Plymouth Chronicle July North 2023

Special celebrations at Southway Playcare

Southway Playcare celebrated an important anniversary as a charity in style with a fancy dress Hawaiian party.

The event in June marked Southway Playcare’s 10th year as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Southway Playcare was originally launched in 1988 under the leadership of Linn Nunn, who sadly passed away in 2003.

The group continued to run successfully and in 2013 Judy Thompson took over the leadership and the group was established as a charity. It now runs an after school group, junior youth group and also provides a wrap-around childcare scheme during the school holidays.

The anniversary party included a barbecue, picnic, fruit kebabs, tikki bar with cocktails as well as crafts, fun and games, plus a celebration cake.

Celebrations also included Joan Griffiths from Callington who brought along two of her parrots for the day. Joan’s daughter Rhiannon has severe epilepsy and learning difficulties attended the group on a regular basis after she had been socially isolated from other places.

Award-winning author visits Thornbury Primary

Award-winning author and illustrator Simon James regularly goes out to schools inspiring the next generation of readers and writers with the joy of story-telling.

Simon, who lives in Devon, recently visited Thornbury Primary School and told the children all about what he does to get a book published, as well as drawing some illustrations from his books and shared some of his stories with them – including Sally and the Limpet, The Day Jake Vacuumed and Mr Scruff.

Simon also told the children all about how he first came up with an idea to write a book when he was 10 years old and shared this story with them - it was all about The Worm International Rescue! He also told the children about how he goes about writing and illustrating his books, showing them a ‘dummy book’ and some illustrations at different stages of completion.

He was wonderfully engaging, and the children thoroughly enjoyed meeting and speaking with him. Perhaps he has even inspired a future author at Thornbury Primary!

Plymouth’s economy sees huge benefits from international students who are studying at the city’s three universities, according to a recent study.

In 2021/22 there were around 1,180 international students at the higher education establishments, bringing an estimated economic benefit of £128.8 million.

The study by London Economics and partners revealed that the UK economy benefitted by £41.9 billion from international higher education students.

But it isn’t just the positive economic impact that international students bring. The report also stated that approximately 92 per cent of students lived outside of the EU, with China, India, Nigeria, and the USA being the highest number of international student enrolments in the UK.

International students bring a wealth of culture and diverse experiences which also benefit the UK, helping to foster a diverse environment, develop better intercultural understandings, and opening the door to new perspectives.

Plymouth Marjon University has welcomed international students from over 60 countries and has partnerships with 26 institutions

City economy’s £128m

boost from overseas students

in 18 countries. Students can apply for a full programme of study or choose a short-stay study option for a term at the university. Degree programmes are typically shorter in the UK, meaning IHE students can graduate sooner.

Professor Ian Luke, deputy ViceChancellor with responsibility for international students at Plymouth Marjon University, said: “There is no doubting the positive impact international activity can have in terms of education inclusiveness, community and in-country development, social mobility, and improving job prospects.

“The cultural and social contribution that international students can make to a university, city, and region is significant. Here at Marjon, we work with international partners and students from across the globe and this helps us to inspire and prepare the University community to collaborate in a global society, benefitting from such collaboration and ensuring our graduates thrive.”

Cake cutting...members of the Southway Playcare group pictured with Judy Thompson (play co-ordinator) and after school manager Hayley Newcomb

Pineapple pair Clare Arcos and Hayley Newcomb

Out and About

Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

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

Summer Choral Concert

July 8

Phoenix Chorale’s summer concert takes place at St Peter & the Holy Apostles, Wyndham Square at 7.30pm. The choir is is performing ‘Jubilate Deo’ by Dan Forrest, a global celebration of joy sung in seven languages; and Bob Chilcott’s relaxed and highly original ’A Little Jazz Mass.’ They will also be joined by outstanding Plymouth-based soloists soprano Catherine Hamilton and mezzo soprano Charlotte Badham who perform throughout the UK as well as internationally. Tickets: adults £15 on the door or£13 in advance at www.ticketsource.co.uk children: free entry. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ PPhoenixChorale

Victorian Symbolism

July 8 to Aug 26

Ford Park Cemetery’s Visitor Centre hosts the latest exhibition featuring Victorian symbolism. As opening times vary, details can be obtained by phoning 01752 665442.

Southway Community Fair

July 8

From 1pm to 3pm at The Church of the Holy Spirit, Southway. Variety of stalls and children’s crafts. Free entry. To book a table at £5 please contact Veronica on 07855 256383.

70th Anniversary Celebrations

July 8 and 9

Morice Baptist Church, Ham Drive celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone on its present site. Saturday 2pm to 4pm Fun Afternoon with bouncy castle, fun activities and cream teas. Sunday 10.45am Thanksgiving Service followed by lunch. For further information please contact Chris on 01752 364513.

Worth the Weight

July 9

Worth the Weight returns to Plymouth Guildhall with nine tonnes of handpicked vintage and pre-owned stock to have a rummage through. There will be 60 rails of clothing, where shoppers can pick and mix and pay on the scales at the end, costing £20 per kilo, with prices starting as little as £1. Event runs from 10am until 4pm. Entry is £3 for early bird and £2 after. Details at www.facebook.com/worththeweightvintage

Plymouth Triathlon

July 9

Plymouth Triathlon Club’s annual Triathlon race at Mount Edgcumbe Country House and Park. There is a distance for everybody. From a Super Sprint to a Middle Distance and everything in between. Also the kids can race in their respective age categories on a great course. Don’t you fancy a Tri? Then why not enter the Aquathlon or Aquabike. Bring the family too, as this location is not only a stunning place to race, but great for spectators as well. Visit www. plymouthtriclub.com to enter.

Summer Funday

July 15

Free fun for all the family at Wolseley Trust’s Coronation theme event at the Jan Cutting Healthy Living Centre from 11am to 3pm. Stalls, live music, bbq, fancy dress, games and prizes.

Summer Fair

July 15

Ford Park Cemetery from 11am to 2.30pm. There will be many stalls including ones for books, jewellery, cakes, puzzles, dvd’s, and bric a brac with refreshments

available. Admission is free but it is hoped that as many people as possible will attend to help raise funds for the maintenance of the cemetery.

Stoke Village Fun Day

July 16

The fun day in Stoke is back organised by The Village Hub, Stoke Village Fun Day and Diverse Events. Activities in Blockhouse Park and in the village centre. Stalls, music, food and entertainment for all the family from 11am to 4pm.

Ballroom Dancing

July 22, Aug 5, Aug 19

Join Jeannie and Henry at the Elm Community Centre, Ley Park Walk, Estover from 7.45pm to 10.30pm. Bring your own drink and snacks. Price £6. For more details and more dates visit www.dancingduo.co.uk or call 01803 325905.

Plymouth Arts Club Exhibition

Aug 1 to Aug 6

In aid of the Tower Repair Fund at the Church of the Ascension Church Hall, The Lawns, Crownhill from 10am to 4pm. Details at www.plymouthartsclub.co.uk

Down Thomas Singers’ Summer Concerts

Aug 4 and 5

The charity concerts in aid of Asthma and Lung UK take place at the Silver Jubilee Hall, Down Thomas at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 and include refreshments plus there is a raffle with good prizes. Parking is free. The concert of popular light music is called Sounds Familiar. Tickets from the 01752 299204.

Love Summer Festival

Aug 4 to Aug 6

Now in its 12th year the Love Summer Festival returns to Newnham Park in Plympton. The family friendly festival offers three stages featuring cutting edge music, children’s area, clamping and great food. Caravan and camper friendly. For details visit www. lovesummerfestival.com/festival-2023/

Coffee Morning

Aug 5

In aid of St Luke’s Hospice at Crownhill Methodist Church hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Books, cakes, raffle etc.

Plymouth Jazz Club

Aug 3

Join Plymouth Jazz Club and Plymouth Boat Trips on a cruise up the Tamar to the lively sound of Dave Vaughan’s North Coast Joymakers traditional jazz band. Boat leaves the Barbican Landing Stage at

4.30 pm., returning 9.30 pm. 1 hour stop at Calstock. Pasties (£4) available at Calstock, order when booking. Fare £28, including welcome aboard drink. Book with Plymouth Boat Trips on 01752 253153.

Mount Edgcumbe Classic Car Shows and Summer Fayre

Aug 6

Attracting over 900 cars of all marques, this is an event not to be missed for the budding petrolhead! But that’s not all – there is something for everybody during the day: over 100 stalls selling crafts, jewellery, clothes and much more, food a nd drink outlets including a licensed bar, bouncy castles, fairground rides and family friendly entertainment from jazz music to magicians.

Annual Exhibition and Sale

Aug 11 to 13

Derriford Art Club is holding its annual exhibition and sale of members work at Clearbrook Village Hall. Opens 12 noon to 4pm Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission free, tea and coffee available.

Big Tribute Festival

Aug 11 to Aug 13

After the huge success of 2022, the BIG Tribute Festival 2023 is back bringing more of the BEST UK Tribute acts over three days at Central Park under the 4,500 capacity tent and larger site location for 2023. Friday is family-friendly focused with fairground rides and bouncy castles. Tickets and information at www. bigtribfest.co.uk

British Firework Championships

Aug 16 and 17

The beloved British Firework Championships return to The Hoe providing one of the best free events in the South West. Tens of thousands of people will flock to the waterfront to watch three companies compete for the title on each night.

Summer Exhibition

Aug 16 to Aug 20

Plymouth Arts Club exhibition at The Lead Works, Rendle Street, Plymouth from 10am to 4pm. Details at www.plymouthartsclub.co.uk

Plymouth Jazz Club

Aug 20

Featuring the Jake Leg Jug Band at the Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill starting at 7.30pm. Authentic sounds of the 20s and 30s America. Admission £15. Tickets on the door only. Details at www.plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk

Aug 26

Devon’s own popular singer songwriter is accompanied by Benji Kirkpatrick and Alex Hart at The Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus. Concert starts at 8pm. Tickets fromwww.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sethlakeman-tickets-598514873097

West End Carnival

Aug 26

Plymouth City Centre Company is hosting the Carnival with a full day of carnival fun for all the family. There will be a parade at 11am and lots of music and entertainment throughout the day.

Saltram Rotary Classic Car Show

Sept 3

In the beautiful setting of the Lyneham Estate near Yealmpton, PL8 2LG from 11am to 4pm, supporting Devon Air Ambulance. Food and craft stalls, jazz band, drinks bar, bouncy castle.

Circus Berlin

Sept 6 to Sept 23

From the producers of Circus Extreme comes the incredible and jaw dropping Continental Circus Berlin in Central Park. With an array of brilliant circus acts, music and real youthful energy, enjoy an international production packed full of comedy, daredevils, dancing and aerial acts. Housed in one of the UK’s largest circus big tops this show will delight young and old alike and promises to be a family treat. For details visit www.circusberlin.co.uk

Seafest Plymouth

Sept 16 and 17

Seafest Plymouth - formerly Plymouth Seafood and Harbour Festival - is a must for seafood enthusiasts. The festival will include lots of trader stalls, tasty treats, and demonstrations from the cookery theatre. Children can take part in the free activities including a find the fish trail. The popular cardboard boat race will also be taking place on Saturday. The free Seafest Plymouth is organised by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, and takes place on The Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Waterfront.

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.

Seth Lakeman

The

ever-popular British Fireworks Championships are back in August

Crownhill Podiatry

BRITTANY FERRIES TO CELEBRATE WITH A BANG

Celebrating half a century in business, Brittany Ferries has partnered with this year’s British Firework Championships, which will once again be hosted on Plymouth Hoe.

Returning to Plymouth for its 26th year, the championships will take on August 16 and 17, welcoming over 100,000 visitors to the city, who will enjoy six stunning 10-minute displays by some of the leading firework display companies in the UK as they compete for the title – British Firework Champions 2023.

