Plymouth City Council apprentice Jade Boyd has won national recognition for her work within the youth justice service
See Page 5
Plymouth mum Jo Taylor shares her testimony of how one prayer changed her life forever
See Page 15
Plymouth Chronicle is partnering with Argyle Life – the popular fans site –to bring exclusive content to our readers
See Page 19
Looking for a tradesman? Turn to our Dial The Experts guide on pages 16 and 17
Hundreds of riders of all ages took on the challenging Tour de Moor fundraiser for St Luke's Hospice Plymouth – and they were joined by two special furry supporters. This rider decided to take his two little pooches on the ride of a lifetime! Photographer Paul Slater captured this wonderful image.
STORY AND MORE PICTURES ON PAGE 18
Argyle Community Trust has launched its Impact Report for the 2024/25 season – a season which saw momentous growth and diversity for the official charity of Plymouth Argyle Football Club.
The report showcases the invaluable work carried out to provide opportunities to all people across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall by inspiring and empowering them through sport.
The report demonstrates the commitment of the charity to delivering a range of opportunities highlighted through work in six key strands – Education and Employment, Facilities, Participation, Health and Wellbeing, Disability and Community Engagement.
The report also looks at the real-life impact stories of some of the individuals who have flourished because of this charity and community outreach work – creating life chances, improving health and wellbeing, and removing barriers to participation.
During the 2024/25 season, the Trust has:
• Delivered a staggering 1,049,668 contact hours across all provisions, targeting support for those most in need.
• Supported 101,218 local people aged between four months and 100 years.
• Delivered 12,693 hours of educational and employment support to raise aspirations and support people back into employment.
• Dedicated 2,381 hours to fight health inequalities.
• Facilitated 718 hours to bring local people together to overcome isolation and loneliness.
• Supported people to lose 1,734kg of weight through health programmes.
Through the dedicated data and impact team, this support has been targeted to those most in need. 52% of participants were in the most deprived areas, meaning provisions are accessible to those who need them most.
To maximise impact in the community, provisions are designed and structured according to research and data, which sets out short, medium, and long-term aims. The impact is measured, in part, by the numbers and demographics of participants and time spent engaging with programmes. Positive outcomes attained by individual participants are also measured.
Trust chief executive Mark Lovell said: “I am proud to see the release of this report. It is a testament to the hard work of our staff who have been providing opportunities for the people in the communities we serve to become empowered and aspire to reach their goals.
“Our charity and its reach are unique, and to be working with so many partners across two counties demonstrates the passion we have.”
The 2024/25 season continued to be an incredibly successful year for awards for the charity, achieving national recognition by winning the divisional and overall Community Project of the Season at the 2025 EFL Awards for ACTing with Children, a groundbreaking project in
A group of 90 students from All Saints Academy Plymouth have returned from an unforgettable four-day trip to Paris. The group was made up of 80 Year 7s, as well as 10 GCSE French students who used the opportunity to not only practice their language skills but also work with the staff on the trip to complete their work experience.
The trip included visits to various landmarks around the French capital, including the Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower, and the Gardens of Luxembourg, where the students wrote postcards in French about the sights they had seen.
There were also some major milestones for the charity. March saw the opening of the brand-new, state-of-the-art sports, wellbeing, and community hub – The Hub at Foulston Park, delivered in partnership with Plymouth Argyle, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Albion and Devonport Community Leisure Limited. The Trust also launched a new hub in Sherford as part of a vision for a vibrant, active community.
Mark Lovell added: “I am truly excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for the Trust, especially at the new community health hub we have developed in the city of Plymouth. It will be exciting to reflect and see what additional impact we will make for our community in the next 12 months.”
They also enjoyed a boat cruise along the River Seine passing further monuments such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum.
Visiting all of these sites would be impressive enough on any 'normal' day, but the trip included Bastille Day, the French national holiday when the population of the city rises by hundreds of thousands of people. From a vantage point at the Sacred Couer they were able to watch a fly past go over the city of more than 100 different aircrafts.
A highlight for many of the children was a visit to Disneyland Paris. Students had the opportunity to explore the park with their friends, meet some of the famous Disney characters, put their bravery to the test on some of the scarier
rides and watch some of the brilliant music parades that Disney is so well known for.
Brittanie Tonge, associate assistant headteacher at All Saints Academy and organiser of the trip said: "This was the first of our annual trips to Paris, and it was an absolute delight to provide so many of our students with this opportunity. As the French lead at All Saints, it was wonderful to see so many of our students engage with the French language and culture.
“The students were a credit to the school, and we received so many compliments with regards to their conduct in the city and at Disneyland. In visiting Paris, our students have met their ASAP pledge to 'visit a capital city' and continue to access our incredible extra curriculum offer."
City College Plymouth has been awarded the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Award in acknowledgement of its continued support to members of the Armed Forces community.
The college is one of only 50 organisations across the South West to receive this accolade in 2025.
The award was presented to the college at a special ceremony at County Hall, Exeter, as part of HM Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Devon Awards. It was collected on behalf of the college by chief executive Jackie Grubb, and Pauline Hands, executive of Strategic Communications & Stakeholders.
