Plymouth Chronicle February North 2025

Photo: Paul Slater

Dedicated Plymouth volunteer reaches remarkable milestone of 4,000 tasks

Local volunteering hero, Anthony Easton from Whitleigh, has reached a remarkable milestone, completing over 4,000 volunteering tasks to support people across Devon and the NHS.

Since joining the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme, Anthony has completed thousands of tasks, from the delivery of shopping and medication, to providing telephone support calls for those who are isolated or lonely. His ongoing efforts continue to make a huge difference to the wellbeing of those who need it most.

Anthony has been volunteering with the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders since the programme was launched during the pandemic, and his passion for supporting others has motivated him to now reach such an impressive milestone.

In his role as a Community Response volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthony delivered not only shopping and medication, but a friendly face and social connection to those who were unable to leave their homes.

More recently, Anthony’s dedication continues to touch countless lives, offering comfort and guidance to those in need of a listening ear.

As an active telephone support volunteer, he helps protect the health and wellbeing of those who might be experiencing feelings of loneliness or isolation with the telephone calls he makes.

Anthony is one of over 45,000 volunteers making a difference through NHS and Care Volunteer Responders. The programme is delivered by Royal Voluntary Service and GoodSAM, to support the NHS and healthcare teams across England. He hopes his accomplishment of completing 4000 tasks will inspire others across Devon to get involved and explore voluntary opportunities in their area.

Anthony said: “I like to check in on people, asking how they’re feeling and making sure they’re okay. It’s nice to be part of the reason people feel better. It’s been fantastic, especially helping people dealing with loneliness or isolation.

“I’d say to anyone considering volunteering, just go ahead and do it. It’s nice when you make that first call and hear their reaction, to know don’t feel lonely anymore and know someone is there to support them.”

Sam Ward, deputy CEO of Royal Voluntary Service, said: ”Completing 4000 tasks is a highly impressive achievement, and we are incredibly proud and thankful for Anthony’s efforts. His hard work has undeniably made a positive impact in Devon and beyond, supporting the NHS, healthcare teams, and those most vulnerable.

“I’d encourage anyone feeling inspired to give back to visit our website and become a volunteer today. Whether you go on to complete one task, or one thousand, a single action can be all it takes to make a difference.”

Volunteering with NHS and Care Volunteer Responders is completely flexible and is managed through the GoodSAM smartphone app, allowing volunteers to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people in their area, and remotely, at times and locations that suit them.

Anyone who is ready to make a difference can visit the website for more details on the volunteer activities available and how to sign up at www. nhscarevolunteerresponders.org

Departing Mon 17 Mar ‘25

This great-value break is a fantastic way to see a trio of England’s most iconic hotspots! As well as a fabulous bar offer at our hotel, we include excursions to vibrant Manchester, Liverpool and Chester, where there’s plenty on offer.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Plymouth

 4 nights at a selected hotel in the North West area (JG2 rating) with dinner & breakfast

 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks

 Excursions to Manchester, Chester & Liverpool

▶ SAVE £30 - Quote PLY - Book by 14 Feb 2025

Departing Mon 2 Jun ‘25

On this fantastic break we enjoy the island’s natural beauty as well as a nostalgic journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and a visit to fascinating Osborne House.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth, Saltash

 4 nights at the Shanklin Beach Hotel, Shanklin (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast

 2 for 1 bar (Shanklin Beach Hotel only)

 Entertainment some evenings

 Heritage train journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

 Excursions to Osborne House, Cowes & Ryde

Optional Island Highlights Tour (£15pp)

Departing Mon 17 Mar ‘25

Beloved for its pretty beaches, and classic charm, Scarborough is the perfect destination for a stunning five-day getaway! We enjoy a stunning excursion programme with visits to Whitby, York and the filming location for the TV series Heartbeat, Goathland.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash

 4 nights at a selected hotel in Scarborough (JG2 rating) with dinner & breakfast

 Light entertainment every evening

 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks

 Excursions to Goathland (Heartbeat), Whitby & York

▶ SAVE £30 - Quote PLY - Book by 14 Feb 2025

Volunteer hero Anthony Easton

Poorly rescue puppy defies all the odds to celebrate her first birthday at Woodside

A rescued puppy given just months to live due to a serious heart condition has just celebrated her first birthday at a Plymouth animal sanctuary.

The Pomeranian called Kiwi was nine weeks

old when she arrived at Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary last spring, having been diagnosed with a Grade 5 heart murmur.

With vets expecting her to live for less than six months, Woodside assistant supervisor Kirstin Stone decided to take Kiwi home and give her the best life possible in the time she had left.

A year on, Kiwi has just celebrated her first birthday with a party at the sanctuary, surrounded by Kirstin and all the staff who have grown to adore her.

Kirstin said Kiwi, who weighs just 2.8kgs, had defied the odds, with her most recent veterinary check revealing her heart is getting stronger.

Although Kirstin is reluctant to look too far ahead, she is enjoying each day with her adorable dog who she says loves the beacheven trying a spot of paddleboarding!

“I’m really excited and happy for her,” Kirstin said. “I take every day as it comes with Kiwi and don’t look too far ahead, I’m grateful for every adventure. I like to take on animals that need extra care and I wanted to give Kiwi

MP’s praise for contribution of BD to city economy and global healthcare

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard has praised the contribution of Roborough-based Becton Dickinson to the local economy and global medical manufacturing.

BD, the leading global medical technology company, welcomed Luke Pollard MP to its Plymouth plant to recognise its significant contributions to the local community, and to UK and global healthcare providers

The state-of-the-art 100,000 square metre facility, which operates 24/7, has been a significant employer in the region for over 45 years, now employing nearly 800 people.

Producing over 3.1 billion medical devices annually, including 2.7 billion BD Vacutainer® blood collection tubes used in the UK and worldwide, BD Plymouth is one of the largest manufacturing plants in the area, generating £59 million annually for the national economy, including £14 million directly into the city.

Nearly 800 people work at the plant including 185 technical and engineering professionals – and a third are female. The facility is heavily invested in the community too, partnering with 25 local schools, colleges, and universities to provide work experience and promote careers in engineering and science.

Luke Pollard MP commented on the importance of the visit and the company’s impact on local industry: “BD Plymouth makes world-class health care products that are sold, and used, globally strengthening both our local economy and adding to our national economy. BD’s story is a Plymouth success story that I am proud to back.”

During the visit, Mr Pollard toured the factory floor and observed the advanced manufacturing processes that produce BD Vacutainer® tubes so that 82 patients every second can have their blood samples taken.

the best life she could have. Her heart has started to get stronger. It hasn’t healed but it is getting stronger.”

When Kiwi first arrived at the sanctuary at Elfordleigh she slept for much of the day and, once home with Kirstin, was carried around because she was so tired.

Kirstin gradually introduced gentle exercise followed by rest days and as Kiwi grew stronger, the inseparable pair started taking on new adventures together.

In the last few months, Kiwi has been on boat trips, paddleboarding, running on the moors and visited Father Christmas, with plenty of rest in between.

Kiwi joins Kirstin when she’s working at the sanctuary, where she’s a regular in the staffroom and will often be invited for

sleepovers with other staff, who all love her.

Kirstin added: “Initially I made sure Kiwi took it slow and at her own pace. As she got stronger, I upped her walks and have done more with her. She still has rest days. If she’s had quite a long walk the day before, she’d quite happily go again but I give her time to recover.

“She’s very loving and playful. She’s very loved here at the sanctuary and had a birthday party with the staff. Everyone wore party hats and sang happy birthday. She had presents and a cake.”

To find out more about the animals searching for a home at Woodside, visit the sanctuary’s website at www.woodsidesanctuary.org.uk.

BD’s director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Greg Quinn thanked Mr Pollard for his visit. He added:

“BD Plymouth exemplifies our mission to advance the world of health. We feel proud to be part of the fabric of manufacturing in the community and to play such a critical role in healthcare worldwide.”

Simon Jones, senior director at BD Plymouth, highlighted the importance of local innovation:

“It’s inspiring to have leaders like Luke Pollard MP supporting the transformative work happening right here in Plymouth. This visit underscores the importance of our work in the health care sector and our dedication to the Plymouth community.”

Kiwi celebrates

Members of the Woodside team donned party hats and sang happy birthday to celebrate with Kiwi

Pictured during the visit to Becton Dickinson (from left): Garth Tutte, Greg Quinn, Simon Jones, Luke Pollard MP, Sara Mewton, Jason Richards, and Steve White

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.

Southway Valentine’s Table Top Sale Feb 8

Church of the Holy Spirit, Southway from 1pm to 3pm. Quiet place for cuppa and chat plus lots of goodies and children’s crafts. For more information or to book a table at £5 please contact Veronica on 07855 256383.

Bird & Wildlife Cruise

Feb 12 and 27, Mar 1

Join Plymouth Boat Trips for the new Bird Watching Cruise to see and learn about the many birds that migrate to the area during the autumn and winter months, travelling the River Tamar and River Lynher, which are known for wintering wildfowl and many waders. Passengers may see Shelduck, Wigeon, Curlew, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, the stunning Avocets and hopefully be fortunate to also see Spoonbills. Commentary will be provided to give the opportunity to improve bird identification skills and learn about the ecology of the birds and the river. Tickets include a hot tea or coffee. For details and tickets visit www. plymouthboattrips.co.uk

Love Your Marmalade Feb 13

Join the Jarsquad at Stoke Youth and Community Centre from 2pm for some yummy marmalade making. Free entry.

Jake Lambert - the Sunshine Kid

Feb 14

Jake brings his first national tour to the Woolwell Centre at 8pm. Described as ‘A joke machine’ by The Telegraph, the show will see the comedian talk about trying to navigate his way through everyday life, why he has a fear of being normal, and asking why we all feel the need to ask strangers what breed their dogs are. For tickets and information visit www. comicalentertainment.com

Allo Allo Valentine’s Special

Feb 14

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in a truly unique and unforgettable way with the Valentine’s Special ‘Allo ‘Allo Interactive Comedy Dinner at the Club Argyle Lounge, Home Park Stadium at 7.30pm. An evening filled with laughter, romance, and delicious food, as the beloved sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo comes to life in an immersive comedy experience like no other! For tickets and details visit www.homeparkstadium.com/ news/allo-allo-valentines-dinner

The Band of the Royal Marines

Feb 15

Royal Marines Band Plymouth, based at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint presents a concert at Theatre Royal Plymouth at 7.30pm. The concert will feature classic marches, overtures, soloists, a spectacular finale and not forgetting the ever-present Corps of Drums. Tickets from www.theatreroyal.com

Valentine’s Soup and Sweet Lunch

Feb 15

Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery at 1pm. Tickets £15. Booking beforehand is essential. Office hours are 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Call 01752 665442 or email info@ford-park-cemetery.org

Wings and Wonderful Things

Feb 18 to Feb 21

Brighten up half term by joining the team at The Box to make colourful bird puppets and masks. They will be taking inspiration from the owls and ‘jumbie birds’ in the John Lyons: Carnivalesque exhibition, as well as some of the wonderful birds that are more local to here in Plymouth. Last entries at 12.15pm and 3.15pm. Sessions are particularly ideal for children aged four to 11 years old and their adults. Free and no need to book.

Out and About

Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s spectacular production of the classic multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins is flying to Theatre Royal Plymouth from February 26 to March 29

Fun-Filled Magic Show

Feb 19

Step into a world of magic and mayhem at Home Park with Emazdad the magician. He will be joined by his two mischievous pals, Stinky Rat and Marmite the Lion, who are guaranteed to bring plenty of giggles and laughter with their daft and delightful antics. Tickets and information from www.homeparkstadium. com or call the ticket office in 01752 907700.

Freaks, Geeks (and other human beings)

Feb 21

A one woman show featuring the multi-talented Carly Barnes at the Barbican Theatre at 7.30pm. Freaks is a tribute to the enduring power of parental love –ì even through difficult and testing times. But love which binds can also blind. Blind us to the real needs of those we love the most. Tickets from www.eventbrite. co.uk

Art Exhibition

Feb 21 to 27

Mindful Art Club presents an art exhibition at Leadworks, Plymouth. The event is free to attend and includes an opening night with entertainment and music on Friday February 21, from 7pm to 11pm. The artwork on display is a collection of pieces created by Mindful Art Club participants and is a culmination of an 18 month addiction recovery group project. It’s funded by the Peoples Health Trust.

