterbox! Top community gardener, Gin Farrow-Jones says it helped establish the Talk Shop as a community asset; “The shop window was our community’s green clock, helping time pass in a much needed and tolerably slow way.”

At a time when food security was an issue on everyone’s minds, the project adapted. Rather than growing ‘together’ in collective harmony and sharing meals as a ‘community’; people were now stuck indoors. And so, volunteers left bags of fresh produce on the doorstep of Notre Dame House along with (the lovely idea of) prestamped postcards, so that the recipients could communicate their thanks and feelings. As Gin accepts things were very different, “We’ve made a lot more relationships that we’d anticipated but not had relationships with the key people that we thought we would have had.”

The project has gone back to square one with residents from Notre Dame House planting winter veg in their private garden. Far from a setback, Gin says it’s simply evolved; “There seems to be renewed enthusiasm for growing winter veg outdoors everywhere, but heart-warmingly the residents are eager too, which I take as healthy green shoots of success.”

Positively Diverse Action is all about

collaboration and trust within – and with – different communities in Plymouth. PDA is a long-term project; about taking the time to build the trust to nurture individuals; to enable them to find their own talents and establish connections so that they, in turn, can help others. Ironically, the lockdown enabled a transformation within its own ‘bubble’ with one of its founders, Liliane Uwimana, from Plymouth City of Sanctuary.

Liliane, for whom English is not her first language, is living proof that the project is working: “This collaboration has allowed people to be comfortable in their skin to be able to come forward and share what they know; their potential and their skills.”

PDA’s plan is that - through intercultural collaboration - communities and individuals will start to explore the next steps of being part of conversations and decision-making within the city. The collaboration consists of Plymouth City of Sanctuary; Skyspace CIC; Diversity Business Incubator and PTown Radio.

Precious Plastics Plymouth & Tavistock Project went public during

lockdown and set up shop outside the Scrapstore on Union Street as part of the Plymouth Art Weekender. Dr Dot - aka founder member Kate Crawfurd – explains what happened when she revealed her ‘world of plastic’ nonsense;

“Maybe it was the hats, maybe the shredder, maybe the banner, anyway it was very engaging! We had a gentle flow of passers-by, no crowds, all very well-distanced. People were drawn in and we had many interesting and fruitful conversations around plastics, waste, recycling and the environment.”

And PPT&T is going to have its own home soon, moving into the Royal William Yard as part of RIO’s amazing “start something’ initiative. As Dr. Dot says things are quite lively; “We have been busy with POP’s AGM and festival week, learning exciting ways to connect. POP+ and RIO are brilliant coordinators, channelling the energy which could easily fizzle out if people and organisations don’t connect. We have started making connections through another POP+ project brief, which is generating new ideas and even more energy.”

You can find out more about Precious Plastics Plymouth & Tavistock at www.katecrawfurd.co.uk/ppp

December 2020 15

@PlymChronicle

New future for The Dome A company with a strong track record in running successful pubs and restaurants in the Westcountry will be the future leaseholder and operator of the Dome on Plymouth’s waterfront.

Plymouth City Council has agreed Heads of Terms for the long leasehold interest to rebrand and refurbish the building to bring it back to beneficial use.

There were five bids altogether as part of the informal tender and all parties were asked to demonstrate sufficient funding to support their offer, to outline the economic viability of their scheme as well as expertise and experience to realise their ambitions.

James Watt, head of Land and Property at Plymouth City Council, said: “We commissioned JLL to carry out the assessment and to put forward a recommendation to us.

Having examined all the offers, we believe the proposal we have chosen to progress is the most viable scheme that will see this key waterfront building back to

full use in the very near future.

“The successful party have considerable experience in the hospitality industry running award-winning venues throughout the South West, which shows they have a formula for success.

“They have great plans for the building which will include a bar and theatre kitchen to be open by next Easter, combined with an indoor play area on the ground floor in the longer term.”

Speaking on behalf of JLL, Michael Easton added: “This has been a thorough process in order to choose the best placed party to undertake such a significant site and turn it into something that will compliment both The Hoe and the seascape of Plymouth Sound.

“The Dome is a superb venue in waiting and we look forward to seeing the investment and reopening in due course.”

The council is now progressing the legal work to complete the transaction and hope to make a further announcement in the near future.

CITY COUNCIL CHANGES VIEW OVER GLEN ROAD PAYPHONE

Plymouth City Council is now calling for the public payphone at the junction of Glen Road and Bellingham Crescent to be kept after initially saying it would not object to its removal.

British Telecom has been consulting over the proposed removal of nine public payphones across Plymouth, including three in Plympton.

The council, a mandatory consultee, originally said it would not object to the removal of the Glen Road payphone as it had only been averaging two calls per month.

Now though it has changed its mind after learning that two emergency calls were made from the box in September.

In its final response to the consultation the council states: “There are no other payphones in close proximity to this one and BT have confirmed that two emergency calls were made from this phone in the last month suggesting at least some social need despite there being good 4G cellular coverage both indoors and outdoors in this area for four of the main mobile operators (3, O2, EE and Vodafone).”

The council has already outlined an objection to the proposed removal of a second public payphone in Plympton, just off Strode Road by the Aldi Roundabout, due to the extent of its use and is not objecting to the removal of a third, at Linketty Lane, where there is low usage and no public objections.

A decision on the proposed phone removals will now be made by the Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport.

(Story courtesy of www.PlymptonPodcast. org.uk)

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16 December 2020

16 December 2020

@PlymChronicle

Help to feed a family in Plymouth at Christmas A community initiative will help families in Plymouth struggling with food poverty this Christmas.

Plymouth Feed a Family at Christmas is a community organisation creating hampers filled with everything a family needs to create Christmas dinner.

The plan is to create both fresh and ambient hampers to ensure that even those without an oven or hob will be able to have a special dinner for Christmas Day. Volunteers will be collecting donations from December 2 once the current lockdown is lifted.

The project was the brainchild of Emma Jones from Belliver who with a few friends last year created 10 hampers for those in need.

This year Emma decided to do the same thing with an initial idea of creating 25 hampers. The response from the public and local businesses was outstanding and it quickly became apparent that they would receive enough donations to create at least 100 hampers and possibly more.

With food poverty rising 220% across the city since March, there is growing support for the community to come together and support those in need.

Emma has brought together a team of 10 passionate and motivated volunteer administrators who have been busying themselves collecting donations and organising raffle prizes for a forthcoming raffle to raise funds for the hampers.