With the addition of live music and fairground rides, as well as family entertainment and food and drink, the event is set to be a great evening out for all the family.

Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of the Council, and Cabinet Member for Events at Plymouth City Council commented: “We’re so grateful for the support that Brittany Ferries – who are currently celebrating their 50th year of service - are providing for the event.

“In recognition of this partnership, we will be illuminating our very own Smeaton’s Tower over the course of the weekend with their celebratory logo. The partnership has provided us with an amazing opportunity to celebrate our shared values and links to the ocean.”

Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries said: “While Brittany Ferries today links 12 ports in France, UK, Spain and Ireland, we never forget that the beautiful city of Plymouth was our very first destination port back in 1973, when Breton farmers established a ferry route from Brittany to Devon.

“So, we couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate our 50th anniversary year than to become a partner of the British Firework Championships. This unique and spectacular event showcases the very best of what Britain’s Ocean City has to offer to tourists. We can’t wait to play a part, and to invite our French and British customers to come to Plymouth to take part in the festivities.”

As one of the most popular events in the South West each August, accommodation in and around Plymouth gets booked early.  James Gardiner, CAptain - hotel manager – for the newly-opened Moxy Plymouth, who are the official accommodation partner for the event said: “We’re delighted that we have managed to open our new Plymouth property just in time for the British Firework Championships.

“As the official accommodation provider, we are really looking forward to welcoming people to our hotel where they will be able to enjoy our vibrant new waterfront quarter, within the historic docks.”

Over the course of the two-day event, there will be an action-packed entertainment programme with live bands and performers onstage from 5pm until 8.45 pm, before the fireworks commentary and displays begin each evening at 9.30 pm. Further details on the full programme will follow in the coming weeks.

The most popular locations to watch the British Fireworks Displays are on The Hoe and along Hoe Road. The event is free to the public in these locations.

An accessible area for viewing will be located on top of the Belvedere for those wishing to stay away from the main crowds and will be accessed via the Hoe Promenade. This will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information visit visitplymouth.co.uk

Jobs boost as Derriford firm announces major expansion

Cable management specialist, HellermannTyton, has completed a multi-million-pound expansion to its Plymouth factory with an official opening due to take place in July.

Based at the Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park in Derriford, HellermannTyton has doubled the size of its current factory by adding a new 3,439 square metre (37,000 square feet) production facility.

The new site expansion will support recent developments across a variety of sectors including rail, automotive, and defence, which has led to a 60 per cent growth in business at the site.

Barry Phelps, commercial sales manager for HellermannTyton, said: “We are delighted to announce that our new Plymouth site is opening in July. The expansion is part of our 10-year plan to reinforce our status as the leading supplier of cable management solutions, and with this, comes our commitment to preparing the next generation of manufacturers.

“The new investment means that we can flourish as a local employer, as not only does the new site provide the opportunity for nearly 100 new jobs, but it will also be home to innovative research and development

The new HellermannTyton facility

labs and space for our very own HellermannTyton training academy to support our commitment to boosting the local economy and the future of cable management solutions.”

The HellermannTyton Academy offers tailor-made training sessions, seminars, workshops and expert discussions for customers and professionals alike to have product training, develop market knowledge, learn about production and quality,

and boost their competency within specialist areas.

The Plymouth site is one of 18 world-class manufacturing facilities operated by HellermannTyton in 13 countries across the world.

More than 6,000 employees work at HellermannTyton in 39 countries and offer first-class service and advice to customers.

For more information visit www. hellermanntyton.co.uk

Plymouth Arts Cinema’s season of film by the water’s edge is a highlight of Plymouth’s summer calendar, bringing people together to sing along to musicals, lose themselves in the latest scifi, or enjoy favourite classics in the stunning location.

Tinside is a 1935 Art Deco lido – and truly one of Plymouth’s architectural gems.

Professor Paul FieldsendDanks, Vice Chancellor of Arts University Plymouth, said:” Arts University Plymouth is proud to be sponsoring the Open Air Cinema for the fifth consecutive year. This event organised by Plymouth Arts Cinema is truly a highlight of the summer for the city, and we are delighted to be able to support them in bringing the community together to celebrate great cinema in our amazing ocean city.”

All profits are invested in PAC’s charitable mission of enabling as many people in the community as possible to experience great cinema.

This year’s films are: Grease (PG) August 11; Jaws (12A) August 12; Enys Men (15) August 13; Everything Everywhere All At Once (15) August 18; The Blues Brothers (15) August 19; Roman Holiday (U) August 20; Tickets go on general sale on June 21

JAWS IN OPEN AIR CINEMA LINE-UP

at www.plymouthartscinema. org/event-attribute/open-aircinema/

W E ARE RE C RUITIN G

Since 1965, Princess Yachts has been manufacturing yachts to international acclaim. Today our shipyards cover an area of over 1 1 million square feet across six sites in Plymouth, employing over 3,000 people

Whether you are beginning your career or looking to take the next step, your skills to the highest level.

We currently have vacancies for a variety of rewarding positions at all levels, including Carpentry, Engineering, Welding, Fabricating and more

Benefits include

• Competitive pay

• Pension contributions

• Employee discounts platform

• 4 and 3 day working week

• Training

• Occupational health

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Flexible shift patterns and more

Discover our range of career opportunities and apply at www.princessyachts com/careers or scan the QR code below

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Lions donation helps refurbish special facility in Maternity Department at Derriford

A donation of £3,000 by Plymouth Lions Club has helped to refurbish a special facility in the The Ocean Suite at Derriford’s Maternity Department.

The donation from a trust fund set up by the family of Reuben and Marie Heathershaw covered the cost of refurbishing a hyperemesis room to help expectant mothers ease their anxieties through the various stages of pregnancy.

The room has now been

appropriately decorated and totally refurbished to include two specially adjustable chairs, a nurse call system, a large wall mounted television and broadband, coffee and ice making machinery and some beautiful pictures plus additional seating for caring relatives.

Plymouth Lions Club Prersident Jill Owen accompanied by Reuben and Marie’s daughter Lynn, Lion members and members of the Maternity Department nursing staff attended the opening of the room.

Police have launched an investigation after a violent assault in Plymouth has left a man hospitalised.

Officers were called to an area near Southway Drive in Plymouth just after 1am on Sunday June 25, following reports of an altercation having taken place near Abbots Pub.

Units attended and a cordon was put in place.

A local man in his 30s had sustained what is believed to be a potentially serious stab wound to the chest. He remains in Derriford Hospital in a stable condition. One man in his 30s was arrested in connection to this matter. He has since been released on police bail until September 22.

Officers continue to appeal for witnesses. Anyone with any information or who may have dashcam footage of the area during the time of the attack is asked to contact the police quoting case reference 50230177884.

DRIVER SOUGHT AFTER HIT-AND-RUN INCIDENT

Police are also seeking witnesses to a hit-and-run collision on Dartmoor which left a cyclist seriously injured.

The man in his 60s was riding his bike outside the Two Bridges Hotel near Princetown when he was struck from behind by a car.

The Yelverton man came off his bike and was knocked unconscious. He was taken to Derriford Hospital with several broken ribs and serious cuts to his face. The car failed to stop after the collision which happened between 6.30am and 7am on Sunday June 18.

Police are investigating the incident and asking for the public’s help to trace the driver and the vehicle, believed to be a small blue car. It was travelling from the Princetown area towards Postbridge.

Officers are asking for anyone who witnessed the incident or with relevant dashcam footage to get in touch.

Please contact police via the Force website or telephone 101, quoting log number 425 of June 19.

“What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine” Oprah Winfrey

Opening of the refurbished hyperemesis room

CULTURE’S £98M VALUE TO CITY’S ECONOMY

Key cultural ambassadors from city and towns across the country have visited Plymouth to hear all about the city’s stellar cultural journey.

As The Box prepares to open its major new exhibition of the life and works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, members of the Local Government Association’s Culture Sport and Tourism board were in Plymouth to get the low down on why culture matters as well as see the scale of work going on in Britain’s Ocean City.

As well as attending their own meeting at the Devonport Market Hall, the group were given a tour of the Theatre Royal Production Centre TR2 – where the magic happens in terms of transforming ideas into fantastic stage sets that travel the world. They then ended their day with a tour of the Box.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “Plymouth was home to Sir Joshua Reynolds who went on to found the Royal Academy. This week the Box will be launching a major exhibition of his work and we will soon celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birthday.

“Art and culture is a key driver for us – in whatever form it takes. Culture is critical to a thriving, exciting city where people want to live, where they go out, do stuff, see stuff, encourage families, children, communities to get involved in performing or creating and learn be curious.

“It takes commitment and courage to keep on this path. But here we are: over 500,000 visitors have now enjoyed the Box, the Theatre Royal continues to attract and create world class productions and the city now has 365 enterprises – one for every day of the year supporting over 2,200 jobs. It’s magnificent –which is why we want to share and show off to our colleagues in local government.”

Deputy Leader Jemima Laing, who is a member of the LGA CTS Board and invited the group to Plymouth, added: “It’s been a mammoth team effort across the city and region and relationships with the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery over 10 years has been pivotal investing £50m in the city.

“Simply put investment in culture stacks up on so many levels: it’s good for our residents, our communities, our sense of worth and place, our night life, our economy and quite simply brings a lot of happiness to many, many people.

“It was a joy to show them all around and share the story of how we got here and our unshakeable commitment to Plymouth’s cultural agenda in the future.”

Some facts and figures about Plymouth’s cultural scene

• It is worth £98m to the city

• £50m external cultural investment in five years

• Visitors spend £34m on cultural tourism

• Plymouth has invested in large scale cultural infrastructure: Ocean Studios, Karst, Market Hall, The Box, and Theatre Royal

• It has hosted the British Art Show twice and the only UK showing of Songlines with the National Museum of Australia

• There are eight non portfolio organisations funded by the Arts Council

• The city has 8000 students studying arts and humanities

• There is a new Arts University

• Plymouth enjoyed a combined cultural audience of 850,000 in the last year

Honours for inspirational Plymouth foster carers

A Keyham couple who have been foster carers for more than three decades have been awarded with MBEs in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours list.

Inspirational couple Vivienne and David Baker have been approved foster carers since 1992, first in Cornwall before moving to Plymouth, which means they have given more than 30 years of service.

Mr and Mrs Baker have cared for more than 70 children and young people from Plymouth over the years, offering a permanent home to two children who are now adults with children of their own and who are considered part of their family, taking an active role in their grandchildren’s lives.

They have also worked with children with additional needs and disabilities, including attachment disorders, foetal alcohol syndrome and mutism, helping them to feel safe and rebuild their trust in adults.

Now in their mid-70s, the couple continue to provide a loving family home to children who need it.

Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “This recognition could not be more highly deserved. Mr and Mrs Baker have devoted years of their lives to supporting vulnerable children and young people in our city and we really cannot thank them enough. Their commitment and passion is awe-inspiring.

“Our Plymouth foster carers play an absolutely vital role, providing children with a safe and nurturing environment in their local area. It’s an incredibly rewarding role and if

you’re interested in fostering, I would urge you to reach out to the Foster for Plymouth team to find out more.”

Karen Blake, Head of Service for Fostering and Permanency at the council, said: “We are

absolutely delighted to see Mr and Mrs Baker awarded with an MBE.

They are truly inspirational carers and bring so many valuable skills to their fostering role. Our social workers speak incredibly highly of them, particularly recognising the loving and therapeutic home environment they have provided to traumatised children as well as the support they offer to other foster carers.”