Coffee Morning

Mar 1

Crownhill Methodist Church from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls. In aid of Alzheimers Research. All welcome.

Mary Poppins

Feb 26 to Mar 29

Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s spectacular production of the classic multi award-winning musical

Mary Poppins is flying to Theatre Royal Plymouth. Acclaimed Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert, having both received critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations for their performances in the recent Australian production. Tickets from www.theatreroyal. com/whats-on/mary-poppins

‘Just’Living Day

March 15

Family friendly event with free entry from 10.30am to 3.30pm at Hope Baptists Church, Peverell Corner. Focusing on the challenge of climate change, bioversity and environmental issues. A day of talks and family friendly interaction with a number of exhibitors including Plymouth Energy Community, Climate Action Plymouth, Wembury Marine Centre, Plymouth Scrapstore, Just Money Movement, Clean Our Patch, Food Plymouth, Climate Connections and Sockists. The Plymouth Climate Choir will also be performing during lunchtime when pasties will be available. Refreshments including homemade cakes also available all day.

Men’s Day Out

Mar 22

The ever-popular fund-raiser for St Luke’s Hospice returns again. An unmissable mix of miles, mates and memories. Discover a special bond with friends old and new for the 12km route starting and ending at Plymouth Albion. Details and registration at www. stlukes-hospice.org.uk/mensdayout

Spring Concert

Mar 22

University of Plymouth Choral Society will be performing the Requiem by Fauré and other choral works at St Andrew’s Minster in Royal Parade at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Choral Society members or on the door £16 adults and £6 students.

Ed Byrne - Tragedy Plus Time

March 22

Attributed to Mark Twain, humour is defined as Tragedy Plus Time. Ed Byrne tests that formula by mining the most tragic events in his life for laughs. Performance at The Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus at 7.30pm. For tickets and information visit www.comicalentertainment.com

Spring Fayre

Mar 22

St Budeaux Church Community Hall, The Green, PL5 2HN from 11am to 2.30pm. Various stalls, crafts, books

and toys. Homemade cakes and pasty lunch available Email:fayres@st-budeaux-church.co.uk to book a table.

Flax Dolly Making

March 22

Join Culture Club at Stoke Youth and Community Centre as they celebrate Spring Equinox from 2pm. Details from www.tinyurl.com/TVH-events

Spring Fair

Mar 29

Ford Park Cemetery from 10.30am to 1.30pm. There will be a number of stalls with many bargains. Occasionally events have to be cancelled at short notice through bad weather forecasts, so please check Facebook page and the Ford Park Cemetery Trust website.

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir

Apr 5

The choir is performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah at 7.30pm in The Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth. Mendelssohn’s oratorio is a masterpiece in action packed story telling. With thrilling, energetic choruses and hushed, reflective scenes the choir are delighted to be performing this much-loved work. The choir will be joined by four first class soloists: Soprano Catherine Hamilton, Mezzo-soprano Clare McCaldin, Tenor Robyn Lyn Evans and Baritone Thomas Humphreys. Tickets £20 in advance, £22 on the door, £5 Students/U16s. Tickets available from choir members, the choir ticket manager 07949 311030 and wegottickets.com/event/635374. For more information please visit www.plymouthphilchoir.org

Lou Sanders

Apr 24

Acclaimed stand-up comedian Lou Sanders brings her show ‘No Kissing in the Bingo Hall’ to Plymouth’s Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus at 8pm. Tickets and information from www.comicalentertainment.com

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.

Photo copyright Daniel Boud

Call

Work on the first phase of the Woolwell to The George scheme is progressing well and preparations will soon be getting under way for the second phase.

Widening on Woolwell Road has been completed for the new shared pedestrian and cycle paths and significant underground utility diversions (including a large water main at Woolwell Crescent), has been carried out as well as widening works for the upcoming construction of the new junction.

Trees and vegetation along Tavistock Road next to Tesco have also been cleared in preparation for the new retaining wall and cycle track.

The westbound side of Woolwell Road is expected to reopen on February 10, following resurfacing and relining works.

The current signals at the junction of Woolwell Road and Woolwell Drive will remain in place until the surfacing work is complete. On occasions temporary signals will also be in operation on each arm of Towerfield Drive roundabout from 7pm through to 6am. Pedestrians will be directed to use the footpaths on one side of Woolwell Road and the footpath to Tesco will be restricted overnight. Arrangements will be changed on February 9, ready for traffic to start using the new layout the following day. The no right turn from Tavistock Road into Woolwell Road (at Woolwell Roundabout) will remain in place to ensure southbound traffic can keep flowing. All vehicles, except for emergency vehicles and buses travelling northbound, will continue to take the short diversion via Belliver Roundabout.

A camera has been installed at the roundabout to enforce this restriction, as monitoring by the project team and reports from the public have shown it is being frequently ignored. Drivers are reminded that entering the bus lane risks a penalty charge notice of £70.

Tavistock Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Woolwell Roundabout and Woolwell Crescent but, with no traffic exiting from Woolwell Crescent, this is not expected to result in significant disruption.

Initial preparations for the second phase of the scheme were also due to get under way at the end of January.

The Woolwell to The George scheme has been in the pipeline for many years. It will tackle one of Plymouth’s worst traffic bottlenecks and is a vital part of the programme to provide better links to and from the north of Plymouth as it grows.

In the coming years around 4,400 new homes are planned in the north of the city – including 2,000 new homes at the Woolwell Urban Extension. This and other developments, such as the new district shopping centre in Derriford, will see an increased amount of traffic along this route.

The whole scheme will cost £45 million, which includes £24.9 million in UK Government funding to support delivery of these vital improvements.

More information, including traffic management plans and FAQs, can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk/wttg.

Plymouth police cadet wins prestigious national award

A police cadet in Plymouth has received a national Lord Ferrers award for his outstanding contribution in helping to protect and educate local communities.

Caolan Hutchins, who is 16, has been a member of the police cadets for two years.

He recently received the Lord Ferrers ‘Volunteer Police Cadet Award 2024’. The Lord Ferrers Awards recognise outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing. Awarded annually, the Awards are open to a wide range of policing volunteers across 11 individual and team categories.

Caolan attended the prestigious ceremony at The De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, where his award was presented by Commodore Jo Adey ADC RN. He even had a personal conversation with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper!

Police cadets are made up of young people, aged from 13 to 17 years old. They work regularly with police to engage with the public, educate people on useful crime prevention advice, give valuable information out about how to report crime and support regular officers at local events and operations.

Police Youth Engagement officer Deb Hart commented on how much Caolan’s confidence has grown since being involved in the cadets: “Despite initially being shy when he first joined, Caolan has grown in maturity considerably. He has risen to the challenge of leading sessions for the junior members of the group, helping to shape and support the next generation of young people joining the program.

“He holds the core values of the cadets to heart, making sure the sessions are inclusive and accessible so that everyone learns and grows together with no-one left behind. He works hard to create a safe space so that

everyone in the group feels valued, heard and confident to speak up.

“Caolan has truly gone above and beyond the usual expectation of a cadet, diligently taking on the additional responsibility to support the running of the unit.”

Caolan recently supported Devon & Cornwall Police officers with a successful test purchase operation. The activity involved him joining plain clothes police officers and attempting to purchase a knife as an underage person without ID. This formed part of the police’s effort to prevent knife sales to young people by educating shops around the laws of knife sales.

The work Caolan was involved in will be used as a benchmark for other forces nationally and cadet units across the UK.

Deb Hart continued: “Caolan’s professionalism, dedication and thoughtfulness shines through in everything he does. He consistently demonstrates a commitment to the values of both the force and volunteer police cadets. Caolan is absolutely deserving of the recognition he has received for his level of service to the group and our local communities.”

To date, Caolan has received Cadet of the Year 2024, Regional Cadet of the Year 2024 and the national Lord Ferrers Award 2024.

Caolan, former Plymstock School pupil, is a Uniformed Public Services student at City College Plymouth.

Richard Wiltshire, Public Services lecturer at City College Plymouth said: “Caolan is an inspirational, mature, and hardworking individual. A great role model for his peers.”

Any young person interested in joining the cadets or being a cadet leader, can visit www.youth.devoncornwall.police.uk/police-cadets/devon-cornwall-policecadets/

Developer’s donation to Pilgrims’ charity

The builder behind two major developments in Plymouth has donated £3,000 to the charity arm of Plymouth Argyle.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon presented the cheque at Home Park to Argyle Community Trust, alongside the Leader of Plymouth Council, Cllr Tudor Evans, and Cllr Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Sport.

The funds will be going towards supporting the charitable work delivered from the Hub at Foulston Park, due to launch this spring. More specifically, the funding will help Argyle Community Trust to deliver new weekly football and multi-sport sessions to local children with a disability.

Argyle Community Trust aims to have a positive impact on a range of groups within society and to provide the local community with the opportunity to explore their full potential, improve their life chances, and achieve their aspirations through the power of football and Plymouth Argyle FC.

They have been operating for over 20 years, offering a large range of activities and programmes from football to nationally recognised educational qualifications, from health to social action and disability. The populations they serve face barriers in

relation to health, well-being, education, employment, levels of physical activity, and high deprivation.

The developer currently has three-bed homes available for sale on the fourth phase at Palmerston Heights in Derriford. Two, three, and four-bed homes are also for sale at Saltram Meadows.

Persimmon donates £24,000 to good causes and much-valued organisations across Cornwall and West Devon every year as part of its Community Champions scheme. Recent recipients including Plymouth Night Patrol, Argyle Pride, St Luke’s Hospice, and Building Plymouth. A donation was also made to fund a defibrillator at Palmerston Heights.

Dwain Morgan, head of Business Development from Argyle Community Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous donation towards our new children’s disability football sessions. Their support is helping us create a fun environment where young players can build confidence, develop skills, and enjoy making new friends.

Thanks to Persimmon, we’re able to purchase inclusive equipment and deliver new opportunities to local children who can often find accessing community sport difficult. We look forward to bringing this opportunity to life.”

Vital repairs on the way for Plymouth schools

Plymouth City Council is investing more than £140,000 to support vital building work and repairs on four city schools.

The council is responsible for major maintenance works to localauthority-maintained schools and receives a limited capital grant from the Government to carry out major works. Academies are responsible for their own building maintenance and can apply directly for funding from the Department of Education.

The following schools will undergo repair work, following a council decision signed this month:

• Cann Bridge School: New safety fencing and landscaping to ensure a safe and secure outdoor environment

• Ham Drive Nursery School: New replacement boiler

• Mill Ford School: Essential surveying to establish the condition of the school to enable better management of the building

• Woodlands School: Ventilation works to provide enhanced cooling and ventilation to support pupils with complex needs.

The work will be scheduled to minimise any disruption to pupils and staff, including during school holiday periods where appropriate.

The schools will be asked to contribute 10 per cent towards the costs and this is then used to support future school repairs.

Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “It’s really important that children, young people and teaching and support staff are able to learn and work in a safe environment. We regularly review our physical school estate to identify any buildings that are in need of repair and will be working to carry out the works as soon as possible.”

Nearly £200,000 of funding will be held in reserve in case any emergency repairs, for example damaged roofs, flooding or alarm failures, are required. This ensures that the council can respond to incidents effectively.

Caolan Hutchins pictured with his award alongside Police Youth Engagement officer Deb Hart

New year new start for Civic Centre

Work has re-started on the refurbishment of the Civic Centre with contractors now on site.

The council has appointed Gwella Contracting Services to complete the internal strip out work as part of the project to create a new skills hub for City College Plymouth.

Levelling Up Funding of nearly £9 million has now been confirmed following the Autumn budget which will allow the next important stages of the project to progress.

Work had been started on stripping out the interior but stopped when a company employed by Urban Splash went into administration in November 2023.

Now work will resume inside including work to make the building safe ahead of structural

surveyors going in to further assess the condition of the building. This stage of the project will continue for at least three months.

Last year the council agreed to buy back the Civic Centre from Urban Splash for a reported £1 and unveiled exciting proposals to create a major new campus in the Civic Centre focussed on delivering future green and blue jobs and skills.

City College Plymouth is looking to expand its offer and is looking for a new central location for a skills hub to build on its success in attracting strong engineering and construction partnerships.