Hundreds of people have donated and set up drop off points in their area of the city allowing donations to be collated and making helping accessible.

Anyone wanting to donate or collect donations, can get in touch with the group and they will then connect them with local volunteers.

Emma said: “We have had an outstanding outpouring of support from local businesses offering donations and help with deliveries closer to Christmas.

“We are so humbled and blown away by how amazing Plymouth has been in supporting this project and we are really excited about how much of an impact we can make to those in need.”

Organisations supporting the initiative include the Co-op, Morrison’s, Tesco, Andy’s Butchers, Veg Box Fresh, Eddies Eggs and Potatoes, Ross Elsey Construction, Almuth Design+Print, Embroider Me and many more.

People interested in getting involved please should visit the Facebook page Plymouth Feed a Family at Christmas, Instagram @plymouthfeedafamily or via email Plymouthfeedafamily@gmail.com.

It includes a full list of what is currently needed, as well as ways to contact the group to offer help in any other way such as delivery.

All of the volunteers who are collecting donations are wearing appropriate PPE and maintaining social distance; drop-offs can be contactless upon request. However, they are asking that all donations are kept until December 2 to reduce any non essential travel for the team.

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Supermarket’s healthy offer Tesco is expanding its food donation programme to help Plymouth families eat more fresh fruit and vegetables over the winter.

From November 16, the supermarket will give any local families who use the weekly Healthy Start vouchers a £1 coupon to spend on fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables. Every time a customer hands over their vouchers at the checkout, they will automatically receive the money-off coupon to redeem off their next shop.

Marcus Rashford’s Child Poverty Task Force, of which Tesco is a member, is currently pressing the government to increase the value of the Healthy Start vouchers to £4.25 per week (from £3.10).

Healthy Start is a government scheme to improve the health of low-income pregnant women and families on benefits and tax credits.

Under the scheme, eligible families are provided with vouchers every week to spend on milk, fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, and infant formula milk.

In addition to funding the £1 coupon, Tesco

is donating an additional £4million of food to FareShare to support it through the current period of record demand. Combined with its regular food donations through its Community Food Connection scheme, Tesco has made food donations worth more than £60million in the last year. Earlier this year, the supermarket provided £15million of food to FareShare and the Trussell Trust to support those who needed help at the start of the pandemic.

Jason Tarry, Tesco chief executive, said: “Right now, many families are facing hardship as a result of the pandemic, and we want to help by providing nutritious food to those who need it. In addition to topping up the Healthy Start vouchers by £1 each week, we’re providing an extra £4million of food to FareShare in the run up to Christmas, on top of our regular monthly food donations, to support food banks and community groups with vital supplies at a time when so many people are relying on them.”

For information and to check eligibility for Healthy Start vouchers go to www.healthystart.nhs. uk/healthy-start-vouchers/

December 2020 17

@PlymChronicle

Key role for Plymouth’s tourism chief One of Plymouth’s top tourism chiefs is taking a leading role in a national network of industry professionals.

Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth, has been named as President of the Tourism Management Institute (TMI).

Having been a member of the TMI for 11 years, initially as regional representative and more recently as an Executive Board Director, Amanda Lumley takes the elected role as President of the organisation following its annual held last month.

TMI is a network of professionals who promote and develop destinations across the UK, Europe and worldwide, sharing knowledge and expertise, and being a voice for destination management.

It represents the interests of destination management on national bodies and responds to consultations by government, Visit Britain and the Tourism Industry Council among others.

Following her election, Amanda Lumley said: “A key part of my role over the past few years has been to organise regional events for members

and students as well as providing mentoring and support one to one. I work closely with the University of Plymouth’s Business School Tourism and Hospitality Management Team throughout the academic year providing guidance, knowledge and facilitating wider partnership discussions and relationships in the sector.

“I am looking forward to bringing some new ideas to the role and in particular exploring how digital technology can expand our reach into new audiences and working more closely with our University and student cohorts to provide relevant, exciting and most up to date content for our upand-coming tourism managers of the future!

“In addition I think this will be a great platform to give recognition to Plymouth and the wider South West as one of the leading regions for tourism nationally.”

Destination Plymouth is a public-private sector partnership whose role is to increase visitors to the city and surrounding area, grow visitor spend and increase tourism related jobs. The organisation recently launched the 2021-2030

visitor plan for Plymouth, with an aim to continue growing the city’s visitor economy over the next ten years.

Councillor Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Destination Plymouth has achieved so much in the last ten years, dramatically growing our visitor numbers and spend to the benefit of the local economy.

Amanda Lumley has been one of the driving forces behind this and I’m delighted to see her take on this new role, helping to put Plymouth on the map and developing the tourism professionals of the future.”

Adrian Vinken, Chair of Destination Plymouth commented: “Amanda’s appointment is clear recognition of her sector expertise and the reputation she has within the UK tourism industry.

It also reflects well on Plymouth indicating how well, in recent years, our reputation has grown within the national tourism industry. All Destination Plymouth directors congratulate Amanda on her appointment and this terrific personal accolade.”

Amanda Lumley

TRIBUTES PAID TO FORMER PLYMPTON PRE-SCHOOL MANAGER

Tributes have been paid to former Ridgeway Methodist Pre-school manager John Scott who has passed away suddenly.

Described as ‘a very popular, comical man who was loved by the children’, John was involved with the pre-school for almost three decades. Sue Tozer is one of those who used to work with John at the pre-school.

She said: “We were all very shocked and saddened to hear that John had died so suddenly and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”John was a gentle giant of a man, always ready to help and listen to anybody who came

across our pre-school door. He was very talented in art work and, being a trained chef, made our pre-school parties memorable.”He had a great sense of fun: we fondly remember a visit to the zoo with a paper mache penguin and a yellow submarine at Colebrook Carnival!”John always excelled in expressing the joy of Christmas with decorations and nativity scenes.”

John was connected with Ridgeway Pre-School for over 27 years, firstly as a keyworker, then deputy manager and finally for eleven years as manager.

Sue added: “Mostly we remember John for

the care he showed over the years to hundreds of children and their families, showing love and empathy and sharing his strong Christian faith. He will be greatly missed by us all.”Many people posted tributes to John on the Plympton Podcast Facebook page when news of his death was announced. Anita Hyman said: “John was an amazing man who always had a smile whatever life threw at him.”