The award recognises employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate, or advocate support for defence and the armed forces community, while aligning their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. City College Plymouth signed the Covenant in 2023.
Speaking after receiving the award, Jackie said: "We are incredibly honoured to receive the Silver ERS Award. As Devon's anchor institution for defence skills, we are proud to stand alongside our Armed Forces community and recognise the immense contribution they make to our region, our industries, and to the nation at large. This award is a reflection of our deep commitment to supporting that community.
"City College Plymouth has supported the Royal Navy, the Ministry of Defence and wider defence industry, and supply chains with training, Apprenticeships, and specialist programmes for over 50 years, directly addressing the needs of the Armed Forces and its highly valued personnel during that time.
“As we look to the future, helping to strengthen the UK's defence resilience and providing the Armed Forces with more skills, support, and training than ever before, our dedication to Service personnel, reservists, veterans, the cadet movement, and military families remains strong.
"We are proud to be a college that recognises
the difference the Armed Forces community makes to our workplace, culture, and city, and we are grateful to see City College Plymouth recognised in this way."
The Silver Award represents a significant milestone in the college's journey of support for the Armed Forces, building on its already established reputation for collaboration with the community and further demonstrating its dedication to championing their skills, resilience, and value.
A team of Plymouth Soroptimists have been shopping and packing to provide 36 'hygiene care boxes' for families living in temporary accommodation in Plymouth.
Soroptimists obtained a grant of £1,050 from Plymouth Astor Trust to purchase sturdy plastic storage boxes and fill them with 40 personal hygiene items for a family including shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, sanitary towels and flannels. The boxes also contain kitchen roll, bleach spray, anti mould spray and handwash.
The initiative saw the Soroptimist club working with Odils Learning Foundation, who hosted the packing day at their Stonehouse premises. Odils will make the hygiene boxes available to families in need, including their own service users as well as families being supported by Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH) and Devon & Cornwall Refugee Service (DCRS).
Plymouth Soroptimist president Ann said: "This was a real team effort and it has been lovely to bring this to fruition after discussing the idea with Odils earlier this year.We believe there are at least 200 households in Plymouth living in temporary accommodation, and many simply cannot afford the toiletries and cleaning products that most of us take for granted. We're really grateful to Plymouth Astor Trust for the grant, which has enabled Soroptimists to support some of these vulnerable families in our community."
For more information about the work and aims of Soroptimists International visit www.plymsorop.org. uk, www.sigbi.org or follow them on X and Facebook.
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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.
Pennywell Farm Pumpkin Festival
Until Nov 2
Join in with all the family favourites plus the Pumpkin Festival included in the ticket price. A must-see event for all the family with the festival bigger and better than ever. All tickets must be booked online at www. pennywellfarm.co.uk
Oktoberfest 2025
Oct 25
Plymouth welcomes a traditional Bavarian bash in Central Park from 12 noon to 11pm. New features at this year’s event which include an all-new Bavarian bar, glitter, mini trader village and a photo booth. For tickets and information visit www. oktoberfestplymouth.co.uk
Orchestral Workshop
Oct 25
Plymouth Open Concert Orchestra, formerly the University of Plymouth Orchestra, invites instrumental players to an orchestral workshop: ‘Holst’s Planets.’
With music director, Dan Francis at the Levinsky Hall, Plymouth University from 10am. Tickets to take part £10 can be booked via the Orchestra Facebook page. All orchestra instrument players who can read music are welcome.
Divertimento String Quartet
Nov 1
The Quartet present a concert at Stoke Damerel Church from 3pm to 5pm. Featuring works by Haydn, Dvorak and Frank Bridge. Tickets £20, students £10, under 18s free. Tickets on the door or in advance from 01803 863677. Details at www.dovertimento.uk.com
Coffee Morning
Nov 1
Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls. Supporting Leukemia Research. All welcome.
Bonfire Night
Nov 5
Get ready for an unforgettable night of fun and fireworks as Plymouth Hoe comes alive for Bonfire Night! Make your way to the iconic Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse for the best views of the bonfire, which will be lit at 7pm. Then, at 7.30pm, prepare to be wowed! The skies will explode with a stunning fireworks display launched from the historic Royal Citadel. Expect an incredible show of rockets, fountains, and crackling fireworks.
HonkyTonk Comedy Club
Nov 6
West Country favourite Tom Glover hosts the bimonthly comedy night at the HonkyTonk Wine Library in Sutton Harbour starting at 8pm. For details visit www.honkytonkwinelibrary.com
Table Top Sale
Nov 8
Ford Park Cemetery from 10.30am with tables costing £10. An ideal opportunity for members of the public to sell unwanted items. Call 01752 665442 for details.
Plymouth Concert Series
Nov 9
Featuring the Chamber Ensemble of London directed by violinist Peter Fisher at Stoke Damerel Church from 3pm to 5pm. Details at www. chamberensembleoflondon.co.uk
Remembrance Day Service
Nov 11
To be held at the Victorian Chapel, Ford Park Cemetery at 10.30am. After the service there will be a Blessing at the Cross of Sacrifice near the Lower Gate. A wreath will be laid in memory of those who have died
for their country in both World Wars. All welcome. Refreshments will be served later in the Visitor Centre.