The proposals for a new city centre skills hub could see up to 60 courses being delivered, focussing on the city’s emerging marine sector – known as the blue sector – as well as a host of programmes in the environment – the green sector.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mark Lowry, said: “I am sure people will be pleased to see movement and progress on this important landmark building.

“A lot of work has been taking place behind the scenes to make sure we have the right people able to oversee this complex project. We have a way to go yet, but this is an important step in the right direction.”

The 14-storey landmark has had a chequered history after being officially opened by the Queen in July 1962. It cost £1.6 million to construct but has been vacant for a number of years after various proposals to convert the building failed to materialise. Plans to demolish the building were scrapped when the centre became a Grade II listed building in June 2007.

Work on Derriford’s new A&E to start this year after Government green light

Work one the new Emergency Care Building at Derriford Hospital is expected to start in the summer after the Government announced its updated New Hospital Programme on January 20.

The new state-of-the-art facility will replace Derriford’s current Emergency Department, which is not fit for purpose, by creating space to care in a modern healthcare environment that our community has long required.

Plans for an improved Emergency Care Building for the south west peninsula’s major trauma centre have been in the pipeline for several years with a huge amount of hard work and dedication from everyone involved, as well as strong support from the local community, including cross party support from local MPs.

Future Hospital director Stuart Windsor said: “This is a milestone announcement for patients and staff at University Hospitals Plymouth and we could not be more delighted with today’s news.

Greatest need

This area will provide nearly twice the capacity of the current facility.

Once the new building opens, the old Emergency Department will be converted into a new dedicated children’s facility, which will provide the right space to care for the full range of patients and their families and carers. The second floor of the new building will be devoted to Same Day Emergency Care.

This floor will see and treat patients where hospital treatment is absolutely needed, but where ongoing care is best provided in the community. The area will also have a new short stay area, and facilities for our frailest patients.

An artist’s impression of the new Emergency Care Building at Derriford

“I want to thank all our partners and advocates who have worked so hard to campaign for this much needed facility for our loved ones here in the south west and the New Hospital Programme for recognising what a difference this project will make to the safe care of patients at their time of greatest need.

“The local population is unique in comparison to some other areas of the country which are better connected by infrastructure and access to healthcare. We are so excited about the changes we will be able to make because of this significant investment into our estate – which is the next step in our vision for improved healthcare facilities at our hospital and in our community.

“Finally, I want to thank all the teams involved and their dedication to get us to this stage. We have been waiting a long time for this assurance and I know that we are all committed to getting spades in the ground to deliver the new Emergency Care Building and welcoming our first patients through the doors.”

Dr Ian McCarthy, Emergency Medicine Consultant, said: “The current emergency medicine facilities are approaching 50 years old and don’t represent what we want to do for our patients. We want to look after our patients in modern emergency facilities to be able to provide modern emergency medicine. This is going to be transformational for the people of the south west in terms of what we can provide for them and how we can look after them.”

Contractors are already working on the demolition of existing areas to make way for the new building. Construction is expected to start in earnest in early summer 2025 with an anticipated completion date of autumn 2028 for the new building, and summer 2029 for the Children’s Emergency Department that follows.

The new Emergency Care Building will span four floors, and will provide a step change in terms of clinical accommodation. The ground floor of the new building will allow patients to be assessed quickly on arrival and then treated in the most appropriate area.

The ground floor will also provide the space where our sickest patients are treated and will have access to the full range of diagnostic imaging needed.

The third floor will provide four new state of the art operating theatres that allow diagnosis and treatment to be carried out whilst guided by modern imaging techniques. This is critical to the Trust’s role as the Major Trauma Centre, for neurosurgery and the treatment of stroke.

Easy access

The fourth and final floor will be home to five new operating theatres for emergency and planned surgery. The new building will link into the existing Derriford Hospital, providing easy access to the full range of medical, surgical and specialists wards.

Alongside the new Emergency Care Building, the new Dartmoor Building is also currently under construction and is due to be completed Spring 2025. This is a critical step in allowing the construction of the new Emergency Care Building to take place and will provide a new Urgent Treatment Centre and Fracture Clinic, alongside a new Outpatient facility.

News of the go-ahead for the Derriford Emergency Care Building has been welcomed by Plymouth’s three MPs.

Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: “Ever since I was elected as an MP, I’ve been fighting hard for a new emergency department at Derriford. I know how much people rely on Derriford, and how hard the staff work in challenging circumstances. I’m thrilled that the Government have listened to us and decided to give Derriford the new A&E it needs. I will continue working with the Government to make sure this is delivered as quickly as possible.”

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “This is excellent news for Plymouth. I have fought tooth and nail for a new emergency department at Derriford since I was elected. The Conservatives left the future of Derriford up in the air. Unforgivably, they promised us an emergency department without setting aside the money to build it. On behalf of staff and patients, I am delighted that we are in wave one of the government’s hospital programme and have the green light to get on with construction.”

Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon, said: “I am pleased after playing politics with our NHS for six months, the Government has finally relented and agreed to honour its manifesto commitment to fund Derriford’s new A&E I have campaigned relentlessly to save the project since elected; this is a huge win for Plymouth and the surrounding area.

“We cannot tackle NHS wait times without first getting a grip on the queue of ambulances outside of Derriford’s A&E. It never should have been delayed in the first place, and I urge the Government to now work at pace to make up for lost time.”

• Health Secretary Wes Streeting visits Derriford A&E - see page 19

New display at The Box highlights Windrush legacy in South West

A new display now on show at The Box is exploring Plymouth’s little-known links to the migration of people from the Caribbean throughout the mid-1900s.

Windrush in the Far South West is the outcome of an 18-month research project developed in conjunction with members of Culture Club, a group of six people who have been working with The Box to discover and unpack new narratives in its collections. The project has been supported by a National Lottery Community Fund grant.

Their research has revealed that scores of ships came through Plymouth, with at least 28,000 people from the Caribbean disembarking at Millbay Docks between 1948 and 1960.

Some of these continued on to places such as London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham where they became nurses, engineers, bus conductors and more. Others remained here in the South West – setting up home in towns and cities like Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter and Truro. A number of their descendants still live here and work as DJs, foster carers, youth workers, chefs and in the armed forces.

Daryl Codrington, Culture Club member said: “So many people came to this country from the Caribbean in the mid1900s to support its post-war rebuilding, but conversations about the Windrush generation tend to focus on places in the South East or North.

“We knew that Millbay was a really busy port at one point, so there just had to be a story about the South West too. It’s been such an interesting process recording people’s stories and researching archival records over the last year and a half.

“We hope the combination of historic and contemporary stories and images that we’ve pulled together will provide a fascinating insight into this little-known history.”

Visitors to The Box can see the display on show in the Bridge Gallery on its first floor. The display features objects related to those who originally migrated to Britain, such as a travel bag, a waybill, a ship’s brochure and photographs from their time in the Caribbean.

The display also celebrates their descendants who are now living in the far south west through objects, photography and film.

Windrush in the Far South West runs until May 5. Opening hours are 10am5pm Tuesday-Sunday and selected bank holidays (not including Easter Sunday). Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Men’s Day Out makes such a big difference for St Luke’s Hospice

Men’s Day Out – the popular fundraiser for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth – is back for 2025 and with a twist this year.

Men’s Day Out offers an unmissable mix of mates, miles and special memories, raising vital funds for local hospice care and registration is now open.

The flagship event – which last year attracted more than 2,000 sponsored walkers – is taking place on Saturday March 22.

One of the most hotly anticipated fixtures in the city’s calendar, the much-loved march is renowned for its unique blend of camaraderie for men of all ages, awareness and fundraising for St Luke’s, and much-needed, honest conversations about grief and bereavement.

Many who participate in Men’s Day Out do so in memory of a lost loved one. Striding the streets together allows guys to open up to each other, share their experience of bereavement or facing a terminal diagnosis in the family, and do something positive and uplifting to support people in the local community.

Over the ten years since the annual event started, it has raised more than £1m, helping St Luke’s to continue its personalised end-of-life care for terminally ill patients at home and at the specialist unit at Turnchapel.

Haul

road

Sponsored by JEM Scaffolding Ltd, 2025’s event will see the men follow a scenic 12km (7.5 miles) route along the waterfront and through the city, starting at Plymouth Albion rugby ground as

marks start

Contractors Morgan Sindall will be creating a new haul road – a temporary road – to allow construction materials and machinery to be moved around the central section of Armada Way and to keep both workers and the public safe.

The road will be formed between Mayflower Street and Place de Brest – which is Zone 2 of the Armada Way scheme. A number of 1980s raised beds will be removed and the surface levelled.

The work is likely to be noisy and dirty initially, but the temporary road will be a significant distance from shop fronts and separated from the public by CLD fencing, a more permanent form of fencing, before hoarding is put up.

The haul road marks the next step in the progress of Armada Way. Since the start of work at the beginning of October the project has been moving ahead in the top compounds, with the sites cleared, drainage trenches dug and pipework installed for the rain gardens. The planned amphitheatre around the Phoenix Fountain is also taking shape.

The haul road heralds the start of work in Zone 2, which will entail removing the low-rise walls, clearing the planting – which will be redistributed around city parks where appropriate – and levelling the ground.

usual. But in a shake-up, they’ ll be tackling the circuit in reverse, winding up back at Albion for a well-deserved hot dog and beverage before cheering on the local side in a rugby match to

remember.

Registration costs just £35, but that only covers the official Men’s Day Out T-shirt, refreshments, a ticket for the rugby and event costs.

It’s individual sponsorships and donations that really make a difference, and many entrants set themselves a fundraising target to tot up their total as they mark the miles.

Penny Hannah, head of Fundraising at St Luke’s, said: “We’re thrilled to announce that Men’s Day Out will be striding ahead for 2025 kindly supported by JEM Scaffolding Ltd. While the reversed route is a new feature, what will never change is the camaraderie, banter and feelgood factor our walkers know and love.

“There is something special about seeing so many guys get together in support of St Luke’s compassionate care and each other too. Men often struggle to reach out for support, and being together on the move provides a rare opportunity get alongside others who understand how bereavement feels.

Places at Men’s Day Out are limited so St Luke’s advise registering early to avoid disappointment, and start rallying sponsorship.

Find out more at www.stlukeshospice.org.uk/mensdayout.

of second phase of Armada Way project

Existing granite elements will also be removed to be recycled where possible. Councillor Tudor Evans said: “This project has only been going for three months and you can already see serious change on the ground. This next section is going to be transformed – it’s where the play area will be, it will have a water feature running through it and water jets. These features are a while

off, but it’s great to see this important project cracking on at such a pace.”

To help keep the mud levels down, trucks and machinery that move on and off the site from Mayflower Street will be hosed down. The work will continue to operate between the hours of 7am and 6pm.

Colourful fundraisers pictured at a previous Men’s Day Out. Photo: Paul Slater

Armada Way compound Photo: Plymouth City Council

Devolution offers major opportunities for Plymouth and South West Peninsula according to the leader of city council

Plymouth and other South West authorities must be ambitious in their plans to secure the widest range of powers and funding from devolution, Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans told a full council in January.

Councillor Evans told the special meeting to discuss Plymouth’s initial response to the Government’s English Devolution White Paper that it presented Plymouth and its regional neighbours with a huge opportunity to help improve the lives of local residents.

Councillor Evans said: “This is a major milestone and the long-awaited shake up that local government has needed over the past decade.

“It is right that powers move away from Westminster and decisions sit locally – with those that have the knowledge of their own areas to make change that will really make a difference to people’s lives.

“The devolution of powers and funding to local decision makers will enhance our ability to focus on our priorities such as increasing investment in our roads and public transport, providing better access to education and skills, tackling health inequalities and building new homes.

“We must seize this opportunity to bring more powers and funding to the Peninsula.”

As the Government has set out an expectation that deeper devolution can only be accessed

Marine Academy youngsters with their Walkwise certificates

Marine Academy Primary pupils walk their way to success

Pupils from Marine Academy Primary successfully completed their Walkwise course in January.

Class 2NH have been working closely with the expert road safety team from Plymouth City Council this academic year, honing their observation and awareness skills while crossing roads with an adult.

Every Friday, the class has been exploring their local area and gaining valuable, hands-on experience that will help them stay safe as they grow into independent travellers.

The Walkwise programme is specifically designed to teach young children crucial road safety skills, enabling them to navigate the streets more confidently.

The children have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, showing great enthusiasm and making significant progress throughout the course.

Marine Academy Primary encourages children to learn through exploration and staff aim to ensure that pupils are independently minded and confident citizens of the future.

