The Plymouth Chronicle Central & Waterfront July 2020

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Central & Waterfront

July 2020

Superdog has been at Gables Farm Dog & Cats Home for three years - but now he has a new home See page 22

COVID UPDATE

Children in Plymouth have been going to great lengths to raise funds for charity See pages 12 and 13

See inside for news and information from Plymouth City Council Pages 2 to 6

ALSO INSIDE: • Dial the Experts • Cross Rhythms • Community Job Experience Shop • Useful numbers

Cremyll Ferry is back!

The popular Cremyll Ferry, operated by Plymouth Boat Trips, returned to service on June 16 – albeit with a reduced timetable and restricted passenger numbers – but the waterborne link between Plymouth and South East Cornwall has been restored.

• See story on 7

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www.plymouthchristiancentre.org Online services Sundays at 10.30 PCC Kids online Sundays at 10.15 Kidzklub and youth online Visit our website, or to keep up to date with what’s going on visit our Facebook page.

Our Preschool is full for September but we still have space in our baby and toddler rooms.

2 July 2020

2 July 2020

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We need to keep protecting the NHS as the lockdown is eased Some real heroes have emerged in Plymouth over the last few months as we’ve all grappled with the impact of COVID-19.

Our NHS staff have been amazing, but there are also hundreds of carers out in our communities who are also doing incredible work looking after the elderly and vulnerable day after day, often in very difficult circumstances.

There are hundreds of volunteers who have come forward to offer support for our Plymouth Good Neighbours scheme, while the teams managing our Caring for Plymouth programme to ensure the elderly and vulnerable who are shielding receive the food and medicines they need have done an incredible job.

It’s a long list and we are grateful to all of them.

Unfortunately, the challenges from COVID-19 are far from over. As the Government seeks to gradually lift the lockdown restrictions, there will be a lot of risks. We need to be very cautious and must ensure we do things in a safe and considered way.

As a council we are working hard to support businesses that have been impacted badly by COVID-19 and to get the city’s economy up and running again.

We will not open services unless we are satisfied it can be done safely and that all the right measures are in place first. For example, we are ensuring there are safety measures in place

as we open up the city centre.

Schools did an incredible job in carrying out risk assessments and preparing classrooms before welcoming back Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils at the beginning of June.

As more lockdown restrictions are lifted we must all be careful we don’t undo all the good work so far.

We all need to follow the guidance on safe distancing, staying at home as much as possible, washing our hands and wearing a face covering when in enclosed public spaces or on public transport.

Please continue to stay safe, protect yourselves and your friends and family and support the NHS.

Councillor Tudor Evans Leader of Plymouth City Council

Safety measures in place as city centre opens Signs to remind shoppers to keep their distance, spots on the ground and posters with tips to stay safe are some of the changes shoppers will see as they gradually return to Plymouth’s city centre and the Barbican.

The Council is working with the City Centre Company, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, transport operators and businesses on steps to make people feel as safe as possible as the city begins to reopen.

City Centre Manager Steve Hughes said: “We are lucky in Plymouth as our city centre is very spacious, with plenty of room for shoppers to walk.

“We are very mindful that people are

worried. We’ve looked at every aspect of the city centre to see what changes we can make so people feel confident that they are safe.”

Big changes have been made in the

city centre car parks, with the end of cash payments.

Machines in the city’s multi-storeys will take credit or debit card only, while in other car parks and on street people will

be able to pay by RingGo. Other measures in multi-storey car parks include safe distancing markers around pay facilities, clear directions and separate staircases designated up and down to help stop people getting too close.

Only people from the same household will be able to share lifts and there’s an enhanced cleaning regime, with particular attention paid to areas people may touch such as pay machines and doors.

The main Armada Way toilets are closed but the single cubicle toilets near the Sundial are open and are subject to an enhanced cleansing regime.

The toilets opposite the Tourist Information Centre on the Barbican are also open. Toilets are also open at Coypool Park and Ride, Devils Point, Richmond Walk, Southway Drive, West Hoe Park (temporary toilets) and Whitleigh Green. The street cleansing team will be paying particular attention to bins and seats and the wooden play area figures have been removed. Drake Circus is expecting more shops open from 15 June and Plymouth Market is also planning to reopen its doors then.

For the latest on which shops are open visit www.citycentrebid.co.uk

Car parking goes cash-free to help people keep safe Parking in Plymouth’s car parks and on-street bays is being made cash-free as part of a package of measures to help people stay safe.

Parking charges in the Council’s city centre car parks have been reintroduced but payment machines will no longer accept cash, to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Instead people will have to pay by credit or debit card.

Plans are now underway for all the council’s parking machines, including on-street, to be completely cash-free by the end of Summer. Instead all customers will be asked to pay

by RingGo – via the mobile phone app, website or by phone – although the Council is also looking at other contactless payment systems as well.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic

Planning and Infrastructure, said: “We want to minimise the need for people to touch payment machines wherever possible as this helps to protect them, other customers and staff.

“With RingGo, you can pay for your parking by phone or even before you leave home and there is no ticket to display. If you do need to use a payment machine we would advise carrying hand sanitiser and cleaning your hands before and after.”

All Council-owned pay and display car parks except Meavy Way (long stay), William Prance Road (Derriford for commuters) and Broadway (long stay) have debit and credit card payment options. These will be upgraded as a priority over the coming weeks.

To download the RingGo app visit www.myringgo.co.uk or call 01752 683977

Chelson Meadow is now accepting most waste Chelson Meadow recycling centre is now accepting all waste except soil and rubble, cardboard and ‘bring-bank’ (recycling bank) materials.

The Council has been reintroducing services in phases to help manage demand and minimise traffic on the surrounding roads, as well as ensure the safety of customers and staff.

Government advice is still that you should only travel to recycling centres if you cannot store your

waste without it risking injury or harm to health – so people should only visit if they really need to.

Traffic restrictions have now been lifted but marshals are continuing to use the ‘stacking’ system outside the site to control queues when they build up.

There is still a limit of two adults per car but children are now allowed (although they must stay inside the car at all times, as was the case previously).

All other restrictions still apply. Vans and trailers will be allowed onto the site as soon as possible – further details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Please check all the information before setting out and be prepared for long waiting times. The centre is open seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm.

Visit plymouth.gov.uk/recyclingcentres for more details.

July 2020

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The challenge of making it safe More leisure activities for children to return to school open but play areas remain closed

By Judith Harwood Plymouth City Council’s Service Director for Education, Participation and Skills At the beginning of June, many children in reception, year one and year six returned to school for the first time since March.

Practically and logistically, helping this to happen safely has been a big challenge.

When schools closed in March, we helped schools to put things in place quite quickly but bringing some year groups back to school is not as simple.

Most of Plymouth’s primary schools are now open to the designated year groups.

We have not prescribed when this should be done as the safety of pupils and staff has been the first priority.

We will be taking a similar approach when secondary schools begin to open to year 10 and 12 students from the middle of June.

The Government has now announced that it is not going ahead with its plan for all primary pupils to return to school this term due to the difficulties of doing this.

What are schools doing to make it safe?

Every school in the city carried out thorough risk assessments before they allowed pupils to return.

Together with other experts in health and safety, we looked at how many pupils could return safely, how many staff were available and what needs to be in place to continue providing educare for keyworker and vulnerable children.

There are clear guidelines about this that schools must follow. There is extra cleaning, children only mix with a small number of

All Council-run parks in Plymouth are open, though play areas remain closed in line with current Government instructions.

children in a group that is kept as stable as possible and social distancing is in place.

Do children have to go to school?

Some parents have chosen not to send their children back to school.

We are clear that attendance is voluntary at this stage and parents will not be fined if they choose not to send their children back if they are not comfortable with the measures in place.

We are encouraging schools to continue their home learning programmes for children who are not physically attending lessons.

Are some schools running part time?

Each school is different. They vary in physical size, the number of children and in

their available staffing levels so a one-sizefits-all is not the right approach.

This means that schools cannot take every child back full time in some cases.

For example, social distancing means that schools cannot fit more than 10 to 15 children into a class when once your child was in a class of 25 to 30 in one room. Schools now need twice the space. It is not physically possible to accommodate all children.

If you have questions about how your child’s school will be dealing with reopening, please contact them directly.

If you’ve got a query about how the Council is supporting schools you can contact us at childrensservicesresponse@plymouth.gov.uk.

You can meet with up to six people from other households in parks as long as you stay at least two metres apart.

Please keep dog on leads to help maintain social distancing and use bins to avoid littering. They are emptied regularly but if they are full, take your rubbish home with you.

Council-run tennis courts are also open. Courts at Devonport Park, Tothill Park and Hartley Park are available to use each day.

The new courts at Central Park can be booked using the usual pay and play facility.

For the full guidance on using Council tennis courts and to book online, please visit: bit.ly/plymtennis Central Park Skate Park has also reopened. If you are using the park please ensure you follow social distancing guidance.

Bowling greens remain closed for now but we are reviewing how we might be able to open them safely.

For the latest information visit the City Council website: www.plymouth.gov.uk

How Plymouth will honour the victims of the slave trade

There is currently a huge amount of interest in the issue of how cities such as Plymouth recognise the role that notable figures in their histories played in the slave trade.

A petition has been raised calling for the square in Plymouth named after Sir John Hawkins to be changed due to his role in the trade.

Some also feel that the statue of Sir Francis Drake on The Hoe should be removed.

Council Leader Tudor Evans has set out how the Council is acknowledging the role some of the most famous names in the city’s history had in the slave trade.

He says it has already started renaming Sir John Hawkins Square due to his prominent role in the start of the trade.

A memorial to the victims of the slave trade will also be created in the Peace Garden on The Hoe. A narrative will be also be placed near the statue of Drake on the Hoe acknowledging his involvement in slave trading. There are no plans to move the statue.

This is the full statement on the issue by Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of the Council: “I would like to start by saying our thoughts are with the family and friends of George Floyd. As a Council we have already signalled that we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and everyone who continues to challenge racism, discrimination and inequality.

“As a gesture of Plymouth’s support we lit

some of our landmarks in purple over the weekend.

“This terrible event in the US illustrates how deeply discrimination and oppression – both past and present – are felt and it has highlighted once again that Plymouth needs to continue to acknowledge some aspects of its own past.

“We have an incredible maritime history are we very proud of this heritage but we also recognise that the way in which the stories of those seafarers has been told over the centuries has until recent years, downplayed the role that Elizabethan sailors such as Sir John Hawkins played in the slave trade.

“We cannot change history and nor do we seek to but we can use it as a reminder of the atrocities of the past and as a way of remembering the victims of slavery and oppression.

“We recognise our responsibility for ensuring we condemn the role these figures played in this awful trade and how offensive many people find what they see as their glorification.

“The Box, which will open later this year, will tell a much fuller story about our city’s seafaring history and will fully acknowledge the terrible role that the likes of Sir John Hawkins played in the slave trade.

“We fully understand the feelings of those who find the naming of a square created in the early 1980s after Hawkins offensive and we have listened and started the process of renaming the square.

“We also think it is important to acknowledge and commemorate the victims

of the slave trade with a new memorial to those who lost their lives and liberty. We will put this in the Peace Garden on The Hoe. “We will also aim to ensure that where possible existing monuments such as the listed statue of Sir Francis Drake on The Hoe are accompanied by a narrative referring to

their role in the slave trade.

“While we acknowledge this terrible side to our city’s history, we also need to remember that Plymouth played an important role in the eventual abolition of the slave trade and that it also has a long and proud history of welcoming oppressed communities.”

4 July 2020

4 July 2020

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Smeaton’s Tower shines brightly after makeover Plymouth’s iconic Smeaton’s Tower is once again looking glorious following a makeover.

The last of the scaffolding has been dismantled and contractors have finished the painting project that took place over the winter.

And what a winter it was. The contractors not only had to deal with major storms, the COVID-19 lockdown meant restrictions on when the team could work.

The project included internal work such as painting all handrails, sealing the windows in the lantern and redecorating.

The tower currently remains closed to visitors due to COVID-19 but we can all enjoy it in its freshlypainted glory.

Update on birth, death and marriage registrations Birth Registrations

There are nearly 1,000 babies born in Plymouth just before and during lockdown that now need to be registered.

By law they can only be registered at a faceto-face appointment, which is why the City Council has not been able to register them during the lockdown.

It is planning to reopen appointments for birth registrations soon so look out for updates.

It will invite parents to make an appointment in order of birth date.

Marriages

Photo by Jay Stone

Plans unveiled for a bumper year of events in Plymouth in 2021 Plymouth is to go large with an impressive event programme in 2021 as the city bounces back from the impact of COVID-19.

A brilliant line-up including signature Mayflower 400 commemoration and city events will re-energise Plymouth next year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, major events planned for the city this summer have been cancelled, including the British Firework Championships, the Ocean City Blues ‘n’ Jazz Festival and Mayflower Week.

A new programme that incorporates already confirmed activity is now taking shape.

The Mayflower 400 commemorations will run into next year, with an event for digital viewing on 16 September 2020 marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower ship sailing. More information about this will be announced in due course.

The major public commemoration will now take place in Summer 2021

as part of the Mayflower International Festival including: • Mayflower Four Nations Ceremony • Mayflower Military Muster • Rehabilitation Triathlon hosted by the Royal Marines The British Firework Championships will return to Plymouth next August.

Councillor Pete Smith, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “We are incredibly disappointed that so many major events planned for summer 2020 are not possible, but the changes we have made to the programme mean that Plymouth will still be able to maximise the opportunities offered by

Mayflower 400 as part of Resurgam, the city’s economic recovery plan.

“We’re now looking forward to 2021 which is going to be a fantastic year for our city with loads for everyone to enjoy, including the British Firework Championships, the Mayflower International Festival and a great line-up of cultural happenings.”

Mayflower Community Sparks, a programme funding grass-roots community, arts and cultural activity in Plymouth will continue.

Many of the community events will be held during the Mayflower 400 programme through to summer 2021, with some going ahead early with additional social distancing measures in place.

For all the latest information about events in Plymouth, see visitplymouth.co.uk and for more information about Mayflower 400, visit mayflower400uk.org/plymouth.

The City Council is planning to make small weddings available at its Register Office as soon as possible after receiving the necessary guidance from the Government.

It is currently working to make its offices COVID-19 safe so couples can come in to give their notice of marriage, which by law also needs to be done face-to-face with registration officers.

It is warning couples to be careful before making their notice of marriage as venues cannot currently guarantee they will definitely be open on the date you agree with them.