Anna Hawke commented: “While gaining my qualification fresh from school I had the pleasure of doing work experience at the pre-school. Fondly remember the time I spent there and how lovely

John and the team were.”Julie Calcott remarked: “I’ve known John from when my daughter was at the pre-school. Such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed.”

Ian Marshall added: “Our daughter loved her time with ‘Mr. Scott’ at preschool. RIP John, you will be missed but your memory will live for many generations in the hearts of the children you cared for.”

One of John’s sons, Adam, posted: “Thank you all for all the lovely words about my Dad. Makes you so proud that he was loved by so many people.”

(Story courtesy of www.PlymptonPodcast.org.uk)

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18 December 2020

18 December 2020

@PlymChronicle

Sherford Life Weapons of war become

“I’m dreaming of a..........Christmas.”

How would you fill in the blank? I’m dreaming of a family Christmas? I’m dreaming of a good-news Christmas?

I’m dreaming of a normal Christmas?

Whatever it is we’re dreaming of, unfortunately it’s looking less and less likely that we’ll have a COVID-free Christmas. As I write (in early November), Parliament are voting on whether to enter into a monthlong second lockdown.

By the time you read this, I hope that this lockdown will be over.

But I’m not holding my breath for that either. So what do we do?

Is Christmas

By Revd Tom Brassil cancelled?

In last month’s editorial I wrote that we needed to find a way, even in the midst of the COVID restrictions, to mark Remembrance in some significant way. Did you stand for a two minute silence on your doorstep on 11th November at 11am? Did you decorate your window in honour of our fallen heroes? Thank you, whatever you did, for finding a way to keep going with what was important. Now it’s time to do that creative thinking again. Here’s what our family Christmas is likely to involve: Spreading light. Decorations are great, aren’t they? I was overjoyed to see a post on social media showing that the first set of Christmas decorations are up in Sherford (in October – brilliant!) Let’s fill our windows and our gardens with light, even as we face a dark winter. Just one way to keep our spirits up.

Those of us who are Christians do this with the added incentive that we are copying the Lord Jesus, who came as the true light (see John 1:9 in the Bible). And we have these wonderfully encouraging words: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

(John 1:5, the Bible). That’s the hope we need right now!

Staying connected. Christmas is a time for sharing! We may not be able to go over to the grandparents for Christmas Dinner, but I’m thankful for all the digital connection tools we have. Why not try a ‘Zoom Banquet’ with distant family this Christmas? Keep up the phone calls and WhatsApp messages. Sherford Community Church will be livestreaming our Christmas celebrations on our Facebook page (whether or not we can also meet in-person in December). Look out for our Carols by Candlelight, Christingle and Christmas Day services, and tune in!

Why connection? Partly because it’s a basic human need, but partly because Christmas is about the greatest connection ever – the fact that God came and re-connected with us. That’s why Jesus was also called Immanuel, which means, ‘God with us’ (see Matthew 1:23 in the Bible). I heard it described recently as the greatest breach of social distancing in history! What a relief to know that God can be with us this Christmas, regardless of regulations. And that makes me want to celebrate, whatever else is going on.

If you have any questions about Sherford life, or if you would like to know more about Sherford Community Church or about our Christmas events, please contact me at tom@sherfordchurch.net

tokens of remembrance

A sailor from HMS Sutherland has turned weapons of war into hundreds of poppies of peace to help veterans during Remembrance.

Over the past three months, Petty Officer Andy Kirkaldy has made use of all his spare time aboard the Plymouth-based frigate to craft unique poppies for his shipmates – raising money for the Royal British Legion in the process.

Andy, who is responsible for maintaining Sutherland’s missile systems, has raised nearly £1,000 for the Legion – far more than he expected when he began crafting the small brass badges in the summer.

The 35-year-old is from a naval family – he’s followed his dad and sister into the Senior Service –

and wanted to use his combined engineering and artistic skills to good effect.

There are plenty of brass shell casings left from Sutherland’s regular gunnery shoots during her patrols around the UK – most recently she’s been working with HMS Queen Elizabeth’s carrier task group in Scotland and helping to train tomorrow’s submarine captains – which planted a ‘swords to ploughshares’ idea in the sailor’s mind.

Or as Andy puts it: “This which was once used for war is now used to remember.”

The senior rating, who has served for the past 14 years, continued: “I decided to make as many poppies as I could for my ships company to raise money for the RBL – 233 in all.”

Petty Officer Andy Kirkaldy with the poppies he made from shell casings

Plymstock company launches e-commerce site A Plymstock company specialising in vehicle and marine heating and cooling equipment has launched a new e-commerce website

The new website launched by Espar Ltd, based in Breakwater Road, will enable online sales of genuine Eberspacher heaters and spare parts to anyone in the UK. Since opening in 2001, Espar’s focus has mainly been on wholesale, supplying trade customers across the UK and internationally. But at the start of lockdown in March, it became apparent that many commercial and domestic live-aboard customers throughout the UK were desperate to source parts or have their heaters repaired as

the unusual cold weather hit and the majority of online businesses were closed.

Espar remained open with skeleton staff throughout lockdown mainly to service and repair heaters on ambulances. With the extra pressure added onto the ambulance services with the COVID-19 outbreak, it was imperative to rapidly fix the ambulances so they could be sent back to the frontline which is why they remained open as usual.

Espar Director Tim Fleckney said: “Having this new website as an extension of the business will hopefully facilitate the sourcing of parts hard to come by for customers across the UK and our experienced staff can also assist with technical queries.”

With extensive warehouse stock and a direct

link to Eberspacher UK, Espar offers many products ready for immediate dispatch. On-site Eberspacher accredited engineers can also install, repair and service heaters as well as offer sound technical advice.

The new website features a technical library where visitors can view Eberspacher heater manuals and the parts finder section will facilitate the identification of parts needed for each type of heater with the use of exploded diagrams.

For more information visit the new website on www.eberspacherdirect.com and follow Espar on all their social media channels where up to date information on Espar’s new products and services can be found.

Plymstock Matters with Councillor Rebecca Smith I hope this finds you and your family and friends well. We are certainly living through unprecedented times and I am aware how challenging it has been for many.

One of the key things I remember about the first lockdown was the way the community across Plymstock came together in a matter of days to offer support through online groups such as the Plymstock Help a Neighbour on Facebook and also through the neighbourly actions of those all across the area. Thank you to those who set up

these groups and to each and everyone one of you who supported those around you, no matter how small the gesture.