Marine Academy Primary headteacher Georgina Reid said: “We are all incredibly proud of Class 2NH for completing the Walkwise course. It’s been fantastic to watch them grow in confidence and develop such important life skills. Road safety is key as they begin to explore the world around them, and I am confident that the lessons they have learned will stay with them.”

by establishing strategic authorities with a democratically elected mayor that represent a combined population of at least 1.5 million, councillors agreed that the only sensible ambition is to create of a large, strategic authority covering the geography of Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

In addition, the Government makes clear that all smaller unitary councils, need to look at how they can sustainably survive and have the scope to grow and thrive.

Councillors therefore also agreed to consider options for expanding the city footprint.

As Plymouth has a population of 268,000, members also agreed that the council should develop options to look at how the council can be sufficient in scale to more efficiently deliver services, without losing its unique character.

Benefits

Councillor Evans added:

“The benefits of a combined authority across the South West Peninsula are obvious. Whilst Plymouth, Devon, Torbay and Cornwall are different places with our own cultures and identities, we also share distinct geographic characteristics, have clearly established economic connections, share existing public service boundaries, and of course already work together closely across a number of major programmes.

“We want to make the peninsula a thriving region whose unique interests are heard and understood by central government.

“By coming together to form a strategic authority we would have a combined population of 1.8 million residents, giving us a seat at the grown-up’s table where we make sure the voice of all of

“It is right that powers move away from Westminster and decisions sit locally –with those that have the knowledge of their own areas to make change that will really make a difference to people’s lives.”

Tudor Evans, Leader Plymouth City Council

our communities is heard. We will be able to access additional powers from central government, streamline local decisionmaking, and unlock significant opportunities for our residents and businesses.

“In short, a Peninsula Strategic Authority covering the geographies of Cornwall, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth represents a once in a generation opportunity for regeneration and renewal.

Options

“At the same time, we need to look at strengthening Plymouth City Council’s own position –making us of a sufficient size and scale to be able to sustainably delivery local services for local people in the future.

“Over the next couple of months, it is right that we will have to look at all the options that will enable us to increase our geographical footprint to be able to meet the expected government criteria.”

Meanwhile, the leader of Cornwall Council says the county must not be tied in with Devon in any future devolution arrangement.

Councillor Linda Taylor was commenting on the government’s English Devolution white paper, external which some have labelled ‘a grim day for Cornwall.’

All political groups on the council and the county’s MPs want the government to treat Cornwall as a standalone authority because of its national minority status and unique economic and social situation.

The government has previously made it clear it would prefer to see Cornwall in a devolved authority with Devon or as part of a greater South West region.

• Petition calling for Referendum on Democratically Elected Mayor lodged - see next page

Amanda Greenwood

Trevi appoints new chief exec to succeed Hannah Shead

Trevi, Plymouth’s award-winning leading women’s and children’s charity, has appointed a new chief executive to take over from Hannah Shead later this year. Amanda Greenwood was previously chief executive of Lancashire Women and brings extensive experience, a deep understanding of the third sector, and a steadfast commitment to advocating for women.

She has spent the majority of her career championing social justice and supporting women and children in communities with a specific focus on women at Lancashire Women.

Over the years, Amanda has taken on numerous leadership roles at local, regional, and national levels, earning widespread recognition for her dedication to social change.

Her dynamic leadership and proven ability to drive meaningful change make her uniquely positioned to lead Trevi in its next chapter of growth and service.

Amanda said: “I am really delighted to be joining such an amazing and dynamic organisation and to be working with everyone at Trevi, the wider community, partners and supporters.”

Following the announcement of Hannah Shead’s departure from the charity, Board of Trustees chair Gina Connelly expressed their gratitude to Hannah for her years of transformative leadership and their excitement for Amanda Greenwood’s future contributions.

She said: “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Hannah Shead for her exceptional service to Trevi. Under her leadership, Trevi has flourished, and her tireless dedication to our women and their families has positively impacted countless lives.

“While we are sad to see her step down, we are equally excited to welcome Amanda Greenwood. Amanda’s passion, vision, and expertise align perfectly with Trevi’s values, and we are confident she will build on Hannah’s incredible legacy.”

Amanda will officially take the helm in mid-March 2025, following a transition period during which she will work closely with Hannah.

Drawing a line: how former drug dealer turned artist

A former drug dealer from Devonport, who took up mindful art while on probation, is to be featured in a Plymouth art exhibition, at Leadworks Projects CIC.

James, (not his real name) who grew up in Plymouth, has been learning the art of mindful doodling with Mindful Art Club CIC, a local social enterprise which offers free peer support groups using mindfulness and art. The upcoming exhibition will feature work by participants of the weekly recovery art group, and explores themes of addiction and recovery through drawings, paintings and 3D art works.

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James left school with four BTech qualifications and got his first criminal conviction for possession and GBH aged 17. He soon started dealing Class A substances, leading to a prison sentence of four years in 2015, for possession with intent to supply.

In 2024, while on probation, James attended Mindful Art Club at Plymouth Central Library on Monday afternoons, where he learned to practice mindfulness, and mindful drawing, in a relaxed, non-judgemental atmosphere.

Mindful Art Club founders, Peggy Melmoth

Plymouth Central Library, The Harbour Centre, and The Unitarian Church hall in Notte Street.

People’s Health Trust has invested in Mindful Art Club, using money raised by Health Lottery South West, making the addiction recovery art group at the library possible. Funding from The National Lottery Community fund has allowed them to also offer a new art club at The Harbour Substance Misuse Centre in Mutley.

James is now interested in working with young offenders. He said, “I want to help youths avoid grooming and county lines, and

Petition calling for referendum on Democratically Elected Mayor is lodged with Plymouth City Council

The campaign to see Plymouth vote for a democratically elected mayor has taken a big step forward. Organisers needed just under 9,700 signatures to require the City Council to hold a referendum on the election of a mayor and have now secured 13,250 signatures. The petition was lodged with the Electoral Services Officer at midday on January 14. Founder of the YesDemPlymouth campaign Angus Forbes said that his supporters wanted to see Plymouth’s current governance structure reformed to introduce direct democracy enabling Plymouth residents to directly elect its own leader. The campaign was launched just over six months ago by Angus, a former banker and stockbroker who is the husband of Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcy Bussell. The couple live in Plymouth and Darcy is currently chair of the board of trustees of Theatre Royal Plymouth.

He maintained that the current governance model had failed the city and its residents, particularly in the areas of economic growth,

population growth and poverty levels.

He said: “Over the last 25 years since Plymouth became a unitary authority, 30 per cent of the population has remained in poverty as defined by the ONS index of deprivation. Violence against Women and Girls represents 28 per cent of violent crime in the city, compared with a national average of 17 per cent. We rank the worst of all English cities for third generation poverty, the worst for night time economy, recently the worst for ambulance queues and almost the worst city for business density and business start-ups.

He added: “With respect to the Government’s White Paper on English devolution: At the time of submission, the DEM campaign team are mindful of the Government’s desire for material change in local governance structures across England, and their ambition for a SW Peninsula Mayoral Strategic Authority (SW PMSA) with a directly elected mayor, indicating their support of direct democracy.

“In light of the fact that three or four Unitary Authorities for Devon and Cornwall sitting

help them out of positions they have ended up in.”

The Mindful Art Club’s exhibition at Leadworks in Rendle Street, Stonehouse, opens with an evening of music and performance on Friday February 21 at 7.00pm. The exhibition is on display for a week, until February 27.

The event and exhibition are free to attend, and are a culmination of an 18 month addiction recovery group project. There are more details at www. mindfulartclub.co.uk/recovery-exhibition/

Angus Forbes with the petition

under the new SW PMSA structure may well be where the situation settles, with one of these being a materially expanded Plymouth Unitary Authority, we hope that in future the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the new legislation is consistent in permitting the citizens of Plymouth to also directly elect their leader.”

Mindful Art Club founders Peggy Melmoth and Emma Sprawson

Ground-breaking ‘Sea for Yourself’ programme receives £1.6m funding

More than £1.6 million has been awarded to Plymouth to create a major four-year cultural programme designed to reconnect the people of the city with the ocean.

Plymouth Culture has been awarded the funding in partnership with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park to establish the programme, called ‘Sea for Yourself.’

It will aim to bring together the city’s cultural and natural assets to inspire meaningful change and create opportunities for people to interact with the city’s beautiful marine environment. The funding includes £751,000 from Arts Council England and £860,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will enable the development and delivery of the four-year programme of creative digital commissions designed to reconnect residents to the ocean.

It will also benefit the creative and cultural sector in Plymouth, with opportunities for artists to develop the skills and expertise in creating art that connects with nature.

Sea for Yourself is being led by Plymouth Culture in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, supported by The Box, Real Ideas, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture, said: “Sea for Yourself represents a step change for Plymouth. It’s a bold collaboration that combines our incredible cultural assets with the natural beauty of the National Marine Park.

“By reconnecting residents with the ocean, we are creating a unique and symbiotic relationship between people and their environment while also laying the foundation for a cultural legacy that will benefit future generations - artists and residents alike.”

Hannah Harris and Plymouth Culture chair Lindsey Hall were at the Arts Council England event at the House of Commons recently to celebrate the impact of Arts Council investment and to cement its ongoing strategic investment in Plymouth.

Sea For Yourself’s four major cultural commissions will each focus on themes such as making visible the invisible, archive and heritage, immersive environments, and outdoor installations. Each year-long commission will feature an embedded community engagement programme, ensuring that local people are actively involved in shaping the projects. These commissions will use a creative digital

approach to create interactive and shared immersive experiences that bring Plymouth Sound National Marine Park to life.

By making the unseen aspects of the marine world visible, they aim to deepen the public’s connection with the environment, spark curiosity, and inspire collective stewardship of Plymouth’s unique marine heritage.

Councillor Tudor Evans, Plymouth City Council Leader said: “For over a decade, we’ve been embedding culture into Plymouth’s identity, and the Sea for Yourself programme marks an exciting new chapter in how we harness the power of culture to bring our communities together.

“This place-based partnership includes a cutting-edge digital dimension, making the UK’s first National Marine Park and Plymouth’s cultural heritage accessible to everyone in the city. It’s another step in ensuring Plymouth takes a leading role in showing how culture can drive positive change, connect communities, and create opportunities for all.”

A Collaboration for Transformational Change

Sea for Yourself is more than just a cultural initiative‚it’s about transformational change. By merging art, digital and the city’s natural heritage, the programme will foster a new relationship between residents and their marine surroundings. The focus will be on driving community

engagement, creating opportunities for cocreation, and building audiences for the future. It will also create countless opportunities for artists and creatives to work alongside ecologists, environmentalists, and technologists. This interdisciplinary approach will encourage a deeper exploration of the relationship between nature and art.

Hannah Harris added: “So many artists are already working in collaboration with environmentalists to think deeply about our relationship with the land and the sea. This initiative enables us to take that further, offering new opportunities for creatives and making Plymouth the home of high-quality, world-leading arts and nature practice.”

Legacy for Plymouth and Beyond

The use of digital technologies in Sea for Yourself will also open up new possibilities for public engagement. By enabling people to connect with inaccessible or unseen aspects of the marine environment, the programme will expand opportunities for learning, participation, and cultural connection.

Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s area director for the South West, said: “Plymouth Culture’s application exemplifies how place-based working can pave the way for a sustainable future, both economic and environmental. With public art and digital engagement at the heart of Sea for Yourself, residents and businesses will engage with themes of identity, citizenship, environmental responsibility, health and wellbeing, building on the city’s established reputation as a hotbed of creative talent and culture. I look forward to where the next four years take us and invite Plymothians of all ages and backgrounds to join us in writing the next chapter in the city’s story.” Plymouth Culture has appointed Rob Bowman as senior creative producer for the programme. With over 20 years of experience leading large-scale public art projects and digital engagement programmes, Rob will oversee the development of the cultural commissions, ensuring they deliver both artistic excellence and meaningful community impact.

As Plymouth Culture collaborates with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, Plymouth City Council, and local organisations, Sea for Yourself is poised to set a new benchmark for how culture and the environment can come together to inspire communities and drive meaningful change.

Freedom of the City for ‘Nance’ and former MPs

Plymouth Argyle’s popular first team coach Kevin ‘Nance’ Nancekivell has been awarded the Freedom of the City by Plymouth City Council along with former MPs Sir Gary Streeter and Linda Gilroy.