Christmas Lights Switch-On
Nov 13
Plymouth's Christmas calendar officially kicks off with the switch-on of this year's spectacular Christmas lights on the Piazza in Plymouth City Centre. More details coming soon.
Drake Circus Christmas Lights Switch-On
Nov 13
Festive fun from 3.30pm at Drake Circus with lots of seasonal surprises. Don't miss the magical moment at 4pm when snow flurries fall at the Old Town Street entrance, right before the big Light Switch-on at 5pm.
Barbican Christmas Lights Switch-On
Nov 15
Head to the Barbican for the wonderful Christmas lights switch-on with an afternoon of festive family fun with free activities and entertainment from 12pm to 6pm on the Barbican and Sutton Harbour.
Plymouth Winter Wonderland
Nov 15 to Jan 1
Following the resounding success of last year's event, the magical winter festival is set to return to Central Park. This year's Winter Wonderland promises to be even more enchanting, with a host of festive delights for all ages. Step into a Winter Wonderland of twinkling lights, festive music, and Christmas cheer. Details at www.plymouthwinterwonderland.co.uk
Plymouth Jazz Club
Nov 16
Featuring The Gatsby Trio with jazz from the 20s and 30s at the Royal Briths Legion Club, Crownhill at 7.30pm. Entry £15 on the door (£12 members). Nonmembers welcome. Details at www.plymouth-jazzclub.com
Christmas Fair
Nov 21 and 22
Stoke Damerel Church in Paradise Road, Stoke from 11am to 3pm. To hire a table or stall contact Marilyn Goldsbrough on 07890 165524 or 01752 564847.
Christmas Fayre
Nov 22
St Boniface Church Hall, Percy Street, St Budeaux from 10am to 12 noon. Raffle, chocolate tombola, gifts galore and refreshments. Entry 20p on the door. All welcome.
Anniversary Concert
Nov 26
Plymouth Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 150th anniversary with a concert at St Andrew’s Minster Church in Royal Parade at 7.30pm. Tickets £16 in advance from www.wegottickets.com/ PlymouthSymphonyOrchestra, £18 on the door. Works by Verdi, Elgar and Tchaikovsky and featuring soloist Maxim Carver. Details www.plymouthsymphony.co.uk
Plymouth Christmas Market returns bigger and better than ever from November 27 to December 21 Photo: Chris Heaney
Plymouth Christmas Market
Nov 27 to Dec 21
Experience the all-new Plymouth Christmas Market, operated by the award-winning event operators, Market Place. With over 100 international and local traders housed in charming, traditional chalets, the Plymouth Christmas Market will be offering an authentic feast of quality Christmas fayre alongside a carefully curated mix of handcrafted goods and bespoke artisan products. Set against the backdrop of Armada Way and New George Street, the market is an unmissable destination for coach parties, daytrippers, and city shoppers alike, offering the perfect place festive shopping.
'Exploration' Themed Concerts
Nov 29
Plymouth Open Concert Orchestra, (formerly the University of Plymouth Orchestra) present ‘Exploration’ themed concerts at the Levinsky Hall on the Plymouth University campus. Children’s concert from 3pm - all welcome. Evening concert doors open at 7pm. Concert begins at 7.30pm. Music to include: Apollo Overture - Wood, with movements from Holst’s The Planets and Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Free entry, book tickets at Eventbrite.
Plymouth Philharmonic Choir
Nov 29
The choir presents Carmina Burana and Dances of Time at St Andrew’s Church, Royal Parade at 7.30pm. Featuring soloists soprano Catherine Hamilton, tenor Matthew Minter and baritone Andrew Mayor. Full details at www.plymouthphilchoir.org
Just Christmas 2025
Nov 29
A 'fair' Christmas fair at Hope Baptist Church from 10am to 3pm with all items on sale locally or ethically made. Free children's activities, community choirs, homemade cakes, pasties and raffle. Free entry and all proceeds to buy Christmas gifts for the homeless.
Christmas Fair
Nov 29
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery from 10.30am to 2.30pm with Christmas crafts, jewellery, wreaths, festive stalls, homemade cakes and much more. Refreshments also available.
RBL Annual Meeting
Dec 5
Royal British Legion Plympton & District Club at 41 Market Road, Plympton will hold its AGM starting at 7pm. Members to please bring their membership card.
Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir
Dec 5
The choir’s annual Christmas fundraiser at Harewood House, Plympton at 7pm. Tickets £10 on the door to include mince pies and mulled wine. The choir will also perform at Elburton Methodist Church on December 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets £7 on the door.
Christmas Concert
Dec 6
South West Chamber Choir will present a concert of songs and readings for Advent and Christmas at Stoke Damerel Church at 3pm. The concert will include carols by local composers and a wide variety of music which should appeal to all.
Coffee Morning
Dec 6
Crownhill Methodist Church from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls. Supporting Little Bridge House. All welcome.
Christmas Fayre
Dec 6
Salisbury Road Baptist Church Large Hall from 10am to 2pm. Hot and cold food available.