Cosmas Mulonda, Fostering Reviewing Officer at the council, said: “Every time I have visited Mr and Mrs Baker at their family home I have always been greeted with smiles, humour, warmth, joy and respect. I have seen many children thrive, laugh and feel safe because of the love they give.

“They are the most humble human beings I have ever worked with and have given a voice to those who cannot speak or protect themselves.

“Mr and Mrs Baker have dedicated their lives to ensuring children and young people in Plymouth can grow up feeling safe.”

There are currently nearly 500 children and young people in care in Plymouth and a shortage of foster carers.

Foster carers come from all walks of life, and the council welcomes applications from individuals or couples who are over 21, have a spare room and can provide a safe and stable home environment.

To find out more about fostering in Plymouth visit www.fosterforplymouth. co.uk or by contacting the Foster for Plymouth team on 01752 308762.

Thornbury wins top national award!

Parents often say they choose Thornbury Primary School for their children because it offers such a supportive, nurturing environment with a focus on wellbeing. Now the school has won a national award for its work on this – beating seven other finalists from around the country to win ‘pupil mental health initiative of the year’.

Stuart Bellworthy, chief executive of Connect Academy Trust, which operates Thornbury Primary School said: “We’re all very proud of Thornbury’s achievement, winning this national award. As a Trust, we believe strongly in mental and emotional resilience and all our senior leaders are trained in mental health first aid, including some of our Trustees.”

The Tes School Awards celebrate the commitment, quality and innovation shown by teachers and support staff across the UK. Competition is fierce and the judges said this year had seen some incredibly high-quality entries, with the 2023 winners announced in London at the end of last month.

Three of Thornbury’s teaching staff were there to pick up their trophy – headteacher Claire Hardisty, assistant headteacher Heidi Turner and Emma Mantell, head of department for Key Sage 1.

Claire Hardisty, is proud of Thornbury’s whole school approach and innovative schemes, such as ‘Animal Aces’ which is used in every single classroom. This is a system for identifying different animals with different skills and qualities and rewarding children with points when they use the skills of the various animals.

It helps them to identify and articulate a really broad range and scale of emotions. This underpins the school’s vision of supporting children to be their best selves, recognise their own unique strengths and characteristics, and being happy to be both the same as – and different from – others.

Mrs Hardisty said: ”Wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, and we want everyone who steps through the door to be able to sense this. We’re overjoyed to win this award and it is testament to our whole school community.

“We are a family and everyone that is part of the school community makes it the amazing place that is. Thank you to everyone for all their hard work.”

Commenting on why Thornbury was selected as overall category winner, judge Tara Porter said: “This is a school where pupil mental health is central to the philosophy and is woven into everything they do and every possible interaction that occurs in and around the school.

“It’s extremely effective and admirable.”

Vivienne and David Baker

Headteacher Claire Hardisty (centre) pictured with Emma Mantell, KS1 Head of Department (left) and Heidi Turner, assistant headteacher

Plymouth to support residents in ageing well

Plymouth is set to become a more welcoming city for older people in new plans laid out by Plymouth City Council.

The council is committing to ambitious plans for Plymouth to become a city where people age well, where older residents are supported and empowered to live life to the fullest.

A city-wide steering group will be created to develop an ageing well programme for Plymouth.

Plymouth’s plans will follow the globallyrecognised framework of the Centre for Ageing Better, which sets out how places can overcome barriers and provide proactive support in eight different areas. These are:

• Outdoor spaces and buildings: ensuring public buildings and the environment is safe, accessible and comfortable

• Transport: ensuring there are affordable, reliable and convenient transport options

• Housing: helping to maintain good quality housing, which impacts on physical and emotional health

• Social participation: encouraging participation in leisure, cultural and spiritual activities to help tackle loneliness and isolation

• Respect and social inclusion: fighting

against ageism and treating everyone with respect

• Civic participation and employment: providing options for older people to contribute to their communities through paid employment or voluntary work

• Communication and information: helping people to keep connected and ensuring information is accessible for all abilities

• Community support and health services: offering accessible health care services, community support and opportunities to keep active

Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “I’m really excited by the potential that this has to make sure that Plymouth is an accessible and inclusive city where everyone can thrive regardless of their age.

“Let’s face it, we are all getting older, and we all deserve a good quality of life, whether you are as fit as a fiddle, or have daily challenges to face.

“The plans we are going to be developing will help to make sure that residents are supported to age well, to have a good quality of life and play an active role with friends and families, and in the community.”

TRIBUTES PAID TO FORMER COUNCILLOR

Councillors have expressed their sadness at the news that former city councillor Ted Fry has died.

Ted Fry served on the council for more than a quarter century, having been elected to represent the Compton Ward in 1992 and serving continuously until 2018.

Ted, who also had a career in teaching, served on many committees and was leader of the Conservative Group for a few months and deputy leader for five years.

His Cabinet responsibilities included economic development, planning and strategic housing. When the Americas Cup came to Plymouth he carried out a number of media interviews that were seen around the world.  Ted was selected as Deputy Lord Mayor between 1995 and 1996.

He also served as a member of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. As a teacher Ted worked in mainstream secondary and in remedial and special education. He sat on the National Council for Special Education. His final appointment for 29 years was as head teacher of a large 11 to 18 special school where his staff achieved a National Curriculum Award.

Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mark Shayer said: “Ted served his ward and the people of Plymouth for more than a quarter of a century and was held in high esteem by colleagues from across the council. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

The funeral took place at Weston Mill on June 15.

DERRIFORD APPOINTMENT LED TO VITAL MEDICAL AID FOR UKRAINE

A routine appointment with Derriford Hospital’s audiology team set in motion an idea that sent Charlotte Tait and her dad travelling across Europe delivering aid to people in desperate need in Ukraine.

Charlotte Tait, 17, a student at the Deaf Academy in Exmouth, was undergoing her yearly hearing review and was curious about what happens to hearing aids that are no longer needed.

On finding out they could be reused, Charlotte and her father drew up a plan to take them to the Ukraine.

The conflict in the region means medical supplies are in short supply, in particular parts for hearing aids are near impossible to source.  In orphanages across the Ukraine, deaf children, already traumatised by the war, have been left in silence.

Charlotte said: “As a deaf teenager, I couldn’t imagine not having access to the tools that I rely on in everyday life. I think young people in Ukraine must feel isolated from the outside world already, so for deaf children there it must be even worse.”

Charlotte and her father, Darren, made the sixday trip earlier this year and delivered more than 100 hearing aids, which were donated by Derriford, to the Polish border as entering Ukraine was too unsafe.

Within four days of arrival the hearing aids

were in the ears of children that needed them. So far Darren has completed 11 trips with Charlotte accompanying him on two of them.

With the conflict now entering its second year, the need for medical supplies is intensifying.  “We will take anything, as they have nothing,” added Charlotte. “Not even simple bandages. We have now sent out 136 vehicles and set off again on June 26 for our next trip”.

“On our last trip we managed to take an incubator,” Darren added. “There is an increasing problem with orphaned or premature babies, they don’t have equipment to keep them alive. They desperately need any old hospital supplies.”

The journey to Poland took three days each way in a convoy of 12 vans travelling up to 14 hours a daily in the snow. So far around 111 vans have made the journey but both Charlotte and Darren are eager to take more.

The close relations they have formed with local Ukrainian charities allows them to distribute the aid directly to where it is needed, without it having to sit in a distribution centre.

Charlotte and Darren are already planning the next trip and are appealing for more supplies. “We are eager for any donations; your out-of-date medical supplies can be used and are very much needed. Anything you offer can and will be put in the van and made use of.”

City project wins national recognition

Environment Plymouth, the city’s strategic green network, is celebrating national recognition.

After five years, work on the network’s keynote project – Plastic Free Plymouth – was one of three active campaigns shortlisted for the 2023 Surfers Against Sewage’s national Plastic Free Communities Awards in Bristol – an award eventually won by a team from Cornwall. Originally launched in 2017 and inspired by coverage of marine plastic pollution in the BBC’s Blue Planet 2 series, the project has gone on to work with over 350 businesses of all sizes, community groups and individuals and, through the Interreg Preventing Plastic Pollution Project, 18 international partners.

The nomination for the award particularly focused on the action taken to remove plastics from the National Fireworks Championships –action that has since attracted interest from around the UK.

Environment Plymouth’s chair, Hugh Janes said: “These awards are nationwide and have enormous significance within the environmental movement. It shows the work being done by Environment Plymouth is having an impact and it is encouraging to everyone in the team to be recognised in this way.”

Focusing on single use plastics, Plastic Free Plymouth doesn’t expect plastic to disappear. Sadly it is now found in almost every environment and not just kitchens, bathrooms and supermarkets.

Plastic Free Plymouth does, however, ask people to consider what they’re using and to refuse single use plastics in favour of something more eco-friendly. A reusable cup, for example, could prevent up to 168 plastic bottles from entering the waste stream.

To date Plastic Free Plymouth has identified over 80 different, commonly used single use plastics that could be replaced – some very obvious and others a little more unusual.

The campaign is currently developing advice and support specifically for the hospitality, tourism and take away sector in the city as the Government’s planned ban could have a particularly damaging impact on the resources they use every day.

Working with Mallorca’s ‘Save the Med’ project, Plastic Free Plymouth is currently planning how to prepare the sector for the forthcoming bans on single use items being introduced by the Government on October 1.

Project manager, Jackie Young, said: “The new list of items to be banned includes plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene containers, plates, bowls and food containers that are not pre-packed. In reality it will revolutionise the take away industry but we are wondering just how many members of this important economic sector know what’s facing them. With expensive orders at stake it is essential that no-one gets caught out.”

A handy guidance document will be published later this summer with accompanying workshops if the demand is there.

Charlotte Tait (left) pictured with the latest batch of hearing aids

PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE

Plymouth MP in call for ‘help now’ to halt nursery closures

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard has called on the government to provide ‘help now’ to safeguard Plymouth nurseries following a cross-party meeting with the Education Secretary.

Alongside Torbay MP, Kevin Foster and founder of Tops Days Nurseries, Cheryl Hadland, Luke met with the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan and the Minister for Children, Claire Coutinho, to discuss the wider challenges facing nursery provision in the South West.

The early years childcare sector is currently facing chronic shortages and mass closures due to a recruitment and retention crisis in the sector. According to Ofsted, 5,400 early years settings closed in the first eight months of 2022.

In the meeting, Cheryl, who oversees 33 Top Days Nurseries – including five nurseries in Plymouth – revealed that many nurseries are struggling to recruit staff, highlighting that a starting salary in the early years sector would typically start on £1820,000. In comparison, the national average wage is around £31,000.

Cheryl added the inability to competitively pay staff became particularly serious in April this year when the minimum wage increased by 9.7%, compared to as little as 1.5% increases in the funding rate from some local authorities in the South West, such as Torquay. This has been compounded by soaring inflation, utilities and business rates increases.

Many families are also finding early years education and care unaffordable due to soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis, preventing them going back to work, and preventing children from having professional education and care.

In this year’s Budget, the Chancellor Jeremy

Hunt announced a mass expansion of state-funded childcare, promising up to 30 hours a week of free childcare for eligible households in England – but the plans would not be fully introduced until September 2025.

Luke Pollard, Member for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “Decent affordable childcare is vital for our country, but the reality for many families is that childcare is too expensive and there are fewer nurseries and places available due to chronic staff shortages.”

“Labour has already set out its ambition to fund more childcare places to  make it easier for people to enter the profession and to support our early years businesses but we still have a problem today.

“These nursery businesses might not survive the next few months and that’s why we desperately need support today to keep early years nurseries open.”

Cheryl Hadland, founder and chair of Tops Days Nurseries, said:  “Many people in the early years childcare sector are feeling neglected by the government because the funding provided to us is simply not matching what we need to pay our staff. No nursery staff have had pay outs like the NHS and MOD, yet their pay is less to start with and their roles are just as crucial to society.