Kevin played non-league football for Bideford Town and Tiverton Town before getting his chance with Argyle at the age of 28. Retiring from playing in 2004, Kevin began a coaching journey that saw him rise through various roles with Argyle’s Centres of Excellence and Academy.

In 2011, new Argyle manager Carl Fletcher asked Nancekivell to join his first-team coaching staff, and when Fletcher left in 2013 Kevin, along with Romain Larrieu, took temporary charge of the team.

It was the first of five times where Nance has taken caretaker charge of Argyle, either solo or as a unit, typically with strong results.

Kevin said: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive the Freedom of the City award. Plymouth has been a huge part of my life, and it’s a privilege to represent this great city through football.

“To be recognised in this way is truly humbling but it wouldn’t have been possible with the support and dedication of my family, colleagues, teammates and of course Argyle supporters.”

Sir Gary Streeter had a career in politics spanning over 30 years, starting his involvement with politics in 1986.

Gary was MP for Plymouth Sutton from 1992 to 1997 when the boundaries changed, and subsequently elevated to the whip’s office. He was also then promoted to Minister in the Lord Chancellor’s department in 1996 to 1997.

Gary was re-elected as MP for South West Devon, and became Vice Chairman of the Conservative party in 2001 to 2002, and Member of Parliament for South West Devon from 1997 to 2024.

Gary said: “It is a great honour to be granted the freedom of such a great city. It has been an absolute privilege to serve so many Plymouth residents for over 30 years as their member of parliament. I am very grateful to the city council for bestowing such an honour upon me.”

Linda started her journey in Plymouth politics in 1987, when she was elected as the secretary to the Plymouth Drake Constituency Labour Party and was elected chairwoman of the Cornwall Labour Party for four years from 1990.

Linda was the MP for Plymouth Sutton for 13 years from 1997 until 2010. In parliament she was a member of the European legislation select committee from 1997 until the 2001 General Election when she was appointed Minister of State for Local and Regional Government. From 2005 to 2010 she served on the Defence Select Committee and as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Science Minister.

Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Tina Tuohy added: “I am pleased to present the award to Gary, Kevin and Linda for their achievements in the service of Plymouth, and in recognition of their outstanding leadership, contributions to the public and the Plymouth communities.

“This is why we have chosen to grant Freedom of the City to them today.”

Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture

Council leaders consider budget spending for 2025/2026

A draft budget for 2025/26 that protects hundreds of council services despite serious ongoing costs pressures in social care services was considered by Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet on January 13.

The draft budget is the culmination of months of hard work to stabilise the council’s finances as it continues to face significant financial challenges due to cost and demand pressures for statutory services that provide care the elderly, support vulnerable adults and children, provide temporary accommodation for homeless families and deliver home to school transport for vulnerable children. These services account for around three quarters of the council’s total revenue spend.

The report to Cabinet said the draft budget allocated growth in those areas that protect the most vulnerable in the city. It also allocates additional money to support key services that residents say should be priorities, including adequate funding to repair potholes and cutting grass.

While the budget assumes £13.4m savings will be achieved, around half of these are management actions, such a deleting vacant posts and the release of budgets that had not been fully spent.

The council’s ongoing work to reduce cost pressures in social care services and balance the books has been helped by the latest Government’s funding settlement. This included a £6.5 million new recovery grant, a new £1.4 million children’s social care prevention grant and a £5.2 million increase in social care grant.

The report said the draft budget built on the recently agreed medium term financial strategy that guides work to stabilise the council’s finances in the face on serious escalating cost and demand pressings, while also enabling it to remain ambitious in delivering its vision and objectives for the city.

The report also detailed a £395.8 million five-year capital programme that is funded through grants, borrowing, contributions from developers and sales of assets. It that allocates £65.9 million for schemes to deliver a net zero Plymouth, £47.7 million to delivering a sustainable city centre and waterfront, £40.7 to deliver a sustainable Derriford/northern corridor, £30 million for sustainable homes for the city and £97m for delivering a sustainable economy.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “Once again, it has been very difficult journey to get us from the position we faced a few months ago when we were facing a significant gap in the resources we needed to enable us to continue delivering more than 300 council services, to one where we can recommend a balanced budget for next year that will enable us to continue delivering the priorities for Plymouth.

“The Government’s settlement was more positive than we have been used to in recent years and we are pleased it has committed to supporting local authorities in addressing the systemic issues in social care that have been taking councils close to the brink.

“We know there are no instant solutions though and we will need to continue to work hard to manage the rising costs and demand in children’s social care placements, homelessness, SEND provision and home to school transport.”

The draft budget is due to be considered by scrutiny later in January and a final budget is set to be agreed by the Full Council on February 24.

Police reflect on positive results following proactive work in city during 2024

Policing teams in Plymouth have looked back at what was both a challenging but proactive year in 2024.

From handling an unexploded World War Two device, to carrying out complex police operations that cut through county lines gangs, the teams have done much to help make the city safer.

Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley, who leads the police teams in Plymouth, said: “Reflecting on our work during 2024 has been really positive. We’ve taken many steps to make our communities safer and deter criminals from operating within the city.

“However, it’s important that we acknowledge that policing the area over the last year has not been without its challenges. Our teams faced a number of significant incidents which understandably sent ripples through our communities. I don’t underestimate the impact this had on people - it was a tough year for many. But one take away for me is how inspiring it was to see communities pulling together to support one another during these times.

“I certainly know there is more for the police to do – we aren’t where we want to be yet and there are still improvements that both myself as the Commander and members of the public want to see moving forward.

“Communities are telling us they want to see more police on the streets, they want their reports to be handled quickly and effectively, and action taken against criminals.

“As we move into the beginning of 2025, I want the public to know our commitments to them as a police force; that we want our police officers to be visible within communities, we will respond quickly to emergency calls for help, reports will be taken seriously, and we will proactively pursue criminals who aim to cause harm. Knowing that the public have confidence that we will keep them safe is a priority to us.

“Together, we can make Plymouth a safer place to live, work and visit. To do so, it’s important that people report crime and incidents to us and engage with officers to share their concerns. Whilst we can’t be everywhere at all times, communities can help us create a clear picture of what’s happening in the city when we’re not there. This isn’t something the police can achieve alone –we need the support of communities to make a difference.”

Some of the successes that have taken place in Plymouth includes the introduction of the specialist neighbourhood support team and much work to tackle drugs in the city. Specialist team conducts high-visibility foot patrols

Plymouth’s Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) was introduced in January last year. They work in communities to tackle specific short- and long-term problems affecting local people; this can include issues such as spikes in antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and other crime affecting communities.

The NST worked across a number of neighbourhoods, carrying out over 1,000 hours of high-visibility foot patrols. Their work resulted in 50 people being arrested for a variety of offences including violence and drugs. Among numerous achievements, they were also responsible for the

seizure of £20,000 worth of drugs and an arrest of an individual suspected of supplying drugs to young people under the age of 18.

Ch. Supt Bradley commented on their achievements: “There is no doubt about the positive impact that the NST has had on the safety of communities. I know their additional presence has provided reassurance to the public and enabled us to build positive relationships with neighbourhoods, leading to a number of people, including those who wouldn’t normally come forward to the police, reporting information about crime.”

Over 12,000 emergency calls for help attended

Overall, police teams in the city responded to over 12,500 emergency calls for help in 2024, averaging over 1,000 per month. Patrol officers are often the first to attend these calls for assistance from members of the public.

“We’ve seen an improvement in the time it takes for officers to arrive on scene after receiving a 999 call from the public - it’s a clear step in the right direction. Getting there quickly remains an absolute priority for us and there will continue to be a focus on improving our attendance times in 2025,” commented Ch. Supt Bradley.

“Our frontline officers are vital in our effort to keep the public safe. They work every day running head-on into emergency situations where people are experiencing frightening and often life-threatening situations. They attend these calls knowing very little about the situation they’re going to be faced with – their dedication and commitment to keeping people safe from harm is evident in all that they do.”

Proactive county lines work results in 42 arrests

In June last year, a joint two-day operation with Merseyside Police took place to tackle county lines. County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas. They exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs.

The activity led to the arrest of 42 suspects, recovery of ten dangerous weapons and the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value

of £35,000. In addition, £9,500 in cash was seized, and eleven vehicles and two Rolex watches. Over 300 intelligence submissions about county lines activity were also submitted to police.

Ch. Supt Bradley shares the importance of this unpredictable targeted work: “This was a significant success for us. We were able to remove harmful substances and weapons from our streets, creating a substantial disruption to people looking to deal drugs in our city. Work will continue throughout 2025 to pursue and target offenders linked with county lines and the broader supply of controlled drugs.”

Deterring criminals from Plymouth

“Investigating crime that has happened or is happening is a large part of our work. However, a huge element of what we do involves preventionstopping crimes from happening in the first place,” Ch. Supt Bradley commented.

“Prevention and education work is carried out by our neighbourhood police teams, which are the officers you usually see on foot patrol, at community events and engaging with businesses. They work closely in communities alongside partner agencies to problem solve long-term issues, pursue prolific criminals and deter people from illegal activity.

“Tracking the crimes that haven’t happened as a result of the work carried out by our neighbourhood officers is hard to quantify. From the feedback we receive, I know their presence was felt across the streets of Plymouth. Their role played a key part in making the public feel safe.

“Proactive work to deter and disrupt criminals from operating in Plymouth will continue throughout 2025, using a variety of unpredictable and effective tactics.”

Ch. Supt Bradley reflected on the overall positive impact policing teams have had in 2024: “Looking back at the work that took place last year is inspiring. I am proud of what each and every police team has been able to achieve together. Their drive, commitment and bravery to keep our communities safe is truly evident.

“We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without the support of the public, and indeed our partner agencies across the city, so thank you to each of you.”

“I’ll end where I started, with an acceptance that there is always more to do. Please help us keep the city safe as we enter 2025, and beyond.”

Plymouth’s Neighbourhood Support team

Tony proves it’s never too late to learn something new

New Year’s resolutions aren’t always easy to keep – but anyone thinking of going back into education, Tony Miller proves it’s never too late to do it.

The 72-year-old is in his second year of a History with Creative Writing degree at the Plymouth University, and loving the experience.

Having left a ‘horrible’ school environment in his early teens with no qualifications, he went to work at the dockyard in his native Portsmouth for 14 years, followed by 12 in Plymouth. He followed this with building railway signal systems, but he always maintained a love of reading, especially around history and heritage.

Tony had a family with his late wife, Lyn, and they lived happily for 47 years. Upon losing her he didn’t know what to do next. But the arrival of the Covid pandemic catalysed his move towards pursuing a passion – and the rest, as they say, is history.

“If there’s such a thing as a soul mate, my wife was mine. When I lost her in 2017 it left me looking for a new path and Covid coming along in 2020 helped nothing.

“Throughout my time in Portsmouth and later on when we moved to Plymouth, I’ve always loved History so I joined Plymouth Time Bank. I enjoyed intelligent conversation with people, which I’d really missed, and wanted to do more, so someone suggested an Access Course.”

Tony took his first GCSE aged 69 with On Course South West before embarking on an Access to Humanities course at City College Plymouth, where he went on to win Access Student of the Year. Read more about Tony’s success at www.cityplym.ac.uk/college-life/success-stories/tony-miller-success-story/ From there, he felt a History degree – alongside developing his creative

PUBLIC NOTICE

Licensing Act 2003

Notice is hereby given that We

TH UK & Ireland Limited

On 23rd January 2025

Have made application to the Plymouth City Council, being the Licensing Authority for the purposes of the above Act, for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of the premises situated at and known as:

Tim Hortons, Crown Hill Retail Development, Tavistock Road, Plymouth, PL6 5US

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Provision of late night refreshments between 23:00 and 05:00 Monday - Sunday.

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(for electronic representations please provide your postal address), no later than 20th February 2025 (This is the 28th day commencing from the day after the application was submitted to the Council)

A copy of this application can be viewed on the Council’s licensing register or at the Licensing Office address during normal office hours.

It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with this application, the maximum fine on summary conviction being unlimited.

writing – seemed like the next logical step.

“I went to an Open Day at the university and was absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm of everybody who spoke. Honestly, the lecturers’ passion for their subjects is so infectious, and I knew it was the right place for me.