Death registrations

Emergency legislation has meant the City Council has been able to register deaths over the phone throughout the lockdown period.

It says customers have given positive feedback about this method which is safer for them and for staff, so it is continuing to offer this service over the phone.

1st Stop Shop

The Council’s shop in New George Street remains closed to prevent putting customers at any unnecessary risk.

The Council has been able to provide all the services in other ways, without customers needing to come into contact with lots of other people.

For the latest information visit the City Council’s website at: www.plymouth.gov.uk

July 2020

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Historic Barbican pier is now ship-shape for Mayflower 400 The historic West Pier on The Barbican has had a makeover with new bins, bollards and seats now in place.

The Council wanted to make sure the pier, which is home to the Mayflower Steps and the newly-restored portico, was looking its best for the Mayflower 400 commemorations.

While the COVID-19 lockdown has meant some of the Mayflower 400 programme has been put on hold, contractors were able to get on with work.

The pier has been pressure-washed and access for people with wheelchairs and parents with prams has been improved by raising a section of cobbles slightly to pavement level and re-grouting them to make the surface more level.

A path has also been installed across the cobbles leading to the nearby toilets opposite the tourist information centre, again to make it easier for people in wheelchairs or people pushing prams to use them.

Madeira Road has been made one-way only. A new row of bollards at the head of the pier has been installed. Removing the turning area will create a safer and larger pedestrian space near the Mayflower Steps.

Radical plan to revitalise Plymouth’s city centre Two of the city’s most important buildings could play starring roles in a radical plan to get more feet on the ground, more exciting and creative events and more places for people to live in the city centre.

Urban Splash, Plymouth City Council and the University of Plymouth have unveiled plans as part of the city’s Resurgam recovery project that could rebuild confidence and create a buzz that will bring more people in, for more reasons and for much longer.

The scheme is part of the city’s Future High Street Fund pitch which is due to be submitted to Government at the end of the month and its key themes are to: • Restore the Civic Centre as a symbol of renewed confidence • Introduce high impact uses with economic and social value • Build a high profile events economy around the refurbished Guildhall and Civic Centre • Fill the Civic Centre with pioneering, industrious and creative people • Kick-start a local distinctive Future High Street.

City centre champion Councillor Mark Lowry said: “This is a real opportunity to change and to create something exciting and distinctive that will bring people to the city centre.

“We’ve all been saying for a long time that the High Street as we know it has gone. Sadly the pandemic has made this even more the case. We needed to rethink entirely what we

Plymouth Guildhall

Architect’s impression of the Civic Centre after its major refurbishment

could do to bring large numbers of people back into the city centre and this could do the trick.

“The Civic Centre and Guildhall acted as beacons of our post-war response. Now they will shine as beacons of our post-COVID response. They are both important landmarks in every respect.”

Under the plan the Civic Centre restoration would not only involve 144 private residential apartments within the tower, it would also have conference facilities as well as a

creative hub space for entrepreneurs to work and trade.

Across the Civic Square, the Grade II listed Plymouth Guildhall could be upgraded for events and conferences. Between the two buildings more people would be attracted into the city bringing considerable spending power to shops, bars and hotels but also plans for supporting virtual technology would connect city events internationally as well as enhancing sustainability.

City Centre Manager Steve Hughes said:

“Footfall has fallen by 21 per cent in the last five years, retailers are facing an uphill struggle, more of the same isn’t the answer.

We need to think differently to get more people here.”

The Future High Street bid is not just about transforming buildings but about enticing people to live, work and socialise in the city centre and to make it an attractive location.

Having more people living, working and visiting this part of the city would act as a catalyst for new business, opening up the possibility of neighbourhood bars, restaurants and bakeries, for instance.

Plymouth has been diversifying its economic base for years. The conference and events market is a key growth sector which is generating visitors and their spending power and increasing the role of the arts and creative industries.

Bid to encourage more cycling

Cyclists will soon benefit from a temporary segregated link from the railway station to a new pop-up cycle parking facility outside the Guildhall, if a bid to the Department for Transport is successful.

The Council has bid for £249,000 from the Emergency Active Travel Fund for measures to support walking and cycling as part of its COVID-19 recovery plans.

As lockdown eases the Armada Way scheme will help reduce potential conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and support a vibrant city centre, with active travel at its heart.

The scheme will be complemented by other measures including increased cycle parking at Milehouse park and ride, new ‘20mph when lights flash’ signs outside schools, the removal of unnecessary barriers on footpaths and cycle ways and steps to tackle parking in cycle lanes.

If successful, the Council will be able to bid for a further £995,000 for more permanent schemes.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said the Council had pulled out all the stops to

submit a compelling bid to help people start getting back to work and school on foot and by bike. The bid contains a range of exciting projects that will help support Plymouth’s COVID-19 recovery.

“If approved, the measures will enhance our current walking and cycling programme, which is set to deliver more than 16km of new and improved traffic-free links on the strategic cycle network,

alongside major roads, through green spaces and on-road by April 2021,” he said.

“It will also build on the £8.95 million of investment we have secured since 2016 that has helped achieve a 56 per cent increase in cycling in Plymouth over the past seven years.”

For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/cycling/covid19

6 July 2020

6 July 2020

The NHS Test and Trace service will help protect us from a rise in COVID-19 cases Plymouth’s director of Public Health is urging people to cooperate with the NHS Test and Trace system to avoid a rise in cases in the city.

Test and Trace has been introduced as part of the Government’s measures to enable the lockdown to be gradually eased while reducing the risk of an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Dr Ruth Harrell says it is important that everyone follows the guidance, whether they show symptoms themselves, or are contacted after having been with someone who has tested positive.

She said: “If you or anyone in your household shows any of the symptoms of coronavirus it is very important that you book a test using the NHS website or by calling 119.

“It is also important that if the Track and Trace service contacts you

to say you have been with someone who has tested positive and you need to self-isolate, that you do this.

“If people don’t do what they are asked to, there is a real risk that we will see a rise in cases.

“While we believe that Plymouth is past the peak of the initial outbreak, we need to be very cautious and constantly vigilant.

“The virus has not gone away even though some of the lockdown lockdown restrictions are now being eased.

“If we don’t continue to carry on with social distancing, washing our hands frequently then we are likely to see more cases.

“We should also wear face coverings when in enclosed public spaces and it is now mandatory when using public transport.”

The Council has published guidance on how to make a face covering on its COVID-19 website: www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19

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Test and Trace scams warning The City Council’s Trading Standards service is advising people to be on the lookout for possible scams related to the Test and Trace service.

The NHS Test and Trace service will alert you if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.

You will be asked to log on to the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website. https://contacttracing.phe.gov.uk/ There may be attempts by unscrupulous scammers to use the same methods to obtain personal information.

Contact tracers will: • call you from 0300 013 5000 or send you text messages from ‘NHS’ • ask you to sign into the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website • ask for your full name and date of birth to confirm your identity, Contact tracers won’t: • ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087) • ask you to make any payment or to buy any product • ask for any details about your bank account • ask you to visit a website that does not belong to the government or NHS For more information visit www. friendsagainstscams.org.uk or www. citizensadvice.org.uk/ScamsAction or call 0808 250 5050

Chinese Association donates face masks for voluntary groups Plymouth City Council has taken delivery of 34,000 face masks from the Devon and Cornwall Chinese Association (DCCA).

The masks have been gifted to the Council so that they can be distributed to local organisations, voluntary groups and charities on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic who may not have the funds for such a quantity of PPE. The DCCA is a non-political, non-religious organisation that serves to enhance liaison between the Chinese community in the Westcountry and the wider world.

By raising money through donations and home-based sponsored walks, the group raised a staggering £24,000 and then used business contacts to spend some of the money on facemasks from Hong Kong.

The rest has been donated to NHS charities.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, whose cabinet responsibilities include community cohesion, was there to receive the masks when they were delivered to the Council.

Chris said: “I am so incredibly grateful for the wonderful gesture shown by the Devon and Cornwall Chinese Association.

“Despite the challenging times that we live in, the wonderful good that people from all walks have life have shown in the face of adversity has been magnificent and this is no exception.”

Shei Ling, Vice-president of the Devon and Cornwall Chinese Association said: “Our efforts and donations will never be able to repay the millions of frontline workers or make up for lives that have been lost during this unprecedented time.

“We aim to continue to spread kindness and positivity to those around us. We believe small actions will become prominent when we work together as one.”

Lynne Hodgson, Deputy Chief Executive of Age UK Plymouth, who are receiving some of the masks, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Chinese Association for their most generous donation.”

Pictured (from left): Lynne Hodgson, Deputy Chief Executive of Age UK Plymouth; Cordelia Murphy, DCCA Chief Officer; Councillor Chris Penberthy; Lin Lau, DCCA Secretary and Marin Lai, President of DCCA.

July 2020

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Cremyll Ferry returns with new rules in place The popular Cremyll Ferry, connecting Plymouth and South East Cornwall, is back in service.

Plymouth Boat Trips, which operates the ferry, announced its return from June 16, but with a reduced timetable and reduced passenger capacity.

The ferry, which has been in existence since the 11th Century and provides an important commuter connection and gateway to the Rame Peninsula, was suspended in March, due to the pandemic.

A decision was taken by Plymouth Boat Trips’ management team to stop services on March 23 and help reduce the spread of the virus.

Plymouth Boat Trips will be allocating one of its largest vessels, Plymouth Sound to the service to allow adequate social distancing on board. However, the Edgcumbe Belle will run when tides don’t allow the Plymouth Sound to dock at Admirals Hard.

Contactless payment is encouraged as is the purchase of return tickets, to reduce contact between staff and passengers.

Passengers are advised that face coverings Plymouth Boat Trips’ larger Plymouth Sound boat will be used on the Cremyll Ferry when tides permit

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Cinema’s appeal to raise funds for movie night for Plymouth’s key workers Plymouth Arts Cinema has launched a Crowdfunder appeal to raise money to treat the city’s key workers to a night at the movies.

are mandatory, and a one-way system will operate throughout the ferry.

Additional safety measures, as the ferry comes back into action, include the availability of hand sanitiser for passengers on boarding and regular cleaning between trips. Social distancing signage will be

displayed, and queues managed to ensure boarding and alighting passengers do not interact.

Passengers are reminded that while the park at Mount Edgcumbe is open, all facilities and the House remain closed. There are a limited number of public toilets available at Cremyll and there is just one toilet at Admirals Hard (Cremyll Street), which is only for people with a radar key.

Plymouth Boat Trips owner, Ben Squire said: “We surveyed customers to gather feedback and the resounding response towards us restarting the Cremyll Ferry has been very positive. We have worked closely with Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council to reintroduce the service and we’re taking every precaution to ensure that our staff and customers are safe.”

For more information www. plymouthboattrips.co.uk

The cinema, which first started screenings in 1947, aims to raise £3,600 to pay for tickets for 300 key workers.

A statement from Plymouth Arts Cinema said: “The local community is a vital part of who we are and we would love to give something back to the many, many key workers in our city who are giving their all to keep our services going during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We’re raising funds so that key workers can enjoy a trip to the cinema, to thank them for their efforts during lockdown. Donations will help bring stability to our organisation during this difficult time, and allow us to support the cultural growth of Plymouth in the long term.

“Our aim is to reopen at the end of September and celebrate with a series of much loved films - sing alongs, classics, and cult favourites, and invite 300 key workers to take an evening off and come to relax with us in front of the big screen.

“If you would have taken a trip to the cinema in the past few months,’Pay It Forward’ and donate the price of your ticket to our campaign.

Any funds raised will be invested back into the cinema.”

At the time of going to press nearly £1,000 had already been raised. To make a donation go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/cinema-tickets-forplymouths-key-workers

Welcoming you back to shop safely #ShopSafe on the high street. Stay safe, keep #Shop4Plymouth your distance and wear a face covering if you can.

“Do you think they’re going to eat all of that?”

Did you know? The average length of 4 seagulls, bill to tail, is the same as 2 metres See what measures have been put in place to keep you safe whilst shopping at visitplymouth.co.uk/shopping

8 July 2020

8 July 2020

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Plymouth Boat Trips and Voyager Marine lead the way with new green electric boat Plymouth Boat Trips and Millbrook-based Voyager Marineare are partnering with the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter, Teignbridge Propellers, MarRiUk and EV Parts UK in a ground breaking project to create Britain’s first, sea going, electric passenger vessel called e-Voyager.

The project involves the conversion of an existing 24 ft passenger boat called Mermaid from diesel power to electric power using rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Up to now Mermaid has been part of Plymouth Boat Trips’ fleet at Royal William Yard Marina and can carry up to 12 passengers.

The 60hp diesel motor and control systems will be replaced by recycled Nissan Leaf car batteries and controlled using advanced fly by wire electronics.

The new converted green boat is set to launch in July, and will trialled on Plymouth Boat Trips’ existing ferry routes, including the Cremyll Ferry, the busy commuter connection between Cornwall and Plymouth. It will not carry passengers, but will act as a test bed to establish the potential for electric powered marine passenger vessels, up to 24 metres in length.

The project is funded through the £1.4m Clean Maritime Call: a Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) initiative supported by the Department for Transport, launched to support the UK’s goal of zero emission shipping.

Voyager Marine will be the only UK boat builder to offer the complete package of design, installation and maintenance of sea going, electric vessels.

Plymouth Boat Trips’ project leader, Andy Hurley said: “We’re very excited to be leading such a

Mermaid will be converted from diesel to electric power

progressive project, to create a cleaner and more sustainable future for the industry.”

Support from the universities came via the Environmental Futures & Big Data Impact Lab, a £6.4 million project to support small businesses, and the £4m Marine Business Technology Centre, both part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Sarah Fear, Project Manager (Impact Lab) at the University of Plymouth, said: “This is a cutting edge project and the perfect opportunity to show how the university’s scientific expertise and business support can be combined with the ingenuity of a local company.”

Recycled, Nissan Leaf lithium batteries

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will be used in e-Voyager, meaning almost no maintenance and clear commercial benefits for businesses in the marine sector. The University of Plymouth’s scientists will carry out research during the build, measuring emissions including noise pollution, air pollution and fuel consumption.

Brian Lambert, a University of Exeter Research Fellow in the Marine Business Technology Centre Project, joined the consortium to shape the bid into MarRi-UK. Brian will be working with EV Parts UK to integrate and optimise the new electric power train, to maximise the environmental benefits and efficiency of the motors.