“We believe in what we do, and we want to provide the best possible education for children. To do that we need to retain our staff, and recruit more. We would like to attract more people with degrees, but we can’t currently offer them a fair pay rate.”

“I hope the Minister can deliver on her promise today to give us the funding we need to pay properly for skilled nursery staff and help keep these vital nurseries open for business.”

City welcomes its first female Archdeacon

The first female Archdeacon of Plymouth has been officially welcomed into her new role during a special service at Tavistock Parish Church in June.

The Venerable Jane Bakker was previously a parish priest in Southampton. Before becoming ordained she worked in accountancy following a career as an air traffic controller in the RAF. Her inauguration service was led by the Bishop of Exeter and attended by the Bishop of Plymouth, Bishop of Crediton and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

Clergy, licensed lay ministers and parishioners from across Plymouth Archdeaconry were also there to welcome her.

Afterwards Jane, who is a keen walker and crafter, said “I’m looking forward to getting to know the people and the parishes of the archdeaconry and exploring Devon and getting out and about to meet people.

“Devon is stunningly beautiful, I was previously in an urban area, so it is wonderful to be out in the countryside and the welcome is stunning.

Plymouth Archdeaconry covers West Devon and is one of four archdeaconries in Devon. Jane will be based in the city of Plymouth and will have around 76 churches under her care. She said “My message is one of encouragement. The local church is the hope for the world.

“We can transform our communities and the places where we live with the message of Jesus.

“That is a message of hope, faith is not just about transforming ourselves but the places where we live as well.”

Westminster meeting (from left) Luke Pollard MP, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Cheryl Hadland and Kevin Foster MP.

Venerable Jane Bakker pictured with the Bishop of Plymouth the Rt Revd James Grier

Pilgrim Pete brings the champions trophy to school!

When your local football team are league champions and have just been promoted to the Championship, it’s a pretty special event if they visit you at school with the trophy!

That’s what happened  for the children at Manadon Vale Primary School. The development and training team, accompanied by Pilgrim Pete, from Plymouth Argyle, visited the school to raise

awareness of their Project 35.

It’s a project the club has set up in partnership with Ginsters to help reduce poverty in Plymouth, through a campaign of fund-raising, awareness raising, social outreach, food donations, education, and charity support. The name of the project was chosen because the number 35 represents the percentage of children in Plymouth reported to be living in poverty in some wards of the city.

As their contribution to Project 35, the children participated in an interactive assembly wearing the Argyle colours and brought in a £1 donation or a  long-life food item to donate.

Overall, they raised £200 and donated 149 food items to be delivered by families in need. Plymouth Argyle also brought in their championship trophy to show the children and every class had their photo taken with it.

New wards at Mount Gould Hospital will help ease pressure on Derriford

Two new wards have been officially opened as part of the new Discharge Assessment Unit at Mount Gould Hospital, being run jointly by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and Livewell Southwest.

The new wards, Saltram and Lopes, now provide holistic and comprehensive discharge assessments and reablement for those with complex needs. This allows medically fit patients to be discharged from Derriford Hospital to a facility that is equipped to support their recovery and ultimately their return home; all with the aim to support people to live independently for longer.

The opening of the unit has been made possible thanks to £5 million funding received from NHS England, as well as collaborative working between UHP, Livewell Southwest, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, Plymouth City Council and a number of community partners, including Age UK and Herts Urgent Care (HUC - formally Devon Doctors).

“We are delighted to have opened the new Discharge Assessment Unit at Mount Gould,” explains Jo Beer, chief operating officer at UHP. “This now means we can give every patient the opportunity to return to independence following a period of acute ill health and hospitalisation, as well as promote home as the preferred discharge destination.

“This new unit also releases bed capacity at Derriford to provide space for care and treatment for patients waiting for elective and urgent care. It’s a new way of working for UHP and an opportunity to strengthen working relationships with our Livewell and Plymouth City Council colleagues for the benefit of patient care. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the teams who have worked very hard to get this project completed.”

The unit, which has capacity for 40 beds, is made up of a team of both UHP and Livewell staff nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapeutic support workers. They monitor and support patient health and wellbeing, carry out assessments to help with recovery and plan for discharge. GP support is also provided.

“Although we’ve only been open a matter of weeks, we’ve received some wonderful feedback

from patients so far,” explained Samantha O’Driscoll, ward manager for the unit. “Our patients really feel that they regain their independence here and can relax in a non-acute setting whilst still keeping reablement as their focus, with the goal of returning home with confidence and the right support. One patient in particular said that the unit is ‘wonderful’ and a ‘joy to be at, because the care for everyone is excellent’.

“Through helping patients to increase their confidence in the activities of daily living, the Discharge Assessment Unit also offers staff a real opportunity to get to know their patients and increase their knowledge around reablement. I have had some outstanding feedback from our staff, in that they feel supported in their role and truly enjoy the environment in which they all work. We have some wonderful learning opportunities here and staff feel excited about the future of the unit.”

Michelle Thomas, chief executive of Livewell Southwest, said: “These new wards symbolise an important commitment to supporting patient reablement and will complement our existing out-of-hospital pathways in the city. As partnered organisations, we share the goal of supporting our service users to maintain healthy, independent

lives and we are pleased to be making a positive contribution at the Discharge Assessment Unit.”

Rachel O’Connor, director of Integrated Care and Partnerships at UHP, adds: “We are hugely appreciative of the additional capital that has been made available to help provide important additional

reablement care, to support people to return home and continue to live independently for longer. The additional beds as part of a wider community model of care will also relieve pressure on our acute hospital beds for those who need medical intervention.

“We recognise that most people will recover better at home once they are safe to be there, and we are working with our other health and social care partners in the system to ensure that people get home promptly.

“The development at Mount Gould is one part of a model of intermediate care that through our partnership with Livewell we are looking to implement to better prepare people for early and supported discharge and help maintain their ability to return home to live as independently as possible. It has been wonderful to see the joint working between our teams and receive such positive feedback from patients so far. We remain excited about the opportunities for further development and improvement together.”

Through bringing all community teams together for the purpose of discharge from hospital, it is hoped to encourage a culture of empowering patients to continue their ongoing care at home, where possible.

Ann James, chief executive of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust officially opens the new unit, watched by colleagues and Luke Pollard MP

Purple Flag accreditation awarded to Plymouth for another year

Plymouth has been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy for another year.

The Purple Flag is similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, given to cities and towns that surpass the standards of excellence in managing its evening and night time economy, and businesses are able to use the logo to encourage visitors to the city.

Plymouth was assessed on the many elements to make it a safe city to visit and to live, such as the emergency help points, the safe bus, the continued work and focus on VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) and the night bus that ran last year.

Areas awarded the purple flag are recognised as providing a vibrant and diverse mixture of entertainment and culture, whilst promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and residents.

A large number of organisations work together to make Plymouth a welcoming and successful destination including the Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, pubs, restaurants, sports and entertainment venues, retail and transport operators, dedicated street pastors and taxi marshals.

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Libraries, Cemeteries and Crematoria, said: “We are delighted that the city has been awarded the Purple Flag accreditation for another year, and to be recognised for all of the initiatives that we have in the city is amazing news.

“We have worked collaboratively across the city with different organisations to help keep Plymouth safe at night, and I am so pleased for our city.”

Councillor Zoe Reilly, VAWG Champion added: “I know that people and organisations in the city have worked really hard to keep Plymouth safe as much as they can, and continuing the important work surrounding VAWG.

“I am so proud of the city being awarded the accreditation again and as VAWG Champion, this is something that I am extremely passionate about.”

Cat MacDonald, Chair of Plymouth Best Bar None scheme, said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded the Purple Flag accreditation for another year, and that all of the hard work and dedication that it takes to make our bars, pubs and clubs in Plymouth safer places to socialise, has been recognised.”

Sergeant Dave Moore from Devon and Cornwall Police Alcohol Licensing Department, added: “The support from all of the partners involved in working together has been critical in Plymouth successfully retaining the Purple Flag accreditation.

“We have worked and will continue working hard on the multiple campaigns that we run to make the night time economy safe in the region and in Plymouth, such as the antispiking campaigns and Ask for Angela, which we encourage people to engage with and report and flag concerns when they have them to our trained night time staff.”

Council reveals ambitious plan to build a better city

Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, filling in potholes, creating cleaner streets, building new homes, green investment and better access to healthcare and dentistry are front and centre of the new Labour administration’s vision for Plymouth’s future.

A new Corporate Plan outlining how Plymouth City Council will address looming local challenges, including the cost of living crisis has been approved by the council’s Cabinet.

At the heart of the plan is the council’s ambition to make Plymouth a fairer, greener city where everyone does their bit, making Plymouth a great place to grow-up and grow old, whilst minimising the impact of the cost of living crisis.

There are six priorities:

• Working with the Police to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour

• Fewer potholes, cleaner, greener streets and transport

• Build more homes – for social rent and affordable ownership

• Green investment, jobs, skills and better education

• Working with the NHS to provide better access to health, care and dentistry

• Keeping children, adults and communities safe

Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “We have spent the past 12 months listening to people on the doorstep and have heard loud and clear what residents want.

“People are fed-up of the rising tide of anti-social behaviour and crime. They are tired of potholes, fly-tipping, litter and graffiti blighting our streets. They are unhappy as they cannot afford a home or struggle to get a quality job, and they are angry that they can’t

access healthcare services or a dentist.

“We are making these challenges our priority over the next year. We are ambitious to deliver real change. Change that can be seen by every person in the city.

“At the same time we are also conscious that the cost of living crisis is hitting Plymouth people hard. With petrol and diesel prices sky-rocketing, not to mention energy bills, rent and mortgages, it is incumbent on the Council to do all we can to minimise the impact that rising costs have on the wallets of our residents.

“At the heart of all of this is our ambition to make our city a great place to grow up and grow old. We want Plymouth to be a city where people age well, where older residents are supported and empowered to live life to the fullest.

“We are thinking big and if we don’t deliver, I will expect residents to hold us to account.”

Plymouth Practice Plus Group receives Veteran Aware Award

Practice Plus Group Hospital Plymouth has been recognised for providing focused support and care to the local Armed Forces community and has been awarded with Veteran Aware accreditation.

The award has been announced during Armed Forces Week and the hospital celebrated by holding their own Veteran Aware Day on site.

The award was presented by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth Councillor Mark Sawyer and Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) representative, Tony Armstrong.

Veteran Aware accreditation means Practice Plus Group Plymouth has committed to making sure that members of the armed forces community will not be disadvantaged in the care they receive and where possible, receive personalised care to improve patient outcomes in line with the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Accreditation was carried out by the VCHA, a national NHS team, that develops, shares and drives the implementation of best practice, while at the same time raising standards for everyone.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve, or who have served, in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

Practice Plus Group Plymouth Hospital joins University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and St Luke’s Hospice with this award, which means that care and support provided to the Armed Forces community locally has been reinforced.

Practice Plus Group as a whole has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, with their other nine hospitals and surgical centres set to follow Plymouth’s lead in due course.

Practice Plus Group Plymouth medical director, Andy Burgess, who is a veteran, said: “Having completed a significant number of deployments in the military, particularly the latter Iraq and Afghan ones, I have had a strong desire to make sure care for our military personnel continues after they have left the military. I have also seen the differences in the way we in the UK treat our veterans compared to the likes of the US who bend over backwards to help theirs. Anyone deployed

to the likes of Afghanistan is never the same and I include myself in that. Anything I can do to help our veterans deal with life in Civvy Street must be useful.”

The South West has one of the highest UK armed forces veteran populations in the UK. In Plymouth, 8.4 per cent of the population aged over 16 years and over have served in the armed forces.