I have been really impressed at how much has been done locally. Your pride in living in Plymstock is so evident. Well done! The example from the Spring and early Summer reassures me that the community in Plymstock will no doubt come together again as face a national lockdown again.

Don’t forget, anything council-related which you think I may be able to help with during this time, please drop me a line as I’m always happy and willing to

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get involved. Often things can’t change overnight, which I find as frustrating as you. But I will always be an advocate and bang the drum for issues local to Plymstock Radford. I will also be continuing to keep my social media pages up to date with the latest COVID-19 guidance and advice so do keep an eye out.

Wash Hands/ Wear a Mask/ Make Space You can get hold of me by any of the following means: Email: rebecca. smith@plymouth.gov.ukPhone: 07825 034970 Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter: @ PlymouthRebecca

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Do you look after someone who couldn’t manage without you?

This year Carers Rights day is on Thursday 26th November and the theme is ‘Know Your Rights’ Mandy Street has been a Carers’ Support Coordinator at Improving Lives Plymouth since August 2019, and the role has been a real eye opener.

“I had been looking after my Mum over the past twenty years, supporting her mental health issues, as well as holding down a job as a domiciliary care worker. It was only when I started my job with Caring for Carers that I realised that I was, in fact, a carer for Mum, too.”

Colleagues soon realised that Mandy needed the support she was giving to others, and they helped her to access it for herself.

When we look after someone we love or care about, we may not consider ourselves as a carer. Caring is something we do as parents, partners, children, sisters, brothers and friends, often without question, or the need for a label.

You could be helping with household tasks such as cleaning or cooking, administering medication, organising and transporting someone to medical appointments, providing personal care or providing emotional support.

You could be doing it once a day, a couple of times a week or all the time. There are no time limits to being a carer.

It takes time to see yourself as a carer and even longer to recognise you have certain rights. However, it’s important to know your rights in order to access support that may be essential to maintaining your own health, wellbeing and work life balance.

Carers Rights Day is the national day led by Carers UK that helps to ensure carers are aware of their rights and know where to get help and support. It also raises awareness of the needs of carers.

In Plymouth, it is estimated that there are over 30,000 unpaid carers and every day

6,000 people in the United Kingdom become carers (Carers UK), often unexpectedly.

As a result, they have no way to plan or prepare for the sudden changes to their own life – whether that be juggling their employment with caring or having to claim new benefits. At the same time, they will have to come to terms with their new caring role and navigate the health and social care system. It’s no wonder that caring can feel overwhelming, bewildering and stressful.

Thursday November 26th is Carers Rights Day and we want to help carers in our local communities find their way. Whether they are struggling with navigating a maze of health and social services, looking for places to access information, or finding they need extra support to cope with the pressures of caring, we want to empower them to find any assistance that will benefit them.

Lee Sewrey - Caring for Carers Manager said “For the last 7 years we have run an information event for Plymouth Carers to attend and get advice and support from over 50 different organisations. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions we are working differently to offer support to carers virtually. Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, we believe that it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it.”

“My journey is typical of a lot of people who care for their loved ones,” said Mandy.

“They think a carer is someone who is a full time professional, and not them. But that’s not the case; what they are doing is a proper caring role and they have rights to access support for themselves.”

The key question that Mandy and her colleagues ask people is, ‘If you were not there to help, how would they cope?’ It may be just with shopping, or with multiple roles involved in caring for a spouse with dementia – whatever the level of care, once assessed and properly registered, carers can access a whole range of support.

“In all those years, I didn’t recognise myself as a carer,” said Mandy. “And most of the people we assess say they just didn’t know where to turn for help. If they’re working, they don’t know they have rights to ask for flexible hours and unpaid leave. They may just want a weekly support group, to overcome isolation and identify with others; they may need help getting benefits sorted out. Whatever it is, we can help by starting with a simple assessment which most people find very beneficial.”

Mandy’s advice is simple: if your caring role impacts on your life at all, you should contact her team for an assessment to see what help may be available – it’s just a phone call away.

Our Virtual Carers Rights Day page can be viewed at www.improvinglivesplymouth. org.uk/carers-rights-day-2020 from Thursday 26th November 2020 where you will have access to support, advice and contact details from all of the usual organisations who attend our annual information events. To access our Carers Rights Day information pack by email or by post or to speak to a team member please call Caring for Carers on 01752 201890 to register as a carer and we will take your details to ensure you receive the information quickly.

Pat King is a full time carer for husband Stephen who developed mental health issues following a prolonged physical illness. Pat says that Caring for Carers is a lifeline for them both especially during the COVID pandemic.

Stephen was diagnosed with renal failure following a viral infection 11 years ago, and needed home dialysis until he had a kidney transplant in 2016.

“We thought that things would improve, but it wasn’t the case for us,” said Pat. “Steve was forgetting things, repeating conversations and getting angry. I have a background in care and I could see something was wrong.

“Steve’s condition worsened quite quickly.

He was a senior support worker, responsible for overseeing several community supported living houses with one or two residents and a staff team. One minute he was fine, then he just went downhill.”

Over the course of a few short years, Pat became a full time carer for Stephen. She has no breaks, no holidays and cannot leave him overnight if she wants to visit relatives.

“If you work in care, you can leave it behind at the end of the day. But like other people caring for their loved ones, I can’t just go home.”

These difficulties put a strain on their marriage and Pat sought counselling. Her doctor pointed her towards Caring for Carers, who helped her realise that she needed care and support as much as Steve.

“They’ve been amazing,” said Pat. “We were on a low income with neither of us working. They helped me apply for PIPs payments, which included a 40 page application form. They connected me to other services that can help us, they’re available to talk to and overall I just feel that I have someone supporting me now.”

Most people looking after loved ones don’t consider themselves carers, but the professional advice provided freely

by Caring for Carers helps them get the financial and other support that they are entitled to.

There’s still a long way to go for Pat and Steve, and COVID presents another level of challenges but Caring for Carers is there to support them, and many others like them.

Mandy and Pat

“It’s been good for us both,” said Pat. “They’ve given me hope that things can get better and there is help, beyond what is happening with COVID. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

www.improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk The Caring for Carers team are here to support you with understanding your rights as a carer, and to help you to navigate health and social care systems.

Get in touch by telephone on 01752 201890 email caringforcarers@improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk or text us on 07305058088

A Charity supporting people since 1907

20 December 2020

20 December 2020

@PlymChronicle

Family support is so important now...