EV Parts will design the battery storage and motor installation. FBW (fly-by-wire) electronic controls will replace the existing systems and will be directly transferable to a wide range of vessels in the under 24m commercial vessel market. The motors, energy storage, control and charging systems will also be tested in a real-world environment, enabling the team to gain approval from regulatory bodies so they can be used in vessels across the sector and, eventually, carry passengers.

Brad Bunyard, managing director at EV Parts said: “We’re breaking new ground with e-Voyager and beyond the prototype we look forward to being able to provide approved solutions to meet low emission targets in the marine sector.”

Rigorous running trials will be carried out and Plymouth Boat Trips will be working closely with the University of Plymouth and Maritime Coastguard Agency to develop regulations.

Dr Richard Pemberton, lecturer in Mechanical and Marine Engineering Design at the University of Plymouth said: “From my first meeting with Plymouth Boat Trips, I was impressed with their approach to innovation. They are looking to take known technologies from the automotive and industrial sector and apply them in the marine environment.

He added: “The university’s involvement comes on many fronts, be that academic support on a technical level to assisting with funding applications, and on a personal level, I’ve been linking the project to my teaching, so that the engineers we’re training for tomorrow, are aware of new technologies and where the sector is moving.”

July 2020

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Commissions for local artists on State of Emergency pandemic project Nearly 30 artists from Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall have been selected by The Box for its ‘State of Emergency’ contemporary art micro-commissions.

Applicants were asked to consider how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the notion of freedom and invited to submit proposals for new work in response to this. Proposals could be based around any medium or discipline and The Box received over 200 applications from the South West region. Eight of the successful projects are from artists and collectives based in Plymouth. They are Beyond Face (Helen Bovey, Alix Harris, Grace Adenubi, Shaday Barrowes and Emily Rossette), Crab and Bee (Helen Billinghurst and Phil Smith), Benjamin Dunks, Allister Gall, Molly Erin McCarthy, Natalie Raven, Katie Richardson and Carly Seller.

They are joined by Francesco Bentivegna, Natasha Carthew, Robert Darch, Leo Geyer and Naomi Hart, who are all based in Exeter, alongside Honiton’s Ellen Moran, Okehampton’s Still Moving Collective (Laura Hopes, Leonie Hampton and Martin Hampton) and Cornwall’s Richard Cook, Thomas Duggan, Pete Geall, Mary Loveday (working with Plymouth-based Jason Hirons) and Becky Tyrrell.

Many of the artists are multidisciplinary and their responses include dance, poetry, sound, video, photography and painting.

They will each receive £500 to realise their commissions and the outcomes will be shared on The Box’s digital channels throughout the summer.

The ‘State of Emergency’ commissions are part of The Box’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak, which has also included a virtual weekend on what should have been its launch date, curriculum challenges for children who are being home schooled, a virtual training programme for volunteers and a series of music commissions linked to its ‘Plymouth After Dark’ community engagement project.

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10 July 2020

10 July 2020

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Sherford Business Park gets the go-ahead and it will provide a big employment boost Outline planning consent has been granted for the new Sherford Business Park alongside the A38 at Deep Lane - and it is set to create a big employment boost in the area.

The Park will provide up to 500,000 square feet of flexible space for businesses and is already attracting interest. Plans for a hotel, restaurants, pub and leisure complex are also included on the site.

It will also features a dedicated park and ride facility, providing public transport links for the local workforce, customers, and visitors.

It is poised to become one of the South West’s most innovative business hubs, with the capacity to support digital and high-tech businesses.

It is expected businesses in the industrial, maritime, manufacturing, technology, advanced engineering, and distribution industries will be particularly attracted to the state-of-the-art development, as well as those looking for premium offices, leisure and recreation facilities.

Businesses will be able to create scalable and flexible workspaces to suit their needs.

The site covers 33-acres of privately owned land and is part of the region’s largest mixed-use community of Sherford, the award-winning new town being brought to life by the Sherford Consortium; a partnership between Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Partnerships, part of the Vistry Group – selling homes through the group’s housebuilding brands Linden Homes and Bovis Homes.

‘The Box on The Box’ - care home residents are taken on a trip down memory lane The Box has launched a free live

streaming service for care homes in and around Plymouth.

‘The Box on The Box’ takes place from 2pm to 3pm each Wednesday and features a weekly reminiscence session with live commentary from a curator or learning officer alongside film footage from the archives.

The Box piloted the scheme during May and has had a fantastic response from the care homes that have taken part so far.

Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “Care homes have really felt the impact of COVID-19, and during a time of great concern for so many people this is an amazing way to connect with them and provide a great opportunity to take a trip down memory lane. Reminiscing can be such a beneficial and sociable experience.

“I’m sure the wonderful archive film footage we have in the city’s collections will spark some interesting conversations and remind people of happy times.”

The reminiscence sessions have a different theme each week and explore topics such as shopping and fashion, local factories and industry, the post-war period and nights out.

Care homes can tune in via laptops, tablets or smart screen TVs with residents watching separately on individual devices or together on one larger screen.

Any homes which would like to be involved can sign up by sending an email to theboxlearning@plymouth.gov.uk with the name of their home and an idea of how many residents will be watching. They’ll then receive a weekly email from The Box containing a link to the live stream.

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

The site of the new Sherford Business Park alongside the A38 with Deep Lane at the top right of the image

Represented by two commercial agents, JLL and Monk & Partners, Sherford Business Park Plymouth will take an occupier-focused approach to design and development, partnering with businesses to progress plans. The skilled team behind the project can provide support through every stage of the process, all achievable within 12 months, subject to planning.

The location also offers businesses the opportunity to access a large, skilled local

workforce of over 205,000 people of working age within 45 minutes of Sherford Business Park – as well as potentially providing homes for those looking to relocate.

Sherford will eventually have 5,500 homes in three distinct neighbourhoods, four schools, community and leisure facilities, shops, businesses, abundant green space and more.

Ian Pugsley, technical director at Taylor Wimpey – part of the Sherford Consortium –

said: “We are pleased to announce the arrival of Sherford Business Park and expect it to be a popular addition to the region’s business landscape, as well as being positive news for the local economy.

“With excellent transport connections, planning consent granted, flexible space, and a host of other benefits, it is going to be a highly attractive location for businesses.

“We are confident that, with a skilled and driven team behind it and enquiries already coming in, that Sherford Business Park has an exciting future ahead.

“It is part of an exceptional development; the community of Sherford is growing and thriving. Bringing businesses and industry to the town will only make this mixeduse development even more vibrant and successful.”

John Slade, Monk & Partners, said: “We are delighted to have this instruction for this prestigious project and look forward to seeing Sherford Business Park Plymouth grow. This is an outstanding commercial development and it speaks volumes about its attributes that we are already in advanced discussions with prospective occupiers.”

Tim Western, director at JLL, said: “Plymouth and the surrounding area has been calling for a new business park opportunity. Sherford Business Park Plymouth has exceptional accessibility to the local and regional road network benefitting future occupiers. We are excited to be part of the team that will deliver high-quality, commercial properties providing jobs and economic growth.”

£50,000 fund to support Plymouth communities Wales & West Utilities Director of Business Services, Mark Oliver, pictured with members of the company’s engineering team at the launch of the fund

Wales & West Utilities has launched a £50,000 community fund and is encouraging Plymouth charities and organisation affected by the coronavirus pandemic to apply for support.

The Safe and Warm Fund has been established in response to the crisis and will help communities affected by the outbreak with essential funding. The gas emergency and pipeline service has been working hard throughout the pandemic to make sure people are kept safe and warm in their homes and has opened the fund to help others do the same.Wales & West Utilities chief executive, Graham Edwards, said: “I’m delighted to launch the Safe and Warm Fund. This £50,000 will help directly support

organisations working in communities, targeting support at those who need it most.

“We’re now encouraging organisations across the area – from food banks to energy efficiency organisations, domestic abuse charities to community transport. Put simply, we want to support those on the frontline and help the most vulnerable people in the community stay safe and warm.”

Organisations and charities can apply for funding between £500 and £5,000. Applicants are encouraged to give details about how the funding will help extend its support to those most in need.

Graham continued: “One of the most optimistic elements of this pandemic has been seeing the way in which communities have pulled together to support one another

and we are hoping that this money will go some way to extending that support.”

Applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of representatives from Wales & West Utilities.

For more information on the fund go to www.wwutilities.co.uk/SafeandWarm. Closing date for applications is July 6.

Wales & West Utilities is also urging people who have received a letter from the NHS advising them to take additional measures to ‘shield’ themselves from Covid19 to consider joining the Priority Service Register (PSR).

Joining it allows energy and utility companie, to look after people who need extra support.

It’s free, and to find out more visit www. wwutilities.co.uk/priority

July 2020

@PlymChronicle

11

Praise for Amazon’s breakfast deliveries Healthcare staff The team at Amazon’s Plymouth delivery station in Roborough are helping children receive free breakfasts at home as some families experience food shortages during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Three quarters of a million healthy breakfasts are set for delivery to doorsteps of thousands of children across the UK, supported by the team at Amazon in Plymouth as part of an expanded partnership with Magic Breakfast.

Breakfast packs containing food supplies from Arla, Heinz, Kellogg’s, Morrisons, New York Bakery Co and Quaker Oats UK will be delivered for free directly to children’s homes by Amazon New figures released by the Food Foundation have highlighted the growing issue of child hunger during COVID-19.

Parcels of healthy breakfast food delivered by the local Amazon Delivery Station team have been arriving on the doorsteps of children across the UK,

thanks to an expanded partnership between Magic Breakfast and Amazon.

The children receiving these meals can normally have a free breakfast at school, provided by Magic Breakfast, to give them the fuel they need for their morning lessons. Since schools closed due to COVID-19, however, the charity has adapted

its delivery model, with help from Amazon, to ensure that children from its partner schools can continue to enjoy their Magic Breakfast at home.

To help Magic Breakfast reach more children at risk of hunger under lockdown, Amazon, a long-standing supporter of Magic Breakfast, has stepped in to help with its warehousing and logistics expertise. Since the partnership began in 2016, Amazon has helped Magic Breakfast provide over 1.5 million breakfasts to thousands of children across the UK. Alex Cunningham, CEO of Magic Breakfast, said: “Amazon staff have bent over backwards to help the children and schools we support. In a time when hunger is a reality faced by many, Amazon is enabling Magic Breakfast to reach thousands of vulnerable children with a healthy breakfast children who can no longer access breakfast provision at school and whose families may be finding it difficult to provide food under lockdown.

“A very big thank you to Amazon.”

New Barbican pontoon will open up city for boat owners A new dinghy pontoon has been installed at Commercial Wharf on the Barbican to open up access to the Barbican and city centre from the water.

Showing their support for Mayflower 400, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners – with support from Plymouth City Council - have responded to feedback from stakeholders and leisure users and installed the pontoon as a gift to the city. It opens up the city to visiting leisure yachts as well as providing direct access to the Barbican for local leisure users who make use of the waters within the Cattewater. The pontoon is suitable for vessels up to four metres in length.

When COVID -19 guidelines permit, visitors to Plymouth will be able to book one of the newly installed visitor moorings to the north of Mount Batten Breakwater, and tender ashore to the dinghy pontoon to visit the historic waterfront and its attractions, shop and make use of the many local restaurants and amenities.

Cattewater Habour Master, Captain Richard Allan said: “We are delighted to be able to provide the city with this new seasonal pontoon. We believe it enhances the opportunities for the local community to make the most of the Cattewater Harbour,

and the Plymouth Sound. It also provides an option for visiting yachts to easily access the city centre if they choose a mooring rather than a marina.”

“We take our historic role in the city very seriously and are pleased to be able to make another contribution to the Mayflower 400 legacy and the city of Plymouth. It made

sense to us to enable easier access from the water for resident water users and visitors alike as our way of marking this important celebration, as well as helping local businesses who are reopening after lockdown” “We look forward to welcoming visitors to the pontoon in the future.”

Vital support for young carers during lockdown Vulnerable young people across Plymouth are being supported by a special partnership to help them cope during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Almost 300 young carers are being helped by a multi-agency ‘hub’ offering a citywide approach to maintaining contact with isolated families.

A young carer is a person under the age of 18 who provides emotional or physical care to another person – often a parent – including tasks such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and looking after their siblings.

Managed by children’s charity Barnardo’s, the ‘Young Carers Support Hub’ includes Plymouth City Council, Hamaoz House, Plymouth Information, Advice and Support for SEND (PIAS) and CSW Group.

Working together, they provide intensive support, ‘virtual’ weekly groups, health and wellbeing packs and access to mobile devices so that young people can keep in touch with professionals and their friends.

Barnardo’s Children’s Services manager Nigel Cox said: “Some children aren’t able to enjoy the simple things many other children take for granted, because they are caring for someone in their family who is ill or disabled.

“Many struggle and become isolated, with no relief from the pressures at home, and now the pandemic has significantly increased this isolation.

“In response, the hub allows different partners to offer different packages of support while sharing information on which families are most in need of help.

“For instance, Barnardo’s has been using its own voluntary funds to pay for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to allow isolated young people to maintain contact with our staff via ‘virtual’ one-to-one and groupwork sessions, as well as to keep in touch with their friends.

“Staff have also created health and wellbeing packs with plenty of activities to keep young people occupied while they’re stuck at home.

“Council youth workers have been creating and delivering arts and crafts activities, as well as baking packages to offer some light relief from their isolation and give the young people something to look forward to.

“Schools are also offering some wonderful support, including a recent online VE Day party and picnic, and cards with photos of panto visits and small gifts.

“Together, these important gestures act as a lifeline to remind young carers and their families that they’re not alone, and help is available if needed.”

Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is Councillor Jemima Laing: “I am so pleased to see that this important work with young people and families in our city is continuing during the pandemic - it is great that we are continuing to engage with so many through a variety of methods and initiatives.”

Call 01752 668000 or email gateway@plymouth. gov.uk

in Plymouth to receive COVID antibody tests

Healthcare staff in Plymouth and the rest of Devon and Cornwall will be among the first in the South West to be tested to see if they have had COVID-19.

The Peninsula Pathology Network, a partnership of the region’s NHS clinical commissioning groups and trusts, is now using NHS laboratories to provide antibody tests, which tell whether someone has had the virus that causes COVID-19 in the past, by analysing a blood sample.

The antibody testing programme will provide information on the prevalence of COVID-19 in the South West to help better understand how the disease spreads.

It will work alongside the swab testing programme, which confirms whether or not someone currently has the virus. It is important to note that the science is currently uncertain and a Ann James positive test result for antibodies only means than an individual has had COVID-19.

There is currently no evidence to show that this offers the person protective immunity and that they would avoid future reinfection.