Celebrating Romania Through Art and Music
Dec 7
Romanian Grand Union Day will be celebrated at Stoke Damerel Church at 3pm. Organised by EduArt CIC, the event will be led children and young people from Plymouth’s Romanian School Arici Pogonici and from the community. The programme will feature traditional Romanian music, dance, and creative arts, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Romania. Opportunity to enjoy traditional Romanian cuisine, engage in craft and art workshops, and view an exhibition of artworks by the children.
Candlelit Christmas Concerts
Dec 12 and Dec 13
The Down Thomas Singers are supporting Children’s Hospice, South West with two concerts at the Silver Jubilee Hall, Down Thomas where parking is free. The light and amusing Christmas themed concerts are on Friday, December 12 at 7.30pm and on Saturday, December 13 at 2pm. There is always a good raffle and closing collection. Tickets at £7 include a warm drink and mince pie and are available from any choir member or the Secretary (Telephone 01752 299204). Seating is at tables so people can bring their own drinks and nibbles as well as the refreshments at the interval.
Christmas Concert
Dec 13
Tamar Concert Choir perform a selection of Christmas songs and traditional carols with the opportunity for audience participation. Woolwell Community Centre, Darklake Lane, Plymouth from 6pm to 8pm.
Baroque Christmas Concert by Candlelight Dec 13
University of Plymouth Choral Society present a concert including Vivaldi's Gloria, highlights from Handel’s Messiah, and Carols in St Andrew's Minster Church at 7.30pm. Details at www.uopcs.org.uk
St Luke’s Light Up a Life Concert Dec 16
Featuring the Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir at St Andrew’s Church, Royal Parade at 3.30pm. Admission free, donations for St Luke’s Hospice.
Christmas Concert Dec 18
Tamar Concert Choir perform a Christmas concert at Stoke Damerel Church at 7.30pm. In aid of the Chestnut Appeal with a variety of Christmas themed songs and traditional carols.
Plymouth Jazz Club Dec 21
Featuring The Bourbon Street Paraders with their New Orleans Dixie Jazz at the Royal Briths Legion Club, Crownhill at 7.30pm. Entry £15 on the door (£12 members). Non-members welcome. Details at www. plymouth-jazz-club.com
Send details of your event to info@cornerstonevision. com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
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“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” Abraham Lincoln
A Plymouth City Council apprentice has won a top national award.
Jade Boyd, who works for Plymouth City Council as a youth offending team worker, was highly commended in the Apprentice of the Year award category at the fourth Inspire Justice Awards, delivered by Skills for Justice.
Skills for Justice's Inspire Justice Awards recognise and honour the hard work carried out daily by thousands of justice sector staff across the UK.
Jade was the first person in the country to complete the Youth Justice Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard (graduating with distinction) and has since driven real change for vulnerable children within the Youth Justice Service, helping them move away from offending and rebuild their futures.
Consistently putting the needs of children first, Jade applies a traumainformed approach in her work. In one case, she adapted an intervention plan for a child with learning difficulties by using visual aids and simplified language, ensuring the young person could fully understand and engage with the plan.
She has also championed multi-agency collaboration, organising and chairing a meeting for a child at high risk of reoffending. The result was a tailored, coordinated support package that gave the child a better chance to turn their life around.
Reacting to the news of her win Jade said: "It's a privilege to work with young people and help them see a future beyond offending. Every child deserves to be heard, understood, and given the right support to make positive choices, and I'm proud to be part of a team that makes that possible."
Congratulating Jade, Emma Hannant, chief executive of the youth and criminal justice higher education provider, Unitas, said: “Jade has been an outstanding student showing grit and determination to succeed in her apprenticeship.
"Both her learning coach and I are extremely proud to see Jade achieve a distinction as the first student completing the standard. I wish her every success as she continues to study with Unitas to
National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) will be visiting customers' properties in Plymouth this month as part of a safety inspection programme.
From October 22, domestic and small business customers in the PL1 postcode, which includes the city centre, Stoke and Devonport, will receive visits from NGED-approved contractors to check that service termination points inside properties are working as they should.
The service termination point, also known as a cut-out, is the indoor location where the main incoming electricity service cable and fuse is situated, in most cases close to the electricity meter.
For most modern properties built since the 1980s, the cut-out is situated in a meter cabinet on the outside, though it could be located within the property next to the electricity meter or the customer's consumer unit.
Inspectors will visually inspect NGED and energy suppliers' equipment and record basic details. No disassembly work will be carried out and customers’ power supplies will not be interrupted while inspections occur.
Richard Brady, NGED's policy engineer heading the inspection programme, said: "The UK is recognised internationally as having one of the most resilient and safe energy systems and this inspection programme underlines our commitment to the highest safety standards.
"Inspectors will visually examine cut-outs to check they are working as they should, taking photos and notes for our records. In the unlikely event of a defective cut-out being found, NGED engineers will be sent to carry out repairs at no cost to the customer.
"Visits will also be an opportunity to confirm what types of low-carbon technologies (LCT) are connected to our network, for example electric vehicle chargers and solar panels, to help our planning for future load growth on the network, and enable LCT items to be connected quicker in the future as we will have records of the cutout asset on site and its condition.
"These are important safety visits but we understand they could be inconvenient for customers and apologise in advance if this is the case.
Inspectors will be from a company called A Coole and will be clearly identifiable as working for NGED. They will be able to present ID and authorisation to enter properties.