Practice Plus Group Hospital Plymouth employ a number of veterans and are now training two of them as health champions for veterans. Grace Todd works as a radiographer at Plymouth Hospital and knows all about the lives of those in the forces. She has served with the Royal Navy and after having children and getting married, she now supports her husband who is serving in the Royal Navy. Her family are all from a Naval background too.

Grace said: “I know all about the pressures of serving, and being at home when my husband is away. I am really excited to be able to have an

input here and be a representative for our Veteran Aware status.”

Another veteran who works at Practice Plus Group Plymouth is James Potter. He is a physician associate, works in anaesthesia and is also a wellbeing champion at the hospital. James was originally a weapons and bomb disposal specialist in the military, before he moved into health care.

James said: “This will allow us to identify veterans and make any necessary adjustments to their treatment that may improve their experience both during their stay and post-op. Many veterans suffer with mental health difficulties and hospitals can be the kind of unfamiliar environment that triggers many of these painful memories.

“I hope, as a veteran suffering with PTSD myself, we are able to use that relative experience to establish bridges with a community that can feel increasingly isolated since the end of the ‘Help for Heroes’ era.”

For more details visit www.veteranaware.nhs.uk/

Plymouth Lord Mayor Cllr Mark Shayer and Tony Armstrong of the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance present the Veteran Aware Award

Big programme of events to mark 300th anniversary of birth of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Plympton St Maurice is one of Devon’s unexplored gems. Why? Apart from the many lovely listed buildings and illustrious people who have been born there and have contributed to British history and culture, the village has been called ‘The Birthplace of British Art.’

The followers of artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, born in Plympton St Maurice on July 16 1723 wouldn’t disagree and will be celebrating his 300th birthday mid-July with many interesting events at his birthplace.

Visitors can still see Plympton Grammar School where Josh was a pupil and his father, the master. Rumour has it that the young Josh doodled on the school walls but an overzealous decorator painted over leaving the early work lost forever.

Subsequent noted artists studying in St Maurice included Charles Lock Eastlake, first director of the National Gallery, Royal Academicians James Northcote and Benjamin Haydon. All three went to the same school as Reynolds.

Joshua’s artistic talents were quickly recognised from an early age. At the age of 18 he travelled to London to become an apprentice to another Devonian painter, Thomas Hudson, then returned to Plymouth where he set up his own studio before doing a European tour. Back in London, the 29-yearold artist successfully established himself as a portrait painter, gaining patrons and a wide circle of friends who promoted his work.

As founding member and first president of the Royal Academy, Joshua was knighted. He also gained an honorary degree from Oxford University in 1773. The same year he was elected as Mayor of Plympton – an appointment which he declared ‘gave him the greatest honour of all.’

Celebrating Reynold’s birth starts on Friday July 14. Leading art expert Dr Martin Postle will give a talk at The Guildhall in Plympton on ‘Reynolds at 300’ at 7pm followed by a discussion with other experts. Drinks at 8.30pm, tickets £12.

Prestigious award for Derriford’s neonatal intensive care team

Derriford Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team based at Derriford Hospital have been awarded the prestigious Bliss Baby Charter Gold Award. Multiple audits and a recent preassessment meeting found the care given to families and babies to be exemplary.

Dr Oladipo Aworinde, Consultant Neonatologist and Service Line Clinical Director, said: “It is a source of pride for us that family integrated care is not just a theoretical principle, but a reality of what we do. Our staff go over and above to ensure that we deliver the best holistic care we can provide.

On July 15, current artists show off their work in an exhibition open from 10am to 4.30pm in The Guildhall. Displays of Reynolds connections with Plympton, charting his early life and local achievements as well as research into the local area will also be shown.

The paints, techniques and materials used by Reynolds are the subject of a fascinating talk from 2pm to 3pm by National Portrait Gallery expert Alexandra Gent.

From 11am to 11.45am there’s a guided tour of Plympton St Maurice exploring settings familiar to the young Reynolds.

On July 16 the streets of St Maurice go back in time as the streets are decorated and activities and trails for all will take place, set against the backdrop of the historic buildings.

From 10.30am to 4.30pm the art and history exhibition will continue in The Guildhall. An 18th century re-enactment group will demonstrate aspects of everyday life during Joshua’s early years in Plympton St Maurice.

A guided tour of the village will take place from 11am to 11.45am. A procession at 1pm will see flowers laid at the memorial to Sir Joshua at St Maurice Church.

After an address on behalf of the Plympton St Maurice Civic Association there will be a picnic on the castle green with family activities.

For budding artists, there will be easels and materials available around the village for them to create a masterpiece.

For those who want to see the real thing The Box in Plymouth has a spectacular exhibition entitled ‘Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration,’ exploring the artist’s career, and important works, many on loan from other international collections.

The Box is running an events programme of talks, special events and family activities and the exhibition runs from June 24 to Sunday October 29. Admission is free. Details at www. theboxplymouth.com/events/reframingreynolds

The NICU team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust  cares for babies born in Plymouth and other hospitals in the South West Peninsula who are born much earlier than expected (preterm) or who require intensive care if they are very sick when born at full term.

Derriford’s NICU has been involved with Bliss, the charity for premature and sick babies, since 2017. After initially achieving a pledge of improvement in 2019, the team went on to be awarded the Bronze Award in 2021 and most recently the Silver Award in May 2022. Plymouth NICU has become only the 11th unit in the UK to achieve Gold Accreditation out of 175.

Róisín McKeon-Carter, the Baby Charter lead and Neonatal Nurse consultant at UHP, said: “Neonatal Services in Derriford are thrilled to have been recognised and rewarded for our family centred care by receiving the Bliss Gold Award. As a team we have been working on the charter audit since 2017 which has given us focus to achieve the various standards and stages set.

“Bliss Bronze was awarded in 2021, Silver in 2022 and Gold in 2023. Our challenge is to have momentum and in three years’ time, we can submit our audit to achieve Bliss Platinum.

Róisín continued: “We would like to thank the parents and staff who have all contributed to us achieving the award. The greatest ‘prize’ is that our Peninsula families, during the assessment, articulated how well supported and cared for they are here in Derriford Hospital”.

The evaluation from the Bliss Baby Charter states that the team’s overall RAG (RedAmber-Green) ratings is 98.6%, and that they demonstrate having sufficient processes and facilities in place to deliver high quality, familycentred care.

The report also said that staff at Derriford Hospital’s Neonatal Unit are dedicated to providing the best possible service in line with the principles of family centred care, and that parents are seen as part of our multidisciplinary team, not visitors, and actively supported by staff to become the primary carer for their baby. Additionally, feedback from parents on the day was extremely positive regarding both the care of their baby and the support families have received from staff practically and emotionally.

“Having family members as integral parts of our team helps us to remember that each child and each family are unique and different. This is why our parents and families also must be applauded for what they commit to, while going through some of the hardest times of their lives. This award is dedicated to all who are involved in the care of these precious babies, and to many more years ahead of exceeding expectations.”

Bliss Baby Charter programme officer, Anna Moore, and Volunteer Assessors, Lynne Wainwright and Claire Grey, were impressed by many aspects of the unit’s care, but the following elements stood out in particular:

• A very cohesive and passionate senior team who have substantial non-clinical time

• The availability of a dedicated bereavement lead and outreach sister who has undergone a counselling course and is continuing to develop the service by training bereavement link nurses

• The compassionate and sensitive delivery of individualised bereavement support, including memory making, home visits with the bereavement lead and a consultant, and supporting bereaved mothers to donate their milk amongst many other initiatives

• Ability to support parents whose baby was on end of life care to have family time in the Secret Garden and enable their wishes for their baby to experience being outside before dying

• Outreach support is excellent, facilitated by a dedicated team who are introduced to parents at an early stage

Parents have also expressed their gratitude to the team, one saying: “Words cannot express how wonderful the NICU team have been with us since having our twins at 30 weeks. The whole experience from the beginning was very overwhelming and frightening, but the team from the start were always there for you and helped us become involved as much as we wanted to with their cares.

“They taught us how to hand hold and comfort them when they were too small to come out of the incubators and encouraged cuddles as soon as they were well enough and explained all the benefits, so we understood the importance of them!”

To find out more about Plymouth NICU visit www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/nicu

An early self-portrait

Another self-portrait by the celebrated artist

Derriford’s NICU team

Could you deliver the Plymouth Chronicle?

Vital conservation work of Dartmoor Zoological Society

Dartmoor Zoo is porobably best known through the Hollywood blockbuster ‘We Bought a Zoo.’

The 33-acre site is now home to over 300 species of animals and was bought by Benjamin Mee in 2006. However, in 2014, the Mee family kindly donated Dartmoor Zoo to the Dartmoor Zoological Society, a charity specially created for the purpose.

Conservation and the welfare of animals is at the heart of everything the charity does. So, what happens behind-the-scenes and how is the charity helping with conservation.

The zoo has a pair of Golden Mantella frogs that are part of an international breeding programme. Named as critically endangered, there is only a tiny colony left in a small fragment of forest (less than four square miles) which is constantly under agricultural, fire or human threat. Small in size; a fully grown golden is no more than 2.5 cm long!

The conservation and breeding work the charity is a part of is vital to this species and their survival.

There ‘is also the ‘Prickly Hedge Lodge’, a hedgehog rehabilitation hospital established on site to accommodate up to 20 hedgehogs at a time.

Sadly, hedgehogs are now classed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, with over a third of hedgehogs being lost since the

millennium. Prickly Hedge Lodge costs on average £1300 every month and the hospital proves vital for the long-term survival of the native population, particularly in rural areas where their decline is believed to be most rapid.

A portion of the zoo’s ticket sales are

used to help conservation efforts worldwide and includes support for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) who are dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild.

Most cheetahs live on unprotected lands and can come into conflict with farmers by attacking their goats, sheep, cattle calves, and camel foals (livestock) if there is not enough prey. Now, with less than 7500 in the wild, the cheetah is Africa’s most endangered big cat. Raising awareness about this species and charity can contribute to its overall protection.

A spokesperson for the charity said:”If you love our charity’s story as much as we do and if animals are in your heart, then please join us on our journey to protect threatened species and together, we can create a world where nature is valued and loved.

“Our charity is completely reliant on ticket income, donations, and purchases to keep this vital work going.”

If you wish to support the work by making a charitable donation, please visit www. dartmoorzoo.org.uk/donate/

Task force to tackle NHS dental crisis

A task force is being set-up to tackle the city’s growing dental crisis, following a commitment from the new council administration.

There are currently over 21,000 people in Plymouth waiting for an NHS dentist – an increase of nearly 120 per cent over the past five years.One of the priorities of the new administration is to set-up a cross-party, Dental Task Force, bringing together key stakeholders and NHS leaders from across the city to discuss what can be done to improve dental provision in Plymouth.

The three local MPs have also been invited to join.

Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Plymouth City Council, said: “It is shocking that there are no NHS dentists taking new patients in Plymouth. There are thousands of people who are not able to get an appointment.

“Many people simply can’t afford to pay huge sums for a private clinician, and why should they? This means that without regular dental care they are at greater risk of tooth decay, gum disease or in some cases mouth cancers going undiagnosed.  Why should people live in pain when there are local solutions to this issue?

“We are already seeing the impact of this in our children’s health. Over the past year over 600 local children have, between them, had over 4,000 teeth removed. This is not acceptable. Particularly as it is entirely preventable and ends up costing the health system approximately £1million per year.

“Put simply, this cannot go on.”There are a number of oral health improvement projects that are being delivered in Plymouth,

including a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for children, a fluoride varnish scheme and a first dental steps programme.At the same time, there is a significant amount of local NHS underspend for dental care, around £7million across Devon as a whole each year.