“By coincidence, my son studied Business here and my grandson is also doing a Psychology degree, so it runs in the family! We’ve all had great experiences, and I know I’ve got plenty more to come.”

As well as averaging good marks on his assignments so far, Tony has thrown himself into student life. He volunteers at The Box, has joined the Mature Students’ network and History Society of the Students’ Union, and even put himself forward as a Student Ambassador to meet and greet prospective students and their families.

“I’ve got a good 40 years on the next youngest in the History cohort, but I’m loving every second. It’s great to tell my story and if it can help someone else see that it’s never too late to pursue your passion, then fantastic.”

Huge wildflower meadow and hundreds of trees for Central Park

More than 1,000 new trees are set to be planted in Central Park this winter.

The planting plan, which also includes nearly 9,000 square metres of wildflower meadow, is set around the popular Central Park Golf Course. Among the plans are new standard trees, orchard trees, fruiting hedgerows and whips. Additional seating, interpretation boards, and wildlife homes are also included.

The plans have been developed by the golf course management team and will be delivered in partnership with the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest and the council’s Green Communities team.

Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, said: “This is an exciting scheme, offering loads of different types of planting and species to support a broad mix of biodiversity, resulting in benefits for both people and nature.

“It has been co-developed in partnership with the team who run the golf business. They have been really proactive in the design, providing improvements for their customers and wider park users. I’m sure, when everything is established, this planting will be a fantastic addition to Central Park.”

Jez Wilmot, golf course manager, said: “We’re so grateful to be a part of this project and really excited for the first trees to be planted.

“We have been the tenants of the cafe and course for nearly nine years and during that time have made several improvements to enhance the look and playability of the course.

“But we have limited knowledge and resources, which is why we approached the council and having worked with the teams from the Community Forest and Green Communities, we’ve been able to form a plan and turn what we once only dream about into a reality.”

Royal Parade bus shelters to be removed – leaving passengers open to the elements in weeks ahead

Bus shelters are being removed from the east bound side of Royal Parade in preparation for an improvement scheme that will see new, bigger shelters installed.

A total of 12 shelters will be taken down by JC Decaux who no longer have the bus shelter contract for the city.

The plan is for the new providers Clear Channel to install 15 bigger shelters along the key route with upgraded seating and more space for wheelchair users and pushchairs as part of the Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme

However, negotiations around the improvement scheme contract have proved unsuccessful and while the council is working quickly to resolve this, it means there will be no shelters on Royal Parade between Courtenay Street and St Andrews Cross for a period of time.

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware this is far from ideal and are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause. We are urgently looking for some form of temporary shelter with seating and will give details if this is confirmed. Since January 13 one shelter a day has been removed from Royal Parade, starting with the shelters between Courtenay Street and the Armada Way crossing.

On the day each shelter is removed, bus services that would normally use that stop will be temporarily relocated to the large stainless steel shelter at the bottom end of Royal Parade outside Premier Inn on Derry’s Cross roundabout.

Posters will be displayed in the existing bus shelters telling people when the shelter will be removed and where to catch their bus while the removal works take place.

There is shelter under the shop canopy along most of Royal Parade, but those who prefer a shelter with seating may wish to wait for their bus at the next available stop. Other temporary options are being considsered in the mean time.

As soon as the plans for the Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme are finalised, the council will give full details of the temporary plan for buses during the main construction phase.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “Unfortunately works have had to be delayed by a few months. We are conscious that this is not an ideal time of year to remove shelters and we are asking you to please bear with us.

“We have wrestled with what is the best approach to take and believe that installing new shelters, taking them out and then putting them back is simply too confusing. I am all too aware that it’s cold on Royal Parade so have instructed officers to see if they can come up with a plan B for providing some form of shelter with seating.”

Tony Miller - studying for a degree at the age of 72

Calling all hikers! Can you help raise £50,000 funds for Children’s Hospice South West?

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is calling for people in Plymouth to lace up their walking boots and take on the Incredible Hike in May.

Incredible Hike takes place from Friday May 16 to Sunday May 18 and covers 60 miles along the South West Coast Path from Westward Ho! to the legendary Tintagel.

The registration fee covers the cost of the event support, hotel stays, food and hike apparel. All hikers will also receive an Incredible Hike t-shirt, buff, training plans, kit list, pit stops with snacks and drinks, all bag transfers, finishers’ medal, and bubbly.

Kate Romo, event organiser for CHSW said: “This is the second year of Incredible Hike, taking on another section of the stunning South West Coast Path. This year we are starting our hike in the

popular coastal village of Westward Ho! with stunning cliff top views from the very start, walking to Titchberry where we will be rewarded with incredible views out to Lundy Island.

“On Day 2 our hikers will continue on their journey walking from Titchberry to Bude where the Coast Path climbs above the rocky shoreline, past beautiful natural waterfalls, secluded combes, crossing river valleys heading into Bude for a well deserved rest.

“Finally on Day 3 our hikers will take on the last section finishing in magical Tintagel where there are plenty of opportunities along the way for wildlife watching from the cliff tops such as spotting grey seals and enchanting castle ruins in Tintagel.”

Kate added: “It offers a challenge to hikers of all abilities, but a good level of fitness is essential for the event in May as each day we will be walking around 20 miles for up to nine hours a day, with plenty of hills and potentially rough terrain.”

CHSW is hoping to raise £50,000 from the event to provide care and support for babies, children, and young people with life-limiting conditions across the South West.

For more information on how to register visit www.chsw.org.uk/hike

CAREERS FAIR SUCCESS

Over 600 students from Tor Bridge High, have taken part in the school’s annual Careers Fair, demonstrating impressive levels of ambition as they explored a wide range of career, college, and university opportunities.

The event, which featured 27 stands from employers, colleges, and universities, was a resounding success and provided students with valuable insight into the future possibilities available to them.

From medicine and dentistry to animal care, the arts, and engineering, students had the chance to discover diverse career pathways. They actively engaged with professionals and asked insightful questions such as, ‘What GCSE options should I take to pursue a career in this industry?’

‘How do I get to University?’ and ‘What qualifications and salary can I expect in this field?’

Employers were particularly impressed by the students’ enthusiasm, politeness, and the depth of their questions. Many

Affordable homes boost

Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) will be delivering more affordable homes in Plymouth after securing 15 energy-efficient homes at Palmerston Heights in Derriford.

PCH is the largest social housing landlord in Plymouth, managing 16,000 homes in the city, as well as across the surrounding drive to work area.

The 15 new homes, consisting of one, two, three and four bedrooms are being purchased within the fourth phase of the Palmerston Heights development.

Of the 15 homes, 10 will be offered for affordable rent and five homes will be made available for shared ownership purchase through our sales brand SO Living.

The homes will be prioritised for those with a local connection to the area to meet the specific needs of the community, which has been made possible thanks to the support from key partner, Plymouth City Council.

The Palmerston Heights development being built by Persimmon Homes is located on the south-facing side of the Forder Valley and is close to Derriford Hospital, with direct access to the A38 Devon Expressway. The development is well-placed to benefit from Plymouth City Council’s vision of a ‘New Derriford’ and the homes within the fourth phase will be equipped with air source heat pumps and cycle storage to encourage active travel.

Nick Jackson, executive director of Business Services and Development at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “We are committed to working with our partners at Plymouth City Council to deliver more, much-needed affordable housing for local people, and achieving our mission of ensuring a high quality affordable home for everyone. These 15

homes will be an excellent addition to the city’s available affordable housing stock, and we’re especially pleased to be acquiring some larger three and four-bed family homes to meet local need and help more Plymouth families to find a permanent home.”

Andy Hill, managing director at Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon, said: “Persimmon is determined to leave a positive community legacy where we build, and an integral element of our offering is the transfer of quality new homes to local housing association partners.

“We are delighted to have transferred the latest tranche of these houses, and we hope this significant community contribution will help alleviate pressure on the local housing list.

“We are pleased to partner with Plymouth Community Homes to deliver

this increase in provision for the people of Plymouth as we continue to make progress on this popular site delivering quality homes for local people.”

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development at Plymouth City Council, said: “The purchasing of these homes by Plymouth Community Homes will make such a difference to so many families across our city. I welcome any and all additions to Plymouth’s affordable housing stock and wish the new residents best wishes in their new homes.”

The homes which are to be offered for rent or shared ownership sale through PCH will be available from Spring 2025. For more information or to register an interest in one of the shared ownership homes, visit the SO Living website at www.so-living.co.uk/

OUTPATIENT DIABETES SERVICE TRANSFORMS CARE FOR PATIENTS

commented on how well-informed the students were already, and how they were clearly thinking critically about their future careers.

Tor Bridge High believes that effective careers education, information, advice, and guidance is essential for raising aspirations and keeping students engaged in their learning.

Their careers programme aligns with the government’s careers strategy, providing support through a qualified Careers Practitioner and a variety of activities designed to guide and motivate students towards career success.

Tracy Stephenson, headteacher at Tor Bridge High said: “I couldn’t be more proud of our students for their professionalism and engagement at this year’s Careers Fair. Their questions were thoughtful and showed a genuine desire to understand the opportunities available to them. It’s incredible to see them take such an active role in shaping their futures, and we are committed to supporting them to reach their goals.”

Linda Hall, 74, from Plymouth, is living proof of the transformative impact of personalised patient care.

After years of struggling with her health and mobility as a diabetic, Linda’s life turned a corner thanks to the support of the Planned Diabetes Service at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and the expertise and dedication of Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) Carolyn Folds.

Linda first encountered the team when her blood sugar levels soared to 30. Linda had until then avoided the invitation to attend her GP’s diabetic clinic. “I thought I was invincible,” she said. It was then that she encountered the service and came into Carolyn’s care.

“She’s my saviour,” added Linda. “Carolyn taught me how to understand my diabetes and manage it day-to-day. She explained what to eat, what to avoid, and how to recognise when my levels were up. Now, it’s no extras, no naughtiness!”

Carolyn’s expertise and compassion helped Linda through some of her toughest times. Persistent issues with high blood sugar levels delayed her desperately needed hip operation multiple times.

“The pain was so intense, I’d cry,” Linda said. “At times like that, I’d call Carolyn.

Linda Hall

She calmed me down, talked me through it, and gave me advice on what to eat. But my levels kept going up, and every time I went to pre-op, they said it was a UTI.”

But Carolyn knew it wasn’t a UTI, and advocating for her patient, Carolyn wrote to the consultant, explaining that the bacteria showing up in Linda’s tests was always present and should not prevent the surgery. Her persistence paid off.

“The consultant agreed I should have the operation, all because of Carolyn’s letter,” Linda said.

The surgery was a success, and the aftercare was exceptional. “I don’t know where I’d be without that hip operation. I was on the verge of serious depression. I’d had a seven-year period of agoraphobia where I didn’t leave the house. Thanks to the operation, I learned to drive again, and now I can visit my

daughter and go shopping. It’s given me my life back.”

Carolyn’s support didn’t stop there. After Linda’s second hip replacement, Carolyn called her weekly, providing encouragement and reassurance. “She kept me going,” Linda said. “Carolyn understands me and diabetics through and through. She’s amazing.”

Today, Linda continues to manage her diabetes with confidence, crediting the Planned Diabetes Service for the vital role it played. “The diabetes team is my everything,” she says.

For Carolyn Folds and her colleagues at UHP’s Planned Diabetes Service, Linda’s story is a testament to the value of personalised, holistic patient care. Derriford Hospital is one of the few in the country with a dedicated team of DSNs supporting patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes through every stage of their planned surgery journey.

Thanks to the care she has received from Carolyn and the Planned Diabetes Service, Linda has reclaimed her independence and is importantly now able to better manage her own health. Find out more at www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ diabetesoutpatient-service

Pictured above (from left) Jo Agnew, PCH project manager, Tim Hoppenbrouers, Employers Agent at Gates Consultants, Jane Cartwright, Persimmon sales director, Coun Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member, Plymouth City Council, Coun William Noble, Nick Jackson, PCH executive director of Business Services and Development, Sophie Woolley, Persimmon quantity surveyor and Calum Davies, Persimmon external affairs manager

Finding hope in challenging times Experience

As the year has turned to 2025 I’m very happy to be back and able to contribute once again to the Cross Rhythms Experience articles in the Plymouth Chronicle.

If you’re a regular reader of this article you’ll be aware that I was absent from writing it throughout 2024. Last year and the final months of 2023 were especially challenging to me personally as I battled significant health problems which left me with a lengthy stay in hospital last winter. Whilst I’m still in the relatively early stages of recovery, it really is a joy to once again be able to write this article and especially to start off 2025.