Customers will have the option of taking their own photographs of their cut-out and meter and sending them to NGED who will decide if a follow-up visit is needed.
Plymouth Community Homes and Plymouth City Council have secured vital grant funding from Homes England to enable works to start on creating 80 new homes for social rent in Plymouth city centre.
Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), the city’s largest social housing landlord, will work in close partnership with Plymouth City Council to deliver a new, eco-friendly neighbourhood on land off Bath Street in the Millbay regeneration area, which will eventually provide up to 135 affordable homes overall for social rent, as well as shared ownership purchase, to meet local housing need.
The £33.5m scheme will create a brand new community on the temporary car park bordering Martin Street, with energy-efficient new homes made available for those on the waiting list for a social home, as well as communal gardens created featuring children’s play areas in open green spaces, and commercial business units.
The scheme was awarded full planning permission at the end of 2023, and PCH and PCC have now jointly secured the necessary grant funding from Homes England to enable building work to get started. Grants and funding contributions from Plymouth City Council totalling in excess of £5m from the Plan for Homes, and funding from PCH of £14.2m through loans and subsidies, have also been agreed.
The first phase of an expected three phases will begin in February-March 2026 with appointed contractors Classic Builders on site, and deliver 80 homes for social rent and one unit for commercial rent. Social homes will include a mix of one and two bed flats and three bed houses and will be available to households on the Devon Home Choice waiting list.
Andrew Lawrie, head of development at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “Substantial grant funding was essential to enable this major affordable housing scheme to happen at Bath Street and this is a tremendous outcome, enabling us to make a start to the regeneration of this area of Plymouth city centre so we can deliver a large number of muchneeded new homes for those on the waiting list for a social rent home.
“We are really grateful to our partners Plymouth City Council for their support in helping us secure the necessary Government funding, and to Homes England for their unprecedented level of grant support which has unlocked our ability to bring forward this development and get started.”
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development,
said: “I am so pleased to secure the funding from Homes England for what we believe will be a truly catalytic project for the transformation of the city centre and the delivery of 10,000 new homes.
“This, for me, is what the Plan for Homes is all about – bringing partners together and accessing funding to unlock sites like this that the market would not ordinarily consider viable.
“Because of this extensive partnership working over a long period of time, we can now move forward to deliver a mix and range of well-designed and sustainable affordable homes which are needed to ease the pressures of the housing crisis.”
Shahi Islam, director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting Plymouth Community Homes to achieve their ambitions.
“The eco-friendly development at Bath Street is a prime example of how we are working collaboratively with partners to achieve our mission to build thriving communities that people can be proud to call home.” Completion of the first 80 homes in the scheme is estimated to take place by early 2029. Before construction works can start, some ground investigation works are taking place. In preparation for the works, the council will close Martin Street car park from Friday October 31.
Local veterinary surgeons Dr Jo Nott and Dr Nikolai Athron have launched the Plymouth Cat Clinic, the first and only feline-only veterinary clinic in Devon and Cornwall.
The independent, family-run clinic has recently been awarded Gold Accreditation by icatcare.org's Cat Friendly Clinic programme, recognising its commitment to providing an exceptional, stressfree environment for feline patients.
With over 30 years of combined veterinary experience, Dr Nott and Dr Athron bring extensive expertise to the local community. Dr Athron is one of just 18 RCVS-recognised Advanced Practitioners in small animal dentistry in the UK.
Dr Nott, born and raised in Plymouth, begins her certificate in feline medicine this January.
The clinic offers feline-focused care in a calm, cat-only environment designed to reduce stress and improve outcomes. Facilities include a stateof-the-art dental suite, full in-house laboratory, and CASCO WellKennels, specifically designed with feline comfort and wellbeing in mind.
Tailored Feline Health Plans are also available, providing personalised care to cats at every life stage.
The clinic's motto, ‘Quality Vet Care for your Cat,’ is supported by a strong mission and an ethos they call the 'Trifecta Purr-fecta':
• Happy cats – through high-quality veterinary medicine and surgery
• Happy clients – through compassionate, clear communication
• Happy colleagues – through a positive and
engaging work environment
"We believe cats deserve a dedicated space where they feel safe, and owners deserve clear, compassionate guidance," said Dr Nott. "Plymouth now joins cities like London, Oxford and Manchester in offering truly feline-focused veterinary services."
The Plymouth Cat Clinic is committed to giving back to the local community. Plans are already under way to support local animal charities including Cats Protection, Gables, and Woodside.
"Being independent means we can stay true to our values and community-first approach," added Dr Athron. "We're here for Plymouth's cats and the people who love them.
The clinic is located off the Forder Valley (Leigham) roundabout, near the Snowsports centre, and next to the Ibis Hotel in Endurance House on Longbridge Road.
To book
A preferred purchaser for Merchant's House has been selected following a marketing exercise to find a buyer who can give the historic building a sympathetic new lease of life.
Plymouth City Council announced it was to put the Grade II listed property on the market in January after being unable to find a use for it since it closed as a museum around 10 years ago.
Prospective purchasers were asked to demonstrate they had the means and experience to give it a new purpose and safeguard its future.
