Plymouth Chronicle Derriford & North December 2022

Christmas sparklers!

Plymouth is all set for a fantastic festive season with a host of activities, special events and dazzling displays in the city centre, the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Waterfront. Full details can be found in the special eight-page pull-out supplement in this edition.

Christmas has kicked off at Drake Circus and The Barcode with a host of festive attractions and activities and late-night shopping every Thursday until Christmas

Photo: One Plymouth

Worried about the cost of living?

The rising cost of living is a real worry for many households in Plymouth and across the UK.

If you are worried about the cost of living or are struggling to make ends meet, there are a range of local services offering practical support and advice.

They can provide you with information about benefits and advice on housing issues, food costs and energy bills, as well as looking after your own wellbeing.

The services below are a good place to start seeking help but there is much

more information and extra help available online. Plymouth City Council has recently launched an online Cost of Living Hub to make it as easy as possible to find help. Visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/cost-living.

If you need help to get online, the libraries in Plymouth offer free Wi-Fi for your own devices as well as the use of computers. Call 01752 305900 for more information.

Remember, if you are struggling, you are not alone and there is no shame in asking for help. Everyone needs a little bit of extra support at some point.

Help with energy costs

Not being able to afford to heat or power your home can be very worrying and stressful.

It’s important to continue paying these bills and there’s help available from your supplier if you’re struggling.

Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) can provide advice about energy bills as well as support with home improvements. For more information call PEC on 01752 477117.

You can save as much as £467 per year on your energy bills by considering some key tips from the Energy Saving Trust.

Visit energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-savingbudget/.

The main message to remember is, if possible: Turn it down, Turn it off, Use it less.

Energy saving tips

In a year you can save up to these amounts by:

• Turning down the thermostat by one degree (£145)

• Taking a shorter (four-minute) shower (£95)

• Air-drying clothes instead of using using the tumble dryer (£70)

• Turning appliances off rather than leaving them on standby (£65)

• Reducing the temperature of your washing machine (to 30 degrees) and amount you use it (£34)

• Ensuring lights are switched off when leaving the room (£25)

• Swapping one bath per week for a four-minute shower (£20)

• Not overfilling the kettle when boiling water (£13)

Help with food bills and money saving tips

The Plymouth Food Aid Network’s website has a useful Community Food Access map showing different charities, community groups and organisations who are able to provide food support in Plymouth.

You can find it at pfan.adoddle.org/food-accessmap/.

This includes food banks, food larders and community fridges where food is either free or low-cost. For tips on how you can save money when buying and cooking food visit www. transformingplymouthtogether.org.uk.

If you are receiving certain benefits and have a child under four, or you are pregnant, you may be entitled to up to £8.50 per week to buy healthy food and milk through the Healthy Start scheme.

Visit the website www.healthystart.nhs.uk or call 0300 3307010 (calls charged at local rate) to check eligibility.

If you need help applying, go to your local children’s centre or wellbeing hub.

Struggling with your housing costs?

Families with children registered for free school meals will continue to receive vouchers during the school holidays to the value of £13 per child, per week, which can be redeemed at various supermarkets.

Vouchers will be given out during the upcoming Christmas, February half term and Easter holidays.

To check whether your family are eligible for free school meals visit: plymouth.gov.uk/free-school-meals or call 01752 307410.

Food money saving tips

• Buy tinned and frozen fruit and vegetables as they last longer and are often cheaper

• Look for ‘wonky’ vegetables as they are cheaper, but just as good for you

• Use a microwave or slow cooker (some start at £15) instead of your oven to save on energy

• Try meat-free days and using pulses such as lentils, chickpeas or beans in meals to get your protein

• Look out for reduced fresh food items with yellow stickers in supermarkets

• Try to batch cook meals on days when you have time and freezing them for days when you might not have the time, or feel like cooking

• Avoid food waste by writing (and sticking to!) a list, keeping leftovers for another meal and keeping sliced bread in the freezer and only taking out what you need.

Where to find financial help

Don’t wait for the bills to mount up – ask for help as soon as you can.

Citizens Advice Plymouth can help with a variety of issues such as debts, employment issues and utility bills. They also provide specialist benefits information, advice and support, including an online benefits calculator to help you find out what benefits you can claim.

You can contact Citizens Advice Plymouth by Freephone on 0808 278 7910 or using their faceto-face, drop-in service at Ernest English House in Buckwell Street, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4.15pm.

Visit their website citizensadviceplymouth.org.uk/ advice-plymouth for more information.

Money Helper is a government-backed service that provides support and advice on budgeting, benefits, pensions and debts.

Its trained specialists can help work out what’s right for you with free impartial support over the phone on 0800 138 7777 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or online at www.moneyhelper.org.uk.

Its website contains links to online tools and advice about a huge range of topics, including banking, credit, pensions and savings.

Unfortunately, scammers and loan sharks are likely to try to take advantage of the cost of living crisis.

Be alert for any scams, for example if you’re approached by someone unexpectedly or if an offer seems too good to be true. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Loan sharks can charge very high rates of interest, don’t provide much paperwork and may use intimidation or threats to frighten people into paying back a loan.

If you’ve already borrowed from a loan shark, the important thing to remember is that you haven’t broken the law and there is help available.

If you are struggling with housing costs, have issues with your accommodation or are at risk of becoming homeless, it’s important to ask for help and advice as soon as possible.

Shelter is a national charity that offers support with housing issues, providing information, support and advice to millions of people facing homelessness and experiencing unfit and unsafe housing.

In Plymouth, they offer a walk-in service on Mondays and Thursdays, 10am to midday at Ernest English House, Buckwell St, PL1 2DA.

You can also contact them on 03301 755 121 or visit www.shelter.org.uk.

The Community Connections team at Plymouth City Council can also help you with housing issues such as a risk of becoming homeless, tenancy problems, rental costs, deposit guarantees and support with legal issues.

They can be contacted on 01752 305496 or by visiting plymouth.gov.uk/housing.

If you are having issues paying your Council Tax bill you may be able to apply for an exemption, discount or find other support.

You may even be able to apply for a hardship payment or be able to negotiate a payment arrangement.

You may find it helpful to consider paying your Council Tax by direct debit as this gives you a choice of payment dates.

Visit plymouth.gov.uk/council-tax to explore your options or contact Plymouth City Council on 01752 668000 for further help.

Warm spaces available across the city over autumn and winter

To help beat the chill this autumn and winter, a range of warm spaces are being opened up throughout the city.

Plymouth City Council is working with community and faith groups to offer these warm spaces where people can gather for free, charge up and connect their devices and maybe enjoy a hot drink and some company.

Plymouth’s free warm spaces include libraries, community hubs, church halls, sports centres and other places, for anyone struggling to heat their home this winter.

Some venues will also offer hot drinks, food, activities and other services such as free Wi-Fi.

Warm spaces are free, heated, safe, friendly, neutral places where you can comfortably spend time reading, studying or chatting with others.

Full details of all the warm spaces including opening times and facilities can be found on an interactive map on the Plymouth City Council website at plymouth.gov.uk/warm-welcoming-spaces. The map is being updated regularly as more warm spaces open up this winter.

As all the city’s libraries have signed up to being a warm space, why not go along and get online to find out more about the other warm spaces in the city and the cost of living support available to you?

Discover the help that’s on offer – including financial support, energy bills, food costs, housing issues, employment support, mental wellbeing and much more. Go to www.plymouth.gov.uk/cost-living.

You can speak in confidence to the Illegal Money Lending Hotline on 0300 555 2222.

Mental health support

If you’re struggling and would benefit from mental health support, there are services and organisations that can help. Remember, you are not alone, there’s always someone to talk to.

The Samaritans: are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels, with no judgement and no pressure.

Call them for free on 116 123.

Shout: is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Just text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free to speak to a trained volunteer.

Headspace: offer an out-of-hours service in Plymouth for people who feel they are approaching a mental health crisis.

They aim to provide a non-clinical setting with a safe, calm and structured environment, where individuals can go to access peer support.

Their phone line 07890 257614 is open seven days a week from 6pm to midnight.

Devon Mind: offer emotional support face to face, over the phone and online. They also run a number of courses and workshops as well as a counselling service. They can be contacted on 01752 512280 during office hours.

Livewell Southwest’s First Response Service: is a 24/7 crisis line providing advice, support and signposting for people experiencing mental health difficulties. If you feel worried about your mental health, or that of a loved one or a friend, you can call the crisis line on 0800 923 9323.

Clinical drug trial helps diabetic Desmond get back on the road

A Plymouth man with diabetes, who has lost more than four stone since beginning a clinical trial of a drug, says he feels ‘on top of the world.’

Desmond Hosking, 78, from Crownhill enjoyed an active life, doing a physical job and spending much of his free time working on boats and vehicles. But since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 25 years ago, Desmond put on weight and was struggling to control the condition.

That is until he was offered the chance to take part in a research trial by clinicians at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. The cardiovascular outcome trial is investigating whether a drug used to treat diabetes also has a positive effect on heart disease.

The study, which is being supported locally by the National Institute for Health and Care Research is now closed to recruitment, but the couple have seen a huge difference in Desmond’s weight and overall health and energy levels.

Desmond said: “I’ve been a lot better since I’ve been on the trial, I feel on top of the world. I’ve lost four or five stone and I feel quite fit. I still can’t walk as far as I’d like, but at least I can do a bit of work if I want to – just not 14 hours a day like I used to.”

Before starting on the trial, Desmond’s weight and ill health were making day-to-day life difficult and preventing him doing some of the things he most enjoyed.

He said: “We had a nice boat that we got rid of, partly because with the weight it was getting harder to get on and off, and pull the anchor up and everything. And I wasn’t able to work on my Land Rover like I wanted to. My diabetes wasn’t stable.”

Wife Sonja, who blames her husband’s ‘sweetie addiction’ for his health problems, added: “He’s lost loads of weight, which helps his body manage the diabetes better. And he’s a lot more nimble. He’s absolutely dedicated to his Land Rover, and he can get underneath it again now, he couldn’t have done that before.

“It really has improved his life a lot, he’s got so much more energy as he’s not carrying around so much weight.”

Desmond is clear about the advice he would give to others

It can be hard for four and five year olds to adapt to school life – which is why the teachers at Eggbuckland Vale Primary School put so much care into settling the youngsters.

Ros Owen, assistant headteacher and head of Reception said: “The children have had an amazing time exploring our setting, the grounds and all the amazing activities that we have to play with.

“They have loved visiting our library and reading in our beautiful tree house. We have been on welly walks and had lots of wonderful outdoor play in the autumn sunshine.

The children have started phonics brilliantly and are loving taking home their first reading books.

considering taking part in research: “I’d say just do it. You’ll feel a lot better in yourself, and the care you’ll get is second to none. Whoever it helps, I’m just grateful to be able to help them. The NHS has kept me alive for the last few years and now I can do my bit in return.”

The couple have two children, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, most of whom live locally and are regular visitors to Desmond and Sonja’s home. And it is the chance to improve life for future generations of people with diabetes that most inspires Desmond to take part in research.

He said: “It’s not for my benefit, I’m an old man. I’m doing it for the youngsters. Kids get diabetes, and I hate to see illness in other people.”

To find out more about Research and Development at University Hospitals Plymouth, visit: www.plymouthhospitals.nhs. uk/research. To find out about health and care research studies recruiting in the Plymouth area, visit www.bepartofresearch.nihr. ac.uk/

Plymouth Lions Club has appealed for help to maintain its involvement with the city’s daily Soup Run.

The Lions Club is one of the groups which organises and pays for the Soup Run for the city’s homeless every evening.

Although the name ‘Soup Run’ conjures up images of just soup and a ladle, this is no longer the case.

Nowadays it consists of collecting and preparing food to meet the present day standards of hygiene with acceptable up-to-date foodstuffs purchased from various food outlets at the best possible price and after preparation, distributing to the various sites in and around Plymouth.

Lion George Poad said: “It is getting harder to raise the money to cover the costs involved for this, whilst endeavouring to

Lions Club in Soup Run appeal

continue to support all of the other local charitable cases and local charitable organisations.

“We are therefore looking for sponsors, food donations, or money to help us to continue with this much needed work for an ever increasing number of homeless people in Plymouth. All donations or offers of help will be very much appreciated.”

Anyone who can help support the work of the Lions Club on the Soup Run should contact George on 01752 491444.

“They have obviously been focussing on making friends and have all done very well with their social skills. Learning is about much more than reading and writing; it’s about learning to enjoy learning and developing their curiosity in the world around us, too.’

It’s quite a change for a lot of the children so they started off with one week of part time attendance, developing into full time hours. The staff work with the children helping them to learn the school routines and to adapt to life at ‘big school.’

Staff observe the children over the first few weeks, and then organise them into

classes with the children and adults that have gelled together the most. The Early Years and Foundation Stage children at Eggbuckland Vale have their own play areas and a recently created woodland grove to roam in, making their school day full of variety, adventure and learning.

“It’s so rewarding now they are in gorgeous, happy classes in which they can go on and thrive!” added Ros. “We’re already showing parents around for September 2023 so please get in touch with the school if you’d like to see what we have to offer, from our woodland area to our new ocean conservation curriculum.”

Lots of outdoor play at Eggbuckland Vale

Desmond and Sonja Hosking

Out and About

Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

Send details of your event to info@ cornerstonevision.com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.

Crownhill Lights Switch On

Nov 25

Organised by the Crownhill Village Community Network Group, the event starts with entertainment on stage from 5pm till around 8pm, with the lights being switched on by members of Cann Bridge School signing group at 6.30pm. Market stalls, music, etc. Raffle drawn at 7pm. Tickets from Forever Flowers, Morshead Road, Crownhill.

Breakfast with Santa

Nov 26 to Dec 18

Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy a special ‘Breakfast with Santa’ in The Box Kitchen & Bar on Saturdays and Sundays. This event has been hugely popular in previous years, so don’t leave it too late to book! ‘Breakfast with Santa’ menu includes bacon and maple syrup pancakes; pancakes with maple syrup and berries; bacon, sausage, egg or veggie sausage baps with tea or coffee for adults and hot chocolate or fruit juice for children. All children’s tickets include a gift. Tickets and details www.theboxplymouth.com

Christmas Fayre

Nov 26

St Boniface Church, Percy Street, St Budeaux from 10am to 12 noon. There will be cakes, bottles and tins, Christmas tombola, gifts galore, chocolate tombola, refreshments and a grand draw. Admission 20p.