Historically for the first article of the year I like to focus on the person of Jesus.

I’m very aware many of you reading this won’t have a faith yourself, however I know there are many in these difficult times looking for answers to what life is really all about.

Across the UK and the Western world in general this is leading to a somewhat surprising rise in the number of people seeking answers of a spiritual nature and looking into faiths, religions and cultural traditions.

I found that to be the case for many people I met during my stay in hospital. There is nothing like a health crisis to cause us to consider some of the deeper existential questions of life.

So what of Jesus?

We’ve just celebrated Christmas, a time when many more people than usual will have attended church services or taken part in some form of Christian religious ritual. Jesus is of course front and centre as a baby born in a manger. Immanuel, God with us.

For anyone genuinely seeking answers to life it is impossible, or at the very least intellectually disingenuous to not consider closely the life and

claims of the person of Jesus Christ.

In 1926 Dr James Francis wrote the following:

“Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away.

By Chris Cole, Founder of Cross Rhythms Charity

One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centrepiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.”

But who is Jesus to you and me?

C.S. Lewis wrote that there are only three options of opinion open to us when we consider the claims Jesus makes about himself: madman, liar or Son of God... For Christians, Jesus is the one and only Son of God, He has existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit for all eternity, and He came to earth as a man 2,000 years ago in the mysterious act we call the incarnation – quite literally, Heaven invaded Earth.

The foundation of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ has existed for all time and beyond time. He created us and the world we live in.

‘Gentle Jesus meek and mild’ He may be, but He is also ‘tougher than hell’ and he defeated death, rising again to life to empower men, women and children with grace to carry on where he left off. He enables us to defeat fear with love in the power of His Holy Spirit. He sits now, ‘the lamb Who was slain’ on a throne beside his Father’s in

Plymouth set to receive over £1.1 million to repair potholes

Plymouth is to receive an additional £1,175,000 to tackle potholes – the equivalent of filling in 16,261 potholes in 2025.

The Transport Secretary announced nearly £1.6 billion to fix potholes across England for next year helping councils fix the equivalent of seven million potholes and saving drivers hundreds of pounds in repairs

Across England, local highways authorities will receive a £500m uplift in funding as the Government looks to rebuild Britain as part of its Plan for Change. Fixing roads and filling potholes not only makes roads safer, but they also improve journey times and save drivers money from avoidable repairs.

It comes as figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales, and the cost of pothole damage to vehicles is around £500 on average, with more severe repairs costing considerably more.

According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96 per cent of drivers. The public is also being encouraged to report potholes in their area to their local council through a dedicated website at www.gov. uk/report-pothole.

Welcoming the news, Plymouth City Council’s cabinet member for Transport Cllr Mark Coker, said:“People in Plymouth are tired of navigating the pothole epidemic that exploded under the Conservatives – but Labour is taking action. With

this new funding Plymouth City Council can fill in an additional 16,261 potholes next year – that will make a huge difference to local people every day of the year and build on the work we have been doing to fix more potholes more quickly since we took control of the council in 2023.

“Earlier this year this country voted for change. We voted for a government that would deliver on the things that matter to the everyday lives of working people – and that is what Labour is delivering. It will take time to turn this country around, but the work of change has begun, and next year we will see real evidence of that change on local streets as potholes get filled in and we get this country back on track.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:  “Potholes have plagued motorists for far too long, but this record investment will start to reverse a decade of decline on our country’s roads.

“Millions of people will have driven home for Christmas, but too many will have had to endure an obstacle course to reach their loved ones. Potholes damage cars, and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe. We are investing £1.6bn to fix up to seven million more potholes next year.

“This government is firmly on the side of drivers. Every area of England will get extra cash to tackle this problem once and for all. We have gone beyond our manifesto commitment to back motorists and help raise living standards in every part of the country.”

heaven and his Father has given Him charge of everything that He has reclaimed with His own life. He has promised He will one day return to bring His peace and the rule of righteous Love in the world. Prophetic scripture confirms this. This is who Jesus is, for me, and I believe it’s who the Bible says He is. I don’t just believe it because I chose to accept the Bible on a whim however, but because I have experienced something of His love and presence in my life over many years.

As a young man who was lost and looking for purpose and true fulfillment in life I met a group of men who were themselves Christians and I could see in them and their lives something which I didn’t have and I knew I needed. That something wasn’t actually a ‘something’ but a ‘someone’. It was Jesus and when I cried out to Him for myself for the first time all those years ago I felt a peace and I knew He was with me.

I knew He was with me in hospital last year and I’ve known Him to be with me throughout my life and it is that which gives me a real and sustainable hope for the future. What about you? Do you find yourself starting 2025 looking for answers, for purpose and for peace in your own life? Have you ever properly considered Jesus for yourself? Perhaps now is the time for you to do just that.

From all at Cross Rhythms we wish you a very Happy New Year.

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

Taxifirst rebrands and launches new user-friendly app with fixed fares

Plymouth taxi provider Taxifirst, is rebranding to become Take Me Plymouth powered by Taxifirst. The change brings a modernised service while maintaining the reliable transportation Plymouth residents know and trust.

Customers can now enjoy the convenience of booking rides through a new, user-friendly app, while still having the option to call the original Taxifirst numbers.

Take Me Plymouth will continue its partnership with Tower Cabs, ensuring seamless coverage across the city. The rebrand also introduces fixed fares for journeys, giving customers clarity on costs before their ride begins, with only minor adjustments for unexpected traffic delays.

The development marks a new chapter for local taxi services, combining cutting-edge technology with the dependable, communityfocused service that residents appreciate.

By using the Take Me app customers can select their pickup and destination points, and a fixed mileage fare will be displayed instantly. The price is calculated based on the distance between the two points, with minimal adjustments for waiting time due to traffic or stops. Waiting time is charged at just 30p per minute when the vehicle is stationary. For example, if your estimated fare is £10 and there’s an additional five-minute delay in traffic, the final cost will be £11.50. You can also use the app to get price estimates for journeys in any city where Take Me operates.

The new arrangement coincides with the official launch of the Take Me national app. The new platform is set to transform how customers book and manage their taxi journeys, offering convenience, reliability, and exceptional service across 30+ locations nationwide.

The Take Me National App has been carefully designed with the user experience as a top priority. It smoothly integrates advanced technology with the dependable services of local taxi operators.

Chris Cole

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Fleet of zero-emission electric buses coming to Plymouth

Fifty zero-emission electric double-decker buses will be coming to Plymouth this year as part of a major £31.87 million joint investment in the city’s public transport.

Plymouth Citybus, part of the Go-Ahead Group, will soon be replacing almost half its fleet with brand new electric doubledecker buses, in a collaboration with Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council, and the Department for Transport.

The investment marks a significant step towards cleaner, greener public transport in Plymouth and reinforces the city’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. It will also create additional capacity and improve passenger experience across the network.

The new electric buses will operate on the 21/A, 42 and 50/51 routes in Plymouth, with six buses serving Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula on route 70.

The majority of the funding – £19.6 million – is being provided by Plymouth Citybus, supported by a £10.34 million grant from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 Fund and contributions from Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council totalling £1.94 million.

The buses will start arriving in Plymouth in late spring, with the first 25 entering service in the summer and all 50 being out on the road by the end of the year.

Plymouth Citybus is transforming its Milehouse depot into a state-of the art hub equipped to charge and maintain the new zero-emission fleet.

Richard Stevens, managing director of Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus said: “We are proud to lead the way in delivering cleaner, greener, and more sustainable public transport for Plymouth.

“The introduction of 50 zero-emission electric buses represents a huge step forward in our commitment to reducing emissions, improving air quality, and providing a modern, reliable service for our passengers. This investment not only reflects our dedication to the local community but also to a more sustainable future for our city.”

Councillor Mark Coker, Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “We’ve committed to making Plymouth a greener city, where everyone does their bit and this is exactly what our ZEBRA project delivers.

“It will help meet the vision of our Bus Service Improvement Plan, which is to create a thriving bus network where everyone can be connected to important people and places, by services that are frequent, reliable, fast, affordable, safe and clean, as well as help Plymouth to achieve its net zero goals by 2030.

“We are really excited to be working alongside our project partners to introduce these new buses to the city’s fleet.”

One of Plymouth City Council’s biggest office buildings has a new tenant as part of a deal to help the strategic development of Derriford Hospital and support vital health services in Plymouth.

From the beginning of February, the Community Phlebotomy Hub – which is blood testing – will be moving to a new home in Windsor House, on Tavistock Road, helping to free up space for clinical work within the main hospital campus.

Windsor House is owned by Plymouth City Council and has been vacant since last summer 2023.

As with all major organisations, the council has been adapting to the availability of new technology and working from home practices, instigated during the pandemic, which has radically reduced the need for office space.

The council constantly reviews its properties and assets to make sure they provide value in meeting the needs of our services to residents and helping us deliver priorities for the city. This involves both buying and selling properties.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for finance said: “We work closely with colleagues in the NHS and we are all too aware of the challenges the hospital faces. This move will help provide some muchneeded physical space for clinical work.

Health service to take over council’s Windsor House

“We constantly review our property portfolio to make the most of it for our residents and that includes working with others to address citywide health issues.”

John Stephens, director of Estates & Facilities at University Hospitals Plymouth said: “We are really pleased to be working with Plymouth City Council to move some of our services to Windsor House. Not only does this free up valuable space at Derriford for clinical services, it ensures this prominent and highly accessible property is utilised for the benefit of our patients and staff. ”

As the property has been empty for over a year, the council is currently carrying out some remedial work to make sure that the building is fit for occupation at the end of the month.

The service is currently at Futures Inn, but the Community Phelobotomy Hub will open at Windsor House from Monday February 3. There is allocated parking for visitors at the front of the building, chargeable at the same rates as the Derriford Hospital main site.

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Work on first purpose-built units for Freeport underway

Work on the first purpose-built commercial units within the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport is now underway.

Plymouth City Council is delivering four units which are being built on a plot in Beaumont Way, Langage, one of three Freeport tax sites. These sites are being prioritised for new and high growth businesses that can continue the region’s growth success story in the marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering and clean energy sectors.

The units range in size from 750 square metres to just over 2,000 square metres. Inside the units will have workshop/production space, with fully fitted offices at ground and first floor level (with lift access) and welfare facilities, including showers.

Outside, each unit will have its own dedicated service yard and parking and EV charging pods. The scheme has been designed with flexibility in mind and should prove popular to a range of business needs especially being in a well-established part of the city with great connectivity to the A38.

The units will be highly sustainable and incorporate technology to minimise carbon emissions and running costs, including solar photo-voltaic panels, increased levels of insulation, higher levels of natural daylight and ventilation and highly efficient heating systems.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “And we are off! We’ve got high hopes for these buildings to be part of the region’s growth story.

“These buildings will be home to businesses which share our passion for creating jobs, skills

Freeport units underway (from left) James Watt, head of land and property Plymouth City Council

Ian Russell, managing director of Design Development,, Jan Ward, chair of Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, Plymouth City Council

Leader Tudor Evans, Richard May, chief executive Freeport and Nigel Whelan, MD of Devon Contractors

and innovation in fast developing green and blue industries. As part of the Freeport, they can call on the expertise and know-how of businesses, partners and organisations that share the same drive.‚“

Richard May, chief executive of Plymouth and South Devon Freeport said: “In the two short years since the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport was given the green light we are already seeing the start of real, tangible results of what the Freeport can achieve with these new build units at Beaumont Way.

“With continued Government support for the

Freeport programme we hope new and growing businesses have the confidence to accelerate their plans and consider the Freeport as a viable option for their requirements. It’s not only about the incentives and benefits to be gained by being part of the Freeport but the wraparound support with skills, innovation and collaboration.”

The scheme is forecast to cost £8 million and will receive a substantial chunk of financial support – £4 million – from the UK Government as part of the Plymouth and South Freeport Seed Capital funding.

Once complete, it is expected to support around

138 full time jobs and associated long term spin off benefits, not to mention the construction and supply chain employment during the initial build period.

Following a competitive tender process, the council appointed Devon Contractors to construct the scheme with the aim for the units to be ready to move into by Autumn 2025.