Five hospitals in Devon and Cornwall – including Derriford Hospital – are now focussing on offering tests to healthcare staff across the two counties in coming weeks.

Testing for a limited number of patients has also begun, with more due to be tested as laboratory capacity increases.Around 1,000 tests are currently being carried out each day by the network, but it is hoped that up to 4,000 will take place every day across the peninsula by the end of June.

As testing rolls out more widely to general population and community in the future, the science around the use of the test will become further developed.

Ann James, chief executive officer of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and chair of the Peninsula Pathology Network, said: “This is another example of NHS partners across the peninsula working well together and this type of testing will begin to tell us how many people have had the virus in a given area.

“We know that not everyone who has had the virus was swabbed when they were symptomatic, so this data will be useful in shaping the future management of the pandemic.”

Across the five hospitals, the Peninsula Pathology Network has access to the two main types of antibody test, provided

by Roche and Abbott, that have been approved by the Government and validated

by Public Health England.

Test results show either as positive, showing you have the antibodies and therefore have had the virus, or negative, which shows the opposite.

Initially, at each acute hospital in Devon and Cornwall, local arrangements will be in place for staff to give a blood sample, which may involve drop-in sessions or drivethrough opportunities.

12 July 2020

12 July 2020

@PlymChronicle

Saluting Plymouth’s fant

Archie’s 100 miles in a month for NHS charity

Six-year-old Archie Spooner from Plymstock decided to run 100 miles in a month to raise funds for NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients.

His original target of £100 was reached in just 24 hours, so Archie and his parents Ashley and Lindsay decided to increase the target and that was soon beaten too.

Archie, who attends Sherford Vale School, enjoys running at the best of times, so he was more than happy to run the 100 miles which was equivalent to running from Plymouth to Bristol Airport.

Archie’s dad Ashley, who is a keen runner himself, said: “He wanted to know more about COVID and what was happening with the pandemic, so I told him all about it and how devastating it was for not only patients but also for all the NHS workers.

“He said he wanted to do something to help and decided that running every day was an ideal way of showing his support.”

Archie, accompanied either by his dad or

Uphill and down dale...Archie on his running challenge Taylor celebrating with his dad Richard, mum Stacey and sister Freya

Thirsty work...Archie takes a break from running to take on some liquid refreshment

mum kept up the challenge through April and May, achieving his goal on May 28 - the day after being interviewed on BBC Radio Devon about his exploits.

“We covered a lot of the miles running along the coast path,” said Ashley, “even getting as far as Mothercombe on one run.

Archie was so committed to the cause that he ran just over six miles on his first run to The

Taylor-made way of saying thank you to all the NHS keyworkers An eight-year-old boy from Plympton has run 50 miles and raised over £1,000 in the process for Plymouth Hospitals Charity.

Young Taylor Wyatt was seven years old when he decided he wanted to do something to say thank you to the NHS by raising money. He started his epic fund raiser at the end of April and reached his goal on May 28, having celebrated his eighth birthday in the process.

Taylor’s dad Richard said: “He was very aware of the COVID pandemic and had been out with us clapping for carers on Thursdays. He came up with the idea of running every day until he had covered 50 miles and set himself a target of £1,000.

“He ran about a mile and a half every day around Plympton and Colebrook and either me or my wife Stacey would run with him. Our four year old daughter joined in a a couple of runs as well.”

Taylor’s tremendous efforts attracted the attention of many of their neighbours in Lucas Lane and one of them, Lynda Messenger filmed a video of Taylor on his final run at the end of May. “The whole street turned out to applaud Taylor which made it a very special occasion,” added Richard. “We could not have been prouder of him.”

Hoe and Barbican.”

By the time he had completed the 100 mile challenge Archie’s efforts had raised £1,371 for NHS Charities Together.

“More than 100 people made donations,” said Ashley, “which was a fantastic response.

We’re delighted with Archie’s achievements.”

To make a donation visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/archie-spooner Taylor was applauded by local families when he completed his 50 mile stint - all captured on video by neighbour Lynda Messenger

July 2020

@PlymChronicle

tastic young fund-raisers Four on the treadmill to success

Nine-year-old Tyler raising funds for his school

The Hammoudeh family do like to keep fit.

Maria Hammoudeh was accustomed to taking her four children all over Plymouth for athletics, football, cricket and other sporting activities.

However, all that stopped as soon as lockdown was announced.

Maria, who lives in Millbridge, explained that she had purchased the running machine as a means of keeping the kids active and keeping them and others safe by staying in as much as possible during lockdown.

Not easy for a very active family of six, but vital as Maria is a key worker visiting the homes of very vulnerable people in her work as a community physiotherapist.

Always up for a challenge, the family wanted to use their running to support a charity, and they opted for Macmillan Cancer Support, particularly because their grandmother and grandfather in Scotland have found their services life changing.

Grandma is being nursed through cancer treatment at home and the Macmillan nurses care for the whole family, even throughout lockdown has been second to none.

Omar on the treadmill supported by his sisters Amira, Layla and Lamara

The children came up with the idea of running on the treadmill (virtually) to London as a team – a distance of 215 miles. They started their marathon fund raising efforts at the beginning of May. Maria said: “The children knew that COVID-19 would make it challenging for the Macmillan nurses caring for patients with cancer - so they decided to something positive with their time to raise money and awareness to say

Mum Maria pictured with Layla, Amira, Omar and Lamara

thank you to the Macmillan team.”

All four of them, Amira 12, Omar 10, Lamara, who is eight and six-year-old Layla have taken it in turns to run their bit, a mile or two each day. By the beginning of June they had managed an amazing 158 miles, cheered on by aunties and cousins on Facebook banging pots. Their cousins Noah, Isaac and Marissa, who live in London, have been cheering them all the way on FaceTime.

Maria put the challenge on Facebook as a bit of fun, originally setting the target for £300.

However as friends have become involved from the children’s schools – St Josephs Primary and Plymouth High School for Girls together with all of Maria’s friends, the amounts just kept increasing.

To date the family have raised £1375 for Macmillan, well over the target £1034 to pay for one Macmillan nurse for a week and are aiming to keep on going, at least until they reach London.

Maria has also been using the time for a bit of impromptu home learning. The children have found out about some of the places they have ‘visited’ en route – Ashburton, Chudleigh, the A303 and Stonehenge.

Maria added: “It’s been great fun and a great way to learn new things - as well promoting the inspirational Macmillan team who make such a positive impact on people’s lives.”

Omar, who wants to be a sprinter for his club, City of Plymouth Athletics, has clearly had fun.

“It’s a good use of all this time and fun learning about new things” he said (only slightly prompted by his proud Mum!) The giving page remains open at https://www. facebook.com/donate/514131439467172/

Ollie’s a real marathon hero!

Six-year-old Ollie Hall from Plymstock has completed a 30 day marathon challenge for Plymouth Hospitals Charity.

13

Ollie’s fundraising journey began a few weeks ago when he decided to take some cakes to his friends and teachers who were still at school to cheer them up. After seeing how happy it made them, Ollie wanted to do something else to help others and set a goal of raising £50 for Plymouth Hospitals Charity. With 30 days to go before he turned six on June 8, Ollie wanted to run a mile every day, only taking a break on Sundays, before he ran mile 26 on his sixth birthday.

To make things even more challenging, Ollie started running his mile-a-day in fancy dress, with costumes including Where’s Wally, Batman, a vampire, a duck and Super Mario. Ollie said one of his highlights happened when he was running dressed as a policeman. “I met a real policeman and he let me sit in his car,” said Ollie.

Through rain or shine, Ollie was out running and even managed to film a short message each day to thank people for supporting him.

On the morning of Ollie’s birthday, joined by his parents, Chris and Liz and two very special guests from the Masked Marvels, Spiderman and Deadpool, Ollie ran his final mile dressed as a doctor. He crossed the finish line cheered on by family, friends and neighbours, where he was presented with an NHS medal and Plymouth Hospitals Charity certificate. Within minutes of crossing the finish line, Ollie was coming up with ideas for his next challenge including cycling and even doing a skydive.

When asked why he wanted to raise money for the NHS, Ollie said: “It’s important because it’s to help the doctors and nurses and poorly people.”

Ollie has now raised over £2,600 and the number is still rising! To support Ollie and follow his fundraising journey go to https://bit.ly/Ollies_Marathon

A nine-year-old youngster from Plymouth – inspired by the fundraising of everyday heroes like Captain Tom – decided to say thank you to the primary school in the city which he usually attends.

“I really do miss school,” said Tyler, “as well as seeing my friends we get to do lots of fun activities. The teachers have been doing their best to take care of us and I thought this would be a good way to say thank you.”

Tyler, who is adopted, and his mum have been busy making rainbow inspired key rings during lockdown with all proceeds going to the parent teacher association.

“It’s been a lot of fun going through all the steps together,” said Tyler’s mum.

“We’ve been researching and sourcing the raw materials together right through to costing and working out how much we could make for the school. We’re hoping to sell off all of our stock but for Tyler he just wants to do his bit. At school we would normally have had a quiz night and summer fayre to raise funds and it’s such a shame that it’s all so uncertain now.”

A spokesperson for the school, which is based in the west of the city, said: “We are so thankful to Tyler and his mum for making these key rings and raising money for the PTFA. We are raising money for computers for the children and this is a fantastic way for us to help us reach our target.”

Each sale of the £4.50 key ring will bring an extra £2 for the school. The son and mum team will be selling the key rings on their Atlantique Life Facebook page.

Atlantique Style is a home grown jewellery retailer in Plymouth which focuses on easy pieces that can be worn on the beach, at work or on special occasions.

Atlantique Style can be found online at www.atlantiquestyle.com, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Emergency funding secures extra time for sports clubs

Care in the community by the community

An extraordinary wave of empathy and compassion has swept across the city, on the back of the coronavirus, delivering practical support for those in need; befriending the lonely and reassuring those anxious. Through the newly-formed Neighbourhood Care Networks, areas around the city – Stonehouse, The Hoe and Stoke – have taken help-in-the-community to a new level and have set up a rapid response team based around a single phone number, monitored at all times, for residents to call.

More than a number, it provides individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable and in need, with a promise that they will be immediately heard and helped.

POP+ is committed to doing everything it can to ensure that this determination to care for our communities extends beyond the period of the pandemic and brings about lasting, positive change that will be of benefit to us all.

Volunteer Luke Jones walking Sally, Stanley and Agnes at Jennycliff made by Debbie) and shared the pattern with those that wish to make their own; in Stoke, STARS are hosting lively community discussions via ‘zoom’ for residents to come together virtually; planters have been filled afresh with compost and summer plants and a pop-up advice centre is going to be run from the bench in the village!

In Stonehouse, the team that is Nudge has barely drawn breathe since the lockdown began: more than 1500 take-away cups of soup have been prepared, cooked and served at Union Corner by the wonderful group that is Dagma, Rachel, Martine and Tony; working with Borrow Don’t Buy, reconditioned devices are being delivered to residents to get them electronically connected; a free wi-fi connection has been established across ‘The Street’ and an open-air, socially-distanced street market is being planned for Sunday the 27th of June.

Whitleigh Big Local.

Help line: 01752 875916 Nudge Community Builders, Stonehouse.

Help line: 07723 494413 STARS (Stoke Traders & Residents Association).

Help line: 07380 319128 The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum.

Help line: 077235 77305 Keyham Neighbourhood Watch.

Help line: 01752 563095 or 07780 711894

Steve Bowen landlord of the Stoke Inn has replanted the planters in Stoke Volunteers to the city-wide Good Neighbours Scheme are now being deployed, where possible, to their local Neighbourhood Care Network to help with among other things, shopping for food and prescriptions, dog-walking and befriending. The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum has dispensed more than two hundred face masks (all of which have been

As news of the networks and their good works spreads, so other areas of the city are considering whether they too could provide a long-term solution to care in the community that will extend beyond the coronavirus.

POP+ alchemists turn ideas into action

In the time before the Coronavirus, staff at POP+ Ideas were experiencing a pleasant increase in the number of people wanting to do something for the ‘good of others’ and so the organisation designed and held a workshop “Ideas into Action” - to show people how they might start a community project. Paul Read, who runs the workshop (now online) says the pandemic has encouraged people new to the sector; “Covid 19 has revealed there are lots more people out there harbouring a real enthusiasm to help. What we are doing is showing them that getting started isn’t as complicated as they might have thought and pointing them in the right direction.”

Esther White, one of about forty volunteers in a newly-formed community group in Greenbank, took part in the first Ideas into Action workshop and believes the knowledge gap is greatest at the ‘grassroots’ level; “It’s great that POP is providing these online training sessions for small community organisations who don’t have the resources of bigger organisations. Just being part of something; sharing the energy and commitment to support people and learning about what other groups are doing is really positive.”

The next Ideas into Action workshop will take place on Thursday June 25 and then on Monday July 27. Please register at bit.ly/popideasevents

One of the many distinctive networks across the city co-ordinated by POP+ is also one of the most ‘active’: the Plymouth Community Sports Network brings together about sixty of the city’s 250 different sports clubs- everything from Archery to Zumba - under one very large umbrella. Stuart Jones who has been running the network for the last two years says many are now in dire financial need: “Without members and their subs; without sessions and participants there is very little money coming in. It doesn’t matter what size they are: they’ve either got great big overheads to pay for or, like some of the smaller ‘niche’ clubs, they have no income without their sessions. We could end up with a lot less choice in Plymouth of physical activity as some are just not going to survive.”

POP+ is supporting members of the network by directing them to Sport England and its Community Emergency Fund. Twenty-one clubs (so far), including Plymouth Raiders Development; the Keyham Kolts Youth and Active Autism Football Club and Carl’s Boxing Stable in Plympton have been given emergency funding to help pay their rent; bills; maintenance and other on-going costs.

Plymouth Youth Sailing is also being supported with a grant of £7000 which will help to cover some of its rent. Adrian Kemp, the club’s Commodore, says with so many of this year’s events being cancelled, and memberships unpaid, the club has lost about 75% of its income.

“Without the Sport England money, we would have been in dire straits. But while this will help with our fixed costs, we still have to find the money to pay for the unseen costs of getting us going again,” says Adrian. “We need about £500 to pay for the necessary sanitising products and PPE and then there’s the additional equipment to enable us to accommodate the social distancing rules: we will have to see if we can get more support from elsewhere to pay for it all.”