“If this money isn’t spent, it is simply returned to NHS England.The new task-force will work with NHS partners across Devon to consider if this unspent money can be used to provide more services in the city and what more can be done to improve access to these services.

Councillor Aspinall, added: “The time for posturing is over. We need action. We need to increase access to urgent and emergency dental care, we need to improve access to services for the most vulnerable children and adults and those with complex needs and we need to expand current oral health improvement initiatives.

“We know that there is funding available to make some significant changes. We need decisive action to make sure that it is spent in the right way, making the biggest difference to those who most need it.”

Endangered species..Golden Mantella frogs

Hedgehog rescued at Dartmoor Zoo

Talented student Sky inspired by Prince’s Trust

Brilliant young dancers to perform in Plymouth

A talented 18-year-old arts student from St Budeaux has been inspired to launch a creative business ideathanks to the Prince’s Trust.

The Prince’s Trust visited Palace Court, the arts university’s Pre-Degree and Sixth Form campus, to work with students to develop their business ideas through the Trust’s Enterprise Program.

got the email from my tutors telling us there was an opportunity to expand a business idea that I wanted to do that for my project.

Sky’s Soulster character

The National Youth Dance Company is bringing its 10th anniversary tour to Plymouth in July.

The country’s flagship company for young dancers, which is run by Sadlers Wells, will be performing at The House, Plymouth on July 15.

The company’s new work, Novacene, is choreographed by guest artistic director and Sadler’s Wells associate artist Wayne McGregor.

During the dancers’ time with NYDC, they are offered a unique insight into the dance profession, living and working closely together as a company,

alongside NYDC staff and the artistic team. The year-long experience within the company provides members with the necessary skills and techniques to find career opportunities and raise aspirations, self-esteem and confidence.

The group of 35 dancers aged between 16 and 24, dancers are mentored during four intensive residencies in school holidays to create and rehearse the new piece.

The event takes place at The House, Plymouth University on July 15 at 7.30pm. For tickets call 01752 600600.

Students aged 16 to 17 took part in a two-day business incubation course, focussing on business models, profit and loss, business plans and more. Students aged 18 and over participated in a two-day business development course that culminated in a £500 startup fund for successful students, as well as a partnership with a business mentor for 12 months.

Sky Purchase, who is studying for an Extended Diploma in Creative Practice at the Arts University Plymouth pre-degree campus, used the Enterprise Program to expand her business idea called Soulster - a brand of characters created as part of her studies.

Sky said: “Late last year, we had a module where we had to make a book. I was freaking out about it until I came up with the idea of a character line that I made into a book. It was only when I

“Now I’m coming up with all sorts of merchandise ideas, stickers, keyrings, etc, with a final product of a doll. I did a poll with some friends as market research for a name and Soulster was the one that came out on top!”

Sky added: “The Prince’s Trust were really lovely and insightful with their ideas. It helped me budget more, something I already do, but there’s so much to learn. I’m in contact about getting a mentor and I’ll be applying for the start up funding of £500.

“It’s such a big opportunity that I couldn’t not. If that all goes well, they also have a grant of £5,000, which I’ll apply for too. I’ve got a big fear of talking in front of people, but I knew I had to present as part of the course.

“It actually went really well and I learned not to feel so worried talking about your ideas. I felt really confident by the end of the course.”

Sky, who will be studying BA (Hons)

Illustration at Arts University Plymouth in September said: “Growing up in Plymouth, I always used to see the arts university building, thinking it was so cool. I’m from a family full of artists so I knew since Year 8 I wanted to come to the university. The teachers are great, the sweetest people and very supportive. If you need help, they’re there to talk to.

“All the students are lovely too, it’s such a family vibe here. I’m a digital artist mainly, using different brushes and techniques, but I’ve done a lot of experimenting with paint and clay.

“I’m trying to get into different mediums, but illustration is my favourite, so I was so excited to see my offer was accepted to continue my studies at Arts University Plymouth on BA (Hons) Illustration.”

Sky Purchase

Derriford’s under-pressure pharmacy to be relocated and enlarged

Derriford Hospital is planning a move for its on-site outpatient pharmacy to a larger facility, after demand for its services has grown by 25 per cent.

The University Hospitals Plymouth Trust has revealed plans to expand pharmacy facilities so there is more space for staff and stock, a better range of services and an improved experience for patients.

The new facility will be 155 square metres – 1668 square feet – and located in the multistorey car park, with the contract for running the new pharmacy currently out to tender.

Demand has increased in the past five years according to chief pharmacist Kandarp Thakkar who said: “We are serving a growing population in the region, including thousands of outpatient appointment visits each week who require complex medications. Recovery from the pandemic is putting further pressure on a range of services.

“A lot of the medications that you get in the outpatient pharmacy are not available at your regular high street pharmacy and therefore the solution to this is not so simple.

“However, the new facility will be double the size in space and gives us the opportunity to have more staff, better patient waiting areas, offer home delivery and improve patients overall experience and waiting times.

“We recognise there have been long queues at the pharmacy in recent weeks, so on behalf of UHP and our partners Lloyds Pharmacy, I want to offer our sincere apologies. The level of service and disruption is not something that we expect or want for patients and we’re very sorry to anyone who has been inconvenienced.

“The outpatient pharmacy demand has outgrown the space and the only solution to this for the long term is to have a new facility which we hope to have fully open and functional by October of this year.

“I want to thank patients, relatives and friends for their patience and understanding, whilst the outpatient pharmacy is relocated to the new facility.”

The new facility will also have extended opening times during the weekends with Saturday and Sunday opening hours, which will benefit patients who are unable to attend during the week.

In the short term, Derriford Hospital volunteers will be on hand to give people more information about waiting times at the pharmacy, temporary seating, as well as offer bottles of water for those waiting in hot weather.

A Derriford Hospital spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Lloyds Pharmacy to do everything we can to provide additional support for our most vulnerable patients.”

Plymouth saddles up with 15,000 Beryl bike journeys

Plymouth people have well and truly got on their e-bikes with 15,000 journeys made on Beryl bikes since their launch in the city in March.

The e-bikes were introduced as part of Connect Plymouth, the council’s sustainable transport initiative that integrates three new components – e-bikes, electric vehicle charging bays and an electric car club – with existing public transport including buses, ferries and trains.

There are now 50 e-bike sites – including one recently installed at Mount Wise pools – and over the coming two months, an additional 40 will be installed and available to use in the e-bike network.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “This scheme has got off to a flying start. Together all these users have cycled over 40,000km, that’s equivalent to around the world.

“These bikes are a great alternative to short car trips. Not only are they fun and convenient, they are helping to keep carbon emissions down. We have committed to being greener as a city and making low carbon ways for getting around easier and more attractive.”

Beryl Scheme leader for Plymouth, Kate Palmer, said: “We’ve been delighted with the initial response to our scheme and the numbers show that it’s already making a significant contribution towards decarbonising the city’s transport system. Direct feedback from our users shows that the journeys replaced have avoid almost two tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide emissions.

“With the warm summer weather and longer days, now is a great time to give our e-bikes a try - they’re fun, easy to use, convenient and a great way to stay active and boost your mental and physical health.

“They’re also cost effective when compared to private vehicle ownership, removing the

need to pay for petrol, maintenance, tax, MOT, insurance and storage.”

When fully operational the city will have 500 e-bikes, 300 new electric vehicle charging bays and an electric car club. The locations will be spread across the city, improving access and helping to make journeys more efficient, saving money, carbon and time.

Rapid electric vehicle chargers have now gone live in the City Centre, Manadon and Stoke and work is continuing to grow the infrastructure with more rapid chargers being installed in the summer, including in Plympton and Mount Batten.

Plymouth is helping to remove private cars off of roads by using car club vehicles. The first Co Cars electric vehicle has been

used four times more than a typical private car since the launch. On average, once established, each car club vehicle typically removes 8.5 private vehicles off the road public and businesses.

Users are able to park the Car Club vehicle for free in any residential parking zone within Plymouth during its hire and it can be booked from minutes to days.

Connect Plymouth has been funded through the  Department of Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund, which aims to change people’s travel habits by making it as easy as possible for people to choose low carbon options to get about.

Visit www.connectplymouth.org for more information.

Children’s drawings feature in new book about the Tamar’s unique fish

World Ocean Day was extra special for a group of Plymouth schoolchildren – their drawings featured in a new book about a unique fish’s journey along the River Tamar.

Allis the Shad Who Wouldn’t Give Up is an illustrated rhyming story following the life journey of the rare Allis Shad – from the tranquil River Tamar to the underwater wonders of Plymouth Sound and the sea beyond - and back again.

Published by Natural England, the book was written by Angela Gall and illustrated by Sarah Gledhill – along with some of the Year 5 pupils at Eggbuckland Vale Primary School.

The book’s author, Angela Gall, a senior marine adviser in Natural England’s Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly Area Team, said: “I have worked on the Tamar

Estuary for many years and have been longing to share the amazing story of the iconic Allis Shad.

“They are a flagship species for Plymouth and the Tamar, and I believe everyone in this area should feel a sense of pride in them and that by helping this species we can help the whole ecosystem to recover.

Allis Shad were once widespread and widely eaten, but these days they are threatened throughout western Europe and are now known to only breed in the Tamar.

Proceeds from sales of the book will go to the charity Westcountry Rivers Trust to support their conservation work on the Tamar and other local rivers.

To celebrate their book launch, some of the children were lucky enough to explore the Lynher Barge and listen to the story being read aloud. What a great way to celebrate World Ocean Day!

Children were treated to a reading from the new book on board the Lynher Barge

The Cross Rhythms festivals we held in the 90s and early 2000s were a real joy for myself and Kerry.

Since we relocated back to the south west we have had many conversations with those who attended these three-day events.

To be totally honest, the workload was quite demanding at the time, and I often said that although I was there, I wasn’t always present as I thought about the pressure of hosting and organising the event.

A big shout out also to the hundreds of unpaid volunteers, still around today, who gave of their time to build the tented city and make it work so well. These were amazing people and truly servant hearted.

I say this because a friend of ours, Sarah Yardley, who organises CreationFest met up with me recently and shared her plans for this year’s event.

They seem so exciting but can take a toll on the team as these charities put the work in to make it happen.

Free festival not to be missed

By Chris Cole, founder of Cross Rhythms

charity

These are good folk who work tirelessly to serve and bless other people without grumbling - too much.

As this is the festival season, I wanted to encourage you to consider attending the free Christian festival CreationFest which is held on the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge at the end of July. Yes I did say free! Unless you want to camp and then there is a charge, but as day visitors, there is no charge.

As I’ve already said, my wife Kerry and I still have many conversations with folk who attended the Cross Rhythms Festival in the

Local hospital goes Mega to help reduce NHS waiting times

A local Plymouth hospital is launching a two-month ‘mega’ drive to push down NHS waiting lists and treat as many cataract patients as possible.

With the number of people in England waiting to start routine hospital treatment now at a record high of over seven million, with one of the largest areas of referrals coming from ophthalmology, Practice Plus Group Hospital Plymouth has responded by tackling the waiting lists for their cataracts, one of the nation’s most common hospital procedures.

Cataracts can be easily treated, make a huge difference to quality of life and it is known that early referral and treatment can result in a better outcome, so Practice Plus Group Plymouth created their Mega Months to get their waiting lists moving.     Usually, the hospital treats on average 56 NHS cataract patients over a one month period, but during the hospital’s first Mega Month in May, they have seen over 240 NHS cataract patients, which has required careful planning.

Sarah Fell, hospital director, said: “We want to drive down the patient waiting times for cataracts and felt this was an achievable target with the staff and facilities we have.  The team are so positive and are working really hard to make this happen.“

With June being Cataract Awareness Month too, it has been the perfect opportunity for everyone to get involved and we have been promoting how important early treatment of cataracts can be.”  Practice Plus Group is increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of cataracts with

a number of events, resources and education sessions for carers and professionals around the country throughout June.