THE

By Chris Cole, founder of Cross Rhythms Charity

Experience

We are going through another tough set of circumstances which all of us must endure to some degree or another within this new lockdown due to Coronavirus.

The tension between health and the economy seems to be a reality where, as a nation, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Without a doubt we are all experiencing what seems to be a surreal situation. It was brought home again to me in a small, but nonetheless significant way, as we had our family over on the weekend of the announcement on October 31 and worked through the circumstances of not seeing each other for a month except on Zoom, Skype or Facetime for the foreseeable future.

All of us are looking forward to December 2 with the ‘R’ rate hopefully falling to acceptable levels so that we can all enjoy a respite for Christmas and spend time together.

It has often been said that this season of goodwill can be a difficult time for many, as at times it brings home to some the lack of family support or complexities within family scenarios where relationships have broken down.

However, if Chris Cole this Coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it is our common humanity and need of each other. We are created for relationship and community and of course family.

It is in unprecedented times like these that family support is so important, and those without good support structures may need our particular care, empathy and consideration. In my experience the church does a fabulous job behind the scenes in these areas of relational support and I want to encourage everybody who feels vulnerable, especially with the challenge of mental and emotional health issues, to reach out to the church for help.

All of us are experiencing the insecurities of this pandemic, so there is no shame in

seeking help and support.

Let me encourage you with the edition of Lifelines newspaper which is being distributed with the Chronicle as a source of contact and a brilliant read in terms of individuals who have experienced the Power of True Love.

You can even listen to these stories on Cross Rhythms Community radio 96.3 FM as well.

As we read or listen to these stories of hope and transformation let us think of all those who are investing in others.

Once again, our thoughts, prayers and support are focussed on those on the front line of the NHS and staff working in ICUs and as paramedics.

As human beings they also have lives to live and although vocationally motivated like many within society, including church leadership, need to sustain themselves and their families in terms of emotional and mental health challenges and hope.

The true attributes of the genuine meaning of love are courage, self-sacrifice, selflessness and a joy that comes out of loving your neighbour as yourself.

God gives us the power to do this as He heals our broken personal identities and value through what His Son Jesus did on the cross at Easter.

Let’s hope and pray that this period of lockdown will give us all a respite for the Christmas period and that we’ll get a deeper understanding behind this annual celebration of God being born as a human being in a stable at Bethlehem.

It is not about the consumerism, but about hope and goodwill towards all. Stay close to the One Who loves you the most.

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

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PAINTERS & DECORATORS A.S. DECORATING & MAINTENANCE Specialising in full room skims/decor • Maintenance • Repair • Plastering • Flooring • Tiling • Kitchen & Bathroom fitting 16 Lympne Ave, Ernesettle, Plymouth Tel 01752 771457 Mob 07966 639129 Email: a.sdecorating@hotmail.co.uk

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PLASTERING A R PLASTERING & BUILDING From a small repair to the whole house All Internal & External Work undertaken • Plastering • Rendering • Building work • Decorating • Damp proofing • Tiling • and more Free estimates call Alex on 07904755491

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PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES MIKE JARVIS PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES All plumbing, heating and gas work undertaken • Servicing, installation and repair • Gas Safe • • No job too small • 24 hour emergency call out • VAILLANT approved installer Tel 01752 778440 Mob 07875136429

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22 December 2020

22 December 2020

@PlymChronicle

Green travel grants for local businesses Capital grants of up to £25,000 are now available to local businesses for measures that help their staff travel more sustainably to, from and whilst at work.

The grants form part of the Plymouth City Council’s Productive Plymouth Programme for sustainable transport measures. The Workplace Travel Grants Scheme is making £750,000 available to local businesses to boost productivity through investing in infrastructure that helps employees travel sustainably.

The kind of measures that could receive funding include:

• Providing secure cycle parking • Introducing pool bikes • Installing workplace shower facilities • Establishing electric vehicle charging points But the bids aren’t limited to these areas and the council is open to innovative proposals that specifically reflect how the business operates. The council can contribute a maximum of 75 per cent of the scheme costs.

Travelling sustainably means meeting business needs whilst being mindful of the impact on the environment. A sustainable approach has many local benefits including

reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality and healthier lifestyles.

Successful applicants will be supported by the council’s Plymotion at Your Workplace personalised travel planning team to help them get the maximum impact from the grant.

Applications from businesses are now open and full details are available at www. plymouth.gov.uk/workplacetravelgrants.

The closing date for applications for the 2020/21 programme is January 15 2021 and all schemes funded this year must be delivered by mid-March.

Living near greenspace linked to lower levels of smoking People are significantly less likely to smoke – and are more likely to successfully quit – if they live in green neighbourhoods, new research has found.

The study is the first to demonstrate that access to neighbourhood greenspace is linked to lower rates of current smoking, and that this is due to higher rates of smoking cessation rather than lower uptake in these areas.

Published in Social Science & Medicine, the research was led by psychologists from the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter and the University of Vienna.

Researchers used data gathered through the Health Survey for England (HSE), conducted annually on behalf of the UK Office for National Statistics, and examined the responses of more than 8,000 adults to questions about their health, where they lived and various other lifestyle factors.

Of the HSE survey’s respondents, just under one fifth (19%) described themselves as current smokers while almost half (45%) said they had regularly smoked at some point during their lives.

However, even after to taking into account other factors known to influence smoking, people living in areas with a high proportion of greenspace were 20% less likely to be current smokers than those in less green areas.

In addition, among people who had smoked at some point during their lives, those living in greener neighbourhoods were up to 12% more likely to have successfully quit smoking.

The authors suggest that improving access to greenspace may constitute an overlooked public health strategy for reducing smoking prevalence, especially given that smoking uptake and cessation are affected by stress.

Previous studies by the same team have shown that being able to see green spaces from your home is associated with reduced cravings for alcohol, cigarettes and unhealthy foods. They have also demonstrated that individuals who visit natural spaces weekly, and feel psychologically connected to them, report better physical and mental wellbeing.

Leanne Martin, from the University of Plymouth,

the lead author on all three studies, said: “This study is the first to investigate the association between neighbourhood greenspace and smoking behaviours in England. Its findings support the need to protect and invest in natural resources – in both urban and more rural communities – in order to maximise the public health benefits they may afford. If our findings are substantiated by further work, nature-based interventions could be prescribed to assist individuals attempting to give up smoking.”