Christmas Fayre

Nov 26

At Trinity United Reformed Church, Torr Lane, Hartley from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be light refreshments, stalls including home grown produce, preserves, recycled gifts, tombola, books and cake stall.

Christmas Fayre

Nov 26

Popular annual event at Ford Park Cemetery from 11am to 2.30pm with many stalls present.

Christmas Holly Wreath Sale

From Dec 1

Christmas Holly Wreaths on sale at Ford Park Cemetery, Mon to Fri 10am to 4pm. Cost: £8 posy, £15 wreath, £25 larger wreath, £30 Cross. £1 for placement on a grave if required. Forms available in the office at Ford Park with the number of wreaths required, the date to be collected, the grave location if it needs to be placed with the name on the headstone, along with name and contact number. All proceeds for the upkeep of the cemetery.

Christmas Concert

Dec 2

Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Fellowship present the magically nostalgic I’ll Be Home for Christmas at Stoke Damerel Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from Marilyn on 01752 564847 or on the door.

Christmas Concert

Dec 3

Phoenix Chorale is holding its annual Christmas concert in St Peter’s Church in Stonehouse at 7.30pm.

The exciting programme of music features three triumphant choral anthems by Handel, including Zadok the Priest, and is contrasted by a collection of songs by contemporary composers, among them Rutter, Whitacre, MacMillan and Billy Joel. Mulled wine and mince pies are available and there will be a Luxury Hamper raffle. Tickets £12 in advance from www.ticketsource.co.uk or £14 on the door, under 18s free.

Festive Play with Clay

Dec 3 and 10

Visit The Box to learn more about the ceramic cats art work by Andy Holden that’s on display in British Art Show 9. Make your own festive cat, or another figurine inspired by something that’s special to you, and share

some creative time together. Activities are ideal for 4-11 year olds and their adults. Drop in for as little or as long as you like. Free, no need to book. Visit www. theboxplymouth.com for times.

Music for Advent & Christmas Dec 3

Seasonal music by Bach, Chilcott, Palestrina performed by West Devon Chorale at Minster Church of St Andrew in Plymouth at 7.30pm. Tickets from www.wegottickets/westdevonchorale or from 01752 776479.

Christmas Concert

Dec 3

The Music of the Night Choral Foundation celebrate their 10th anniversary with a Christmas concert entitled ‘Tis the Season’ at Pennycross Methodist Church, Beauchamp Road, Peverell at 2.30pm. The Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor and their consorts will be attending. Tickets available from 07860 354290, on the door and from choir members.

Christmas Fair Dec 3

St Francis Church, Honicknowle from 11am to 2pm. Various stalls, turkey sandwiches and refreshments. Father Christmas will arrive at 1pm bringing gifts for the children.

Christmas Fair Dec 3

Organised by Elburton Residents’ Association at Elburton Village Hall from 3pm. Lots of stalls to browse with food and drinks available. Santa will be there for the children and the the Elburton Village Christmas lights will be switched on at the event.

Christmas Market Dec 3

Supporting Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity at The Staddy, Plymstock from 12.30pm to 5pm. Featuring food, crafts, gifts and much more.

Christmas Good Food and Craft Market

Dec 4

Over 70 stalls offering festive wares and unique gifts at Royal William Yard. Among these will be flowers from Sunday Bunch, handcrafted accessories from Terra Jewellery and Southway Silver, vegan skincare from Soap and Pamper, tipples from Barbican Botanics, tasty treats from Devon Fudge, Chunky Cookie Company, and Heyl Bakery, and much more.

Details at www.royalwilliamyard.com

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir

Dec 4

The choir presents Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus in Plymouth Guildhall at 7.30 pm. Tickets £20 in advance from our ticket manager 07949 311030. For more information visit plymouthphilchoir.org

Christmas Craft and Gift Fair

Dec 4

YMCA Plymouth, Honickknowle Lane from 11am to 3pm. Lord Mayor will open the doors at 11am. Over 50

stalls with Christmas gifts plus three bouncy castles, Santa’s grotto, face painting, magic show (12 noon), hog roast throughout the event, bistro serving hot drinks. Lots of raffle prizes and come in fancy dress to win prizes. Free entry and parking.

Christmas Concert Dec 6

The Plymouth Clarion Male Voice Choir present a Christmas Concert with soprano soloist Katherine Doherty at 7.30pm in St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Pemros Road, St Budeaux. Free entry with a donation collection for CAFOD and Ukraine. Tea/coffee and mince pieat the end of the concert.

Christmas Jumper Day Dec 6

Get friends and colleagues to wear a Christmas jumper and donate £1 to Hugs Children’s Cancer Chairity. Best jumper team wins a prize. Visit www. hugsccc.com for details.

Carol Service Dec 7

In the Chapel at Ford Park Cemetery at 6.30pm. Entry £6. Details at 01752 665442 from 10am to 4pm.

Annual meeting Dec 7

The Royal British Legion Plympton & District Club, 41 Market Road, Plympton will hold its AGM from 7pm. Meeting will include taking a Vote on the Adoption of Rules RBLC (England/Wales Co-op) Model Rules 2019v2. Members to please bring their membership card.

Christmas Carol Service Dec 8

Charity concert in aid of Primrose Fellowship breast cancer charity at at Stoke Damerel Church at 7pm. Open to all - donations welcome.

Oh No It Isn’t! Dec 9 to 24

Plymouth’s Barbican Theatre present their hilarious yet poignant alternative to traditional panto performed by Cornish-based Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre. Tickets and details at www.barbicantheatre.co.uk

Christmas Celebration

Dec 9 and 10

The Down Thomas Singers are holding a two-night candle-lit celebration of Christmas Music and Carols at the Silver Jubilee Hall, Down Thomas at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 each with a hot drink and mince pie included. The charity being supported is HUGS which helps families, in the PL postcode area, whose children suffer from rare cancers. Tickets from 01752 299204.

Christmas Table Top Sale and Bazaar

Dec 10

In the hall of The Church of The Holy Spirit, Southway from 1pm to 3pm. Lots of goodies available for Christmas. Tables available (pre book only) £5 each. Contact Veronica on 07855 256383.

Christmas Raffle

Dec 10

Ford Park Cemetery Visitor Centre from 2pm to 4pm. Refreshments available. Details at 01752 665442 from 10am to 4pm.

Christmas Celebration

Dec 10

Fundraiser for Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity at The Staddy from 1pm to 4.30pm featuring Ocean City DJs, party games and more. Tickets £15 for family of four, £5 additional tickets. To book contact Sharon Hallam on 07718 291084.

The Collati Singers

Dec 11

Festive music from the 12th to the 21st century at at Stoke Damerel Church at 3pm. Tickets £15 on the door or from www.wegottickets.com

Light Up A Life Dec 13

St Luke’s Hospice Light Up a Life services at 2pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Minster Church, Royal Parade. A chance to remember loved ones and celebrate their lives. Free with refreshments available afterwards. Details www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/light

Songs

Dec 15

for the Longest Night

Concert of acappella singing to celebrate winter by the Great Sea Choir at Stoke Damerel Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 to £12 to local charity on the door or from www.wegottickets.com

The Christmas Mouse

Dec 15 to 24

Soapbox Children’s Theatre present a delightful Christmas show at their Devonport Park theatre. A special seasonal treat for eight year olds and under and their big people. With stunning puppets, this is a Christmas story sure to make memories and warm little hearts. To book visit stiltskin.org.uk/soapboxchildrens-theatre-devonport-box-office/

Winter Gold Christmas Concert

Dec 16

South-west based chamber choir Levowan XII presents an evening of beautiful choral music in the fabulous setting of St Peter’s Church, Wyndham Square at 7.30pm. The concert features one of J S Bach’s Christmas Cantatas Gloria in Excelsis Deo and is followed by a contrasting collection of contemporary festive songs. Mulled wine and mince pies available. For more information, visit www.levowan.co.uk

Christmas Concert

Dec 16 and 17

Presented by Plymouth Musical Activities Club at Devonport Playhouse at 7.30pm. Tickets £7 now on sale. Call or text Carol Rowntree on 07926 029268.

Christmas Express Trains

Various

dates

Plym Valley Railway will be running Christmas specials every weekend in December. Booking for either a table for four or compartment for six adults. Every fare paying child will receive a gift from Santa. Visit www. plymrail.co.uk for details and bookings.

The Snowcat at Yuletide

Dec 17 to 24

Soapbox Children’s Theatre in Devonport Park invite you to join them on this Christmas adventure. With incredible puppets, magical characters and a fantastic soundtrack, our winter season show will take you on a journey unlike any other. To book visit stiltskin.org.uk/ soapbox-childrens-theatre-devonport-box-office/

Plymouth Jazz

Dec 18

Club

Featuring the Dart Valley Stompers at Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill at7.30pm. Tickets and details www.plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk

Send details of your event to info@cornerstonevision. com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.

Barbican Theatre’s hilarious panto ‘Oh No It Isn’t’ runs from December 9 to 24

boost for arts and culture in Plymouth

Plymouth’s role as a cultural and arts hotspot has been endorsed with renewed Arts Council England investment of more than £12m into the city’s cultural organisations.

Arts Council England (ACE) today announced their three year funding deal for National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) around the country. NPO status is awarded to organisations that create excellent cultural work and open up the arts to new audiences in exciting and engaging ways. There are eight in Plymouth, which will get £4,113,239 a year over the next three years, a total of £12,339,717.

The announcement comes at a challenging time for cultural organisations in the city and nationally. Rising costs and utility increases are adding to the financial burden of Covid, which is still having an impact on Plymouth venues’ audiences and earned income. NPO status gives organisations an ongoing contribution from ACE towards running costs and the development of new projects, but all remain reliant on additional commercial and fundraised income.

ACE confirmedhat the following organisations have NPO status for the next three years:

• Barbican Theatre Plymouth, a regional centre of excellence for young and emerging theatre and dance artists

• Beyond Face, who provide opportunities for artists of the Global Majority to live, work and thrive in the South West theatre sector

• KARST, an independent contemporary arts gallery and studio complex in Millbay

• Literature Works, the regional literature development agency for South West England

• Plymouth Culture, the strategic development organisation that supports and enables the growth of culture across the city

• Real Ideas Organisation, which helps organisations to grow and communities to thrive, as well as bringing new life into old buildings such as Ocean Studios and Market Hall

• The Box, Plymouth’s flagship new gallery, museum and archive

• Theatre Royal Plymouth, the South West’s leading producing house

Hannah Harris, CEO Plymouth Culture said: “It is fantastic news that Plymouth’s cultural sector has retained the significant level of Arts Council investment achieved in the previous funding round.

“This is a mark of the outstanding cultural leadership within the city’s cultural organisations and the ongoing support for culture from the local authority. This secures an exciting programme of cultural activity for the city over the next three years.

“We are disappointed that some organisations have had a reduction in funding but will seek to work alongside them and to support them through this transition. We thank them for their hard work in supporting communities through culture and hope to see it continue.”

Remembrance Day marked in a special way at Widey Court

Children at Widey Court Primary School went one step further this year with their Remembrance Day efforts.

Last year, they created a massive ‘Poppy Wave’ consisting of more than 600 poppies made from plastic bottle bottoms. They repeated something similar this year, with every child contributing to a whole school ‘Poppy Art’ project.

Headteacher Shaun Nicholls said: “Remembrance Day is important to us, especially as we have a lot of service children at our school. Our Military Kids Club is very active, but this project embraces all our children and gets them involved.”

This year, the school joined forces with Plymouth Veterans & Family Hub for a very special Remembrance project.

“Plymouth Veterans & Family Hub support veterans and their families, as well as serving personnel and their families in all sorts of ways,” said Shaun.

“They are like a Citizens Advice service for veterans. They also organise and run events for veterans to try to tackle loneliness and give opportunities for people to meet and make friends. They have come up with a very exciting project called ‘Hero hunt’ for our service children.”

The veterans and veteran’s wives have been busy crocheting and knitting poppies, which have been given to each of the service children along with a card which gives details of a member of the armed forces who was

killed in action in one of the wars. The card also gives details of where each person’s memorial is in the city of Plymouth. Each service child can go along and search for the name that is on their card.

“This is such a powerful way to bring

history into the present. Each of those cards represents a real person, just as the poppies do. We hope that the children who go to find the memorials in Plymouth have a deep appreciation of the sacrifices people made in the wars – and are still making,” added Shaun.

Young People’s Drawing Competition is launched by The Box

The Box has just launched a new ‘Young People’s Drawing Competition’ for anyone aged up to 25.

Taking part is really simple and there are three different age categories available: primary school, secondary school and 18-25 years.

The overall theme for the competition is ‘For the Joy of Drawing’. The winner of each category will receive a £150 voucher to spend on whatever they like in The Box’s in-store or online shop. They’ll also have their work displayed at The Box in 2023.

To submit an entry to the competition, all children and young people need to do is scan or take a high quality photograph of their chosen drawing (minimum 300dpi) and email it to theboxlearning@plymouth. gov.uk. They’ll need to label the file they send with their initials, the date and the relevant category.

The closing date for all competition entries is 5pm on December 11. Full details and terms and conditions are available from The Box’s website at www.theboxplymouth.com/drawingcompetition

With Christmas around the corner, more of us will want to purchase presents online or deliver presents to our loved ones through the post. The holiday season is the busiest time for parcel deliveries, and therefore there’s a risk that something can go wrong with your delivery. Do you know what to do?

Our shopping habits changed during the pandemic. Since then, shopping online has become the norm for many of us. According to the ONS, we’re still spending more on online shopping than before the pandemic. Moreover, Statista portal reveals that in 2020/21, parcel deliveries have increased by over 1.3 billion, with approx. 4.2 billion parcels being sent.

Sometimes, it can be quite difficult to resolve parcel delivery issues. Knowing what to do can

save you from additional stress and anxiety. Your rights will depend on which company you shopped with and/or who was used for the delivery.

A. If you have bought items from a business to be delivered, e.g. Amazon or Asos, etc.

In many cases, you should officially contact the retailer, not the parcel company. Where the seller used a courier, they should chase the courier to find out what’s happened to your order –it’s not your responsibility.

If the seller claims they’ve delivered it or don’t know where it is, you can ask for a redelivery.