While there are challenges facing all clubs regarding re-opening, as Stuart from POP+ says, most will have to adapt: “It’s a great deal more straightforward to resume sports such as golf and angling unlike, say, netball or boxing. Clubs are just going to have to do things differently, for example, they will have to organise training sessions where players focus on skills rather than tackles and hope to encourage a greater number of families to come and play together.”

What is clear is that many sports clubs are going to need a great deal of support to survive particularly as their loss may be felt, not just to the individuals they serve, but also the wider community. As well as providing physical activity, they can play a crucial role in bringing local people together; mobilising voluntary action and providing venues for social and community activity in areas where there might not be many other options. Post Coronavirus, for any of those at risk of closure, the wider positive and significant contributions they make to their communities should not be over-looked.

Geographic areas currently exploring possibilities with POP+ include: Devonport; North Stonehouse; Efford; Hooe, Plympton; Ernesettle; Lipson; Mutley & Greenbank.

If you would like more information about the Neighbourhood Care Networks please contact stuart@plymouthoctopus.org

Plymouth Youth Sailing

July 2020

@PlymChronicle

Nursery children enjoy first week back Babies, toddlers and pre-school children at two nurseries in Plymouth have enjoyed their first week back in early education after the lockdown was lifted for nursery settings at the beginning of June.

Children at Mama Bear’s Day Nursery and Pre-schools in Pennycross and Crownhill were able to enjoy activities and reunite with friends and caregivers, while adjusting to the new safety measures in place.

The Mama Bear’s team have been preparing the settings for the children’s return and implementing a programme of staff training to ensure staff are up-to-date with the new COVID-19 procedures.

Tony Driffield, who co-owns the nursery group with early years expert wife Bev, said: “We have done everything possible to ensure the safety of the children on their return to nursery. “Of course we have been supporting the children of key workers and vulnerable children throughout the crisis so a lot of measures were already in place but we have been working hard to make the changes required to accommodate more children in our settings.

“It has been wonderful to welcome the children back this week and see them having fun and learning. It’s also been great to see our new procedures in place and working as they should.”

The returning children have enjoyed lots of educational and fun activities the first week back including finding frogs in the garden, lunchtime picnics, imaginative play and learning about the life cycle of sunflowers.

Tony continued: “It has been really tricky to manoeuvre through this crisis and there is a long way to go for all of us yet but our staff have been phenomenal and so adaptable which has been fantastic. We’d also like to thank our parents for their support and we look forward to welcoming more children back in the months to come.”

Mama Bear’s children have expressed their feelings on returning to nursery.

Olive, aged four, said: “I like being back at nursery because I get to play with my friends.” Poppy, also four, said: “I am so happy that my friends are back but the rugs have gone.” While another pre-schooler Jaxon said: “I like playing with my friends again and all the toys.”

Mama Bear’s is a family-run nursery group offering highquality, affordable care across the South West.

Established in 2002 the group now includes 24 nursery settings in Plymouth, Bristol, Somerset and Devon and caters for children aged three-months to five-years.

More information on Mama Bear’s Day Nursery can be found at www.mamabear.co.uk.

The Right Reverend Mark Rylands outside St Andrew’s Church, Ashburton

Youngsters with a member of staff at one of the Mama Bear’s Day Nurseries inspecting the frogs found in the garden

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Churches open up for prayer and funerals after changes in Government guidelines Churches in Plymouth and the rest of Devon are preparing to open their buildings following changes to the Government guidance on places of worship.

People are now able to enter some of the county’s 600 churches for private prayer.

Funerals can now take place in churches and most parishes are putting physical distancing measures in place.

Around half of vicars in Devon who took part in an online poll said they were planning to open at least one of their church buildings.

Church buildings were closed completely in March as part of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Church of England has issued detailed public health guidance for churches about physical distancing

and cleaning. It will be up to individual churches to decide how many people can be in the church at a time.

Father Nick Debney, from St Luke’s Church, Newton Abbot, said he was delighted that churches could now open.

“A church building exists to serve the community and for a while they had to be closed. To be open again is a move in the right direction.

“There is a sense that the lockdown has helped us reconnect prayer with the home, now is a chance to reconnect prayer with the house of God. The Right Reverend Mark Rylands, from the Ashburton and Moorland Mission Community, is opening several of the churches under his care.

He and a team of volunteers from St Andrew’s Church, Ashburton, and the town’s COVID Emergency Response

Team spent time after the Government announcement cleaning the church building inside and getting it ready to open.

As well as hand sanitiser and guidelines about physical distancing, there will also be ‘prayer stations’ around the church offering creative ideas about how to pray.

He said: “People have missed being able to come into church and spend time praying or reflecting. For some people it is a spiritual yearning. God welcomes everybody for prayer.”

St Raphael’s Church on Dartmoor is a popular destination for tourists and day visitors. For that reason the churchwarden, Tony Parker, is planning to open it on Mondays and Thursdays to allow time for cleaning in between.

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16 July 2020

16 July 2020

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Crafts student from Plymouth College of Art wins top award from British Art Medal Society Plymouth College of Art student Gregory Williams has been named as a winner in the prestigious British Art Medal Society’s Student Medal Project.

Gregory was one of over 100 entrants from more than 15 art colleges across the country, with the winners chosen shortly before lockdown by a group of judges at the British Museum in London.

Gregory, who is a third-year student on the BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts course, designed the piece called ‘Conversation’ using bronze casting and computer-aided design (CAD) software. Winning the prize presented by the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers, the medal is a representation of the interaction and communication between opposing forces: the calming organic against the hectic mechanic.

The judges commented on Gregory’s medal, highlighting the contrasting smooth and complex use of texture on both sides of the medal, remarking that it won due to the fact it was an attractive piece inspired by a good subject matter.

Gregory initially designed and created his medal in wax, submitting it with an artist statement to his lecturers who then selected the medals to represent the college.

Gregory’s winning medal design

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Gregory, originally from the BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts Basingstoke, said: “I modelled course, it’s been a real ‘hit the the piece using Rhino 3D ground running’ experience software, printing a few test for me! From day one, I was pieces in plastic, making being taught the foundations adjustments until I printed my of many different mediums, final model in castable resin. allowing me the space to I then used the facilities at develop my own practice and Plymouth College of Art to metal choose where I wanted to cast the medal. During this specialise. Between lectures, stage, I received a lot of support and help from both the metal Student Gregory Williams workshops, exhibitions and excursions, I feel that the technicians and the Fab Lab, so course really pushed me to do more than I big thanks to them! thought possible.”

“Winning this has given me such a Senior lecturer and subject leader for confidence boost and has encouraged me BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts Gayle Matthias to enter other competitions as well as said: “It’s always so encouraging for our consider medals as a future medium.

students to get recognition for their hard work, especially from esteemed organisations such as the British Medal Art Society. Over the years, Gregory has shown interest in working across a range of materials and processes. To win this prize just shows how far he’s developed creatively since joining the course.”

The Student Medal Project is hosted by the British Art Medal Society and actively encourages and promotes the art of making medals throughout higher education art institutions across the country and in Italy.

Supported by prestigious livery companies such as the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, the Worshipful Company of Founders and Thomas Fattorini Ltd, winners and entries are published within a catalogue which provides recognition for those who are at the beginning of their artistic careers, with a further chance of the British Museum purchasing particularly exemplary studentdesigned medals for display.

The exhibition and awards ceremony that usually happens alongside the Student Medal Project awards have now been postponed, but a daily feature of all the students’ work is now being highlighted on the British Art Medal

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Lottery grant boost for emergency response doctors Devon’s volunteer emergency response doctors - BASICS Devon - have been awarded a grant of nearly £10,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund.

The much-needed funding of £9,960 will help towards vital running costs for the lifesaving charity to ensure they can continue their response to COVID-19 and emerge from the crisis.

BASICS Devon specialist doctors are working hard and responding on the frontline, assisting the emergency services while under such extreme pressures with call outs increasing daily.

Plymouth builders’ merchants set to play key role in construction industry’s plan for recovery

Builders merchants across Plymouth are gearing-up for a post-COVID-19 revival of the region’s construction sector.

The move comes as construction leaders set out a blueprint to secure the future of the multi-billion industry.

Under the ‘Roadmap to Recovery Strategy,’ the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) COVID-19 Task Force lays out proposals to protect the future of construction businesses, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery.

The Task Force represents the entire construction supply chain from product manufacturers and merchants to contractors, housebuilders and specialists.

David Young, South West Regional chairman of the Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF) and chief executive of South West builders’ merchants, David Young Bradfords, said: “Our members in Plymouth will play a key role in supporting the recovery of the construction sector, which is a vital part of our local economy.

“Areas include ongoing support to maximise employment and retain key skills, as well as providing expertise to enable customers to access products which support a more sustainable future.”

John Newcomb, chief executive of the BMF, which represents members across Plymouth, said: “The strategy looks at the short, medium and long-term actions to grasp the opportunities to build a better industry in the future.

“Since its formation at the start of the crisis the CLC’s COVID-19 Taskforce has shown how effective the industry can be when it works towards a common goal.

“The BMF’s focus now within the CLC will include working in cross-industry groups on detailed plans for new housing, as well as the maintenance and improvement of existing homes.

“As we enter the recovery phase, we have a real opportunity to deliver a coordinated programme that will benefit the whole industry and support Plymouth’s economy overall.

“BMF members across the region will be key to that as we move forward.”

The CLC Roadmap to Recovery can be viewed online at www.constructionleadershipcouncil. co.uk/news/construction-roadmap-to-recoveryplan-published

Their role has extended since the beginning of the pandemic and has adapted and will continue to do so to help their local Devon community and emergency colleagues get through this tough time.

Amie Bull, fundraising manager for BASICS Devon said: “We want to thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their incredible support. As we all know it is a very difficult time for everyone financially, our community fundraising has almost ceased and to receive this funding which helps us specifically with the running costs of the charity is so crucial.

“We must ensure our volunteers can continue to be there for the people in our community throughout the pandemic and beyond.”

If you would like to make a donation to BASICS Devon or to find out more about BASICS Devon response to COVId-19, visit www.basics-devon.org.uk

Members of BASICS Devon (from left) Dr Alex Rowe, Dr Simon Scott-Hayward, Dr Ian Higginson, Dr David Hillebrandt, Nurse Glenda Cooper, Dr Marc Epps, Dr Fred Declerck and Dr Thomas Owens

Sustainability in practice – valuable insights for the childcare industry Cheryl Hadland, managing director of Tops Day Nurseries in Plymouth, has recently published a new book: Creating an EcoFriendly Early Years Setting.

Proceeds from sales of the book will go to the charity, GECCO, because Cheryl wants to spread the word to help anyone who works with children both in the UK and internationally, to care for and educate children in a more sustainable way.

Tops Day Nurseries has gained recognition on a number of occasions for its sustainability approach, including the infamous glitter ban across all settings, prohibition of single use plastics, installing solar panels and utilising electric vehicles to name a few. Cheryl is the driving force behind these changes.

Sustainable growth is a huge part of Tops’ success and Cheryl is an outspoken advocate for environmentally sustainable business practice and education. When Cheryl opened the first Tops Day Nursery in 1990, she had no idea how the company would grow and become pioneering champions for sustainable early years.

Having achieved some momentous personal accolades over the last 30 years including Most Influential Person in Childcare, Most Inspirational Person in Childcare, Lifetime Achievement Awards, a Masters Degree in Education, All Party Parliamentary Group leader and UNICEF champion, Cheryl has a wealth of knowledge and is in high regard within the childcare industry.

Cheryl commented: “I am happy to announce the launch of my new book, Creating an Eco-Friendly Early Years Setting, and sincerely hope it inspires some reflection and some change

Cheryl Hadland

towards more sustainable childcare.

“The book is modelled on the changes we made within the Tops Day Nurseries family but can be replicated in any early years setting, office or even at home. There are chapters in the book on pedagogy, sustainable resources for children, pets, indoor and outdoor gardening, improving air quality for children and adults as well as inspiring change in our behaviour.”

‘Creating an Eco-Friendly Early Years Setting’ offers a comprehensive, researched guide, from small steps that can be taken to reduce waste and improve efficiency to setting up partnerships. It illustrates how sustainable choices can become a natural part of every child’s education and how children,

parents and staff can all inspire sustainable behaviour across local communities and at national and international levels.

Drawing on the experiences of real nurseries and including a wide range of activities and lists of resources, this is an essential read for practitioners, leaders, policymakers and all settings that want to help make sustainable choices a natural part of young children’s lives.

Tops Day Nurseries, which has nurseries in Devonport, Stonehouse and Bretonside, care for children aged from three months – school age, plus over half of the settings offer a Hi5’s Club for primary school children out of school. Tops also offer emergency placements between the hours of 6am-8pm, subject to demand and availability.

GECCO is a registered charity, providing on-going information and support for day nursery owners, child minders, and nannies wishing to provide a more sustainable education, on www.gecco.org.uk

POTHOLE REPAIRS HELPS SCHOOL WITH SMOOTH WAY FOR RE-OPENING Bosses at Persimmon Homes have helped ensure a smooth return to school for parents and pupils at a Plymouth primary school.

St Matthew’s C of E Primary and Nursery Academy has an agreement allowing parents to use land owned by the regional housebuilder as a car park. Severe weather earlier this year had caused the surface to degrade and potholes began to appear.

But the hard-standing at the Palmerston Heights development has now been smoothed and was ready for parents and carers as they prepared for the staggered return of pupils.

Adam Church, director in charge of Persimmon Homes Cornwall, said: “When we heard the hardstanding needed some attention we were keen to help, but then the effects of the pandemic struck.

“At the first suggestion that schools were beginning to re-open we scheduled the work so that the area would be safe and easy to use as soon as it was needed.”

The 404-pupil school has remained open to children of key workers, but acommodated nursery, reception and years one and six pupils from the beginning of June.

Headteacher Chris Conners said: “We have been caring for children of key workers for the last seven weeks and are now providing full-time care for children in nursery, reception, year one and year six as well. We are operating a structured system for children to be dropped off and picked up from school and having the parking area recovered is a huge help to everyone as we stick to the rules and safeguard everyone from Covid 19.

“We all want to say a huge thank you to Persimmon for supporting our school and carrying out the work in time for our staged reopening.”

COMMUNITY

18 July 2020

@PlymChronicle

JOB SHOP Plymouth College of Art set to welcome Advertise your vacancy FREE in students back on campus in September Job Shop Local businesses, voluntary groups, organisations, groups and individuals are invited to post their job vacancies in our Community Job Shop feature. This must be for part-time and voluntary jobs only and should contain no more than 50 words, including contact details. All you have to do is send the details via e-mail to info@cornerstonevision.com Deadline for each issue is first Monday of the month prior.