Co-author Sabine Pahl, Professor of Urban

and Environmental Psychology at the University of Vienna and Honorary Professor of Applied Social Psychology at the University of Plymouth, added: “While there is now considerable evidence that natural spaces are associated with stress reduction and better well-being, this is the first study to my knowledge to show that more greenspace is also linked to a reduction in unhealthy behaviours. This is intriguing and suggests that the benefits of natural green and blue spaces may reach even further than initially thought.”

Your guide to community events in your area

In view of the current coronavirus lockdown measures we have held over the usual Community Directory listings as most if not all the events/meetings will not be taking place Your guide to community events in your area

Love in a box for orphans A small socially distanced group of Plymouth Soroptimists carefully wrapped and packed 25 shoe boxes with gifts for children in orphanages and children’s hospitals in Moldova. The aim is to bring some festive cheer to children who might otherwise not receive any presents at Christmas.The teddies and Peter Rabbit in the photograph along with many other soft toys, books and games will be given to Plymouth Barnardo’s children’s centres and the Salvation Army for distribution to local children at Christmas. Soroptimist International is an organisation which aims to support, educate, empower and enable women and girls locally, nationally and internationally. For more information about how to join us please visit www.plymsorop.org.uk or call 01752 774401.

DERRIFORD HOSPITAL INTRODUCES RESTRICTIONS AND VISIT GUIDELINES

Derriford Hospital has introduced restrictions on visiting due to the rise in the the number of COVID-19 cases in the community and in the hospital.

Visits will only be allowed in the following circumstances and PPE must be worn at all times.

General areas • Patients in the final days of life will be able to receive visitors on compassionate grounds • If the patient’s carer needs to be in attendance to support the patient for physical or mental health reasons Paediatrics areas • In paediatrics and on the neonatal unit, both parents/guardians will be permitted to visit their child together, social distancing permitted. The exception to this will be the Emergency Department where due to lack of space, only one parent/guardian can be accommodated. Social distancing will be monitored by staff. Unfortunately only one parent will be allowed into children’s theatres, due to lack of space, and sadly siblings are not able to visit at this time.

Maternity ward • One nominated individual per patient will be allocated a 2-hour time slot to see women who have given birth in our postnatal ward • Single birthing partner will be able to stay during your time on central delivery suite.

• A nominated individual is able to attend the early scan (undertaken at approximately 12 weeks gestation and also referred to as the dating or screening scan) • A nominated individual is able to attend the anomaly scan (18-20 weeks gestation) with expectant mothers. This will mean that for both routine scans, someone can attend alongside expectant Mums • A birth partner can join expectant mums when they attend for assessment because they are possibly in labour Dropping off patient property Anyone dropping off property for an inpatient, should not go to the ward, but drop any bags or items to the Hub on Level 6 of Derriford Hospital - Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm each day and during the weekend to the Parking Desk between 10am and 2pm.

The Hub is located adjacent to Warrens Bakery on level 6, and can be clearly identified as the ‘glass office’. The Parking Desk is located immediately on your right as you enter the main entrance to Derriford Hospital.

The team will place items into a secure location to keep them safe until they are collected by a member of staff from the ward, who will deliver them to the patient.

There are other guidelines covering attendance at the Emergency Department, outpatient appointments and day surgery which can be found at www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ coronavirus#Visiting

December 2020

@PlymChronicle

23

It’s 25 years of ‘Then & Now’

Historian Chris Robinson has been compiling Then & Now comparison shots for 25 years and in his latest collection he takes his readers on a more extensive tour of Plymouth and its periphery than any of its predecessors in this extremely popular series.

For the author it has been a delight to venture around Plymouth, Stonehouse, Devonport, Torpoint, Saltash, St Budeaux, Tamerton Foliot, Crownhill, Eggbuckland, Lipson, Laira, Plympton, Plymstock, Mount Batten, Jennycliff and Wembury and seek out the locations, although very few proved difficult to the man who knows the city better than most.

Chris said there’s nothing magical to the process but there is something magical about tracing the changes – playing grown up ‘spot the difference,’ recalling what was there in the past, and maybe lamenting, maybe celebrating the fact that nothing lasts forever, and that time has moved on.

In a few instances Chris has used images that he took decades ago as ‘Now’ shots, as ‘Then’ images today, although for the most part the older images date from any time between 1860 and 1980. For some comparisons the changes are more pronounced than others.

The same is also true of a companion volume, the latest in another series, this time the fourth book from local railway expert and enthusiast Bernard Mills.

His previous three Backtracking titles have focussed on lines that are for the most part, no longer with us, but in Backtracking Around Plymouth, Callington, Tavistock North and the SR Main Line to Okehampton, we’re running along lines that are still in use.

Drawing from Bernard’s own magnificent collection, and including many photographs he took himself back in the 1960s, this is an indispensible volume for all rail enthusiasts, especially those familiar with that line.

Emergency Numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance or Coastguard 999 or 112 Police general enquiries 101 Derriford Hospital 01752 202082 Electricity, Western Power Distribution 0800 678 3105 Gas, Wales & West Utilities 0800 111999 Water, South West Water 0344 3462020 Environment Agency (Emergency) 0800 807060 RSPCA 0300 1234 999

Helplines

Work underway on new ultrafast fibre broadband network in Plymouth and South West Devon Work has started on installing a new ultrafast fibre broadband network that will make it easier for key public services to connect better with residents.

Earlier this year, BT were awarded the contract to install the fibre broadband network across more than 130 buildings in Plymouth and South West Devon. Hospitals, clinics, doctors’ surgeries, schools, youth centres, libraries and council buildings will all benefit from the full fibre network.

Plymouth City Council together with NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council and Delt Shared Services Ltd secured a £2.2 million grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for the subsidised gigabit-capable connection.

BT have now begun surveying the sites ready for the installation to begin later this year. Councillor Jon Taylor was with BT recently visiting Southway Surgery, one of the locations that will benefit from the new faster internet

Bobby Brown from BT Openreach and Cllr Jon Taylor at Southway Surgery

connection. The new faster speeds will help residents and patients to access healthcare services digitally through online video consultations and health checks.

Councillor Taylor said: “Throughout the COVID pandemic, the internet has been a lifeline for many of us, enabling us to continue working, complete school work, find out information or keep in touch with family and friends. Having access to ultrafast broadband not only helps us all to keep connected,

but is vital to enable residents to access more services remotely, from video consultations with GPs to greater use of online teaching for schools.”