In some circumstances you might be able to get a refund.

Before you decide to do your Christmas shopping online: 1. Find out what the delivery times, costs and return policies are for your purchase.

2. Make sure you know whether you’re dealing with a trader or a private seller, as it affects your rights.

3. Check the trader is genuine. Reviews help you find out how reliable the company is and how they deal with complaints and refunds.

4. If your parcel goes missing, speak to the trader to deal with the problem, not the courier company.

B. If you have sent a parcel through the Royal Mail Sometimes, your Royal Mail letters or parcels might arrive damaged, lost, or delayed. If this is a case, you might be able to claim compensation. What you can do depends on how the item was sent and what the problem is.

If you bought something online, over the phone or in a shop and the item was shipped by Royal Mail, you should try to contact the seller.

You can only get compensation from Royal Mail if the item was posted in the UK and sent using a Royal Mail service, e.g. Post Office.

There are different rules depending on if the item was damaged, delayed or lost in the post. You can read more about your rights on Citizens Advice website www.citizensadvice. org.uk/consumer/post/if-youthink-your-post-is-lost

If you would like to make a claim for compensation, you can do it by either completing an online form on Royal Mail’s website, or filling in a paper form and posting to Royal Mail.

How much you get depends on what happened to the item.

It’s worth noting that Royal Mail deliveries have recently been disturbed by strikes.

Here’s what you can do to avoid delays:

• Send your post early if you can – this is the easiest way to avoid delays.

• Check Royal Mail’s up-todate information on their website.

• Always make sure to get (and keep) your proof of posting – it is easier to sort out if you have a proof of posting.

If you need more information on your consumer rights

Citizens Advice is here to help. Visit www.citizensadvice. org.uk or contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133

Household Support Fund is set to help Plymouth residents during this winter

Plymouth City Council will help residents with the rising costs of living this winter by distributing £2.29 million from the Government’s Household Support Fund.

The funding will support low-income households including families and single adults, people with disabilities and people at risk of homelessness or living in temporary accommodation.

Nearly £1 million of the funding will be used to help families cover the cost of meals over the school holidays until Easter 2023. Families with children that are eligible for free school meals will receive vouchers to the value of £13 per child, per week, which can be redeemed at various supermarkets.

Vouchers have already been distributed for the October half term and will also be given out during the upcoming Christmas, February half term and Easter holidays.

Council Leader Richard Bingley said: “We know that the rising costs of living and the long-term effects of the pandemic mean that many people living in Plymouth will be worried as we approach winter.

“The Household Support Fund is a vital resource and I’m delighted that it’s given us the means to provide additional support to our residents that are most in need, helping with food and energy costs over the coming months.”

The council is also partnering with Plymouth Energy Community and Citizens Advice Plymouth to provide help with energy bills in the form of grants, plumbing and heating repairs, and the provision of goods and appliances that help to save energy, such as electric blankets, slow cookers and microwaves.

Funding will also be given to local voluntary sector organisations who work directly with vulnerable Plymouth residents and to food aid organisations to develop a sustainable food supply model.

This would mean less focus on emergency aid and more offers such as community larders and cookery lessons.

Funding will also be available for venues to provide warm, welcoming spaces across the city this winter, providing a safe, heated environment for people to spend time in.

More details about how to access the support will be shared on the Plymouth City Council website in the coming weeks.

The council has also recently launched a new online hub signposting to useful support as the cost of living rises, which is available at plymouth.gov.uk/costofliving.

Southwest Funeral Care is an independent family owned business located in Southway, serving Plymouth and the surrounding areas.

Oceans of learning for pupils at Plymouth and Torbay schools

Eight primary schools across Plymouth and Torquay are set to benefit from the UK’s first Ocean Curriculum, which was developed by teachers working at Connect Academy Trust in collaboration with scientists at the Ocean Conservation Trust, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Biological Association.

The programme of teaching offers a hands-on introduction to ocean science and is designed with modules catering for ages four to 11 so children of all ages will be spending up to six weeks exploring life in the ocean.

“The initial idea was to develop stronger links with our ocean experts in Plymouth, which it is Britain’s Ocean City after all”, explained Stuart Bellworthy, CEO of Connect Academy Trust.

“We want to help the children in our schools to have a deeper appreciation of the Ocean and for them to understand how looking after the Ocean supports the future of our planet, as well as what they can do to make a difference.’’

Work started on the curriculum in 2019, in response to rising concern amongst children and adults about climate change, over-fishing, and the abundance of plastics in the ocean.

Stuart added: “All of our science partners have been incredibly supportive, and we could not have achieved this mammoth task without their expert input. Once we started talking to them, the concept evolved into an Ocean Curriculum covering the Seven Principles of Ocean Literacy. Most children love the sea and studying the ocean gives them a fascinating introduction to so many aspects of science, in a way that they can really relate to. So far, all the units of work we have trialled have been really popular.

“It’s rare for schools to write their own new curriculum like this. While schools do have some flexibility around how and what they teach, in practice many focus solely on the national curriculum and lack the resources to develop larger units of work outside of that.

“It’s one of the advantages of being an Academy Trust‚“ he added. “We have been able to pool resources and expertise across the five Plymouth schools in our Trust. Several teachers in our schools have a background in marine biology so that has helped enormously. Each of our schools has a nominated Ocean Champion amongst its staff who is responsible for developing material and introducing the

units of work into their own school.”

In September, Connect Academy Trust took on three schools in Torbay, which will start teaching the Ocean curriculum in 2023.

At the end of October, the Trust held a training day for teachers, with workshops run by its ocean partners. Elaine Hayes, CEO of the new National Marine Park in Plymouth welcomed the teachers to the National Marine Aquarium and talked about the Marine Park and ocean conservation.

Elaine said: “We need to think longer and harder about how we can embed ocean literacy into all aspects of school life. Through

education we can help people make better choices about how they co-exist with nature now and in the future. Through this new curriculum, over 2,000 children

will grow up knowing more about the ocean than previous generations. The teachers at Connect Academy Trust have my admiration for developing this important curriculum. We need a paradigm shift in thinking as we move forward.”

As a result of developing this curriculum, the Trust has been awarded Blue Ocean status, an EU initiative to bring the ocean into the classroom, the only UK education provider to hold this status.

The Trust aims to share its curriculum with other schools in the area and across the country, once it is fully up and running.

“We’re an ambitious Trust and are keen to work with other Trusts and schools to promote the Ocean curriculum. We’d also love to talk to any schools who might like to join our Trust,” added Stuart Bellworthy.

Stuart Bellworthy, CEO of Connnect Academy Trust at the training day

Teaching staff from Connnect Academy Trust schools in Plymouth and Torbay at the training day

Youngsters from one of the Connect Academy Trust schools in Plymouth learn about marine conservation at the National Marine Aquarium

Cost of living support available for Plymouth residents

Plymouth councillors are urging anyone struggling with the rising cost of living to use the wide range of support that is available in the city.

Plymouth City Council is working with partners to support residents struggling with the rising cost of living and has created a cost of living hub on its website to make it easier for people to find useful information and resources available both in the city and nationwide.

The council’s online hub includes information about:

• Support available to help with housing, food and energy costs

• Where to find financial advice, for example about debts or budgeting

• Mental health services

• Employment and skills support

The refreshed online hub, which initially launched in June 2022, also now includes a map of warm, welcoming spaces across Plymouth. These spaces, which include libraries, churches, community centres and businesses, all offer a safe place for people to spend time in as the weather gets colder.

Organisations that wish to offer their buildings as a warm space can now register to be added to the map.

Council Leader Richard Bingley said: “We know that the increasing cost of living is a real concern to many Plymouth residents which is why we have created this online hub on our website that pulls together all of the help and advice available in one place, so people can quickly and easily find the support they need.

“We are also using our latest round of funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund to offer direct help with food and energy costs for those most at risk in the city, including low-income families and single adults, people with disabilities and people at risk of homelessness or who are living in temporary accommodation.”

Councillor Rebecca Smith, who chairs Plymouth’s cost of living task force, said: “The hub came about as a result of the work being carried out by our cost of living taskforce, which has brought together organisations from across the city to work collaboratively as we tackle this challenge, providing practical support and identifying new approaches we can take to support local people.

“The rising cost of living is an issue that is affecting many families in Plymouth and we know it is a worrying time for everyone. We want people to know that there is a wide range of advice and practical support available, and where to find it.“We’ll be adding information to the hub regularly.”Find the cost of living hub at plymouth.gov.uk/costofliving.

The Plymouth hub is in addition to the Government’s Help for Households campaign, which is a great source of information too.

Children making the most of the great outdoors at Thornbury Primary School

Thornbury Primary School, near Derriford Hospital, is blessed to have wonderful grounds. The school is set in an oasis of mature trees, with a very large field, hedgerows, multiple playgrounds and outdoor spaces which are not immediately apparent from the road.

At the top of the site is the Wild Area which has a meadow with wildflowers where forest school activities take place, as well as learning across the curriculum.

In previous years, as part of a hatching project, children have been lucky enough to see how Painted Lady butterflies grow from caterpillars, and then release them into the meadow.

There is a copse of trees, with a fire pit and log seating where the children have hot chocolate and sing or read. The latest addition to this space is the group of Pixie Huts – roofed benches, in a semicircle, so that outdoor learning can take place with the children in groups, and the teacher in the centre.

This year, the internal courtyard is also being refurbished, to provide an outdoor area with seating, and space for art.

The Foundation children in Early Years, spend much of their day outside, and every Monday is Muddy Monday with all activities taken outside. They also have a creative outdoor space, for imaginative play, including a small house – which could be the Three Bears House, or even Percy the Parkeeper’s Lodge, along with benches, and a storytelling area, and spaces to collaboratively solve engineering challenges with guttering, water and small cars!

On the Middle Playground there are mini tennis courts and netball, and bordering the field sits a trim trail, where children can challenge their climbing and balance skills.

Most days, children complete the ‘Daily Mile’– a trail around the site of one mile, walking or running according to what children feel capable of. Last year an orienteering course was laid across the grounds which certainly promotes a competitive spirit with a fun, team-based approach.

The school believes in developing pupil

leadership skills, so the older children who wished to, went through an application process to become sports leaders. These children have additional training, and assist with events such as sports days, but also organise and supervise small group sport activities during lunchtime. They make such a difference to the sports experience at school, being good role models, and supporting the younger children.

There are also Buddy Benches where someone needing someone to play with can sit for a moment before being scooped up by the other children, and seating areas for quiet games, chatting and reading.

After School Sunshine Club also has open access into the grounds, having coaching, or building dens and inventing games.

Headteacher Claire Hardisty, said: “Being in nature is known to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. We are so lucky to have such wonderful grounds, which are regularly used in diverse ways, and we know the children really benefit from this marvellous resource.”

...and it’s the sound of music at Manadon

Music is a central part of school life at Manadon Vale Primary School, with a dedicated music studio and practice areas. The children sing and play instruments throughout their school careers, with many joining the school choirs or the orchestra.

The school has a Christmas Choir which then goes out to perform for the residents of local care homes, as well as putting on a school performance.

Currently over 80 children from Years 5 and 6 have chosen to be in the main ‘Christmas’ Choir’ which is

an astonishingly high level of participation.

Although singing is very popular, so is learning to play a musical instrument with lessons available for enthusiastic or talented children. The school orchestra has 17 children in it, playing cellos, trombones, flutes, clarinets and violins. There are nearly 40 children learning brass, strings, woodwind or guitar through visiting instrumental tutors so music really is a large part of the school day.

Headteacher Hayley Gilbride said: “All of these groups are currently rehearsing hard for the Key

Stage 2 Christmas Carol Services in the last week of term. The standard is so high and we’re always delighted by their performances, which they put so much determination and practice into.”

A total of 15 Year 6 children are also looking forward to and working towards the ‘Young Voices’ concert and residential trip to the World Resorts Arena, Birmingham, in January 2023, where they will sing as part of a choir of 6,000 schoolchildren providing a wonderful opportunity for them to perform at a prestigious venue with professional musicians.

Learning is fun outdoors at Thornbury Primary School

New Bishop of Plymouth visits Derriford Hospital

The new Bishop of Plymouth has seen first-hand the pressures the NHS is facing on his first visit to Derriford Hospital since he started his new role.

The Rt Rev’d James Grier visited an oncology ward and the hospital chaplaincy, meeting with the team of chaplains and a representative from St Luke’s Hospice.

Bishop James praised the work of the staff he met.

“In just one ward, I met staff from across the amazing diversity of roles that make up a hospital, including the ward clerk, cleaner, pharmacist, physio, nurses, doctors, health care assistants and St Luke’s Hospice team.

“All of them were so positive and welcoming in the midst of clearly working incredibly hard within the pressures of the demands of work in the NHS at this time.

“They also spoke with such passion about their work and the ward they were part of. They were an inspiration.”

Bishop James is no stranger to the NHS, his father was a GP in Plymouth, where he grew up, and his mother was a nurse.

Derriford Hospital has an active

chaplaincy team, known as the Department for Pastoral and Spiritual Care.

It comprises around 100 volunteers and staff from different faiths and denominations who are on hand to support patients, visitors and staff.

“The chaplaincy team here are very

much about being there for everyone and creating space for people whether they’re a person of faith or not,” said Bishop James.

“There’s lots and lots of people on site but the chaplains are just there to support and care and that’s really significant.”

Maths and numeracy skills boost for adults in Plymouth

New free courses and activities are on offer for adults in Plymouth who want to improve their maths skills, thanks to the Government funded Multiply programme.

Multiply is aimed at adults who do not already have a GCSE grade C/4 or higher in Maths or an equivalent subject, and hopes to give people the skills they need to progress in their careers and secure well paid jobs.

The free courses are available to local residents on either a part time or intensive basis and will be offered in flexible settings. These courses will soon be available to book through On Course South West.

People who improve their numeracy skills are more likely to be in employment, have higher wages, and better wellbeing. Around 17 million adults in England – half of the working-age population – have the numeracy skills of primary school children. Poor numeracy skills can hold people back from having the confidence to get on in life and into work.

Plymouth City Council has been awarded £1.3 million funding from the government’s £2.6 billion UK Shared

Prosperity Fund to offer tailored courses that meet the needs of the local community.

There will be courses for beginners and those who want to build on the foundations of their maths knowledge, to more advanced offers such as GCSE Maths or Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification. Employers will also be able to request support to help their teams with maths skills.