Please note that these vacancies were all posted prior to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone interested in one of the vacancies is advised to contact the organistion concerned and check to see if the post is still available.

GARDENING AT YMCA PLYMOUTH Volunteers wanted to help at our community garden at Honicknowle. All produce from the garden is destined for an emergency food provision charity. Can you help us please. A few hours here and there would be great.

Contact, Vic Hibbert, YMCA Plymouth on 01752 761004 or vic.h@ymcaplymouth.org.uk HEAD SPACE VOLUNTEER Head Space offers an out-of-hours service for people who consider that they are approaching a mental health crisis. The service aims to provide a non-clinical setting with a safe, calm and structured environment, where individuals can go to access peer support. Volunteers will work alongside staff to provide support in both group and 1:1 settings. We provide comprehensive training and support, and the opportunity to join a successful and likeminded team. All travel costs are covered and you will be able to develop new skills and experiences and have fun whilst helping make a difference To get involved contact us for an initial discussion T: 0800 9230 039 or visit www.colebrooksw.org/head-space/ HELP AT HOME COMMUNITY SUPPORT ASSISTANTS Age UK Plymouth are recruiting Help at Home Community Support Assistants for domestic tasks/ shopping for clients. This is a zero hour contract at national minimum wage, mileage is paid. Please visit www.ageukplymouth.org.uk for full details and to complete an application form. Alternatively call on 01752 256020 for further details.

VOLUNTEERS Local charity Hearts Together is looking for willing volunteers with a little time to spare to help out at Derriford Hospital. If you can assist with general gardening, bed making and transport then we’d love to hear from you. The time you give to us can be totally flexible and we will cover your out of pocket expenses. Contact 01752 315900 or e-mail rachel@ heartstogether.org.uk. For more information go to www.heartstogether.org.uk ROYAL VOLUNTARY LIBRARY SERVICE Derriford Hospital needs help for the book trolley ward rounds weekdays between 10 am - 12 noon. If you are interested in the service and can spare the time, please contact Pat Hamilton on Thursdays 9.30 am - 3.30 pm on 01752 430880 for further information.

VOLUNTEER DOG CUDDLERS WANTED Offer a short break to some of our pawsome dogs.

Due to high demand we are looking for dog lovers to have a doggy home board with them while their owners are away. You will be fully insured, licensed and supported 24/7 by us. One dog at a time, guest dogs come with everything they need and only at times to suit you. It’s the perfect way for retired people, work at home and stay at home parents with school age children to have a ‘part time pooch.’ You must have a secure garden. Please contact Jennifer or Carolyn to discuss. 01752 769453.

DISTRIBUTORS Cornerstone Vision, publishers of the Plymouth Chronicle, are looking for distributors, to help deliver leaflets across the city and surrounding area.

Transport an advantage, own phone number essential.

We are particularly looking for people to help cover Efford, Ernesettle, Saltash, Ivybridge and Torpoint, although other areas may be available. Please email chris.etherington@cornerstonevision.com or call 01752 225623.

Plymouth College of Art has announced that students will be returning to the campus later this year.

The college has developed a new approach with a combination of live online teaching and on-campus creative practice in the many studios and workshops available.

It will introduce what is termed an ‘extended creative studio pedagogy’ after an intensive period of development in consultation with students and practising artists.

In line with Government guidelines on the reopening of universities, the college will welcome new and returning undergraduate students and staff from October 5 and postgraduate students from October 12.

The college’s specialist Art, Design and Media Pre Degree campus, for A-Levelequivalent and Foundation Diploma students, is planned to reopen from September 7.

As one of the UK’s last truly independent art schools, Plymouth College of Art’s was strongly positioned to adapt to change when universities were asked to close their buildings in March to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Teaching was moved online immediately with no disruption for undergraduate, MA and A-Levelequivalent post-16 students.

Over the summer, teaching is being redesigned to take advantage of the new hybrid teaching model, supported by one-to-one and group workshops that will happen on and off campus in specialist workshops and live digital platforms. Alongside this, the college has updated its support and training materials, moving academic, pastoral, careers, library and other professional support services online.

Extensive measures are being introduced across each Plymouth College of Art building to prepare for reopening, from protective plastic barriers for student and visitor facing services, twometre distances between workstations,

one way systems and optimised timetables with staggered breaks and start times, to enhanced cleaning regimes, staff retraining and access to sanitising stations that will allow students back into workshops and studios, using the equipment and facilities that will prepare them for careers in the UK’s world-leading creative industries.

With new rules in place across every building, Plymouth College of Art will work with the Local Authority and Public Health England to support and promote the Track and Trace initiative. Over the summer, all new and returning students will receive simple guidance on how to return safely.

When the campus reopens, students will have access to group teaching with academics and highly-skilled technical demonstrators within industry-standard workshop and studio spaces, alongside live

video-based lectures, tutorials, one-to-one activities and integrated offline learning.

The college’s main Tavistock Place campus is open six days a week, with late night access Monday to Thursday. Access to workshops and studios will be regularly reviewed throughout the year according to Government guidance, prioritising as much access for students as possible as the year progresses.

Unlike many larger universities, where the arts faculty often competes with other unrelated courses, Plymouth College of Art offers a close-knit, specialised community where subject leaders and technicians know every student by name and can offer a personalised learning experience that works efficiently on campus and online.

Each subject at the college has responded to the challenge of lockdown in different ways, creating new ongoing projects through video teaching and briefings that have taken advantage of the opportunities of live online learning by connecting students with practising artists locally, nationally and from around the world.

Plymouth College of Arts’ Students’ Union is hard at work preparing an extended Freshers’ Week of safe social events to ensure that students begin to develop the new connections and friendships that can continue in person and online throughout their time at the college.

Associate Professor and Academic Dean Paul Fieldsend-Danks said: “We’re changing the way that we plan for students to access and move around the campus and studios, to ensure that social distancing and safety for all becomes second nature until the global situation improves. We are very fortunate that as a city-centre campus with most accommodation and halls within walking distance, walking or cycling will be a One of the many workshops realistic travel option for many of our at the college students.”

Lions Club support for air ambulances Air ambulances across the British Isles will receive vital equipment in the battle against COVID-19 – thanks to a generous £160,000 grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

President of Lions Club of Plymouth, Lion George Poad said: “We know that air ambulance charities have been busier than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve faced considerable extra – unbudgeted – day to day costs – at the same time as lockdown has affected fund-raising.

“Now, thanks to an emergency COVID-19 relief grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation in the USA, we can provide immediate support for this emergency service that touches lives in all our local communities.”

Working with Air Ambulances UK, Lions Clubs compiled a list of equipment and supplies needed by individual air ambulance charities – totalling £161,468.

The Cornwall Air Ambulance will receive a

grant of £4,560 to enable the purchase of two UV Decontamination Chambers while Devon Air Ambulance will receive £9,800 to purchase a new separation screen that is required between the front and rear sections of the aircraft.

Local Lions have continued to support their communities facing difficulties due to COVID-19.

This latest boost for air ambulance charities comes on top of £140,000 awarded in grants to foodbanks and other causes nominated by Lions

clubs across the British Isles.

As well as their ‘day job’ - responding to accidents, traumatic incidents and medical emergencies - air ambulances are supporting the COVID-19 response to help reduce the huge burden on the NHS and other public services.

The equipment and supplies they requested, which has been funded by the Lions Clubs International Foundation grant, includes isolation capsules and decontamination units, separation screens, PPE, ventilators, respirators and hoods, a thermal screening camera and monitoring system, compression devices, fluid warmers, an ultrasound cardiac probe, and mobile connectivity devices.

Heather Benjamin, Chair of Air Ambulances, UK said: “The donation of equipment and supplies by Lions helps air ambulance charities to support the COVID-19 response and their communities in these extraordinary times and beyond.”

July 2020

@PlymChronicle

19

City College team of chefs help provide tasty meals for frontline NHS staff

The PL1 kitchen at City College Plymouth has been used in recent weeks by a team preparing meals for frontline NHS workers at Derriford.

With the college only open to children of key workers, students with EHCPs and those with an assigned social worker, the usually busy training kitchen had been deserted since the Prime Minister announced the closure of schools and colleges across the UK. However, the kitchen, normally used by the college’s students and apprentices, recently reopened to a team of chefs, who were preparing meals for ambulance crews and hospital staff as part of the Food4Heroes initiative.

Carrying out this venture were former students Rich Henderson, who now works for chef Tom Aikens in London, Rachael Nosworthy, who works for CATERed, Joe Cotton, from Acleaf at the Boringdon Hall Hotel, and Connor Hawkings of Rockfish Plymouth. They were joined by local food hero Peter Gorton, and Food is Fun demo cook Glen Bird.

The team of chefs, who didn’t know each other before this venture, formed a cohesive team, who made meals for ambulance crew and a number of shielding hospital staff Food4Heroes is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, set up at the start of lockdown to provide NHS workers with fresh healthy nutritious meals at no cost to them.

Chef lecturer at City College, Richard Farleigh, said: “The college was approached

Chefs Richard Henderson, Glen Bird and Connor Hawkins in the PL1 kitchens

by Rich Henderson about setting up an arm of Food4Heroes here in Plymouth, and we were more than happy to be able to support this venture. Once the college had put in place the appropriate measures to ensure social distancing, we were able to get down to work.”

Food4Heroes regional director for the South West, Steve Tipping, said: “A couple of weeks ago our service went live in the Exeter area and I am delighted that we are now providing meals to the NHS staff at Derriford.

I am particularly excited about what we are

doing in Devon because it represents a really strong community story.

“City College Plymouth kindly offered us the opportunity to use their well-equipped premises to prepare food and enabled our team of chefs to use their skills to provide nutritious meals for our much-loved NHS frontline.

“We are delighted to support local food businesses, keeping chefs cooking during the lockdown and to work with local food suppliers during these challenging times. The support they have shown has been fantastic.”

To continue to provide this vital service, Food4Heroes is encouraging anyone who wants to support the scheme to donate by visiting www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ food4heroes-south-west or to give £10 text F4HSW to 70191.

FOOT SOLUTIONS IS BACK ON ITS FEET After over two months of enforced closure, Foot Solutions is opening for business on Monday 15th June.

Owner, Andrew Scowcroft says: “Taking this amount of time off has been very unusual to say the least but the thing we have missed the most has been the face to face contact with our customers.”

Andrew Scowcroft

The team have been working hard to not just meet but exceed the latest guidelines ensuring a safe environment in our store whilst trying on shoes. Meanwhile, customers have been calling in anticipation of the High Street reopening.

Andrew added: “Whilst we can’t have the same number of people in the building, our appointment system will make it seem like business as usual for us.”

Foot Solutions are expecting to be exceptionally busy in the coming weeks as existing customers return to buy sandals and summer shoes, and all those people with foot challenges who’ve had to wait during lockdown, are going to be keen to have their pain relieved.

“We really can’t wait to see our customers return,” said Andrew “and to be in the privileged position of alleviating foot, knee and back pain for the many people that we know we can help, as we have done for the past 11 years.”

For all your foot health requirements, call 01752 222660 to book your FREE FOOT HEALTH ASSESSMENT. 34 Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1DU

t: 01752 222660 www.footsolutionsplymouth.co.uk

20 July 2020

20 July 2020

@PlymChronicle

We can all learn from Dr Martin Luther King THE

By Chris Cole, founder of Cross Rhythms Charity

Experience

Compassion is such a powerful component of true love.

It is more than just empathy; it is the motivation and personal conviction to ‘stand alongside’ those who need support. This can be a reality for all of us at some time in our lives as both givers and receivers of this life changing and loving Chris Cole characteristic.

As I write this at the beginning of June, we are witnessing the reaction to the death of George Floyd across the USA and global responses of rallies and protests even as close to home as Plymouth.

A statement from the Church of England at the time declared: ‘Let us be clear: racism is an affront to God. It is born out of ignorance and must be eradicated.’ This was a joint statement from the Archbishops of York, who is black and Canterbury, who is white.

Of course, this ignorance is often at the ‘heart of the matter’ because it is what happens in the heart that is the matter. Proverbs states that all the issues of life flow from the heart.

Whilst witnessing this sad travesty on the news I watched an excellent documentary on Dr Martin

Luther King’s incredible influence during the midsixties which touched me profoundly.

Here was a man who felt he was called to make a difference in the world and was one of the essential figures who established nonviolent civil rights for the African-American community.

At the time US President Johnson had supported this process by changing civil rights legislation, but Dr King found himself with a real issue of conscience and lost much support from even his own constituency because he took a stand against the Vietnam war and therefore President Johnson.

Many believed the war was unjust, but many felt Dr King was being unpatriotic. Behind the media circus much of King’s work was addressing the issues of poverty at grass roots within impoverished communities where Dr King organised his protests.

Poverty is reinforced by lack of hope in terms of aspiration and opportunities. Dr King’s organisation was challenging that despair in both practical and spiritual ways then and it is still the same issue today with issues raised by George Floyd’s death. This is reason for the pain rising in the hearts of those supporting Black Lives Matter: Dr King eventually paid for his actions with his life.

So, what is our collective responsibility in these ‘powerful times’. The challenges we all

face during the pandemic are impacting us all at different levels. Relational issues, mental health and financial concerns are all very real pressures alongside the health issues. So, whatever we considered as normal living has changed to the extent that I doubt we will come out of these strange times as we went into them.

Like everybody I have been forced to stop and take stock of what is happening. We will all have to dig deep with courage and love and try to be part of the solution instead of the problem. It is possible with God’s help and guidance From a Christian perspective, the first and second commandment Jesus gave us to Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourself is a rhythm of life which needs all three aspects to function in unity.

The hardest is often the ‘loving ourselves’. If I allow God’s love to truthfully heal me within areas of my broken heart and soul, then He gives me His beauty for my ashes. This transaction of radical truth about who I am as a human being eventually brings me into peace and the spiritual ability not to wrongly judge others, but instead discern my neighbour correctly with love and compassion as Jesus does.

The problem is this, that the journey of inner transformation is not a quick fix. We have been brought up to expect easy solutions to life’s problems through our consumerism and individual self-centeredness. It is a lifetime of encounters in good and bad times with right choices and responses that slowly open our eyes and hearts to truly see what is happening around

us. Therefore, the first commandment of God is to love Him with everything, so that we have the heart to do the second.

That is what motivated Dr King through the good and the bad times. Love takes courage and God sees your potential to walk a life of courageous goodness in Him, for you are greatly loved.