Four offers were received and a purchaser has been selected who proposes to sympathetically restore the property to how it would have appeared in the 16th century and provide visitors to the city a unique place to stay by allowing them to step back in time to an important period of Plymouth's long history.
After being restored to its former glory the historic building will also be open for the public to view twice a year.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member responsible for the city's assets, said: "Merchant's House is a precious historic property that has been lying empty for a long time now and it really needs to be restored and put to good use.
"We are delighted to find a preferred purchaser who plans to restore the house. We look forward to completing the disposal and seeing their plans coming to fruition."
The sale price and further details of the restoration plans will be available once the disposal has been completed.
The history of Plymouth's Merchant's House dates to the early 17th century, when it was owned by prominent merchant and privateer William Parker, who served as mayor from 1601-1602. The house passed through several families, including the Beele and Martyn families, before being extended in 1807 to include a shop at the front.
After a period as a taxi office in the 1960s, it was restored by the city council and converted into a local heritage museum until it closed about a decade ago.
In 2025, the council began the process of selling the building to a new owner.
Pounds House will go to auction at the end of this month, with online bidding opening on October 28 and the auction ending on October 30 with a guide price of £500,000.
As part of the sale contract, Plymouth City Council is introducing further measures to protect the landscape with a planting plan designed to preserve the park setting of the historic property for years to come.
This is in line with Joint Local Plan policies and the protection of Central Park and its environs as a strategic green space and follows last month's news that the council had served tree preservation orders on a number of trees close to the house.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, cabinet member responsible for assets said: "As a council we sometimes have to make difficult decisions. This building has been empty for years, we do not have a use for it, it has cost nearly £500,000 in maintenance and insurance over the last five years. It makes sense to give the opportunity to someone to do something wonderful with it."
Following the loss of public open space consultation, the council has responded to concerns raised by local residents.
The council confirmed that the land was not gifted but acquired at market value in 1927. Suggestions that Pounds House could be upgraded as a wedding venue or register office have also been rejected as the council already has several wedding venues and the new register office was established in 2020.
All council departments were approached to see if they were interested in the building and there were not takers.
The council stressed that it is not in a position to give away the property for community use, but advised that groups or organisations are welcome to bid at auction. Concerns that the land would be used for housing have also been answered as have suggestions that the sale process has not been transparent. The council also pointed out that a consultation over the loss of public open space had been carried out and 75 objections were received. In response to concerns raised, tree preservation orders were issued on four standalone trees and six distinct groups of trees.
The house, its formal gardens and the associated land for sale represents 0.67 per cent of Central Park and the sale of the empty building will spell the end of spending ongoing costs – £490,787 over the last five years.
The auction will be carried out by Clive Emson - view website www.cliveemson.co.uk
Managed by CESSAC
Provide affordable rented self-contained flats for former Royal Navy & Royal Marines, WRNS, QARNNS, RN National Service, RFA or RNXS aged over 60, their spouses, partners, widows & widowers.
3 locations:
Trafalgar Quarters, Greenwich Greenwich Place, Saltash, Cornwall Greenwich Court, Southsea
Dates: 3rd, 4th & 5th November 2025. Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm. Refreshments afterwards. Free to attend.
Lighthouse Baptist Church - Roborough Village Hall, PL6 7FJ welcome@lighthousebaptist.org.uk
The Box Plymouth has firmly established itself as a major cultural force in the UK, generating a £244 million economic footprint and forging partnerships with leading national institutions such as the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, and the V&A since opening in autumn 2020.
An independent impact assessment by Counterculture LLP reveals how the museum, art gallery and archive has become integral to Plymouth and the wider South West. It is both a trusted community hub and a nationally recognised institution that has delivered measurable social and economic benefits during one of the most challenging periods in recent cultural history.
Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "Five years ago, we made a bold decision to invest in culture when many cities were cutting back. Today, The Box stands as proof that Plymouth refuses to accept second-best. This isn't just about impressive statistics – though a £244 million economic impact speaks volumes – it's about transforming how the world sees Plymouth and how we see ourselves.
"The Box has given our city permission to dream bigger, to compete with London and Manchester on the cultural stage while never forgetting our local roots. It's authentically Plymouth yet commands international respect."
The Box's collaboration with the National Gallery positioned Plymouth as one of only four UK cities chosen for the Gallery's 200th anniversary celebrations. A major retrospective celebrating Beryl Cook's centenary will open in January 2026, showcasing more than 80 of her instantly recognisable paintings and repositioning her role in British art history.
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, said: "The Box is unique, and without it the artistic ecology of the South West would be vastly different. Artists no longer have to travel to London to see
exhibitions of this quality. The Box has become one of the UK's most significant regional institutions, sitting alongside the Whitworth, Laing, Walker, and Manchester Art Gallery, and making Plymouth's offer truly distinctive.