The Langage Tax Site is the largest of the three tax sites for the Freeport, located on the edge of the existing Langage Business Park. It is strategically significant as it provides the space and opportunities to support sector growth plans and economic specialisation, underpinning the Freeport’s trade and investment objectives.

Eligible businesses that are part of the Freeport can take advantage of a range of tax and customs benefits and incentives to support growth, innovation and investment in the South West, including business rates relief, employer National Insurance contributions rate relief, stamp duty land tax relief, capital allowances, VAT and tariff benefits and simplified import procedures

Once finished, the completed development will be available to occupy by eligible tenants. As this site is part of the Freeport designated tax site, eligible tenants must specialise in either marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering or clean energy.

Interested parties should contact Robert. McGuffie@Plymouth.gov.uk †or information about the Freeport contact Eifion.Jones@pasdfreeport. com

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Families and new parents in Plymouth to receive additional early years support from the government

Families and children in Plymouth will be able to access improved early years support such as pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, parenting classes and other support to give their child the best start in life, following a £126 million Government funding boost.

Plymouth City Council is expected to receive at least £1.25 million as part of the wider investment increase.

Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare – all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development. Yet over 80% of parents have said they struggled to access services.

As part of Labour’s Plan for Change they have committed to strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood and improve long term outcomes for children - including through investment in Family Hubs and the Start for Life programme.

Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: “I am absolutely delighted that families and children here in Plymouth will be able to access improved early years support through this funding boost from the Government.

“This Labour government is committed to giving every child the best possible start in life, and this funding helps deliver on that commitment.

“This will make such a huge difference for so many families in our community and I know that the impact will be felt for years to come.”

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “Every child in Plymouth deserves the best start to life. It is proven that if we prioritise their earliest years it helps set them up for better development, health and life chances.

“I am delighted that in our Plan For Change we’re committed to strengthening and joining up family services to help improve support from pregnancy to early childhood for the long-term benefit of children and families. After all it takes a village to raise a child.

“The £126 million funding boost nationwide will go such a long way in delivering for every child, family and care provider the information, support and services they need to close the opportunity gap and get children starting school ready to learn.”

Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said:” I’m delighted at this announcement of funding for the continuation of the family hubs programme here in Plymouth. It will enable us to keep on investing in our Family Hubs across the city which are so vital in supporting our work to ensure that families get the help and support when they need it.”

First patients treated at Plymouth’s new neuro rehabilitation unit –and it’s a life-changing experience

People recovering from life-changing brain conditions and spinal cord injuries are now being supported in the new Plym Neuro Rehabilitation Unit in Plymouth.

The specialist facility at Mount Gould Local Care Centre, welcomes inpatients from across Devon and Cornwall to support them in targeted neurological rehabilitation under the guidance of therapy teams from Livewell Southwest.

The unit has recently moved from an old ward to a new bespoke facility, which opened in December 2024. It offers enhanced facilities which are designed to support the personal rehabilitation goals of service users.

Kay Rangasmy from Torquay was one of the first patients to transfer from the old site to the new unit. She lost all movement from the neck down due to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition that affects the nerves.

The former cook remembers: “Within a matter of days, life just changed because everything just stopped. I had been feeling ill for weeks and then my legs gave away and that is when I really started to panic. It was slowly going up my body and that is the nature of the illness that I have got which is Guillain-Barré syndrome.”

She was rushed to Torbay Hospital before being transferred to the former Plym Neuro site in August 2024 where she received specialist support for her condition.

Occupational therapist Gemma Howard said: “When Kay arrived on the ward, she had almost no movement at all in either of her upper or lower limbs and was relying entirely on other people to do absolutely everything for her.

“She has worked really hard in her rehabilitation journey to get to the point that she is now. She needs some support for her mobility when she is standing, but functionally she is really doing very, very well. It is a huge difference.”

Gemma worked with Kay on preparing her own meals in the new occupational therapy kitchen: “Not only is it an occupation that Kay likes to do, and she enjoys, we all need to be able to cook for ourselves and it was really important to her that she was able to do that before she goes home. Now we know that she can, and she was able to practice that in our

Patient Kay Rangasmy: “The energy and the effort they put into everything here is unbelievable. They know they are doing a good job, but they don’t realise how good.”

kitchen on the ward.

“I am so proud of her. I feel really lucky to work with patients like Kay, and to see the progress that they make. It is an amazing feeling.”

Kay said: “The new ward is wonderful. It is light, airy and modern with so much room to move around. Getting in the kitchen is bliss. It is my go-to place. The care you get when you are in there is amazing. The team are watching every move you are making to ensure you are not over stretching and then at the end of it, having a meal, which for me as a coeliac, is so good.

“The energy and the effort they put into everything here is unbelievable. They know they are doing a good job, but they don’t realise how good.”

Kay now plans to spend more time with her grandchildren, explore the southwest coastal path and travel to new places around the world. She said: “I just feel like you have got to live your life. You take it for granted that it is always going to be the same, and it may not be.”

Kay stayed in one of the seven single en-

suite rooms. They provide a greater level of privacy than the old unit and are all equipped with overhead hoisting facilities. There are also two bays of four-beds for people that may have enhanced care needs.

Therapy and treatment spaces feature both standard and wheelchair height kitchen work surfaces. This aims to enhance the independence of patients during their stay on the unit, ready for when they can return home. There is also a special room for those who are preparing to go home, which is fitted with basic kitchen facilities.

Matron Sally Stephenson explained: “Patients benefit from practising their independent living skills, in addition to the targeted therapy sessions. It can enable patients to prepare their own simple meals or share a meal they have prepared with their family, as they would at home.

“This is a much better environment, made to meet patients’ needs. For clinical teams, we have a great new space with the latest technology, to really help our patients on the next stage of their rehabilitation journey.”

The building project was a collaboration with Community Health Partnerships (CHP), NHS Property Services, Baxendale, ReSound Health and Nevada Construction.

Occupational therapist Gemma Howard

Matron Sally Stephenson

The new four-bay ward at Plym Neuro Rehabilitation Unit

Derriford issues statement after local MP raises closure of specialist clinic at PMQs

Derriford Hospital has issued a statement explaining why it was not able to continue with a specialist clinic after South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith raised it with Sir Keir Starmer at the last Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) of 2024.

People suffering with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) across Devon and Cornwall now have issues accessing local treatment due to the closure of Derriford Hospital’s Autonomic/ General Medicine Clinic.

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, or PoTS, is when heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down, often making people feel dizzy or lightheaded. Currently there is no cure, but it can be managed with changes to lifestyle, or sometimes treatment with medicines.

Approximately just 0.2% of the population are estimated to be affected by PoTS and the vast majority are women.

Anxious constituents informed Rebecca Smith that Derriford’s Autonomic/General Medicine Clinic, which treats PoTS patients,

closed in June 2024 due to its consultant retiring. There are genuine concerns that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) will now push healthcare for PoTS onto GPs who do not have the required training or ability to prescribe the medications needed.

Further suggestions that PoTS patients will be referred to a new Long Covid Clinic at Exeter, where patients must suffer from Syncope to gain access, mean that 70% of patients may be without access to any consultant care, according to the MP.

Speaking in front of a packed chamber, Rebecca Smith asked the Prime Minister:

“My constituents Caroline and Savannah are just two of thousands across Devon, Cornwall and beyond who are living with postural tachycardia syndrome and have been unable to access adequate treatment since the retirement of the only consultant available to work with them in July.

“What actions can the Prime Minister take to help me secure the treatment that my constituents need, and will he

agree to meet me and them to discuss the treatment of POTS in more detail?”

The Prime Minister responded: “I thank the Honourable Lady for raising this important issue on behalf of her constituents. It underlines the critical nature of the NHS workforce plan that we will deliver next summer to ensure that the expert workforce is in place and get the NHS back on its feet.

“I am proud that we are investing an additional £22.6 billion to fix our NHS.“I will of course ensure she gets a meeting with the relevant Minister to deal with the issues of concern to her constituents.”

Derriford Hospital has since issued a statement after learning that the issue was raised in Parliament. Dr Paul McArdle, Joint Interim Medical Director at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP), and John Finn Director of Commissioning NHS Devon, said in a joint statement: “UHP and the consultant who ran the POTS clinic were not commissioned by NHS Devon (or its predecessor organisation, NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group) to provide

a specific PoTS service.

“The consultant had a specialist interest in POTS and provided the service for POTS patients as part of his general medicine portfolio but working as a sole practitioner. The service was based at Derriford Hospital but saw patients from all over the South West.

“PoTS is what is known as a super specialist interest area and this specialist care is only provided by very few consultants in the country. It is not a specialist service offered by very many hospitals, including tertiary centres like University Hospitals Plymouth.

“Working in partnership with NHS Devon, we have been considering how services might be commissioned in the future. A commissioning specification for the service has been outlined by NHS Devon and is seeking expressions of interest. In the interim, those patients who were managed by the previous consultant have been reviewed and triaged to different pathways dependent on the severity of need.”

(Story courtesy of Plympton Podcast)

Health Secretary Wes Streeting visits Derriford Hospital after plea from local MP Fred Thomas

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, has visited Derriford Hospital speaking to both staff and patients at the Emergency Department and the Same Day Emergency Care Service.

The visit came after Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas called on Mr Streeting to visit Derriford to see for himself the challenges being faced and to hear from staff about the need for a new emergency department.

Wes Streeting said in the House of Commons: “”I was grateful to staff at Derriford Hospital for showing me at first hand the Emergency Department pressures when I visited just before Christmas. I have also visited Derriford at the height of summer, when it experiences high pressures.

“There are year-round difficulties at Derriford, and I thank the staff and leadership of the hospital for what they are doing in difficult circumstances. We will come forward shortly with the timetable for the New Hospitals Programme. I expect that it will be published sooner than the Conservatives apologise for their appalling record.”

Jo Beer, chief operating officer at Derriford Hospital said: “The Secretary of State came alone and visited our Emergency Department and our Same Day Emergency Care

Health Secretary Wes Streeting pictured with members of the Same Day Emergency Care Team during his visit to Derriford Hospital

service and other assessment areas where he spoke to staff and patients, as well as colleagues from our community partner, Livewell Southwest.

“We were delighted to see him again, after his last visit to Derriford in August 2022. He showed a keen interest in the work we are doing to reduce waits for patients and care for more patients in the community.”

Meanwhile West Devon MP Rebecca Smith has called for an urgent decision by the Government to fully fund Derriford’s new Emergency Department.

Speaking days before a critical incident was declared at Derriford Rebecca said: “What is missing from the Health Secretary’s announcement is any sort of update on the New Hospitals Programme Review, which is vital in my constituency of South West Devon, because Derriford hospital needs its Urgent and Emergency Care Facility to bring down ambulance waiting times before it can even start to tackle its general waiting list issues.

“Its future matters to my constituents, underlined by the latest critical incident. The Health Secretary should treat their concerns with the seriousness they deserve and provide an update on the New Hospitals Programme.”

King honours former foster carers

Retired foster carers David and Colleen Healy have been awarded British Empire Medals in the King’s New Years Honours list.

The Healys have been recognised for their incredible work and dedication in caring for children over nearly two decades, having fostered 45 children for Plymouth City Council between 2005 and 2019 and before that in Hampshire.

Throughout their time as foster carers, they have really enjoyed seeing the children move to their forever homes and Dave says they remain in contact with some of the adoptive parents they met through fostering and over the years have seen how the children have grown up.

Dave was also a member of the council’s corporate parenting board for a number of years during which he represented the voices of his fellow foster carers.

Dave and Colleen retired from fostering in 2020 and Dave shared that they were ‘gobsmacked’ when they were contacted by the Cabinet Office to advise of their awards.

Dave said: “When we first got the call, we were both absolutely flabbergasted. We often reflect on our years of fostering with such fondness and while we are privileged to be recognised by the King, it doesn’t come close to the honour of being able to welcome all of those children into our hearts and home over the years.

“Being foster carers has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives and we’d encourage anyone thinking about it to step forward. It will change your lives and the lives of so many children for the better.”

Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Councillor Jemima Laing, added: “What a magnificent and well-deserved recognition for Dave and Colleen. They have worked tirelessly over the years to give young people in our city a safe place to call home, and we are all incredibly grateful to them.

“I would like to wish them a huge congratulations; this is fantastic news.”

To find out more information about becoming a foster carer for Foster for Plymouth, visit www.fosterforplymouth.co.uk/you-canchange-everything-for-a-local-child/

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