Dr Shelagh McCormick, Plymouth GP and chair of NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group’s western locality, said: “GP practices in the Plymouth area have been ahead of the game in pioneering the use of online and video consultations in Devon, meaning they are well placed to help local people access vital primary care services

in the current COVID-19 outbreak, and beyond. Faster internet connections at hospitals and GP practices in the city will help us develop digital health services that will improve access, make appointments more convenient and reduce waiting times for local patients.”

BT has committed to significant inward investment to the region’s communications network worth over £22 million over the next few years which will help make the region more attractive to business and create new jobs in the area. It includes developing a new 5G network and a commitment to use that technology to bring cheaper broadband to deprived areas of Plymouth.

The network will also open to the possibility for a range of new smart functions across the city.

The fibre installation programme will continue into next year. The management and oversight of the installation will be carried out by Delt Shared Services on behalf of the partnership. The team is working on a programme to ensure as little disruption on the roads in and around Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon as possible.

Blood donors urged to keep making appointments Plymouth blood donors are being urged to make and keep an appointment to donate this winter as the city’s donor centre remains open as usual.

NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing to blood donors in Plymouth and the surrounding areas to keep donating as normal if they are fit and healthy.

Plymouth Donor Centre remains open with appointments continuing as normal, and

giving blood is classed as essential travel.

Sue Knight, NHS Blood and Transplant area matron for the South West, said: “The situation with COVID-19 has led to many of our donors asking whether the Donor Centre is still open and if they can still donate. We want to be absolutely clear that we are open for business. Your blood helps save and improve lives and Government guidelines say it is okay to come in and

USEFUL NUMBERS

donate. We have lots of measures in place to keep our donors and our staff safe.”

NHS Blood and Transplant needs to build strong blood stocks this winter to help the NHS through a second wave of Covid-19 as well as seasonal pressures.

Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit blood.co.uk to book an appointment to donate. All donors are asked to make appointments or to call ahead rather than walking in.

Age UK Plymouth 01752 256020 Adoption UK 0844 848 7900 Al-Anon Family Groups 020 7403 088 Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 917 7650 Carers UK 020 7378 4999 Childline 0800 1111 Christians Against Poverty (Debt Advice) 0800 328 0006 Crossline Listening Service 0300 111 0101 Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 1671677 Devon & Cornwall Food Action 01752 651800 Disability & Information Advice Line 01302 310123 Drug Addicts Anonymous: Helpline 07818260811 Money Advice Plymouth (Debt Advice) 01752 208126 NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 8005000 National Missing Persons Helpline 0500 700700 NHS Direct 0845 4647 National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000247 Osteoporosis Support Group 075958 500314 Overeaters Anonymous 07000 784 985 Parentline Plus 0808 8002222 Relateline 0845 1304010 Samaritans 116 123 Talk to Frank 0800 776600 Shelterline 0808 8004444 Stop Hate Crime 24/7 Helpline 0800 138 1625 Stroke Helpline 0303 3033 100 West Country Landlords Assn 01752 242980

Travel

RAC Green Flag Rail Travel, national enquiries Plymouth Citybus National Express Coaches Brittany Ferries Cremyll Ferry Torpoint Ferry Tourist Information Passport Office, National Helpline

08000 828282 0800 400600 08457 484950 01752 662271 08717 818181 08705 360360 01752 822105 01752 812233 01752 266030 0870 5210410

Entertainment Theatre Royal 01752 267222 Barbican Theatre 01752 267131 Devonport Playhouse 01752 606507 Plymouth Athenaeum Theatre 01752 266079 Plymouth Pavilions 01752 936363 Plymouth Pavilions Ticket Store 03337 727727 Cineworld 03303 33444 Vue Cinema 0345 308 4620 Tourist Information 01752 306330 National Trust Saltram 01752 333500 Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery 01752 304774 Plymouth Arts Centre 01752 206114

Leisure Plymouth Life Centre 01752 606900 Brickfields Recreation Ground 01752 563320 Manadon Football Dev’ment Centre 01752 201918 Plympton Swimming Pool 0870 300 0020 Plymouth Pavilions 0845 146 1460 Megabowl, Coxside 0871 5501010 Tourist Information 01752 306330 The Beckly Centre, Plymstock 01752 484433

Weather The Met Office Weathercall

0870 9000100 0870 6004242

If you think your organisation would benefit from being listed in our Useful Numbers guide please e-mail your details to info@cornerstonevision.com or write to: Plymouth Chronicle, 28 Old Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth Tel 01752 225623

Please note that whilst the Publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of telephone numbers in this Directory, and dates in the What’s On section, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors.

24 December 2020

New look for play in city centre The new play area in Plymouth’s Old Town Street has been designed to reflect the natural environment in and around the city, but with fun in mind. Boulders formed on Bodmin Moor will be piled up for children to climb over, along with two slides and a rubber crumb surface to help with safer landings.

There’s a curved seat for parents to enjoy watching children at play and a small performance space is also planned.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance and City Centre champion said: “We want families to enjoy coming to the city centre. We’re refreshing its look to keep people coming back time and time again.

The new play area is about creating something children can clamber over, to use their imagination on and to be strong enough to withstand whatever the weather and being in a city centre throws at it. You can’t get more robust than granite that has been with us since the Ice Age.” He continued: “We are constantly investing in the city centre and want it to continually attract thousands of shoppers from across Devon and Cornwall as well as local people.

24 December 2020

@PlymChronicle

Artist’s impression of new look for St Andrew’s Cross

“We have a really strong offer in Plymouth, with great shops, cafes and restaurants. We’re doing what we can, the retailers are putting everything into their businesses - but we need local people to support them as much as possible. To put it bluntly, if we don’t use it, we’ll lose it.”

The transformation is a collaboration between British Land – who own Drake Circus and the block which houses House of Fraser and Debenhams – and Plymouth City Council.

British Land, has permission to create a number of smaller retail pavilions within this space to entice smaller brands. Plymouth City Council has agreed to fund to the public realm improvements and is keen to ensure the area looks as attractive as possible.

New trees and planting is being planned with the old raised planters taken out and replaced with a series of islands, complete with lush greenery and trees.

Some trees whose growth has been restricted or are not particularly healthy will be going but in their place 27 large new trees including Scots pine, silver birch, pin oak, wild cherry and lime will be planted.