Businesses that develop their employees’ numeracy skills can also boost productivity, increase profits and improve employee retention. Local employers will also benefit from the scheme, with courses and activities tailored to a particular area or jobs at no cost to them offered to their employees to help boost their numeracy skills.

Research also shows that sectors with a high proportion of workers with basic or advanced numeracy skills have experienced the most rapid growth in employment over the last decade.

To find about more about Multiply, visit the On Course South West website: www. oncoursesouthwest.co.uk/ multiply or contact the team on 01752 660713.

Despite many coats of preservative, the structure of the wooden fence in our front garden rotted, and a recent storm sent it off down the road, thankfully missing the neighbour’s car. However, every cloud has a silver lining,

Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev’d James Grier pictured with representatives from St Luke’s Hospice and the Chaplaincy team during his visit

Stirling Project celebrates first phase of completion

Houses completed as part of Plymouth’s latest veterans’ selfbuild scheme are set to become homes, as the first phase of the project completes.

The Stirling Project, based on the site of a former residential care home on Honicknowle Green, has seen nine previously homeless veterans involved in the construction of 25 self-contained affordable homes to rent.

Thanks to a partnership between Plymouth City Council, housing association LiveWest and veterans’ charity Alabaré, 12 of the plots are being built, and will be subsequently lived in, by the veterans themselves.

With three of the new homes now complete, one veteran and his family have been able to move into their new house, along with two local families who had been in need of housing.

Each finished home is fully electric with air source heat pumps and high energy efficiency.

Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet member for Home and Communities, said: “I am so pleased that the Stirling Project has arrived at this significant milestone and that families will be able to benefit from the hard work that the vets have put in on site.

The first phase of the project looks fantastic and I can’t wait to see the

project finished next year.”

Russell Baldwinson, executive director of Development for LiveWest, said: “It is fantastic to see three of the new homes completed and our customers moving in.

“While the scheme is to be delivered as socially rented affordable housing, we have been working with Alabaré Veterans SelfBuild Scheme in allocating up to 12 properties within the development to let to military veterans.

“They have been given the opportunity to participate in the actual build of the scheme, overseen by the contractor, to gain experience and potentially work their way towards a qualification. It is great to be able to deliver more affordable homes in the city.”

Major (Ret’d) Ken Hames, chief operating Officer for Alabaré Veterans Self-Build, said: “Alabaré’s second veteran self-build scheme in Plymouth marks a significant milestone in our delivery of transitional programmes for veterans. We are not just building houses we are also building lives, providing the right support and challenge to learn skills, find a job and maintain independent living.

“Self-build is a metaphor for growth and exciting possibilities, and I commend the scheme for its resilience and high social impact.

We are already looking forward to the next scheme where we will continue our mission to deliver high performance success factors, and real hope for those veterans who have struggled with civilian life.”

The Stirling Project, which began construction in July 2021, follows on from the completion of the Nelson Project in October 2017.

This multi award-winning scheme saw the construction of a 24-home development that includes 12 selfbuild homes for military veterans and 12 mixed use affordable homes, including supported housing.

Totnes-based, Coyde Construction, has been contracted to build the Stirling House scheme which has been designed by architects Form Design.

Of the 25 homes, 19 will be one and two-bedroom flats together with two, three and four-bedroom housing. Once complete, all of the homes will be let by LiveWest at a subsidised social rent, in order to provide support for households in high need.

The large four-bedroom house has also been designed as a wheelchair adapted property, helping to address the significant shortage of such properties across the city.

The project will benefit from grantfunding from government housing agency Homes England.

CASE STUDY

Adrian Colwill joined the forces at the age of 16 and served in the Royal Artillery before performing a number of successful roles, including managing a hotel, when he eventually left the military.

During this time, Adrian experienced some mental health challenges which, despite being years after leaving the forces, left him on the brink of becoming homeless.

Now Adrian is enjoying a new chapter in his life after becoming involved in the Stirling Project and putting the finishing touches to his own home.

Adrian said: “It Is not just about building a home, but giving me access to those skills and trades that you wouldn’t normally have access to. This experience has supplied me with the training to help me with my career after the

build is finished.

“It is unfathomable that I have been supported and helped in this way.

“It is humbling to think that Plymouth City Council, LiveWest, Alabare and Coye Construction have all sat down together to think about a miliary veteran’s needs. It means that I have not just got a house, but I have a future now.

“My family just broke down in tears when we found out we would be getting the keys before Christmas. It is more than we could have ever asked for and it will be one heck of a present.”

KEYHAM AND FORD TO STAY IN CURRENT PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

Proposals to move Keyham and Ford Wards from the current Sutton and Devonport constituency to Moor View have been rejected by the Boundary Commission.

Conservatives in the South West had supported this proposal and opposed parts of the Peverell Ward being included in the Sutton and Devonport constituency.

In the event the Boundary Commission has decided that part of Peverell Ward should be included in Moor View in the future.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has welcomed the Boundary Commission’s revised proposals which keep Keyham and Ford in the same parliamentary constituency.

He had argued vocally against moving Keyham and Ford, emphasising that they should be represented by the same MP because of the tragedy experienced by both communities last year.

The Commission has recommended that, instead of moving Keyham, the Beacon Park side of Peverell ward would become part of Plymouth Moor View.

Luke said he ideally would not want to lose any of the communities he represents but accepts the Peverell change is necessary to balance the number of people represented by each Plymouth MP.

At the Boundary Commission’s public hearing in Exeter earlier this year, Luke argued that communities affected by

the August 2021 tragedy should not be reorganised without their consultation.

Luke also pushed for Drake’s Island and the Breakwater to be re-included in a Plymouth constituency after the Boundary Commission’s initial proposals excluded them.

He said: “I don’t want to lose any of the communities I represent currently but I recognise that, to comply with the law, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport needs to shrink.

“I support the proposals from the Boundary Commission as they keep the communities affected by the tragedy last August in the same constituency. It looks like their clerical error in forgetting about Drake’s Island and the Breakwater has now also been corrected.”

Adrian Colwill stands proudly in the kitchen of his new home at the Stirling Project

‘I’ve not just got a house – I have a future now’

Celebrating the Stirling Project milestone (from left) Eleanor Stark, senior development manager at Livewest; Karl Arrowsmith,project manager/support officer at Alabaré, Major (Ret’d) Ken Hames, chief operating officer for Alabaré, veterans Adrian, Debbie and Tim; Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet member for Housing and Anthony Eke, new business manager at Livewest at the Stirling Project

Work in progress at the Stirling Project

Sponsored by

Plymouth’s Advent Calendar of CHRISTMAS TREATS

Plymouth promises to open up an advent calendar of heart-warming Christmas treats this year.

The season starts with the sparkling ceremony to illuminate the city centre, with the Christmas lights switch on taking place on Thursday 17 November. Two days later the festive cheer spreads to the Barbican and Sutton Harbour as their lights go on in another fun-filled event. Look out for Santa as he arrives at the Barbican by RNLI lifeboat, and drifting through the winter air on carols and festive favourites sung by local choirs. Street performers, festive stalls and even a baby reindeer will all add

to the entertainment and joyful atmosphere.

The Christmas lights always spell the start of the festive shopping rush and there are plenty of opportunities for retail therapy, accompanied by food and drink pitstops, to keep all the family happy.

Plymouth’s shopping hubs, from the city centre and West End to the Barbican and waterfront, are the place to be for shopping in the South West, a magnet for people from all over the region and packed with tempting stores from big brand names - like Hugo Boss - to small independent shops selling unusual and unique goods.

And from Thursday 1 December to Sunday 18 December the city’s retail offering is boosted by a fabulously festive Christmas Market housed in rustic log cabins and bursting with an incredible range of alternative gift ideas – everything from beef biltong to beard supplies, liqueur shots, super-indulgent cakes, artwork and clothing. Make sure to head to the market in Armada Way for some delightfully different gifts.

If all that excitement gets a bit too much, there are plenty of places to rest the weary feet and take a little time out : Drake Circus The Barcode is the city’s new leisure and entertainment destination where you can watch a film on one of

Cineworld’s 14 state-of-the-art cinema screens, including IMAX; play Paradise Island Adventure Golf; enter the battleground at the Boom Battle Bar for axe-throwing, karaoke and more; or dine out with a choice of half a dozen restaurants and bars including Zizzi, Nando’s and BrewDog.

After all, you’ll need to re-charge for the Big Day on Sunday 25 December…

He will be joined by X Factor Winner Matt Terry, the fabulous Ceri Dupree, the hilarious Peter Piper and newcomer Stephanie McKenzie as Sleeping Beauty. Once upon a time in a land far away, the beautiful Princess Aurora is given a twenty-first birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse. By pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel, she is placed under a cruel curse and forced to sleep for 100 years. Can true love survive and the handsome Prince Charming break the spell? Who will outwit the evil Enchantress and foil her wicked plans? All will be revealed in this spectacular panto packed with magic, music, comedy and special effects.

Shimmer and Shine

Plymouth will shimmer with Christmas sparkle at the big festive lights switch on, illuminating the heart of the Ocean City.

The festive spirit will glow brightly in the city centre with the start of the Christmas lights ceremonies –  a familyfriendly event in The Piazza, on Thursday 17 November.

Then from Saturday, 19 November, the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Waterfront will glisten with even more Christmas cheer as their lights, sponsored by PL1 Events, go on for an afternoon full of festive family fun.

The city centre displays, sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction, always delight shoppers with a particular favourite being the giant bauble arch – a popular selfie spot at the entrance to the Christmas Market on the Piazza.

Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Centre Company, said: “Our Christmas lights are always amazing and a real joy for everyone coming into the city centre.  We know this is a tough time for everyone in the country but we want to encourage people to shop locally, whatever their spending power, and to really enjoy all that Plymouth has to offer this festive season.

“We hope they’ll come into the city centre, enjoy the lights and the whole festive experience, browse round our fantastic shops and maybe pop in for drinks or something to eat at one of our many fantastic cafes, bars and restaurants. Every pound spent locally makes a big difference, helping to put money back into the local economy.”

The Mischievous Ocean Elves Trail

The mischievous Christmas ocean elves have made their way into 12 of the shops and cafes across Plymouth’s waterfront. What could they be doing? Try to spot the elves in amongst the fabulous festive window displays or hiding inside causing chaos! Track them down by using our helpful list of locations and have a Christmas adventure in Plymouth.

The 12 locations are listed on the website: visitplymouth.co.uk/ oceanelvestrail

Available from Saturday 19 November to Tuesday 3 January, we hope this fun free trail will help families to get out and about over Christmas and explore our wonderful waterfront.

Plymouth Christmas Market

Plymouth Christmas Market is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the festive shopping rush.

Located in Armada Way in the heart of the city centre and running from Thursday, 1 December to Sunday 18 December, it’s the South West’s go to destination for individual and unique presents.

And with an open-air festive bar and stalls offering food and drink and artisan gifts, it’s the perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit.

Rustic wooden cabins will house traders from the South West and beyond, selling everything from clothing, accessories and jewellery to books, artwork and decorations from stalls including Olivia’s House, Grove Beard Supplies and Kaya Gallery.

Foodie fans are in for a treat too, as there are plenty of delicious sweet and savoury goodies to indulge in. Pick-up Greek olives and antipasti or tuck into traditional Turkish baklava. For the seriously sweet-toothed

there’s a mouth-watering range of baked goods on offer, including flapjacks, fudge, cronuts, cookies, cakes, brownies and biscuits, from popular local traders Flapjackery, Daamn Good Bakes and The Early Bird who have recently opened a café in the city centre.

There’s also an array of fabulous entertainment to enjoy at the Market with acts including:

• Hot House Combo – fourpiece band inspired by the great musicians of the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s

• Devonport Park Community Choirfriendly mixed community choir

• Manuka – Bohemian two-piece acoustic covers band

• Rock Choir – local contemporary choir

• Ailie Kenna – singer songwriter

• Glen Park Primary Choiramazing school choir

• The Sea Choir - 45 strong mixed-voice acappella

•

• LaLa Choir – modern, pop, jazz, soul, Motown, funk, rock, hip hop and, very occasionally, religious choir

• Cure Parkinson’s Choir –Christmas carols sung in aid of Parkinson’s charity

• Gypsy Dreams – gypsy music from across Europe and beyond

And don’t forget to snap a festive family selfie in front of the giant illuminated bauble arch and the ‘wave arch’, which stand at each of the Market entrances. Share them on socials using #ChristmasInPlymouth

The Christmas Market will be open from 10am until 6pm Monday to Saturday until 5pm on Sunday, with late openings every Thursday until 9pm, so you can take your time and enjoy browsing the stalls under the sparkling city centre Christmas lights.

folk choir

Italia Conti performing arts students

Credit: Adobe Stock

Christmas Shopping in Plymouth: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

something for the person who has everything? Look no further.

Stroll along Southside Street to Elsie Bootique Wax Melts, with artisan wax melts and candles, and Nook Houseplants, teeming with unusual flowers and plants. Then see some amazing art galleries for stunning paintings, prints and homewares crafted from glass, clay and metal.

If you’re buying for a gin fan – or preparing for Christmas cocktails – then you’re in luck. The Barbican is home to Plymouth Gin Distillery and its shop selling its famous gins, gorgeous glasses and jugs. On New Street is the Barbican Botanics Gin Rooms – offering their own gin and rum alongside more than 200 other gins. And in nearby Sutton Harbour, HonkyTonk Wine Library, a shop and wine lounge, stocks more than 250 wines.

The Barbican’s Mayflower Museum and Tourist Information shop has perfect presents for locals and visitors with its wide range of locally-made products, confectionary and local interest books.

Royal William Yard

‘Tis the season to be shopping… and Plymouth is the place to indulge.

With gifts, foodie treats and decorations all waiting to be ticked off the Christmas list, Plymouth is the shopping host with the most – from quirky independent stores offering unique products unavailable anywhere else to the big brand stores we all know so well. We’ve compiled a handy guide to point you in the right direction for a sackful of festive treasures.

City Centre

Plymouth city centre is home to an impressive range of shops, including some High Street favourites.

For big brands head to Drake Circus where they’re all under one roof – and with parking on site. Everything from clothing and jewellery to toiletries and perfume is on offer here.