Adrian Peake, who works for Practice Plus Group as operational director, put off having cataract surgery for three years before finally taking the plunge in October 2021.

Adrian said: “Having surgery on your eye is obviously not something anyone wants to have done. Even with my total faith in my colleagues, I felt fearful and actually put it off for three years. I love reading and I just didn’t read.

“When I did finally have the surgery, I wished I’d done it so much earlier. It took just six minutes and for me the results were immediate. Don’t underestimate the difference it will make to your life.”

For more information on the signs and symptoms of cataracts, visit www. practiceplusgroup.com/knowledge-hub/spotfirst-signs-of-cataracts/ Treatment is available on the NHS or privately and nobody should delay seeking advice if they are experiencing symptoms of cataracts.

For more information visit www. practiceplusgroup.com/hospitals/plymouth/

past and CreationFest is similar to what we used to do.

The organisers have a great inheritance through their connection with Calvary Chapel denomination which came out of the last great revival in the western world in the sixties and seventies called the Jesus People Movement. This movement started the contemporary music you can listen to on Cross Rhythms radio. Check out the CreationFest website for all that’s happening with the bands, speakers and events on www.creationfest.org.uk.

The CreationFest team are showing the

The support currently on offer at children’s centres in Plymouth is set to grow with the launch of the city’s first Family Hubs.

Children’s centres currently support families with children aged from birth to five whereas Family Hubs will bring more services together and expand this offer to support those with children aged up to 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Plymouth City Council has been awarded a share of £300 million that the Government has set aside for 75 local authorities to support the development of Family Hubs and establish Start for Life support that will help families as their children grow.

The Start for Life offer, supporting pregnancy through to four years old, is the first stage of the Family Hub programme to go live. Over time, the Family Hubs will incorporate additional support such as youth services to help families with older children and teenagers right into early adulthood. This will mean that whatever help, guidance and advice that families need, they will be welcomed at their local Family Hub where they can find support and connect to a wider network of services.

Four of the city’s children’s centres celebrated the start of their transformation in June:

• The Barn, Barne Barton Family Hub

• Rees Wellbeing and Family Hub, Plympton

• Nomony Family Hub, Cattedown

• Four Greens Wellbeing and Family Hub, Whitleigh Councillor Jemima Laing, deputy leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “We want all children in Plymouth to have the best possible start in life and to ensure that

film, Jesus Revolution, on Saturday night, August 5 which has been taking moviegoers by storm in the USA.

This film is the true history of this spiritual revival, which changed the lives of millions with hope and authentic spiritual love. It stars Kelsey Grammer, from the American sitcom Frasier.

It was this movement which encouraged me to start Cross Rhythms after listening to Bob Dylan’s track ‘Gotta Serve Somebody’ which he wrote after his Christian conversion in the 70s.

Cross Rhythms Plymouth will be interviewing the CreationFest team soon so keep connected on 96.3FM and online at crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth for details.

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

Plymouth’s first family hubs are launched

parents and carers feel supported by their communities.

The first few years of life are absolutely crucial so it’s fantastic to be launching the new Start for Life offer at four of our new Family Hubs.

“This is just the start of a journey for us in Plymouth, as over time all our children’s centres will transition to Family Hubs and bring together a much broader range of services to support families.

“Our aim is for any parent or carer to feel welcome at their local Family Hub, a place where they can reach out to a network of support and easily find the help they need in a local place, at any stage in their children’s lives.”

The multi-agency Family Hubs will offer:

• information about local support groups and activities for all the family - antenatal classes, play sessions, parenting programmes, dads groups and child development groups such as language development and relationship building

• practical help from professionals and peer supporters

• breast feeding and infant feeding support

• equipment on loan for example, breast pumps

• access to extra help if things get difficult

Find out more about Family Hubs at www. plymouth.gov.uk/family-hubs

Cllr Jemima Laing

Chris Cole

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Council launches new blitz on city’s potholes

Innovation continues to be explored by Plymouth City Council in its fight against potholes, with the trial of a new, quick, low carbon, road patching system.

A six month trial has begun to trial a Velocity road patching system, a machine that can carry out permanent, durable repairs at a fraction of the cost and, because there’s no excavation, no waste and no heat involved, it creates a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, watched the new machine in action in Plymstock. He said: “We made a promise to fill more potholes more quickly to help keep our roads safe and the city moving.

“This new machine means there’s no excavation, no waste, often no need for road closures, and repairs are ready to drive on in minutes. The repairs cost a third of the price of traditional techniques, and because there’s no heat involved, it’s also exceptionally low on carbon emissions.

“The council is facing significant financial challenges and, with reduced funding and spiralling costs, it’s crucial we explore more cost-effective ways of maintaining the city’s road network.

“By focusing more on techniques like sprayinjection patching, we can repair more defects and extend the life of our roads with significantly less cost and disruption – and, importantly, far fewer carbon emissions.

“Over the next year I will continue to look at what further innovation can be identified in the fight against potholes and working with our contractors we will explore lower-carbon methods in maintaining our highways.”

Highways inspectors will continue to assess potholes based on the current criteria but, in a change of approach, surrounding potholes that don’t quite meet the required levels will also be repaired.

In some cases, the whole road may be treated (although this will require a road closure and more lead-in time).

Other treatments including micro-asphalt surfacing and surface dressing will continue to be used, along with full resurfacing where appropriate.

BY-ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN TWO PLYMOUTH WARDS

By-elections will be held in the Plymstock Dunstone and St Peter and the Waterfront wards on Thursday July 27, following the sad passing of Councillor Vivien Pengelly earlier this month and the resignation of Councillor Sue McDonald.

The Notice of Poll can be viewed at www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymstock-

Potholes blitz (pictured from left) Kevin Northcott, Highways maintenance manager; Leon Donavan, Velocity operative; Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport; Leon Simon, Velocity operative

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French Lions enjoy Plymouth hospitality

A group of Lions Club members from Morlaix in France have recently visited Plymouth.

In 1974 the Lions Club of Plymouth twinned with the Lions Club of Morlaix in Brittany. Twinning is known in French as ‘Jumelage’ and there were memorable visits and exchanges for many years, but eventually it sadly came to an end.

At the end of May, however, a group of 11 members and wives from Morlaix came across on the Brittany Ferry to rekindle old friendships and make new ones. The two clubs enjoyed a sociable lunch at Staddon Heights Golf Club where Lions Club of Plymouth President Jill Owen welcomed the Morlaix Lions and expressed the hope that the two clubs might meet annually.

She invited the Morlaix Lions to Plymouth for its 60th Charter next year, and members of the Plymouth Lions are hoping to visit Morlaix next May. The two clubs will then be able to celebrate 50 years since their initial twinning.

Morlaix Lion Michel presented Jill with a book about Morlaix, with an inscription to mark the special reunion.

The event was made possible by an initial enquiry last year by Lion Ian Hill to which Lion René and Lion Ghislain’s responded due to their long relationship with the Plymouth club, and Ghislain was thanked for organising it. Lion Loik impressed everybody with a message in both Breton and Cornish!

Plymouth-based charity

The Rainbow Project sends funds and aid to Romania and other parts of Eastern Europe and worldwide as the need arises.

In the past they have sent aid to a children’s home in Romania as well as a village in the Transylvania region which is populated by the poorest of the Romanian people. More recently they have been sending aid and funds to the Ukrainian refugees in Romania and into Ukraine itself, as well as sending funds to the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.

Their Spring Fayre at their chairperson, Bee’s Home in March was a success. Despite the weather, and winds that threatened to steal the gazebos, they raised a total of £2,000, half of which is for the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.

Also, their four day pop-up Charity Shop held at Plymstock Chapel from May 31 to June 3 raised another £1616

Their next sale will be ther Summer Fayre at their chairperson, Bee’s Home at 7 Furzehatt Way Plymstock PL9 8LP, from Thursday July 20 to Saturday July 22.

They will be open from 10am to 3pm Thursday and Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturday. There will be all the usual stalls including clothing, jewellery, bric-a-brac, linen, handbags, and shoes, and they will be serving tea and coffee with homemade cakes and lunches available by booking –Call 01752 401260.

There will also be a Silent Auction –details of which will be available soon on their website.

Anyone who can’t make it to one of

Rainbow Project helping the needy in Eastern Europe and beyond

their sales, the charity does have some other goods for sale in their eBay shop. This can be found at www.charity.ebay. co.uk/charity/i/The-Rainbow-ProjectPlymouth/139558 or by searching for ‘The Rainbow Project Plymouth eBay for Charity.’

Food parcels for the elderly

The French visitors with members of Plymouth Lions

Cost of living action plan is launched

Plymouth City Council’s new administration is to step up support for families impacted by the rising cost of living, Council Leader Tudor Evans has pledged.

A report to new administration’s first Cabinet meeting outlined the council’s renewed approach to responding to the cost of living crisis, including launching a new cost of living working group to oversee an action plan for supporting those most affected.

The council works closely with a wide range of partners and specialist agencies to identify those who need support, signpost help that is available and work to address the barriers that prevent people receiving all the support they are eligible for

The Cost of Living Action Plan will aim to ensure that all available resources are used in the most effective way to support residents through the crisis and to develop resilience within communities.

The council recently agreed how more than £4.5 million from the Household Support Fund will be used to help more than 34,000 Plymouth households

The funding will support those most likely to be affected including families, single adults and people with disabilities that are on low incomes, pensioners, care experienced young people, unpaid carers and people living in temporary accommodation. Priority will be given to those who are at most at risk of food or fuel poverty.

More than £1.7 million will be used to provide food vouchers during school holidays to families with children that are eligible for free school meals, to the value of £13 per child, per week. This includes this year’s summer holiday, May and October half-terms, Christmas holiday and February 2024 half-term.

A further £750,000 will be distributed to eligible residents in the form of food and fuel vouchers and essential household goods via an application process with Citizens Advice Plymouth. This will be split between multiple rounds of funding, with the first round due to open in early July. Details will be shared on the council’s website.

Councillor Evans said: “The cost of living crisis continues to hit most Plymouth people hard and there’s little sign of things settling down any time soon. Fuel costs, gas and electricity bills, rents, mortgages and the cost of the weekly shop have all been rising.

“We know that many people are struggling to make ends meet and how this can have an impact on all areas of their lives, including their health and wellbeing.

“As a new administration that wants the best for Plymouth residents and for our city, we are prioritising helping people most affected by the rising cost of living. Our action plan will make sure there is a joined up approach with our partners across the city, that help goes where it is needed most and that the impact of the rising cost of living is considered in everything we do as an organisation.

“We will also be fighting to make sure that Plymouth receives the support it needs from the Government.

“This is an urgent issue and there is a lot to do but we are committed to making a difference. We have already ensured funding is in place to support the work of the Cost of Living Working Group, as well as for the ongoing work to address child poverty in the city.”

Sisters run year-long project re-connecting the people of Plymouth to the Sound and sea

Running online embroidery sessions, night-time rock pooling tours, Withy Pot making, folklore writing workshops, or engaging in forgotten crafts, stories and traditions, these are some of the elements of an innovative new community seabased project run by The Conscious Sisters entitled ‘The Gathering.’

Karen and Fiona Evans, real-life sisters, and Co-Founders of The Conscious Sisters CIC, have hosted a season of city-wide sea-based activity and workshops with the aim of bringing people living in Plymouth closer to the sea and to develop a deeper connection with Plymouth Sound.