As the new trees will be large, between six and eight metres high when planted, it will add shade

and extend the existing tree cover. They will be planted in deep tree pits connected to a new separate surface water system, which means they will be better irrigated using rain and flood water.

The planting will include native species such as primrose, cowslip, Lady fern, Scalymale fern and Broad Buckler fern, woodrush and campions to create a woodland edge in the heart of the city.

It will include many flowering species that will provide a vital supply of nectar for pollinators such as bees.

Contractors have been on site over the last month to create a new taxi rank on Whimple Street to replace the rank on Old Town Street, removing the current conflict between pedestrians. It means Old Town Street can also be part of the transformation to replace some of the tired and dated street planters.

Plymouth’s city centre is a key part of Resurgam, the city’s economic recovery programme. It is not just the upper end of town due a makeover.

Frankfort Gate and the West End is changing.

The old footbridge was demolished last month creating more space in Frankfort Gate, which is also getting new planters and features.

A plot overlooking nearby Colin Campbell Court has been earmarked for a new walk in health hub.

Free video consultations for 63,000 patients Thousands of Plymouth patients now have free access to remote video consultations at a number of GP surgeries across the city.

NHS patients registered with any of the Waterside Primary Care Network (PCN) GP practices in Plymouth area can download the Push Doctor app for consultations during evenings and at weekends.

It is a key move for the 63,000 patients at the following GP practices: Devonport Health Centre, Peverell Park Surgery, West Hoe Surgery, St Neots Surgery, Stoke Surgery, St Levan Surgery, Adelaide Street Surgery and Plymouth University Medical Centre.

With the COVID-19 second wave building, Push Doctor offers secure, convenient, and flexible access to NHS medical advice at the touch of a button.

Push Doctor, which enables the delivery of online consultations within the NHS, partnered with the eight practices in the area earlier this

Advertise to

over 21,000

homes in Plympton and Plymstock

year to offer video consultations to patients. The service has now been expanded to offer evening weekday appointments from 6.30pm to 8pm and weekend appointments from 8am to 8pm.

The service is vital for patients looking for convenient and COVID-safe appointments, particularly as increasing cases mean local lockdown rules are quickly changing. It will also lift the burden off local surgeries at an increasingly pressurised time by cutting waiting times, meeting patient demand for flexible appointments, and allowing GP surgeries to continue seeing patients if doctors are forced to selfisolate as a precaution, as we saw during the first wave.

A Waterside PCN representative said: “As new restrictions are being put in place across the country, the patients in Waterside PCN need not worry about accessing healthcare whenever they need it.

“Push Doctor’s service is an extension of our telephone and video consultation service which

we have all been running for some time. This has enabled us to continue to provide patients with a good service during the pandemic, and it allows our patients to receive medical advice and services in a safe and efficient manner over extended hours – evenings and weekends.”

Patients can get started with free NHS video consultations in four easy steps: • Go to www.pushdoctor.co.uk/nhs or download the free Push Doctor app on a mobile device, tablet or laptop • Create an account and select their surgery from the list • Book an appointment at a time, date and location to suit – at home, at work or on the go • At the appointment time, press the ‘start your appointment’ button and enter the virtual waiting room. A doctor will connect with the patient over a video call.

GP practices across the UK have been partnering with Push Doctor since a roll-out in September 2018. The roll-out found that over 70 per cent of patients made same day appointments and nearly 80 per cent of the video consultations did not require a follow up appointment with the surgery.

The Plympton and Plymstock Chronicle is delivered door to door every month to homes in Woodford, Plympton St Mary and St Maurice, Chaddlewood, Langage, Elburton, Plymstock, Hooe, Turnchapel, Staddiscombe, Oreston, Pomphlett and Billacombe.

The January edition of the Plymouth Chronicle in Plympton and Plymstock will be published on December 4 with a copy deadline of November 23.

The Plympton and Plymstock edition is one of four hyper local editions delivered to a total of more than

90,000 homes throughout the city.

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£100,000 in grants available for Plymouth’s voluntary sector

The Livewell Foundation, grant giving foundation arm of Livewell Southwest, has today announced £100,000 of funding available for the voluntary sector in the Plymouth and surrounding areas.

The Livewell Foundation is the charitable arm of Livewell Southwest CIC and distributes charitable funds to support services run by the social enterprise including the Mount Gould Local Care Centre, Plym Neuro Rehab Unit, Tavistock Hospital and mental health services in Plymouth.

The Foundation also enables Livewell Southwest to fulfil its community interest status by distributing funds to fantastic causes and initiatives across Plymouth and South West Devon.

This year, Livewell Southwest gifted a significant donation of £100,000 to the Livewell Foundation, which is now inviting charities, groups and third sector projects to bid for a share of the money.

Applications must be linked to meeting at least one of Livewell Foundation’s aims of: improving health and wellbeing, reducing mental and physical ill health or reducing social isolation.

Organisations or projects applying for funding must also be operating from within the following post code areas: PL1PL10 inclusive, PL16 and PL19-21 inclusive.

Applications can be for up to £10,000 with funds awarded across two tranches.

The first closing date is November 20, with funds expected to be awarded by December 23. The second closing date is 31 January 31 2021 with funds expected to be awarded by March 1 2021. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on each respective closing date.

Craig Hampton-Stone, chairman of the Livewell Foundation, said: “We are extremely grateful to Livewell Southwest for this fantastic donation and look forward to being able to offer a number of financial awards to hard working voluntary organisations in and around the Plymouth area over the coming months.

“As a Foundation, we are passionate about enabling people to live happier and healthier lives through improving health and wellbeing, preventing ill health or reducing social isolation and so we look forward to receiving applications from organisations working in line with these aims.”

For more information on how to apply, a copy of the Foundation’s grant giving guidance and online application form, visit www.livewellfoundation.org.uk or email thelivewellfoundation@gmail.com

Chronicle Plymouth

December 2020

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

Amanda Lumley, chief executive of Destination Plymouth, is appointed to top tourism role See page 17

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Plympton & Plymstock

PLEDGE to SHOP LOCAL in lockdown

- special four page supplement inside

Moor changes planned!

Moor please! This is how Plymouth’s new city centre play area is going to look - a piece of the moors, but with a slide. New images show the play area which will be created in front of the House of Fraser and Debenhams buildings for children and parents to play and relax. It will sit on one of the islands that will be appearing along Old Town Street as part of a major project to transform the upper end of the city centre.

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