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

Minister’s praise for council workers in wake of COVID-19

Communities and businesses across the South West have received £3 billion in government funding since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to support some of the most vulnerable people and the sectors that have been hardest hit.

Listen on 96.3FM or online at crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth

Of the £3 billion, more than £2.5billion is helping to support the region’s businesses.

In total, the government has announced almost £27 billion for local communities since the start of March.

This includes billions of pounds in grants for small businesses and business rates reliefs for industries such as hospitality and leisure that have not been able to operate during lockdown.

Plymouth City Council has received just over £115 million, of which more than £90 million was allocated for business rates relief and grants to small businesses and financial help for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

As part of this, local authorities across England have received asignificanrt level of additional support, sharing £3.2billion in direct grants and a further £600 million to help prevent transmission in care settings.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We said at the start of the pandemic that we would make sure our councils and communities had the resources they need to respond to the coronavirus, and that’s exactly what we have done.

“In total, we have provided almost £27 billion, including £3billion in the South West, to help local communities weather this difficult period, providing additional financial support in the form of grants, business rates relief and direct support for councils on a scale that is unprecedented in living memory.

“Council workers across the country are working tirelessly to ensure this support gets to where it needs to be, helping local people and businesses to navigate this difficult period.

They are the unsung heroes of this crisis and we are all incredibly grateful for the huge contribution they are making to their communities.”

Dial the Experts The handy guide to Plymouth trades & services

ROWE NET - Electrical & Home Automation

AERIALS

www.safesignal.co.uk 01752 982901 or 07724140471 Safe signal south west ltd

Local company specialising in the repair and installation of all aerial and satellite TV, telephone lines and CCTV systems.

ARCHITECT J & M ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN House & Building plans Extensions • Conversions • Alterations Planning & Building regulation applications Fast & efficient service 01752 936125 07745 392764 jjmmdesign@yahoo.co.uk • www.jmdesign.org.uk

BLINDS

UK Blinds Plymouth Ltd We won’t be beaten on price or choice!

Comprehensive Range of Styles & Fabric Free Measuring, Quotation & Fitting Discounts for Multiple Blinds 01752 300923 | 07765 033470 www.ukblindsplymouth.co.uk

BUILDERS

DMC PLYMOUTH

Do you find it hard to get someone to come and do a small job?

• Fully Insured • Fully Qualified Electrician • NIC EIC Registered • No job too small or big • Free Quotations • Reasonably Priced • Satisfaction Guaranteed

Call 07860 555011 - 01752 548766 info@rowe-net.net

R.C. Electrical - Ryan Cross

Fully qualified ‘Approved Electrician’ Which? Trusted Trader & Reviews on Yell.com • Over 17 years experience • FREE quotes •

www.rc-electrical.net info@rc-electrical.net 07813 195943

STEVE ELECTRICAL Fully qualified and insured electrician • Free estimates/no call-out fees • all electrical work considered • Over 20 years experience • Friendly, local, family run business • NICEIC cert • Rewires • Certification for minor or major work Very competitive prices/ high quality work.

Will beat all other reasonable quotes.

• Call Steve 07894 208842

GARDEN & LANDSCAPING 01752 341613 www.evglimited.co.uk

• Tree removal • Tree & hedge reduction • Stump grinding • Turfing • Hedge trimming • Grass cutting • Clearances • All aspects of fencing • Tarmacing, block paving & resin bond • Landscaping Decking • Retaining walls • Construction

Free quotations, fully insured

QUALITY LANDSCAPING Artificial Turf, Patios, Decking, Fencing, Garden builds

RETAINING WALLS AND STONEWORK. REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON CHECKATRADE. DMCPLYMOUTH@GMAIL.COM 07938976544

D HEWLETT GENERAL BUILDERS • All general household maintenance work undertaken • • No job too small • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Plastering • • Carpentry & joinery • Guttering • Windows • Bricklaying • • Bedrooms • Facias • Driveways • Patios • Decking • Call Derek on 07967 233257 or 01752 777578

CARPENTERS ALLWOOD INSTALLATIONS Trading Standards approved company Bespoke joinery • doors • staircases • bars Box frame windows • counters • PCstations.

Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms.

All associated plumbing,electrical & tiling Tel 07704448835 www.allwoodinstallations.co.uk 01752348648 allwoodinstallations@icloud.com

MALCOLM WILLS CARPENTRY

Home Improvements, Refurbishments, Alterations, Purpose Made Joinery, Flooring and Doors.

Call for an estimate 07599 888841 01752 255154 malcolmwills2017@outlook.com CARPETS EXMINSTER CARPETS

Carpets - Rugs Complete fitting service - Free estimates Large Showroom (5-7 Byard Close, PL5 2AQ) Tel 01752 361 096

www.exminstercarpets.co.uk

ELECTRICAL GIFFORD ENERGY & ELECTRICAL LTD

ELECTRICAL, SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE SERVICES SMALL JOBS WELCOME 42 Gifford Terrace Road, Plymouth PL3 4JE Mob 07891 909846 email info@giffordenergy.com

OVEN CLEANING SERVICES

GREENS OVEN CLEANS Let me give your oven a new lease of life Call Trevor on 07501 645208 trevgreen4@gmail.com Fully Insured

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

ERB PAINTING & DECORATING

Decorating internal & external • Plastering Renovations • Flooring • General maintenance Garden decking & fencing • Friendly & reliable Tel: 01752 559753 Mob: 07796 961036 email: ellis-ball@hotmail.co.uk

S.G.F Decorating Services Plastering & Decorating Specialist Painting - Plastering - Wallpaper - Interior & Exterior Work - Over 30 years experience C.S.C.S Registered - Friendly & Reliable 07859 804389 stevefull@live.co.uk

QUALITY PAINTING / DECORATING / MAINTENANCE INTERIOR / EXTERIOR SCAFFOLDING RARELY REQUIRED

Contact Stevie on 07482 195019 stevemannandson@gmail.com Find us on Facebook

Contact Steve on 07445 246726 stevemannandson@gmail.com Find us on Facebook

ROB'S LANDSCAPES Landscaping AND GROUND MAINTENANCE IN PLYMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREA Landscaping • Gardening • Natural Stone Walling • Fencing • Gates Block & Brick Walls • Patios • Decking • Ground Maintenance • Block Driveways Pressure Washing • Turfing Artificial Grass • Chainsaw License Free estimates • 18 yrs experience • Find us on Facebook

07506 739819

robslandscapes@icloud.com

GUTTERING

TOTALLY GUTTERED BLOCKED, BROKEN OR DIRTY GUTTERS? Domestic & Commercial, High Level Gutter Vacuum (up to 4 Storey) Prompt, Efficient Service from a Local Family Business Call on 07467 297363

LOCKSMITH All Hours Locksmith - 24 hr Locksmith • Lockouts • Lock Changing/Fitting • Specialist UPVC Door & Window Repairs • Replacement Glass • Free Quotes 17 Ivydale Road, Mutley, Plymouth, PL4 7DE Tel 01752 516877 Mob 07989 599969

LOCKFIT PLYMOUTH

Emergency Locksmiths & Lock upgrades Covering Plymouth & surrounding areas You’ll get a fixed price, no matter how long the job or what parts are needed.

T: 01752-710590 W: www.lockfit.co.uk

MOBILITY AID WLS STAIRLIFTS RECONDITIONED FROM £749 NEW FROM £1349 RENTALS FROM £52 PER MONTH

Mob 07887587957 Office 01752212136

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

STEVE BENNETT PLASTERING

Special OAP Rates Internal/External Plastering • Spar Dash Specialist • Insurance Work Welcome • UPVC Facias, Soffits and Guttering • Property Maintenance • Painting/Decorating • Coving Prompt Polite Friendly Service • No Job Too Small • Free Estimates 01752 368601 • 07971 741068 www.stevebennettplastering.co.uk • facebook.com/plasterersofplymouth

MJB PLASTERING

• Internal & External • Reliable • Clean • High quality service at affordable prices Mat Bradley - Time served Tradesman Tel: 07716 728258 mjb-plastering@hotmail.co.uk

PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES MIKE JARVIS PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES

B Williams Plumbing and Heating Reliable plumber no job too small from tap washers to central heating systems. Free quotes gas safe registered. No call out charge, recommendations can be given. 07971572632 www.bw-plumbing.co.uk PINK PLUMBERS Fast, Friendly, Reliable and tidy service by your local FEMALE plumber.

Specialist in small to medium jobs (NO VAT) 01752 412070 07540 956436

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

One Call Maintenance

Call Richard • WINDOW AND DOOR REPAIRS 07974101028 • GLAZING REPAIRS • GARAGE DOOR REPAIRS or email

1callplymouth@ • ANY PROPTERY MAINTENANCE gmail.com All repairs expertly undertaken

StepUp Maintenance

◆ Home repair and improvement ◆ Garden Maintenance ◆ Power washing And more (no job too small) Contact Marc for free quote 07951 029947 help@stepupmaintenance.com - www.stepupmaintenance.com FULLY INSURED SERVICE

REMOVALS A M Removals Man & Van Service Plymouth Single items to full house moves 1 or 2 men available Fully insured Local/national work 07845735818 • 01752930301 www.amremovalsplymouth.co.uk

ROOFING

DEVONSHIRE ROOFING SERVICES

All aspects of roofing work undertaken, from repairs and maintenance to full restoration and new build projects.

Pitched or flat roofs • GRP (fibreglass) •lead-work uPVC Fascias & guttering • Roof-lights • Fully insured A fast & friendly service. Competitive rates.

Call or email Neil for a free estimate • 07543363225 • 01752216765 devonshireroofing@live.co.uk • www.devonshireroofing.co.uk 10% discount to Forces Veterans

PAUL JOHNSON ROOFING & BUILDING

Specialist in roof repairs • New roofs • General building work incl. UPVC works • All work guaranteed • Competitive rates • FMB Award Winner Tel 01752 364 466 Mob 07767 835879 pnjohnson@hotmail.co.uk www.pauljohnsonroofingplymouth.co.uk

LES PIKE • Emergency roof repair specialist • Concrete tiles • Natural slate • Lead valleys • Flashings All building & construction work undertaken.

45 Years experience in the building industry.

Tel: 01752 787708 Mob: 07977949898

WASTE REMOVAL

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

KSR Licensed Disposal REMOVAL OF WASTE Cheap rates for OAPs, For a FREE Estimate, CALL Kevin: 07810 450940 Please Stay Safe!

T.R.B Heating - Trevor Bryant

J&S RUBBISH REMOVALS

Full Heating Systems • Boiler Exchanges • Fire and Fireplace Installations • Complete Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Installation • Former British Gas Heating Installer • Gas Safe Registered Special offer on servicing boilers £50 (T&C Apply) 0790 6706 799 www.trbheating.co.uk trbheating@live.co.uk

House/Loft/Garage/Garden Clearances Licence carriers. Discount for OAPs. Free estimates Call Steve today to take it away Tel: 01752 600570 Mob: 07929000918 info@js-rubbish-removals.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE LISTINGS WERE PLACED PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible that some of the specialists listed here may not be currently working during the crisis.

Want to reach 90,000 homes around Plymouth? Your business could be advertised in Dial The Experts Call Glenda on 01752 225623 or email glenda@cornerstonevision.com

22 July 2020

22 July 2020

@PlymChronicle

Stagecoach announces major increase to bus services in Plymouth and beyond Stagecoach South West has introduced a major uplift to its services in Plymouth with some routes returning to normal timetables. It follows the Government decision to allow more shops to open.

The bus operator has confirmed changes have been made on board their vehicles to enable social distancing to take while travelling with them. To allow passengers to travel safely, some of their seats are blocked off to enable people to sit at least two metres away from each other.

Mike Watson, managing director of Stagecoach South West, said: “We are currently closely monitoring our services and adding additional buses in to provide extra capacity when needed. By returning to our previous service levels in most cases, from June 14, we will have much better frequency than is currently in place to help us keep people moving safely.”

He added: “ We have also significantly enhanced our cleaning schedules across the business and I am so proud of our staff’s efforts over the last few months in helping us achieve this. Our people have worked tirelessly to ensure that all vehicle

It’s super news for Superdog!

In February 2017 a very special dog arrived at Gables Dogs & Cats Home in Plympton needing specialist skin, eye and ear treatment, which also led to him developing behavioural issues caused by the pain he was in.

Superdog spent three years at Gables

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

Superdog was sadly given up by his previous owners as they were unable to give him the proper time, care and attention he needed. Now, after over three years of care, love and support from the staff at Gables, Superdog has found his forever home.

The success highlights the importance of being a genuine non-euthanasia charity. Gables never gives up on finding homes for their animals, no matter how long it takes and no matter the cost.

Shar-Peis are a breed renowned for skin issues and Superdog was no exception to this. When he arrived at Gables he was in a bad way and needed several trips to the vets. Over the course of several months, Superdog had two surgical corrections for Entropian; an uncomfortable medical condition in which the eyelid folds inwards.

After recovering from these operations, he then underwent surgery for bilateral and lateral wall resectioning of his ears and the removal of excess skin. In layman’s terms, he had a serious facelift!

Superdog still requires regular ear cleaning and has a few underlying eye issues yet to be resolved, so he may need more operations in the future. His health is now maintained with weekly baths in anti-bacterial and anti-fungal shampoo, a hypoallergenic diet, regular skin moisturising with medicated foam and of course, lots of love.

Despite everything he has gone through, Superdog has remained a firm favourite among the staff, enjoying regular walks through Saltram and around the site with his special human friends. He really enjoyed learning new things, mainly because this involved lots of cheese during training!

Ruth Rickard, deputy manager said: “We are all going to miss Superdog, but we are thrilled that he has finally found the forever home he deserves. Superdog’s success story is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and volunteers - we never give up on the dogs and cats in our care and truly believe that a forever home is waiting for each and every one of them, sometimes it just takes a little longer to find the right one!”

If you are considering adding another member to your family, why not think about adopting an animal who needs a home, as opposed to buying one? During the Coronavirus pandemic, Gables will be looking for forever homes for the animals in their care using a safe new process.

All of the dogs and cats Gables currently has available, along with information on their adoption process, can be found on their updated website at www.gablesfarm.org.uk

Superdog is enjoying his new forever home

touch points and bus stations are cleaned throughout the day, helping to keep our customers and staff safe.

“We’ve revised some of our services in response to the changing needs and travel patterns of our customers and to improve reliability. Our teams have worked hard over the last few months to allow better connections for key workers and to keep essential travellers moving.