The Box by the numbers
The Counterculture assessment highlights remarkable achievements across visitation, economy, and wellbeing:
Visits and engagement
• 56% of visitors are Plymouth residents
• 72,000 international visits
• Over 1,000 school visits involving 40,000 children from Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall
• 750 school groups representing 89% of Plymouth schools engaged
• 13% of visitors experienced their first-ever cultural visit at The Box
Departing Sat 24 Jan ‘26
Dust off your dancing shoes, don your diamantes and let us waltz you away to the unforgettable Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour in Birmingham! Relive magical moments from the series performed on a supersized dancefloor during this sparkly extravaganza.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
Overnight stay at a selected hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating) with breakfast
Ticket to Strictly Come Dancing Live at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham (Category G Seated Tickets)
En-route visit to Birmingham
Departing Thu 15 Jan ‘26
Join us at Warner Norton Grange Coastal Village for a few days away with entertainment and a range of activities on offer. There’s also the opportunity to enjoy a lovely trip to two of the island’s most recognisable locations, Newport and the Needles.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth, Saltash
2 nights at the Warner Norton Grange Coastal Village, Isle of Wight (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
Daytime activities in the resort
Use of leisure facilities
Entertainment every evening
Optional excursion to Newport & the Needles (£12pp)
• Around 250,000 visits to date by people aged under 25 Economic impact
• £28 million contribution to the Plymouth economy from visitors
• 72% of spending goes to South West suppliers (100% UK-based)
• Over 100,000 hours of volunteering since 2020, valued at £1.1 million
Health and wellbeing
• £43 million in benefits from reduced depression and dementia among adults aged 50+
• £49 million in benefits from improved general health and productivity among adults aged 30 to 49
A recent highlight was Ballet at The Box in February 2025 – a collaboration with Theatre Royal Plymouth and Birmingham Royal Ballet – which drew 2,225 visitors, the venue's busiest day since October 2023.
Victoria Pomery, chief executive of The Box, said: "These partnerships demonstrate what happens when institutions commit to excellence. We've shown that world-class cultural programming can thrive outside London while remaining deeply rooted in community."
Phil Gibby, Director South West at Arts Council England, added: "The Box encapsulates the step change in cultural ambition from Plymouth's key stakeholders. It is exemplary and has added critical mass to the South West map at a nationally significant level."
Driving regional growth
With 72% of capital investment supporting South West suppliers and 56% of revenue expenditure benefiting Plymouthbased businesses, The Box has become a model for how cultural institutions can drive regional economic development while achieving national acclaim.
Departing Mon 1 Dec ‘25
Indulge in some pre-Christmas celebrations at the Bosworth Hall Hotel, located in the Leicestershire countryside.
We spend time in the towns of Stamford and Oakham, explore the vibrant city of Birmingham and can discover Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Bosworth Hall Hotel, near Market Bosworth (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast (includes traditional ‘Christmas’ dinner)
2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks
After-dinner tea & coffee
Light entertainment every evening
Excursions to Stamford, Oakham & Birmingham
Optional excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon (£14pp)
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Vaccines are one of the most important ways to protect ourselves and others from serious diseases. But with so much information out there, it’s easy to feel confused. Plymouth’s Director of Public Health, Professor Steve Maddern, answers some common questions here.
What is a vaccine?
A vaccine is a medicine that helps your body build protection against diseases. It trains your immune system to recognise and fight off harmful viruses or bacteria without making you seriously ill. This means if you come into contact with the disease later, your body is ready to defend itself.
Why are vaccines important?
Vaccines save lives. They’ve helped reduce and even eliminate deadly diseases like polio, measles, and smallpox. When enough people are vaccinated, it also protects those who can’t have vaccines – like babies or people with certain health conditions – by stopping diseases from spreading. This is called ‘herd immunity’.
Are vaccines safe?
Yes. All vaccines used in the UK go through strict testing before they are approved. They are checked for safety, quality, and effectiveness. Once a vaccine is in use, it is constantly monitored by health experts. Like any medicine, vaccines can have side effects, but these are usually mild, like a sore arm or feeling tired for a day or two.
What vaccines can pregnant women have?
Pregnant women are offered vaccines which protect themselves and their babies – these are safe to have during pregnancy. The whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is especially important as whooping cough can cause very serious illness in babies. Flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines are also recommended to help prevent babies
becoming severely unwell in their first months of life.
What vaccines do children and teenagers need?
Children and teenagers in the UK are offered vaccines to protect them from serious diseases like measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), whooping cough, and meningitis. The MMR vaccine is especially important, with measles cases on the rise in the UK – uptake in Plymouth is slightly below the 95% level needed to stop outbreaks.
An important vaccine for teenagers is the HPV vaccine, which helps prevent cervical and other cancers. Keeping up to date with these vaccines is the best way to keep young people protected as they grow.
Why is the flu vaccine important every year?
The flu virus changes each year, so the vaccine is updated to match the most common types expected to spread. Getting the flu jab every year is the best way to protect yourself and those around you from serious illness.
Who should get winter vaccines?
Winter vaccines include the flu jab and, for some people, the COVID-19 booster. These are offered for free to those most at risk from serious illness, including older adults, people with certain health conditions, children and pregnant women.
Why should health and care workers get vaccinated?
People working in health and social care frequently encounter people who are unwell or vulnerable. Getting the flu vaccine helps protect both the worker and those they work with from becoming seriously ill. If you care for a friend or relative, you are also eligible for a flu vaccine, to protect you both.
How do I get the vaccines that I am eligible for?