A variety of workshops and projects has been igniting a love of the ocean across the city while capturing people’s thoughts and experiences of their relationship to the sea. A pop-up exhibition of participants’ work will be on display across the city in the Autumn and ideas harvested through the project will inform a future event for the city which will be piloted in 2024/25.

Over the past 10 months, The Conscious Sisters have created five community-based creative groups across the Stonehouse, Devonport and Whitleigh areas working with Plymouth & Devon Racial Equality Council, First Stonehouse Cubs and Scouts, St Peter’s CE Primary School, Mount Wise Community Primary School and Brook Green Centre for Learning.

The work created, through socially engaged art, explores working class local history such as the Siege of Plymouth in 1642 when the city was saved from starvation by a shoal of sardines.

Over the course of the project, some fantastic local history has emerged. This includes the discovery of a local fishing jumper and traditional craft that had been otherwise forgotten. The ‘Gansey’ is a hand-knitted jumper worn by fishermen in the early 20th century, and before, and the design would differ from town to town.

By using old photos and moving imagery from both The Box archive and magic lantern images from the Fisher Collection, The Conscious Sisters have been able to compose authentic gansey designs to create a standard Janner Gansey.

This new gansey is being knitted to fit local crabber

BJ Tapper by knitter Maya

Izumi who is part of the Women’s Craft Collective at The Box. Maya has been knitting the replica jumper on the beach at Devil’s Point – out in the fresh air and with views of Plymouth Sound.

The first prototype will be on display at The Box in 2024 but the people of Plymouth will be able to see it and even try it on at various pop-ups this Autumn.

Another piece of sea-based history the project has highlighted includes Withy Pot making. Withy pots have been recorded in old paintings dating from 400 years ago, but the craft goes back further as humans have used traps to catch fish and crabs since people first inhabited our shoreline.

Sue Morgan of Crab Pot Cellars, whose husband is a crab fisherman, engages in this traditional craft using the Hope Cove pattern. As part of The Gathering Project, Sue Morgan ran workshops with Plymouth Community Home’s residents living in the towers in Devonport showing them how to make the traditional crab pots which would have been seen across the local coastline until the late 1960s and are now on the red list of endangered heritage crafts.

Alongside ancient craft, The Gathering has also been shining a light on local jobs long forgotten. Martin Crossthwaite became a

supernumerary lighthouse keeper on the Eddystone at aged just 20, he was one of many speakers who were curated to chat while women embroidered online.

Martin said: “I wanted to do something different before I settled down and had a family. The Eddystone was a noisy place, the noise of the generator, the noise of the sea and it was always windy. We used to kite fish on the towers, it was safer than standing in the doorways”

The project has also run a series of folklore creation workshops with local writer Jon Nash where some fantastic local stories have been shared and new ones created.

The Conscious Sisters, whose ancestors were fishers, are passionate about connecting Plymothians to The Sound. They said: “Plymouth has often been referred to as a city that has turned its back on the sea. We truly believe that emerging ourselves in our rich and fascinating ocean heritage using creativity can transform our relationship with The Sound and ultimately with ourselves. Let’s put the narrative of colonisation on the back boiler and celebrate our rich working class history.”

The Gathering project will create a large-scale community event that celebrates the everyday heritage of The Sound and its lost traditions.  An event that encourages the community to care for this incredible space.

With suggestions collated already from the community you can vote for your favourites by filling in a simple questionnaire online https:// forms.gle/W7RHMST4Gq7EewKs9

The Gathering is funded by: Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, The Box Plymouth, Arts Council England, Nudge Community Builders, Plymouth Community Homes, Sovereign Housing Association, Local Emergencies Fund, BA Better World, Plymouth Citybus and Crowdfunder.

For more information on The Gathering and The Conscious Sisters CIC, visit www. theconscioussisters.com and sign up to their mailing list.

Knitter Maya Izumi working on the Janner Gansey at Devil’s Point

Sue Morgan of Crab Pot Cellars demonstrates how to make a traditional crab pot

Funky Llama project celebrates 10th anniversary with 10 special events

Funky Llama, Theatre Royal Plymouth’s flagship project for disabled adults, is celebrating its 10th year with a range of special events during 2023. During the year 10 events will be taking place to mark the milestone.

Funky Llama is TRP’s platform for disabled adults to develop wellbeing, reduce isolation and enhance life skills as well as raising aspirations, creating opportunities and challenging perceptions.

The project started life as a six-month pilot in 2010, culminating in a sell-out cabaret night in The Drum Theatre.

In April 2013, Funky Llama was launched as a project thanks to Esmée Fairbairn funding. The first club night – an inclusive nightclub event – was also held in 2013, transforming TR2 through a takeover of the building.

In the lead up to the event, TRP worked with Plymouth Music Zone and Attik 360 to mentor disabled artists and DJs to perform.

The project then secured National Lottery Funding, and a steering group was set up to help improve the accessibility and inclusivity of events such as festivals and nightclubs.

The first Funky Llama Festival took place in May 2014 in the TR2 car park. The event featured national and local performers, community workshops and stalls from service providers in the city.

Year on year, the learning around delivering inclusive and accessible events grew. Funky Llama worked closely with disabled and nondisabled performers to explore accessible ways of programming performances, whilst always considering access for festival goers.

In 2015, TRP ran a national conference at TR2 called ‘Differently Abled Driving Change.’ This was an opportunity for service providers, practitioners, artists and anyone interested in inclusive arts in the South West to come together to share best quality practice.

The conference featured presentations, open forum discussions and practical workshops led by some of the UK’s most innovative disabled-led arts organisations. Another key milestone of the Funky Llama project was the launch of the ‘buddies’ scheme, which sees a disabled and nondisabled person paired up to attend events.

First piloted in 2015, it took inspiration from the Stay Up Late campaign and Gig Buddies

initiative in Brighton. Funky Llama started with three buddies and this evolved with each event. TRP has worked with 12 buddies in total and they are coming back together this year to attend the various events taking place.

Many disabled artists have been supported by Funky Llama over the past decade. Luke Lundin won an emerging artist commission with Drake Music, Ally Bryan composed the music for the Green Space Dark Skies film and Spike Brooks is presenting his play about his experience of autism in The Lab at TRP this Summer.

Some of the events that are taking place this year to mark the 10th year are a Cabaret Night in The Drum in June, a Club Night at Pryzm Nightclub in October and a circus residency in November, in collaboration with Extraordinary Bodies.

Funky Llama participant Spike Brooks said: “Funky Llama is a platform for people to be who they want to be and an example of what the disabled community can do. We are thrilled to have been a part of this movement for 10 years.”

Sara Rhodes, associate director for Co-

Curated and Outdoor Work, said: “Funky Llama has been a significant project for the Theatre and the disabled community in Plymouth, the South West and nationally.

“From its conception, the project has been co-created with the most incredible team of people who bring their own experiences and knowledge to the table. This team, which has grown over the years, passionately advocate for inclusive and accessible, innovative and joyful activities and events that people have come to know and love as Funky Llama. I don’t think we could’ve anticipated 10 years on, the impact this project has had.

“The learning of the Funky Llama project has transferred into the makeup of how we do things in the theatre too, putting lived experience front and centre. It’s had an impact on access performances, on our website and flyers, relaxed performances, collaborations with companies such as Graeae and Extraordinary Bodies and our inclusive practice in community work.”

To find out more about Funky Llama’s 10

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Vivien Pengelly ‘will be sorely missed’

Political leaders in Plymouth have paid tribute to former Council Leader and Lord Mayor of Plymouth Vivien Pengelly, following the sad news that she has passed away.

Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Mark Shayer, said:”This is very sad news and all our thoughts are with Vivien’s family at this time. Vivien was an important force in political life in Plymouth for many years and was loved and respected by so many people across the city. She will be sorely missed.

“Vivien leaves a strong legacy in Plymouth. She led the council during a critical period and her enthusiasm and determination helped deliver positive change to the council and to the city, not least with the development of the Plymouth Life Centre, a project which she was passionate about.”

A former teacher in London, Sydney and at Laira Green Primary School, Vivien first became a city councillor in May 1989. Apart from a short period between 1995 and 1997, she has served on the council ever since and represented the Plymstock Dunstone ward. She was the first female Leader of the council, holding the post between 2007 and 2012, an important period in the council’s transformation, and served as Lord Mayor of Plymouth between 2013 and 2014.

Throughout her political career Vivien tirelessly championed better sports and leisure facilities for the city and was a high profile supporter of

all sports in Plymouth. A season ticket holder at both Plymouth Argyle and at Plymouth Raiders basketball, she was a regular sight at both clubs, cheering on the teams.

She was always up for a challenge and when the America’s Cup World Series came to the city, Vivien donned a helmet and enjoyed a thrilling ride on a high-tech catamarans with some of the best sailors in the world.

She took great pride in her city and led the organisation of a number of large celebrations of sporting achievements.

When Plymouth Argyle were promoted to the first division, she arranged an open top bus tour and a civic reception, personally working many hours to make the arrangements.

After Plymouth Argyle went into administration in 2011, Vivien was instrumental in a council decision to support the club by buying the freehold of Home Park and leasing it back to the club.

Many Plymouth Argyle supporters paid tribute on social media to Vivien’s role in helping save the club. Prominent Argyle supporter Graham Clark wrote: “I was with Peter Ryan when we met Vivien in the Council House just after the club we went into administration. She said to us ‘Don’t worry I will not let the club die’. It is rare these days that politicians are true to their word. I firmly believe that her actions working with James Brent did more than anyone to safeguard the future of the club.

“She was a true Argyle supporter preferring to sit in the Lyndhurst than in the Director’s Box. It was never about her but more what she could do for others. Her natural warmth and affection was all embracing. She will be sadly missed.”

As Council Leader Vivien provided strong leadership for both the council and the city at a time of significant challenge. Her friendly and determined approach helped the council build strong partnerships across all sectors.

In 2010, during her period as leader, the council was crowned as the Best Achieving Council of the Year by the Municipal Journal, the top award in local government.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “I’m saddened to hear of Vivien’s passing. She has been so influential in Plymouth politics and civic life for so long, it’s hard to imagine council without her. Her five years of leadership saw her guiding the council to the MJ’s Best Achieving Council award and of course the Life Centre, her enduring legacy.”

Conservative Group leader Councillor Andrew Lugger said: “We are all greatly saddened by this news and her loss will be deeply felt by the many people that knew and loved her.

“I first met Vivien at the beginning of the 1990s and after coming back to politics after 20 years, she was the first to welcome me back. She was always available to give help and supported my leadership election. I really cannot imagine the council without her.

“Vivien was well-liked and respected across the political spectrum and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her and worked with her.”

Outside political life, Vivien enjoyed spending time with her family, including five grandchildren.

As well as swimming and walking, she enjoyed the theatre and travelling.

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22,500 homes in Derriford and North edition

The Derriford and North Chronicle is delivered door to door every month to homes in Ernesettle, West Park, Honicknowle, Crownhill, Manadon, Whitleigh, Southway, Derriford, Estover, Mainstone and Leigham.

The August edition of the Plymouth Chronicle in Derriford and North Plymouth will be published on July 28 with a copy deadline of July 17. The Derriford and North edition is one of four hyper local editions delivered to a total of more than 90,000 homes throughout the city. We welcome submissions but cannot guarantee publication. We accept press releases in the form of text documents and images in JPG or TIFF format (high resolution please).

Gables has been helping the regions unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats since 1907. We take in and care for nearly 1000 cats and dogs every year.

We are a non-euthanasia charity, which means no healthy animal in our care is put to sleep. We receive no Government funding so rely completely on the generosity and support of the public through donations and legacies. We need your help to care for unwanted and aban doned animals in your local area.

Any donation, large or small, would make a significant difference to the work we do and will help to protect our future.

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Vivien Pengelly pictured during her time as Leader of the Council