Venturing out of Drake Circus, more brilliant options for gifts along New George Street, Cornwall Street and Armada Way include House of Fraser, designer clothing store Flannels and more: Menkind, The Body Shop, HMV and B&M.

The West End

A treasure trove of independent shops and the 150-stall Plymouth Market, the West End is the place to visit for extra-special gifts and fresh produce. Butchers and greengrocers sell everything for Christmas dinner, florists create beautiful festive bouquets and there are wonderful bakeries and cafes. Visit Fresh Flower Scent in Cornwall Street for beautiful houseplants and fresh blooms. Or pop into Crystals in Market Avenue for minerals, fossils

and semi-precious stone jewellery.

The West End is also home to specialist jewellers and goldsmiths Robins Brothers, who design and make treasured pieces, and traditional family jewellers Wray & Co, established in 1887, who are passionate about pre-owned and antique jewellery.

The city centre Christmas parking offer is back, Plymouth City Council are providing parking for just £1 after 3pm at the Western Approach car park every late night shopping Thursday, starting on November 17 for the Christmas lights switch-on, right through to Christmas.

This is perfect for shoppers who want to find something that little bit different from one of the many independent traders in the West End or from the stallholders in Plymouth Market.

Please note this offer does not apply to the ground floor of the car park which is pay and display.

The Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Waterfront

The waterfront boasts a superb range of art galleries, antique stores and unusual independent shops. Seeking

New

Books

for Christmas 2022 from available at www.chrisrobinson.co.uk Chris Robinson’s Plymouth Christmas Market

Armada Way or Waterstones, WH Smith, The Box, Mayflower Visitor Centre or via 01752 705337

Browse the unique women’s clothing Identity Fashion or pop into the creative hub of Ocean Studies for pieces by local makers.

Treat yourself to handmade chocolates from the award-winning chocolatier Domea Favour or visit Le Vignoble for a choice of 300 wines.

Plymouth truly has something for everyone.

Photo Credit: Guy Harris / Drake Circus

It may be the most wonderful time of the year but Plymouth offers magical experiences all year round. So, if you’re having trouble finding the perfect gift for the Janner in your life, it may well pay to look close to home.

There’s always so much to entertain in Britain’s Ocean City that the options are wide and varied – something for even the trickiest recipient.

We’ve compiled a guide with a few unusual gifts, things you may not have considered, to help give friends and family members the present they deserve this year.

Book an experience

Why not think outside the box this Christmas and instead of a physical gift, treat your loved one to something they can do only in Plymouth?

Choose from a huge range of

experiences including: Smeaton’s Tower Experience, the ultimate gin tour, including a climb to the top of the iconic lighthouse, hosted by Plymouth Gin’s master distiller; become a zookeeper for the day at Dartmoor Zoo; meeting some of the ocean’s most stunning animals in a snorkel safari in the National Marine Aquarium’s Atlantic Ocean Tank; and catching your own dinner with a Fish ‘n’ Trips session with Plymouth Boat Trips.

For more information on experiences to enjoy in Plymouth explore visitplymouth.co.uk

Treat your loved ones (and yourself!) to fine jewellery

Robins Brothers, fine jewellers and very experienced goldsmiths have grown and nurtured a reputation second to none. They design and create their incredible range of high quality jewellery at their premises in Plymouth.

For more information, please visit robinsbrothers.co.uk

Book tickets to a show

With Plymouth’s Theatre Royal, one of the UK’s largest and best regional theatres, right on our doorstep we are always in for a real treat. Join soap star and panto legend Shane Richie this Christmas at Theatre Royal Plymouth and make Sleeping Beauty the pantomime of your dreams!

Seats for a show in 2023 are sure to be just the ticket and there are some wonderful performances to choose from, including: Room on the Broom, the family favourite

longest-

the extra mile to ensure your special message is conveyed through their creations. Ask about gift boxes, next day delivery and their knowledgeable, friendly, specialised advise that really make a difference.

For more information, please visit plymouth.freshflowerscentflorist. co.uk

family with a post-show meet and

based on the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler; Swan Lake, the hauntingly beautiful ballet featuring Tchaikovsky’s legendary score; Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, the world’s longestrunning play on its 70th anniversary tour, and Dinosaur World Live, a roarsome interactive show for all the family with a post-show meet and greet.

For more information, please visit theatreroyal.com Make Christmas extra special with fresh flowers Offering a huge range of different custom bouquets and high-quality flowers, Fresh Flowers Scent go

Indulge in luxury chocolates

Visit Domea Favour in Royal William Yard – this renowned Chocolatier creates a whole range of chocolatebased delights. They also personalise your chocolate gifts and favours, with co-ordinated ribbons to add that extra special touch.

For more information, please visit domeafavourchocolate.co.uk

Nuffield Health puts focus on women’s football in Plymouth

Nuffield Health is focusing on supporting women’s football in Plymouth – as part of its ongoing role as the official healthcare partner for Plymouth Argyle.

With more than 65 years’ experience and an industry-leading network of health and wellbeing facilities, Nuffield Health offers a full breadth of services, from physical and mental health, hospital treatments and clinical care through to rehabilitation and general wellbeing.

The natural continuation of the partnership will see all of Argyle’s teams – including Steven Schumacher’s first-team, the Argyle Academy, and Argyle Women - supported by Nuffield’s industry leading diagnostic services, including MRI and CT scans, as well as access to some of the region’s leading surgeons.

Alongside medical care at Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital, the agreement supports Argyle by providing access to Nuffield’s two fitness and conditioning sites in the city, based at Derriford and the Barbican Leisure Park.

As members of the Argyle Nexus Business Club, Nuffield Health branding will continue to feature in every edition of Argyle’s match-day programme, The Pilgrim. Argyle supporters can also expect to see the continued presence of Nuffield branding around Home Park, and online in the form of sponsorship.

Argyle’s head of commercial operations, James Greenacre, said: “It was a simple and straightforward decision to extend our partnership with Nuffield Health, and that speaks to the strength of what we have achieved together so far.

“Nuffield Health’s expertise and support for our teams is vital as we look to realise the club’s well-known ambition to become a sustainable Championship club. Our players are vital assets, and we know they get the best care and advice possible with Nuffield Health.”

A new survey by Nuffield Health has highlighted the impact of the pandemic on health and wellbeing, with the Healthier Nation Index revealing that 37 per cent of UK adults are now more concerned about their mental health, with a further 40 per cent

worried about the impact on their physical health.

Through the partnership, Nuffield Health aspires to build on the mental and physical benefits that football brings to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities within Plymouth.

Commenting on the partnership Merika Kindlon, head of sales and services at Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital, added: “We’re delighted to continue to bring our purpose to life through our partnership with Plymouth Argyle.

“We are proud to support Argyle’s Women’s Team, working alongside their newly appointed manager Elaine Dalton-Fyfe. Together we will work to promote fitness and wellbeing to the women and girls of Plymouth by fulfilling Nuffield’s charitable purpose.

“Football is about teamwork and community, and similarly we believe in the power of working together and supporting one another to help everyone achieve their health and wellbeing ambitions.”

“Our Healthier Nation Index survey shone a

light on some of the key health and wellbeing challenges affecting people today, so we’re happy to carry on as the Pilgrims’ teammate in health and wellbeing and playing a key role in showing people how to live a healthier life and achieve better health outcomes using the power of football.”

Speaking on behalf of Argyle Women, general manager Elaine Dalton-Fyfe said: “Through strong and supportive partnerships, we can collaborate to further the wider community interest and support of women’s football, and develop the young girls and women who wish to play the game.

“We thank Nuffield Health for their passionate support of this cause, and look forward to progressing the partnership over the season ahead.”

If you are interested in how partnerships with Argyle can benefit you or your business, please get in touch with their Commercial team on commercial@pafc.co.uk, or call 01752 302204.

For more information on Nuffield Health, www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/plymouth

Nuffield Health’s Merika Kindlon, (centre) pictured with Argyle Women’s team members Tiana Campbell, Katie Dickson, Kayley Lane and Lucy Flackk

First for Marjon as Padel courts open on campus

Plymouth Marjon University has become the first university in the UK with Padel courts on its campus.

The rapidly growing racket sport is similar to tennis and squash originated in Mexico and was quickly favoured in Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile. The game has since become prominent across the world in countries like the USA and Singapore.

The game has a world tour and an annual tournament in the UAE and has fans in the sporting world like tennis champion Andy Murray and footballer Virgil van Dijk.

Laurence Gully, director of Sport and Physical Activity at Plymouth Marjon University, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Padel UK to bring the game to the Devon and Cornwall region. We are the first university in the UK to have Padel courts on site, and this sport is accessible to all.”

The easy-to-learn game can be played on the four new floodlit courts at Marjon and will be accessible to students, staff, and the wider community, with booking and racquet rental open to all.

Court bookings cost just £3.50 per person (£14 per court) and equipment can be rented from the Marjon Sport and Health Centre.

The courts have as part of the relaunch of the Centre, which also features a gym, swimming pool, climbing wall, 3G and hockey AstroTurf, sports therapy and rehabilitation clinic, and golf simulator.

For more information go to www.marjon.ac.uk/marjon-sport/

Osteopathy clinic offers free first appointment

Plymouth Marjon University has launched a brand-new osteopathy clinic which is open to bookings from the public for appointments and supports students’ practical learning.

Osteopathy is a gentle approach to muscular and joint pain, injuries, and ongoing medical conditions. Clients visiting the clinic may suffer from joint or muscle pain; sports injuries; repetitive strain injuries; and recurring headaches.

Clients may also manage a range of medical conditions including digestion issues; fibromyalgia; migraines; rheumatic pain; and sciatica, through osteopathic treatments.

Marjon has a growing reputation throughout the South West for its health and wellbeing courses. The University is set to launch 12 new healthcare courses in 2023, with a focus on placements in community health spaces such as St Luke’s Hospice.

The new clinic, which features eight consultation rooms, offers a free first appointment lasting up to 90 minutes, with subsequent appointments costing only £15 for 45 minutes. The clinic offers morning, afternoon, and evening appointments to fit in with everyone’s schedule.

James Nicholson, a returning client to the clinic, said: “I’ve used the clinic to treat muscle tension and historical sporting injuries. They are great at relieving pain and helping me manage muscle issues, all with really positive customer service.”

New clients are welcome to make an appointment and join the team at the new campus to explore treatments and check out the modern clinic. Since September, the clinic has had over 400 bookings and nearly 150 new patients.

The clinic is open from Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. For more information or to book an appointment visit www.marjon.ac.uk/mhw/ info-for-patients/osteopathy-clinic/

Wide variety of activities for Eggbuckland pupils to enjoy

Remember when school was about sitting in lines quietly and reciting your times tables? It’s certainly not like that at Eggbuckland Vale Primary School!

“Our children have access to an amazing range of clubs, activities and sports,” said headteacher Susie Carroll.

“We want the children in our school to be confident and well-rounded individuals and so we encourage them to take part in the things that interest them, or that perhaps they wouldn’t get to do out of school.”

The school has an active Military Kids Club, and this term they have been enjoying a range of activities with Mrs Burns and Mrs Clevett, including cooking, writing Remembrance messages and craft workshops.

“They really love the variety of activities on offer and get such a sense of achievement from the results,” added Susie. “Other family members are invited to join in with activities as it makes it more special for the children.”

A special event in November was the school choir taking part in a charity concert along with the Plymouth Military Wives Choir and Hands in Harmony Signing Choir. The performance was in aid of Cued Speech UK and was an evening of music with a difference.

Susie said: “We have a unit for children with a hearing loss in our school and all of our children have the opportunity to learn the basic signs so that everyone feels included.

“Our school choir is practiced at signing along with the music, so they were thrilled to take part in such a special evening. They sang on their own and with the Military Wives and Hands in

Blooming

Being part of the local community is also part of school life, and the British Legion was invited into school to see the poppies that the children had made.

good effort by Roborough Rotary Club!

Members of Plymouth Roborough Rotary and volunteers have planting 4,000 crocus bulbs at three locations in the local area.

Crocuses were chosen as part of Rotary’s campaign to raise awareness of the first to end polio in the world.

The bulbs were planted at Cunningham Road Playpark, Frank’s Lane and the Roundabout at Belliver. When they bloom in February and early March, the crocuses resemble the purple dyed little finger of children who get vaccinated against polio in countries such as India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

When they bloom, Roborough Rotary Club hope everyone will enjoy their display of purple flowers.

For over 30 years, Rotary members have been committed to fighting to eradicate polio across the world.

The amount of polio-

endemic countries has dropped from 125 to just two, with over 2.5 billion children receiving vaccinations thanks to the help of Rotary.

As well as club members, Roborough Rotary would like to express thanks to Frank Clemens (of Frank’s

Lane fame) for helping at the Cunningham Road Park planting and letting the club plant some of the bulbs at either end of the lane.

Thanks also go to friend of the club Chris Bryan, Susie Morcom of Plessey and Ross Geddes, Rotary

Youth Leadership Award 2022 candidate and Plessey employee who along with Honorary Rotarian Andrea Parker helped with the planting at the Plessey Roundabout, and Steve Vickery for fixing the sign to the park fence.

Harmony Choirs.”

Pupils also visited the British Legion as part of Remembrance, making sure that children understand the significance of Remembrance Day and the poppies they have been making in school.

Singing with the Military Wives Choir or meeting with representatives from the Royal British Legion... it’s all in a school day at Eggbuckland Vale Primary School

Charity ball raises over £7,000 for Keep Me Close Appeal

A charity ball has raised over £7,200 for Plymouth Hospitals Charity.

Money raised at the Keep Me Close Appeal annual ball will go towards the provision and development of accommodation for parents of babies who are being cared for on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Coordinated by dedicated fundraiser Tracey Stacey, the glamourous yearly event drew over 200 guests including families, health care staff and local businesses. Guests made the event a huge success by taking part in the evening’s entertainment and donating along the way.

Tracey said: “It is such a privilege to see how much this means to people within our community and the real generosity of others. When we all come together to an event like this, the incredible atmosphere makes me realise the phenomenal and lifechanging impact that the Keep Me Close appeal has on our patients and their loved ones.

“The money raised will enable us to continue making a difference to those during a really difficult time in their lives and to deliver the most patient-centric care possible Thank you so much to all of our suppliers and donors for helping us to have an amazing evening.”

Corinne Bailey, charity manager added: “I am continually blown away by people’s generosity and we are inspired by our patients and their families everyday.