“By working closely with local business and hospitals we have built up strong relationships that have helped us to deliver services to better suit the needs of our communities.”

Plymouth Services Route 1 Plymouth City Centre-Mutley-CrownhillDerriford-Yelverton-Horrabridge-Tavistock A new timetable will be introduced with extra morning trips Monday to Friday to better serve Derriford Hospital, additionally there will be a daily journey at 22:15 from Derriford Hospital to the City Centre. Last buses on weekdays are 9pm from Tavistock to Plymouth, and 10pm from Plymouth to Tavistock Route 2 Latchbrook 2-St Stephens 2A-Saltash-St Budeaux-Milehouse-Plymouth Railway StationPlymouth City Centre-Pomphlett-PlymstockElburton 2A-Sherford 2A-Mount Batten 2 A new timetable will be introduced to uplift the current emergency timetable to a higher frequency.

Route 3 Dartmouth-Kingsbridge-Plymouth Will revert back to the previous timetable Route 13 Saltash Passage-St Budeaux-Weston Mill-City Centre New timetable with the last journey no longer operating.

Route 14 Derriford Hospital-Ham-KeyhamDevonport-City Centre Will continue to operate the current timetable.

Route 17 Hooe-Plymstock-City Centre New timetable will be introduced operating between Pomphlett and Hooe Route 18 Elburton-Billacombe-Plymstock-City Centre New timetable will be introduced operating between Pomphlett and Elburton Route 19 Plympton-Ridgeway-Merafield-City Centre Will revert back to the previous timetable Route 31 Pennycross-Beacon Park-Barn ParkCity Centre Will revert back to the previous timetable.

Route 32 Barne Barton-St Budeaux-King’s Tamerton A timetable with three circular journeys per school day Mon-Fri between St Budeaux and Kings Tamerton Route 36 City Centre-Drake Circus-Railway Station-City College Will not be operating until further notice Route X38 Exeter City Centre-AshburtonBuckfastleigh-South Brent-Ivybridge-Plymouth City Centre Will revert back to the previous timetable.

Route 39 Plymouth-Hartley Vale New route introduced operating between between Plymouth City Centre & Hartley Vale Route 52 Plympton-Derriford Hospital New timetable will be introduced operating between Derriford Hospital and Plympton Route Gold Torquay Harbour-Paignton-TotnesIvybridge-Plymouth City Centre Will revert back to the previous timetable.

Route 101 Park & Ride George Junction-Derriford Hospital-Milehouse-Plymouth A new 101 timetable will be introduced to cover the previous 100 and 101. An additional journey on Mondays to Fridays is introduced at 7am from George P&R towards the City Centre, and the 7.10am journey on Mondays to Fridays is re-timed to 7.15am Route 200 Coypool Park & Ride-Plymouth City Centre A revised timetable will be introduced

July 2020

@PlymChronicle

23

It’s all change for the launch of innovative new Mayflower book When the publishers of an innovative new book set out to tell the story of The Mayflower and its impact - not just on America, but also on Plymouth, the place of its launch - little did they know that the launch of the book would be into the teeth of one of the greatest seachanges the world has ever seen: a global pandemic where countless countries have gone into complete lockdown.

It’s 400 years, 20 generations, 30 million American descendants and a mass of cultural and technological changes since a small ship called The Mayflower, carrying 102 brave souls and at least 30 crew, set out from Plymouth, UK, on an epic voyage that was not only destined to change its passengers’ lives irrevocably, but the very course of world history.

Sadly Mayflower 400, the commemoration of this historic event, has for the most part had to be postponed - but the makers of an innovative new book that sets out to tell the bigger story, are more determined than ever that their book will help to commemorate the anniversary and form part of the ‘Resurgam’ efforts to rebuild the City of Plymouth and its people.

Called ‘Mayflower A Seachange’ the book was developed for the 400th anniversary of The Mayflower setting sail from the steps of Plymouth harbour in 1620.

A team of writers, publishers, designers, researchers, editors, mapmakers, photographers and artists, living in Plymouth, wanted to find out why this story of a small ship crossing the ocean 400 years ago, continues to fire the imagination and create debate about this most famous of global voyages, its launch place, Plymouth and its impact on world history.

But, as it turned out, the process of the making of ‘Mayflower A Seachange’ has become almost as fascinating as the book itself. The book was created using crowdfunding to raise the money needed to publish it and was supported by over 150 people who wanted to see it happen.

Now, thanks to the global lockdown, following its publication, instead of a swanky book launch on the Sound at sunset, followed by talks in bookshops, the makers are launching the book digitally, with an innovative webinar programme called The Mayflower Series. The makers are

Creative director Juliet Coombe

asking people to join them as they launch the book and link it’s story to what’s currently happening in Plymouth and globally.

The real story of the Mayflower is symbolic of a seachange in global history - and in a similar way, 400 years later, we are now living in interesting times,” said creative director, Juliet Coombe.

“When we started to make this book we had no idea what was about to happen, or how what happened 400 years ago would have similarities to what is happening now - history repeating itself and informing our future.”

One of the key revelations in the book is that the native Americans were decimated - not just by Europeans and their overly aggressive land grabs - but by epidemics of diseases brought by them. In what was called ‘The Great Dying’ it’s estimated that up to 10 million native Americans may have died from various diseases, including smallpox and diphtheria.

The other fascinating parallel is the link to Plymouth’s history as a city that has to reinvent itself. “Resurgam is in the DNA of the City of Plymouth,” said artist Connor McIntyre, who features in the book.

“It’s the name that was written above the church door of St Andrew’s after the war and it’s what the people of Plymouth will do now,

following the global pandemic. This is not the end - we will rise again.”

The idea for the book came from Dawn Bebe, a founder of the Plymouth Culture Board, and an award-winning editor and publisher, who has been working to promote Plymouth over the last decade with the community.

It’s been directed and written by Juliet Coombe, previously a travel writer and photographer for Lonely Planet; designed by Gordon Ramsey’s book designer, James Edgar; edited, co-researched and co-written, by Charlie Keeler, Mayflower 400 historic tour guide for Devon & Cornwall Tour Guides in Plymouth; illustrated by Plymouth artist Sarah Smalldon; 20 Plymouth people photographed by Guy Harris; pictures researched

by Plymouth University student, Jodie Lidstone; and Crowdfunder video filmed by ITV and Rick Stein’s cameraman, Dominic Husband.

But the real stars are the people of Plymouth: their stories and their voices - and also The Wampanoag people, the tribe that features in the story of the Mayflower. The team spent over a year researching the book, travelling to Plymouth, Massachusetts to talk to the Wampanoags about their story and the Society of Mayflower Descendants, travelling to Leiden in Holland where many of the pilgrims came from and scouring the streets of Plymouth to research the Mayflower story and link it to what’s happening today.

Dawn Bebe said: “It’s a fascinating journey - not just the story of The Mayflower itself, but how the book was created - and also what’s happened since we created the book. It feels very much that the book has been created on a rising tide of change, and this is something that comes across strongly from the people we talk to in the book and their visions of all our futures. It’s an amazing read - and the ultimate guide for anyone interested in The Mayflower, visiting Plymouth and global trends.”

The book will be officially launched on June 30, 8pm, in a free webinar for people interested in getting a real behind the scenes look at its making. Anyone can register for free to hear what the book’s all about at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ mayflower-a-seachange-webinar-launch-onzoom-free-tickets-107688665698?aff=affiliate1 As part of the launch offer people can pay £25 including postage and packing and get a copy of the book posted to them. It can be ordered at www.wordfluential.com/sea-change The publishers have also announced a partnership with the Ocean Conservation Trust, agreeing to give 10 per cent of profits to the charity, helping its work in protecting the marine environment and solving the issue of plastic waste contaminating the oceans.

Dental enterprise is recognised as one of the best in the UK South West based social enterprise, Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise CIC which has facilities in Plymouth, Exeter and Truro - been named in the NatWest SE100 Social Business Top 100 Index.

all their endeavours in making PDSE such an outstanding organisation and I would like to thank our patients, community partners and friends who support us on our journey. To be recognised within the Index, and as the only dentistry based social enterprise too, means a huge amount to us all.” Peninsula

The enterprise’s chief executive, Robert Witton was also shortlisted in the Award’s Leadership category.

The SE100 is now in its Peninsula Dental School at Derriford tenth year, and celebrates the growth, impact and resilience of the UK’s best social ventures – by naming 100 of the most impressive social enterprises, 25 ‘trailblazing newcomers’ and giving awards to outstanding achievers in eight categories.

Robert, who is also director of Social Engagement and Community-based Dentistry in the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School, said: “I am very proud of the team and

Dental Social Enterprise is committed to improving dental health in the South West through treatment, education, community and training.

Created by the University of Plymouth in 2013, it runs the University’s four Dental Education Facilities throughout Devon and Cornwall and is a NHS training clinic for its dental profession students, including dentists, dental nurses and hygiene therapists, and postgraduate students on specialist courses such as restorative dentistry.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, whilst student clinics remain closed, the experienced staff team are on-hand to offer dental advice and guidance to existing patients both via the telephone and by offering a range of tips and advice via PDSE’s social media channels.

USEFUL NUMBERS 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

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 July 2020

24 July 2020

@PlymChronicle

Unique ceremony as HMS Tamar’s flag is raised...on the River Tamar The Royal Navy’s newest vessel, HMS Tamar, has raised the White Ensign from her deck for the first time and taken her place as a Fleet warship.

Uniquely conducting the ceremony on her namesake, the River Tamar, the very distinctive offshore patrol vessel (OPV), bears two rampart red lions either side of her superstructure, representing her close affiliations with both Devon and Cornwall.

Over the past few weeks the ship has been operating around Plymouth Sound and the South West sea training areas, carrying out her acceptance trials and a series of firsts for the ship and her crew.

These have included the first helicopter landing - a Wildcat from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton – her first gunnery exercises, as well as boat drills and emergency exercises, that has put the crew through their paces.

HMS Tamar also has the distinction of being the greenest ship in the Royal Navy - fitted with ‘catalytic converters’ which reduce nitrogen-based emissions from her engine exhausts by up to 95 per cent.

She weighs in at 2,000 tonnes, has a 6,000 mile range and a flight deck capable of carrying a Merlin helicopter. She also has accommodation for up to 50 Royal Marines Commandos and is considered by the crew as the best of Royal Navy vessels.

Lieutenant Commander Michael Hutchinson, Commanding Officer of HMS Tamar said: “It’s an incredibly proud moment for the ship. We’ve generated really quickly, we’ve done all our training and now we are at the point where we can join the Fleet, and start to get ready for our first deployment later this year.”

Affiliated to the City of Truro, Councillor Bert Biscoe, Truro’s Mayor has sent his best wishes to the ship. “On behalf of the community of Truro, the elected members and establishment of Truro City Council, and all those for whom Truro is home and

HMS Tamar, the new offshore patrol vessel in Plymouth Sound Dr Girish Viswanathan

Top cardiologist’s vital message on heart attacks A top cardiologist at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital has urged the public to seek urgent medical attention without delay, should they or a loved one experience serious cardiac symptoms.

a workplace, may I convey the good wishes and congratulations to the Captain of HMS Tamar on the auspicious occasion of its commissioning into the Fleet.

“The River Tamar is the oldest cultural boundary in Europe, and it is fitting that the vessel carries the name of the river which bonds, as a son to his mother, the Duchy of Kernow to the Crown.”

Lady Brigitte Peach, the Lady Sponsor of HMS Tamar also sent a goodwill message on the raising the White Ensign for the first time.

“Congratulations to you all on the outstanding achievement of your transition to a Warship proudly bearing the famous White Ensign. From the wonderful moment of her launch just over a year ago, I followed your excellent progress from build acceptance to a fighting platform.

“Of course, current circumstances have

The White Ensign flying on HMS Tamar after her formal commissioning

HMS Tamar was welcomed into PLymouth Sound by these dolphins

prevented me from being with you at sea and for the memorable moment of the raising of the White Ensign, but I am there with you in spirit and continue to follow your progress with interest.

I look forward to joining you when and where circumstances permit, my best wishes for an exciting future. Fair winds and following seas to you all.”

Royal Marines Brigadier Jock Fraser, Naval Regional Commander Wales and Western England also congratulated HMS Tamar. “It has been tremendous to have HMS Tamar in South West waters and proudly flying the White Ensign for the first time not far from her affiliated City. HMS Tamar’s ship’s company will be all the stronger knowing that the people of Truro are behind them.”

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As highlighted by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in May, national Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance data indicates that the number of patients presenting with cardiac diagnoses has returned to pre-COVID levels.

However, there has been concern nationally that patients with cardiac symptoms are presenting to the emergency department at a later stage than they would have before COVID-19.

This delay is concerning to cardiologists as delays to treatment can result in longer term complications and can endanger lives.

Derriford’s Clinical Director of Cardiology, Dr Girish Viswanathan has taken the opportunity to highlight the importance of early intervention in emergency cardiac treatment.

He said: “Cardiac disease is still one of the biggest killers in this country and during the COVID pandemic we have seen significant reduction in the number of patients asking for help in cardiac emergencies, which has concerned all of us working in the NHS.“Please do not delay seeking treatment as it can lead to serious long term complications, such as heart failure, and it may endanger your life.

The Cardiology Department is here for you 24/7 and the sooner treatment can be initiated, the better the clinical outcome is likely to be.”The Emergency Department at Derriford Hospital has put strict precautions in place to screen patients on arrival and maintain separate COVID and non-COVID zones to keep everyone as safe as possible.A heart attack is a medical emergency. If you or a loved one experience any serious cardiac symptoms, do not delay in asking for help - call 999 and ask for an ambulance if you suspect a heart attack.

The common symptoms of a heart attack can include: - chest pain: the chest can feel like it’s being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object, and pain can radiate from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back - shortness of breath - feeling weak or lightheaded, or both – an overwhelming feeling of anxiety

Chronicle Plymouth

July 2020

Superdog has been at Gables Farm Dog & Cats Home for three years - but now he has a new home See page 22

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Central & Waterfront

COVID UPDATE

Children in Plymouth have been going to great lengths to raise funds for

See inside for news and information from Plymouth City Council Pages 2 to 6

charity See pages 12 and 13

ALSO INSIDE:

• Dial the Experts • Cross Rhythms • Community Job Experience Shop • Useful numbers

Cremyll Ferry is back!

The popular Cremyll Ferry, operated

by Plymouth Boat Trips, returned to service on June 16, albeit with a reduced timetable and restricted passenger numbers restoring the link between Plymouth and South East Cornwall • See story on 7

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