“We’re really grateful to everyone who donated and was involved in the event.”

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH HEARTS TOGETHER CHARITY MEANS MORE ACCOMMODATION FOR PARENTS OF PREMATURE BABIES

Marjon launches new child health programme with NHS

Plymouth Marjon University has launched a programme in partnership with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust supporting children and young people to tackle excessive weight.

The programme, led by senior lecturer Erica Eaton-Quinn and health and wellbeing coordinator Mike Prynn, will offer a range of fun physical activities to children and young people, with the key aim of showing that exercise and a healthy lifestyle can be enjoyable.

The programme will prioritise enjoyment, foster social connections, enhance feelings of autonomy and control over their health and wellbeing, and train the young people to internalise motivation for physical activity.

Saul Bloxham, Dean of the School of Health and Wellbeing at Marjon, said: “This innovative partnership is really exciting and an excellent example of interprofessional working. The links between Marjon Health and Wellbeing and the NHS have grown from strength to strength.

“This is a crucial relationship for Plymouth to support improvement in health and wellbeing across the city and reduce pressures on the NHS. We hope this programme will help children and young people to develop their confidence and find enjoyment in physical activity.”

The Government reported that in 2020/21, nearly 30 per cent of children in England aged between four and five were overweight or obese, and over 40 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds were overweight or obese. Marjon and NHS Plymouth’s new partnership aims to reduce these figures to support healthy lifestyles for families in the city.

The sessions will take place at the Marjon Sport & Health Centre and families need to be referred through the hospital’s multidisciplinary team. Sessions will be delivered with the support of Marjon students from the Health and Wellbeing Practitioner and Sport Science degree programmes.

Building on its growing reputation for sport, health, and wellbeing, 2023 will see Marjon launch 12 new health programmes including nursing and clinical science degrees. In June 2022, the NHS reported more than 132,000 roles were vacant nationally, 46,000 of which were nursing posts.

Anyone interested in studying a health or wellbeing course, can visit www.marjon.ac.uk/prospectus-request/order-online/

University shortlisted for Climate Action Award

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Derriford Hospital has entered a partnership with local hospital hotel charity, Hearts Together, to provide home from home accommodation for parents and families of patients caring for premature or sick babies in the unit.

The NICU cares for hundreds of babies every year from around the Devon and Cornwall peninsula who have either been born prematurely or with other life threatening illnesses. Often these babies have been transferred in from other hospitals for a higher level of care and end up having extended stays within the NICU. It is the only unit of its kind this side of Bristol.

Due to the nature of the babies cared for within the NICU at Derriford, parents are encouraged to remain close by to promote bonding, maternal and paternal mental health and to allow parents to be involved in their baby’s care, something that is

intrinsic to the development of their baby.

The NICU can treat 12 babies across their intensive and high dependency care nurseries and their unit based accommodation is limited to three families at any given time, priority being given to families of babies who are very unwell, do not live locally or for parents to room in with their infant prior to discharge.

If more accommodation is needed the charity has previously secured additional rooms from a variety of sources, including local hotels at extreme cost and local student accommodation. Although such facilities have been well received by the NICU families they do not always offer the bespoke additional amenities necessary to support their stay.

However, through the new partnership with Hearts Together Hospital Hotel, the Keep Me Close fund has secured a further four selfcatering ensuite kitchenette rooms

With these additional number of bedrooms secured under the new partnership, the neonatal families will continue to have access to free bespoke accommodation that is close to their baby at UHP NICU.

Hearts Together has been supporting staff, visitors and patients alongside UHP for over 20 years, providing accommodation as well as support services for those facing difficult times such as a wraparound counselling service, access to a fully equipped communal kitchen, washing facilities, complimentary breakfast, communal areas including a garden, and the Hearts Together shuttle vehicle for lifts to and from Derriford Hospital.

For more information about the Keep Me Close appeal please visit www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/keepme-close

Plymouth

University

been shortlisted for the

Gown Award. The awards recognise sustainability projects being undertaken by universities and colleges in the UK and Ireland.

‘Climate Action’

Marjon has been recognised for its Marjon Zero project, a £5.3 million initiative which has seen the installation of around 2,000 solar panels and one of the largest non-domestic Ground Source Heat Pump projects in England, driving the University forward towards its 2030 carbon neutrality goal.

The project funding was provided by the Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which funded the 98 boreholes and 55 ground source heat pumps across the university’s campus..

Vice-Chancellor Professor Rob Warner, said: “We are delighted that our determined efforts to become one of the greenest universities in the UK are being recognised by such a prestigious nomination. This shortlisting recognises the Marjon passion for sustainability and improving our planet for future generations.”

Alongside Plymouth City Council in 2019, Marjon declared a climate emergency. The university held a forum with students, staff and guests, to talk about ways the university could collectively become a more sustainable institution.

The next phase of the university’s Marjon Zero project will see improved campus buildings, an expansion of their green social spaces, and a development of biodiversity across the site.

Marjon has been shortlisted alongside six other higher education institutions, including DeMontfort University, King’s College London, and the University of the West of England, Bristol.

Glittering success...(from left) Roisin McKeon Carter, events organiser Jen Granlund, Tracey Stavey and Katie Hoffman

within Hearts Together Hospital Hotel, conveniently located near to Derriford Hospital at the Plymouth Science Park.

Marjon

has

prestigious

Green

Representatives from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Hearts Together charity...new partnership in place

Barbican Theatre’s hilarious alternative panto is revealed

Barbican Theatre, Plymouth have announced that their festive show this year is ‘Oh No It Isn’t!’ from the amazing Cornish based Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre - a hilarious yet poignant alternative to traditional panto. It’s the final performance of Cinderella in a moth-eaten, regional theatre and backstage tensions threaten to boil over onstage. Will the egotism, one-up-manship and politics remain confined to the dressing room? Will the ugly sisters keep the professional professional and the personal personal? Will we ever find out what happened during Babes In The Wood?

Based on a lifetime of experience onstage and backstage Oh No It Isn’t! is a hilariously funny and beautifully moving new play exploring the highs and lows of life in the theatre.

Written by Great British Pantomime Award nominee Luke Adamson and using real anecdotes and stories it is an impassioned yet tender love letter to the world of performance.us alternative to traditional panto at Barbican Theatre Plymouth this festive season.

Oh No It Isn’t! is produced and directed by

Ben Kernow who said: “We’re really excited to be bringing Oh No It Isn’t! to Plymouth this Christmas. When we last performed the show in Cornwall audiences absolutely loved it and we really think Plymouth will too.

“For us this has the perfect mix of hilarity and a poignant message - the stuff great Christmas shows are made of! Although it features classic panto ugly sisters, what you’re really watching is what you don’t normally get to see in panto - the back stage antics. You’ll expect actor egos, dodgy makeup and cliched one-up-manship but what you might not expect is the vulnerability and bitterness.”

Ticket prices are £16.50 full and £13.50 for concessions - these are applicable to all dates and all seats. Concession tickets are what the Barbican consider ‘self described’ which means people can book these lower priced tickets without providing proof (such as being a certain age, on certain benefits or being a student). People can also purchase a Pay It Forward Ticket (£26.50) which supports four free tickets (per performance) for anyone to book who would otherwise feel unable

to see a show this winter.

Barbican Theatre’s CEO and artistic director, Laura Kriefman said: “Money shouldn’t be a barrier to people attending live events and performances and Christmas is no different. We’re offering four free tickets per show for anyone who might not feel able to afford to come along. We’ve introduced Pay It Forward tickets to help support this - we

hope some members of our community will buy a ticket for themselves and pay an extra £10 to gift a ticket. Feels like a lovely present for this winter.”

Oh No It Isn’t! runs at the Barbican Theatre, Plymouth from December 9 to 24 with performances at 5pm and 8pm. Suitable for ages 12+ (features some strong language).

Book tickets 24/7 at barbicantheatre.co.uk

Dental students get an insight into impact of dementia

Second year dentistry students from Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School have been working with Age UK Plymouth to gain a deeper understanding into a day in the life of a person living with dementia.

The students have spent time working with the charity to understand the very specific challenges that present for a person living with dementia including completing Dementia Friends training with Age UK Plymouth.

Utilising the knowledge and experience gained from their time at Age UK Plymouth the students will then go on to devise and deliver a health improvement project for people living with dementia.

The Dementia Day Centre relocated to central Plymstock two years ago and has gone from strength to strength continuing to provide an approach focused on clients enjoying quality time with a variety of stimulating and engaging activities on offer.

The dentistry students arranged a series of dental hygiene themed activities and enjoyed spending time chatting to the day centre guests.

With over three years of studying still to complete before completing their training, the students found that the experience was something that would stay with them.

One student commented: “Developing our communication skills and understanding the needs of our patients is a huge part of supporting their successful oral hygiene.

The Dementia Friends training and being here at the Day Centre really highlights the importance of being aware of a patients experience and how even the smallest of changes to our behaviours can support someone living with dementia.”

Tracy Walker, Dementia Day Centre manager said, “It’s been great to have the students here. It’s really important to us that as a community Plymouth continues its

dementia friendly journey. Sometimes it just takes tiny changes to someone’s process to support a person living with dementia, and the first step to that is simply education and awareness.”

Abby Nelder, Community Engagement programme officer said: “It’s really important that we encourage and support students to engage with people who may not normally access oral health care.

“The Inter-Professional Engagement Module, delivered in partnership by Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise and the University of Plymouth provides students with the opportunity to work closely with people, outside of clinic, enabling them to have a wider understanding of barriers faced by some in maintaining positive oral health behaviours.

“We are always grateful to our amazing host organisations such as Age UK

who enable us to deliver this module with our students”.

Professor Robert Witton, director of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise said: “Helping to engage with groups who otherwise might not access oral health care is a really important part of what we do. As well as reaching those communities themselves, it’s important that we educate

those who work closely with them to ensure that message is sustainable as possible.”

Age UK Plymouth have been rolling out their Dementia Awareness Training across the city to groups and organisations including the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Live and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to name a few.

The sessions are available in several different formats and can be modified to suit a range of organisations, from schools and youth groups to businesses looking to support and equip public facing members of staff with the tools to best serve their patrons and community. The training describes the experience of living with dementia in a way that will help attendees visualise it and increase their understanding.

Tammy Walker, training and wellbeing

Dementia Lead for Age UK Plymouth has years of first-hand experience of working with people living with dementia and is thrilled to be rolling out the awareness training across Plymouth.

She said: “It’s more important than ever that organisations and businesses are committed to dementia education and choose to raise awareness from within. There are over 100 types of dementia and it is a complex condition affecting one in 14 people over the age of 65 in the UK. Organisations can make tiny changes to support visitors, customers or colleagues living with dementia and that can make a huge difference to their experience.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the various forms of free Dementia Awareness Training available for groups or businesses please email tammy.walker@ ageukplymouth.org.uk.

The dental students who spent time with people living with dementia

Milestone for Devil’s Point bathing water campaign

The campaign to make Devil’s Point and Firestone Bay an official designated bathing water has reached a key milestone, after an official application was submitted to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, who has been building support for the campaign over the past year, said securing official bathing water status for Devil’s Point will give wild swimmers in Plymouth ‘peace of mind’ about water quality on the bay.

Luke launched the Devil’s Point campaign in January this year following reports of regular raw sewage discharge in Britain’s seas and rivers. Over 1,000 people signed his petition, which he presented to Parliament in March 2022, to make Devil’s Point an official bathing water.   In June, over 6,500 swimmers and other water users were counted at the beach as part of the application. Nearly 100 local people volunteered to count swimmers for a two-hour shift, delivering the months’ worth of usage data required by Government for the bathing water application.

Plymouth City Council have been supporting the campaign with the

council undertaking surveys of local businesses in support of the application and submitting the final application.

If made an official bathing water, the Environment Agency would have to regularly test the water quality of the sea at Devil’s Point, as well as making the results publicly available.

Luke Pollard said: “This is an important milestone for the Devil’s Point campaign. As a regular sea swimmer from Devil’s Point I want to know the quality of the water I’m swimming in. With routine raw sewage discharges into our rivers

and seas happening far too often bathing water status is essential for the peace of mind of the thousands of swimmers at Devil’s Point.  “I’m proud to have led the campaign and grateful to the hundred volunteers who helped collect data on usage, collected names on the petition and promoted this wonderful and special piece of water.

“In 2017 I proposed Plymouth Sound became the UK’s first National Marine Park which it now is. This year let’s make Devil’s Point an official bathing water with regular water testing and the results

published for all to see.”

Councillor Bill Wakeham, Cabinet Member for Environment on Plymouth City Council, said: “I am delighted to add my support to the application for Firestone Bay to become a designated bathing water. If Firestone Bay can be added to Plymouth’s existing designated bathing waters at East and West Hoe, we can hopefully give the people of Plymouth confidence that Devil’s Point is also safe to swim in.

“The Environment Agency would be required to monitor the quality of the water and notify the public taking action if pollution reaches unsafe levels.

“Firestone Bay has long been a popular spot for local swimmers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It would be reassuring for the water users across the National Marine Park to know that the water quality is monitored so that any instances of contamination, such as after heavy rainfall, can be assessed and evaluated.

“I am also very keen to work with South West Water and the Environment Agency to ensure that water quality entering the River Plym from Plympton and Plymstock meets the same stringent conditions as the water quality entering around Plymouth Hoe.”

CITY’S NEW CREMATORIUM TAKING SHAPE

Plymouth’s new crematorium has hit a significant construction milestone with the steel frame for the main buildings beginning to take shape.

Over the past week, many tonnes of steel have arrived at the site off Merafield Road, on the eastern side of the city. The steel was supplied from local Devon fabricators and is now being lifted into place.

It follows months of work on site by contractors Kier with roads and car parks now in place and the groundworks for the main building nearly complete.

Councillor Pat Patel, Cabinet member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport, said: “It is so exciting to see the progress being made on site and watch as the build progresses from plans on a page to bricks and mortar in the ground.

“This crematorium is a once in a generation investment for the council and I’m very proud to be involved in delivering it for the people of Plymouth.”

Doug Lloyd, regional director at Kier, said: “We are thrilled to have reached such a significant milestone in the construction of this high-quality crematorium.

“This project will provide an important service for the people of Plymouth and the surrounding communities and, as a business who have been based in Plymouth for over 80 years, we are incredibly proud to be part of it.

“We are committed to ensuring that the project has a positive impact on the local economy and we look forward to working with the project team and Building Plymouth to provide opportunities for

local SMEs, apprentices, T level support and work experience for local schools and colleges.”

The new crematorium, which will open in 2024, has designs inspired by the landscape, the buildings will nestle into the slope of the site and will be surrounded by pooled water.

Plymouth Limestone is being used on the façade with windows providing lots of light and stunning views out over the water, and the local Devonshire scenery and beyond.

Outside, reflective spaces, designed for memorialisation and scatterings will embrace the

environment and ecology.

In addition, the site will benefit from a new café, which will be open all day to serve refreshments for people attending funerals and also for those visiting the site to pay their respects. It will also be available for families to hire for wakes.

When the new crematorium is built, it will replace existing facilities at Efford and Weston Mill, which will continue to be active for burial and memorials.

Information on plans for the new crematorium available at www.plymouth.gov.uk/futurecrem

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Luke Pollard and Bill Wakeham pictured with Plymouth Wild Swimmers at Devil’s Point in September

Taking shape..(from left) Graham Smith, assistant manager of Bereavement Services; Councillor Pat Patel, Cabinet member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport and Simon Gillingham, project manager for Kier Group, in front of the newly installed steel work

Council is forced to consider radical savings plan to close £37.6m budget gap

Plymouth City Council is considering an urgent package of savings to reduce an unprecedented £37.6 million budget cap caused by issues impacting local authorities across the country.

The council has already been grappling with a £15.5 million shortfall in this year’s budget caused by factors such as inflation, huge increases in gas and electricity bills and rising demand for critical social care services.

A report to Cabinet on November 10 said the same national factors are leading to a projected £37.6 million shortfall in its budget 2023/24.

The report sets out a range of proposals that would reduce costs by £26.2 million to help enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duty to set a balanced budget.

If all the potential savings are approved, the council will still be left with a £11.4 million shortfall to be closed before a balanced budget can be set in February.  At the same time it needs to find another £6 million of savings in order to close this year’s gap.

Council Leader Richard Bingley said: “All councils, including ours here in Plymouth, have been hit by historic, unprecedented levels of soaring fuel, wage and other inflationary costs.

“This has had an overwhelming impact upon the costs of our vehicle fleets, building operational costs, street lighting and staffing. Put simply, experienced council leaders and chief executives across the region are all telling me that, very sadly, they have seen nothing like this scale of financial challenge before.

“Quite rightly, we also have a legal duty to balance our city’s annual budget. Failure to seriously grip our public finances, will leave our city open to intervention from central government commissioners, and this is not an option, nor a risk, that this administration is willing to take.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to identify ways of reducing costs and are determined to protect local services as best we can, particularly those that support the most vulnerable in our community.

“We are doing this in an urgent but considered way and our recovery plan is focusing on modernising, generating income, increasing efficiency and making difficult decisions to change, pause or stop things.

“Reducing local services is the very last thing any of us came into public service to do but we simply can’t duck our responsibility to make unpalatable decisions. The consequences of not being able to set a balanced budget would be catastrophic for our city.

“Wherever possible we are trying to squeeze out even more efficiency in what we do. With the cost of living crisis we know families in Plymouth are dealing with rising bills in the same way we are and the last thing we want to do is add to that burden, so we don’t propose increasing our fees and charges lightly. However, some of our costs rising by up to 20 per cent we have no choice but to increase fees and charges to cover increases in our bills.

“This is an important issue for the city as a whole and we will be seeking the views and ideas of all elected members – regardless of political party – as well as those of Plymouth residents. We will be asking residents to give their views on our saving proposals so far, as well as their ideas for what else we can do to protect local services, through an online form our website.”

The proposals being considered by Cabinet affect all areas of the council. They include:

Introducing charges for collecting garden waste – Plymouth is one of the few authorities remaining not to already charge for this nonstatutory service

• Increasing fees and charges by 10 per cent this year and next year

• Increasing parking fees in line with proposals recently consulted on

• Reducing costs in children’s social care, including working with families to keep more children at home, reducing the use of residential care and reviewing organisational structures

• Managing and reducing demand on adult social care

• Reviewing early help provision and children’s centres, alongside partners

• Reducing subsidies for bus services that cannot be run commercially

• Reviewing senior management

• Vacating buildings earlier than planned Residents can give their views on the budget proposals through an online form on the council’s website. The feedback will be considered by all elected members before final budget decisions are made.

The Cabinet will discuss progress in reducing the budget gap for this year and next at its meeting in December. The final budget for next year is due to be set by the full council in February.

Over 200 new recruits join Babcock at Devonport site

Babcock International has welcomed more than 200 new apprentices and graduates to its Devonport operations.

The 141 apprentices and 80 graduates will support a variety of projects and business areas, from life extension programmes on frigates and submarines, to advanced manufacturing and technology innovation projects carried out on site.

The apprentice roles are varied, from welders, fabricators and pipe workers, to electrical fitters, mechanical fitters and computer numerical control (CNC) machinists, while the graduates are involved in a wide

range of roles within the business including: mechanical, electrical, process and civil engineers, naval architects and project managers.

Paul Watson, Babcock’s managing director for Devonport operations said: “We are delighted to welcome so many new apprentices and graduates – there are many opportunities for them to learn, grow and develop as they start their career journey across many different trades and disciplines.

“There is so much investment and development across the site so it’s a great time to join us as we continue playing our part in creating a safe and secure world.”

...and excellence celebrated at apprentice awards

Babcock

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Each of the six trade groups named a winner of the prestigious Apprentice of the Year category, as voted for by their Apprentice

Cameron

Paul Watson said: “Well done to every individual who received an award. It is fantastic to see so many committed and talented individuals with such promise and excellent career prospects with Babcock. A huge thank you for your efforts and many congratulations.”

apprentices based at Devonport Royal Dockyard have been formally commended for their efforts and achievements at the annual Apprentice Awards Evenings held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Plymouth.

ceremony

attended by more than 500 guests who came together to celebrate the accomplishments of those who have completed apprenticeships in the past year.

Leigh, former BBC Spotlight presenter hosted the event, during which hundreds

apprentices across many trades, were presented with certificates from Babcock’s Paul Watson, managing director, Devonport.

Development Manager. Gary Simpson, managing director Support, presented the trophies to the deserving winners.

Rogers, Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician (Mechanical) had a special mention for the outstanding effort he’s made throughout his entire apprenticeship. As well as receiving the Queen’s Silver Medal, he is someone who can be relied on to deliver above and beyond what is asked of him. He also received the Higher Level Engineering Apprentice of the Year accolade.

City Council working in partnership to support Armed Forces family

Service leavers, veterans, those currently serving and their families have been able to pop in to Military Tuesday drop-in sessions throughout November.

Working closely with the city-wide Armed Forces Covenant partnership, Military Tuesdays have been hosted by Skills Launchpad Plymouth and provided free impartial support for skills, training, education, careers and jobs, specifically for veterans, serving members of HM Forces and their families.

Supported by the Forces Employment Charity, the sessions run every Tuesday at Barclays Bank, Armada Way, which open from 10am to 4pm. The sessions aim to offer:

• access to impartial careers information, advice and guidance

• 1:1 skills assessments to identify transferrable skills to help individuals confidently apply for jobs

• sectoral insights and introductions with local employers across all industries

• opportunities to gain new skills and undertake training

• access to ongoing development once individuals get started, to continue up-skilling and support future career development.

Councillor Mark Shayer, deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Economy and Chair of the Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, said: “There is a strong partnership between the council, Skills Launchpad Plymouth and the Armed

“I am very keen to encourage those who are a veteran, in service or a family member to come along to the sessions and get involved with the great opportunities that are available through Military Tuesdays, or even just to have a chat with like-minded people.

“With nearly one hundred Armed Forces signatories from local employers, we know there are lots of connections we can help make in transitions into employment opportunities.”

As well as the weekly Military Tuesday dropin at Skills Launchpad Plymouth, there will also be pop-up support events held this month for Armed Forces veterans, serving members and their families.

The outreach sessions will be a chance to meet the Skills Launchpad Plymouth team and other citywide partners and charities who are keen to help.

Anyone who fancies a chat, a brew and a biscuit, can pop in – there is no need to book.

Sessions are taking place on November 16 from 9am to 7pm at Plymouth Veterans and Family Hub at Ernest English House in Buckwell Street and November 30 4pm to 8pm at Four Greens Community Hub in Whitleigh.

Leigham youngsters fundraising for Woodside

Children in Foundation at Leigham Primary School have taken their learning about pets one step further during their first half term at school.

Following a visit from Lisa from Woodside Animal Welfare Trust, the children were really inspired to help all the pets that do not have homes. They decided to spend a week fundraising to sponsor a kennel at Woodside. On the first day, the children did some charity baking and enjoyed following instructions to make their own cakes. On the second day, the children were sponsored to wear silly socks to school for the day. The entire school enjoyed looking at all the fun patterns on the socks the youngsters wore.

Towards the end of the week, the children were challenged with a sponsored run around our school running track. Leigham has a strong tradition of raising money for charity, and has recently supported the Antony Nolan Trust, seeing 150 children take part in a 2.6 mile running challenge. Despite this being one of many fundraising events at school this term, there was overwhelming support by parents and families who came to cheer the youngest children in the school running for charity.

Thanks to the generosity of Leigham families, Foundation have now raised £150 - enough to sponsor multiple kennels and shelters for the animals at Woodside!

Detailed plans to upgrade the Guildhall are unveiled

Plymouth’s Guildhall could be back in the great gigs game with exciting plans to upgrade its facilities for the next generation of music fans and a host of other users.

Plymouth City Council is currently working on proposals which are designed to encourage bands, musicians and event organisers to book the historic building as part of a scheme to bring the buzz back to the city centre.

It will also provide space for a variety of other uses, such as other entertainment events, conferences, training, weddings and hot-desking.

The project team has been liaising with event organisers as well as a design team including a listed building specialist to put together a package of work that will make the building more attractive to promoters and event goers, but still keep its unique identity.

Changes – which are all subject to planning or listed building consent – could include:

• Improvements to the main hall’s acoustics with bespoke sound-deadening systems

• Retractable lighting rig

• Modular stage units – giving more flexibility in the hall for events which need runways, cat walks or performances in the round

• Improvements to the kitchen in the main hall enabling a wider range of events to be catered for

• Wifi improvements, enabling technology such as live streaming to be incorporated into events

• A goods lift – to make moving of heavy equipment such as amplifiers, lights and PA systems much easier

• Significant extension to the first floor bar and a back wall to be removed to create more space to move for bar staff

• Toilets to be refurbished throughout

• Accessibility improvements where possible

A separate work programme will see the installation of a new air source heat pump, to displace the use of gas boilers. An air source heat pump transfers heat from the outside air to provide internal heating and is far more environmentally friendly than gas with significantly reduced carbon emissions.

The Guildhall and Council House will form part of a new Civic Centre District Energy Scheme

which can be expanded to the Combined Court, as well as the Theatre Royal and the redevelopment of the Civic Centre by Urban Splash.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mark Shayer said: “It was very important to make sure that the improvements work for the type of companies we are trying to attract, so we have spoken to event organisers and promoters.

“They have their own equipment but need our space to be flexible and easy for setting up and get-outs.

“We also looked at the common problems people have when they go to a venue – a long queue for the bar, thought what changes can we make to address these in our venue? All changes also need to be sensitive to the building’s listed status.”

The works will be submitted as a package for planning and listed building consent later this year. If all goes according to plan, the work could start in the summer of 2023.

The Guildhall, including Great Hall, Assize Courts and former City Treasury was originally built in the 1870s but reduced to a shell during the Blitz. They survived - by one single council vote in 1951 - the threat of demolition and became a focus of Plymouth’s rebuilding and the most significant survival from the bombed city centre.

It was one of the few damaged buildings to be restored rather than rebuilt, with the restoration continuing through most of the 1950s. It involved the stabilisation of what remained of the original building and the construction of new roofs, entrances and interior.

Councillor Shayer added: “This project has been in the pipeline for some time and we have secured significant funding from the Government to help us deliver. If ever there was a project where investment will repay over and over again, this is it. Not only will more events bring more income into the council, but more people coming to the events will have spin-offs for nearby cafes, pubs and bars. They will have a great night too.”

The project is expected to cost £3.9m comprising £2.45m which was allocated in the council’s capital budget in March 2021 and £1.5m from the Future High Streets fund.

Forces Covenant and to have events and skills support services specifically tailored to the Armed Forces family of our city is great news.

Councillor Mark Shayer pictured with Armed Forces personnel at the Tuesday launch

Hundreds of Plymouth homes are eligible for energy upgrades

Hundreds of Plymouth homes are set for an energy upgrade this winter thanks to a new pot of grant funding.

The Future Fit programme, a partnership between Plymouth City Council and local charity Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), will see £4million of government funding distributed across up to 300 eligible homes in the city.

The money will be spent on improvements such as wall, floor and loft insulation; getting rid of draughts; help with heating controls; installing solar and replacing off-the-grid gas heating systems.

To make the process as smooth as possible, PEC has created a handy funding eligibility checker where him households can discover what improvements can be funded for their home.

While a number of eligibility factors will be considered, the Future Fit project is open for homeowners and households living in privately rented accommodation with a yearly income of less than £30,000.

For more information visit www. plymouthenergycommunity.com/futurefit, and look out for PEC’s Future Fit team in local neighbourhoods over the next few months.

PEC project manager Justin Bear said: “Local people are doing all they can to save energy and reduce costs – but if your home is leaking heat, it’s almost impossible to make significant savings without making major upgrades, which aren’t affordable for most. We want to lighten this burden. We don’t want our community to have to choose between keeping the heating on or other vital needs.

“If your household meets the eligibility criteria, we manage the whole process: the initial home energy assessment; coordinating local contractors to do the upgrades according to what a house needs, and issuing the funding on behalf of the council.”

Councillor James Stoneman, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Governance said: “We are proud to be part of this pro-active, urgently needed intervention in the cost-of-living crisis.

“By helping residents have warmer homes and lowering your heating costs, we’re also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and working towards stopping climate change. Future Fit is therefore helping to make a better future for both our local community, and planet.”

Plymouth resident Laurie said: “Plymouth Energy Community have been amazing. Their specialist knowledge got grants to pay for new storage heaters and solar roof panels. I don’t know what I would have done without their friendly, helpful support. I cannot thank them enough!”

With rising energy prices and the cost-ofliving crisis, bills are getting much harder to manage for everyone. Brought to you by PCC and PEC at this critical time, Future Fit is here to help 300 households stay warm and save money well into the future.

New independent alliance will challenge seats at May election

The political landscape in Plymouth is changing, following three of the city’s most high profile, and well-known Councillors joining forces on Plymouth City Council, to form the Independent Alliance Group.

Founding members Cllr Terri Beer, Cllr Nick Kelly, and Cllr Chaz Singh have over 33 years’ experience of the council between them.

Cllr Terri Beer has been the Deputy Lord Mayor, the Lord Mayor and the Cabinet Member for Children.

Cllr Chaz Singh, has been the Deputy Lord Mayor, Chair of Taxi Licensing and Chair of the Equalities Working Group.

Cllr Nick Kelly has been the Leader of Plymouth City Council, Deputy Lord Mayor, Chair of the Performance & Finance Scrutiny Committee, Chair of Taxi Licencing, and Chair of Chief Officer Appointments Panel.

All three between them have held numerous Shadow Cabinet positions, appointments to outside bodies and sat on nearly all of the Council’s various committees.

They are all extremely passionate about Plymouth and have worked tirelessly over many years, on local ward issues and improving the lives of children, the most vulnerable, and the minority groups within the city. These along with making Plymouth a truly fantastic place to live, work or visit and improving civic pride will remain key priorities they will campaign on.

Cllr Beer said: “Promoting the safeguarding of our children and vulnerable adults, will continue to be a priority area to focus on, moving forward.”

All three councillors are very active on social media with their work, and Cllr Singh has over 16,000 followers on his Twitter account.

They quickly decided to form an official group, to enable them to represent their residents on

the various PCC Committees, something that wasn’t done by previous Independent members, as they already had a close working relationship and shared values.

“Despite coming from very different backgrounds, we have a strong sense of fairness and equality” said Cllr Beer.

Cllr Kelly, past Leader of the Council said: “During the past 18 months, the three of us have worked very closely together. We share common beliefs and values, and simply want the very best for Plymouth’s residents and businesses.

Cllr Terri Beer was the Lord Mayor when I was the Leader, and we attended many civic events together in our respective capacities, no more so than offering support to the community following the Keyham tragedy.

“We also awarded Freedom of the City three times during our terms of office, to deserving recipients Mark

Cllr Singh, was appointed to Chair the new Equalities Working Group and in conjunction with us both, really reached out to the minority communities within our city, that he has championed for over a decade.

The Lord Mayor hosted many events in the Parlour where we invited different communities into PCC, especially the Romanian, Jewish and Asian communities in our city.”

Cllr Singh said: “As a city that is changing visually, and culturally, it’s important that all residents and visitors feel that Plymouth is a warm and welcoming city”.

All three councillors feel strongly now is the right time to offer Plymouth something different. With the national political backdrop of chaos that has been mirrored in Plymouth over the past six months, they believe large party politics is dead for the foreseeable future, with

so many of the electorate totally disillusioned.

Plymouth has never had an elected independent councillors, but in May 2023, when all three are up for election this may change.

They are in discussions with other councillors who have become disillusioned with their own party’s conduct, broken promises, and policies for the city.

Cllr Kelly said: ”Others within the council may join us in the coming weeks and months, that will be their choice.

“However, since my resignation I have been inundated with people urging me to stand as an independent and form an Alliance.

“Previous councillors and councillor candidates have contacted me in the past few days wanting to stand and be part of this Alliance in May 2023. We already have enough candidates to stand in each of the 19 wards.

“This is something new and exciting, although a lot more work and planning will now start to truly offer the residents of Plymouth a real and credible alternative to the mainstream parties. I am excited about leading this initiative and hope to share more details in the coming months.”

Plymouth City Council is currently in a state of no overall control, following the resignation of Cllr Kelly from the Conservatives.

The new Independent Group will therefore have a significant role to play in any council vote that may affect policies for running the city.

Their objective is to hold any Administration to account whilst also being proactive in offering solutions to the city’s challenges.

Cllr Singh said “We feel liberated that we can do the very best for Plymouth and our residents, and not be concerned about going against any national party policies or having disciplinary action taken against us, we are truly independent.”

PLAN TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY IN PLYMOUTH OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

A new three-year plan sets out how Plymouth City Council will work to break the cycle of child poverty and ensure that children living in the city are given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The Child Poverty Action Plan for 2022 to 2025 was agreed at today’s Cabinet meeting following support from the cross-party Child Poverty Cabinet Advisory Group. The plan has four key themes:

Income and employment: ensuring the benefits of economic growth are felt by everyone and supporting the Skills for Plymouth plan.

Health and wellbeing: supporting children’s emotional and physical wellbeing and continuing the oral health improvement programme.

Education and transitions: improving literacy levels, supporting children in Early Years settings to be ‘school ready’ and giving young people the skills to transition into adulthood.

Partnerships: working with private and voluntary sector partners to mitigate child poverty.

Each theme includes a number of priorities and proposed outcomes. These include increasing the number of childcare places available in areas of deprivation, improving literacy in children living in low income families, reducing the prevalence of obesity in children and improving children’s dental hygiene.

The previous plan, for 2019 to 2022, focused on similar themes and despite the impact of Covid-19 had a positive impact.

Successful outcomes included a 63 per cent increase in the number of eligible children claiming free school meals, which not only ensures they receive a healthy meal each day but also results in schools receiving additional funding to support pupils.

Reports from the Department for Work and Pensions also show that more than 770 children living in low income families moved out of poverty between March 2020 and 2021.

Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet Member

for Strategic Planning, Homes and Communities, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our new action plan which clearly outlines the steps that we, together with our partners, will be taking to support local families and children.

“We can’t do this on our own and I’m delighted that we’re able to work so closely with partners from the private and voluntary sectors, as well as other public sector organisations, all of whom share our ambitions to break the cycle of child poverty.”

“The plan’s four different themes give us a clear approach to tackling both the causes of child poverty, which includes helping parents into employment, and also the major symptoms.

“We’ll be taking steps to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of children in Plymouth as well as providing opportunities for our children and young people to learn and to be inspired, setting them up for the bright future that every child deserves.”

Ormrod, Tom Daley and the Falklands Veterans.”

New alliance...Cllrs Chaz Singh, Terri Beer and Nick Kelly

A young girl from Plymouth has been shortlisted for an award by the national disability charity, Sense.

Eight-year-old Ivy Stedman, who lives in Southway, has been shortlisted in the Young Sibling of the Year category at the 2022 Sense Awards in recognition of her support for her disabled siblings, as well for her efforts to advocate for young carers.

Ivy has two disabled siblings’ nine-year-old Harry, who has Antenatal Bartter syndrome, ADHD, and global developmental delay, and older sister Kate, who has autism spectrum disorder.

After attending an online session organised by the Sense Siblings and Young Carers group called ‘An Introduction to Parliament,’ where she was able to learn a little bit about the world of politics, Ivy was inspired to write a letter to her MP Johnny Mercer. Ivy shared her experience about

what it is like to be a young carer and how she finds it difficult to get support.

Ivy’s letter writing resulted in her receiving a referral to be assessed in school for additional support, something the family had been waiting

two years for. The issues Ivy shared have also been raised by Plymouth City Council which has discussed how it can better support young carers across the constituency.

Ivy said: “I feel really happy and excited to be shortlisted for a Sense Award!”

Sense chief executive, Richard Kramer, said:  “Ivy’s work to highlight the need for more support for young carers has achieved brilliant results and she can be very proud of her efforts. We are delighted to shortlist her for our Young Sibling of the Year Award and look forward to seeing her at the virtual ceremony on November 24.”

The Sense Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of people with complex disabilities, as well as the staff, carers, family members, volunteers and fundraisers who support them.

For more information about the Sense Awards visit: www.sense.org.uk/sense-awards

Citybus to the rescue as the Service 34 route is extended

A revised bus service will connect the George Park & Ride with Derriford Hospital, Milehouse Park & Ride and Crownhill, reinstating a lost connection for residents in the north of Plymouth.

Following the withdrawal of the Service 101 provided by Stagecoach, there has not been a link between the George Park & Ride, and Crownhill and Milehouse, which was key to getting people in the north of the city to places like Home Park and the Life Centre.

Plymouth Citybus extended the Service 34 route from the end of October, re-instating the connection.

Cllr Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “I was very disappointed when we were notified Stagecoach would be removing their George Park & Ride 101 and Milehouse service. This affects residents and students in the north of the city travelling to schools, Central Park, the Life Centre and Plymouth Argyle.

“I lobbied and asked if Plymouth Citybus would consider extending their No 34 service from the hospital to the George Park & Ride, to reconnect with the Milehouse Park & Ride. I’m pleased they were able to review their timetable, agreed to the extension and I would like to thank them for taking over this vital route.”

Plymouth Citybus managing director Richard Stevens, said: “We do our best to listen to the wants and needs of passengers in the city, and in this case we were able to extend the previous route of the 34 to help more people get around the city. We know this link is important for education, healthcare and social reasons, so it’s great to be able to provide this link to North Plymouth.”

Improvements to bus facilities in Mayflower Street

Improvements to bus facilities in the city centre are under way.

New bus shelters will be installed at the bus stops on Mayflower Street, which will be widened to improve traffic flow. More space is going to be created for the buses to use. The scheme will see:

• A new bus stopping area with extra space to drop off passengers. There are currently two bus stops and one shelter. The new scheme will have two bus shelters and bus stops with space for three buses

• Kerb adjusted to widen the road so that buses and cars can pass by when other buses have stopped

• Street furniture removed if surplus and relocated where necessary

• Disabled bay relocated – with details to be confirmed later

• Eight car parking spaces removed.

The work is being carried out to create more bus stops in the city centre ahead of major changes to the layout of Royal Parade. Some bus services – yet to be decided – will be moved to Mayflower Street permanently rather than Royal Parade to create more space and cut congestion on Royal Parade. It should also help improve air quality as fewer buses will be queuing for space.

These improvements are funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund which is costing £615,000.

Traffic orders have been submitted for when the work is carried out as well as changes to traffic management after the work.

Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet

Member for Transport said: “Plymouth has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030 so we need to encourage more people to get out of their cars and use public transport when travelling to and from the city centre.

“This work once complete will help alleviate congestion on Royal Parade as well as emissions build up as fewer buses will be using the bays on Royal Parade.

“We recognise that all these changes are coming in a relatively short period of time. Much of the timing is beyond our control –we’ve had a combination of the pandemic, supply issues and tight government funding time tables which means we have to do a lot of projects in the next six months or so.

These changes will be worth it.”

Emergency Numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance or Coastguard 999 or 112

Police general enquiries 101

Derriford Hospital 01752 202082

NHS 111

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

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

Citizens Advice 0300 3309 043

Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 1671677

Devon & Cornwall Food Action 01752 651800

Disability & Information Advice Line 01302 310123

Drug Addicts Anonymous: Helpline 07818260811

Jan Cutting Healthy Living Centre 01752 203670

Money Advice Plymouth (Debt Advice) 01752 208126

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 8005000

National Missing Persons Helpline 0500 700700

National Christian Helpline 0300 111 0101

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

Plymouth Citybus managing director Richard Stevens and Cllr Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport at the George Park & Ride.

Outreach hub for veterans launched

Armed Forces charities in Plymouth have launched the first of a series of new outreach hubs at Chaddlewood Farm Community Centre following Census data revealed that veterans made up over eight per cent of the Plymouth population.

For the first time last year the Census asked people to declare if they had previously served in the UK Armed Forces. Local authority figures released today show that 18,279 veterans live in Plymouth.

Help for Heroes data from the same period as the Census in 2021 shows that at that time the charity was supporting almost 1,500 affected by their service across Devon.

With 12 times that number of veterans living in Plymouth alone, the charity and other organisations recognised there are many more who could need support.

The move to open outreach hubs for the Armed Forces community, which includes veterans and those currently serving, and their families, has been driven by the local community team from Help for Heroes, in tandem with the Armed Forces Community Social Prescriber for Plymouth Becky Ormrod, Improving Lives Plymouth, Op Courage (the veterans’ mental health service from the NHS), Veterans UK, Royal British Legion, Team Endeavour Wheelchair Rugby Club, and Armed Forces champions from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Veteran Roch Rochester, who has been supported by Help for Heroes and other organisations, and attended the outreach hub representing Team Endeavour Wheelchair Rugby Club which he now runs to support others, said: “All the charities coming together give that option of wraparound support for veterans and others in the Armed Forces community in need, or even if

they’re not in need just for a social connection.

“Some of our rugby players have gone on to do cycling or canoeing or sailing; it’s all those connections that help to build our community.

“Help for Heroes and others really helped me when I was in a dark place. All these organisations I didn’t know were there for me. I always thought it was for other guys and their injuries. Now, I have a voice in that community. I can knock on a door and ask for help for myself or others, but many years ago I couldn’t. For me it’s great to see this happening.”

The hub will be at Chaddlewood Farm Community Centre in Glen Road (PL7 2XS) on the second Thursday of each month (3pm-7pm), at Ernest English House in Buckwell Street (PL1 2DA) on the third Wednesday of each month (9am-7pm) and at Four Greens Community Trust, Whitleigh Green (PL5 4DD) on the last Wednesday of each month, starting on November 30 (4-8pm).

Help for Heroes’ case manager, Paul Mouncher,

said: “Often, those who are in or have been in the Forces aren’t sure where they can go to speak to someone who will understand, or who knows what’s available for them and where. And, crucially, where they can find help and support.

“The outreach hub is there to bridge that gap for them: a one-stop shop with all the charities and organisations together in one place, so the Armed Forces community can come for a chat and a cuppa and enquire about the available support in welfare, clinical, mental health, and sporting activities.”

Help for Heroes has already supported more than 27,000 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve. Members of the Armed Forces community can ask for help at www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-help/ask-for-help/ For further details on attending or supporting a Plymouth Armed Forces community outreach hub, contact Paul Mouncher, Help for Heroes’ case manager on 07807 298684 or paul.mouncher@ helpforheroes.org.uk.

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Launch of the outreach hub at Chaddlewood Farm Community Centre