If you’re unsure about which vaccines you or your family need, check the NHS website or speak to a health professional – many vaccines will be available from your GP practice.
Flu jabs are also available from many pharmacies across the city, at drop-in clinics run by the NHS, or sometimes through your workplace.
Why should I get vaccinated?
Vaccines are a simple but powerful way to protect you and your loved ones. Staying up to date with vaccinations helps protect everyone in Plymouth, keeping us all safe and healthy.
For more information about vaccines, visit www.plymouth. gov.uk/vaccinations.
Babcock is launching a sustainable new bus shuttle service, which will transform the daily commute for workers at its Devonport facility and provide wider benefits around the city.
The dynamic ‘pick-up and drop-off’ travel initiative will initially launch across several popular commuter routes in Plymouth, with the service also extending more widely to include locations such as Ivybridge and Saltash. Accessible via a dedicated mobile app, it will offer passengers a smarter, more flexible way to travel, with Babcock workers able to book their place on one of the many shuttle buses running from 5am until 5pm from mid-October.
The MoveSmart service has been designed to be demand driven and can be scaled up and adapted to different routes to suit the needs of Babcock employees moving to and from the Devonport site. With 11 per cent of the Plymouth population employed by Babcock, a pipeline of work spanning decades, and having recruited 240 apprentices this year – one of the largest intakes in the region – having a range of travel to work options has never been more important.
The new service aims to cut down on single-occupancy vehicle use, helping to ease traffic congestion at peak times, as well as supporting employee wellbeing and operational efficiency.
John Gane, site managing director at Babcock’s Devonport facility said: “By providing a sustainable transport shuttle service, we’re ensuring our colleagues have a more efficient way to travel to and from site, so they can carry out their essential work supporting UK defence. It will also benefit the wider community with the aim of taking more cars off local roads.
“It also complements our wider journey towards establishing a capability centre in the heart of Plymouth, where 2000 Babcock employees will be located from. Alongside our support to Team Plymouth, these investments demonstrate the defence dividend in action – making a positive, lasting impact for both our employees and the city.”
• See story on opposite page
The New Towns Commission has recommended Plymouth as one of just twelve places to be taken forward as part of the Government's next generation of new towns, marking a bold and exciting new chapter for the city's future.
'New towns' are large-scale, planned communities designed to meet housing demand, unlock economic growth, and create thriving places to live. The Plymouth new town is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes, alongside vital infrastructure such as schools, healthcare, transport links and green spaces.
Over the past year, Plymouth has worked closely with the New Towns Commission, welcoming visits from commissioners to hear directly about the city's ambitious plans.
Their recognition of Plymouth's potential is a powerful endorsement of Plymouth's vision and the city's readiness to deliver.
The announcement comes at a time of
unprecedented investment in Plymouth's future. The city has recently launched Team Plymouth, a united partnership of government, industry, education and civic leaders working to maximise the impact of the city’s designation as a National Defence Growth Area and the multi-billion-pound investment at Devonport Naval Base.
With thousands of new jobs on the horizon, the demand for housing is real and immediate.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "This is a huge moment for Plymouth. We've been making the case for our city to be part of the new towns programme and I'm delighted the Government has listened.
“Plymouth is ready to lead the charge – our plans are ambitious, deliverable, and rooted in what our communities need. We're not just building homes, we're building a future – and we are going to do that by talking to local people and city centre businesses.
"Building thousands of homes in the heart of the city isn't just about meeting housing demand
– it's about breathing new life into our city centre, supporting local shops, businesses, cafés and restaurants, and creating the footfall that fuels a thriving day and night-time economy.
“Our work on the creation of master plan for the city centre will begin shortly and this will inform how we build a city centre that works for people and businesses alike."
The council's partnership with Homes England has been central to the journey involving the launch of a Plymouth City Centre Vision, laying the foundations for a delivery plan that will bring forward up to 12,000 new homes across the city over the next 15 years.
It is a key part of the council’s long-term plan to create the homes local communities need which will be set out in a new Local Plan for Plymouth next year.
Councillors and officers will now work with the Government as they undertake their final assessments and make their decision early next year.
For the last four month Plymouth Community Home residents have been taking part in a pilot project called Community Connections, developed by the University of Plymouth in partnership with Cisco. The idea is straightforward – to test whether a simple web-based app could act as a kind of ‘virtual village hall,’ helping older people to connect with local activities from home.
The project has been co-designed with residents and local organisations, such as Food is Fun, Colourful Horizons, and The Box Museum. Online activities have ranged from cooking and crafts to exercise, art and history sessions.
Feedback so far has been encouraging. One woman in her 50s, who is housebound, said “I’m housebound and knowing there are things to do on the Community Connections app is giving me a reason to get up and do something in the week. I wish more people would try it – it’s been really helpful.”
Another participant shared how the art sessions have become a meaningful outlet: “I’ve not always been in a great headspace, so I’ve been missing some of the groups I’ve really wanted to go to. Still, I have been really getting into the Art Sessions.
“Yesterday, I was on my own and feeling really low, so I got out my art pack, which I use in my weekly group on Community Connections and just drew for two hours. It helped me feel much better.”
The pilot is demonstrating that technology, when kept simple and local, can help overcome some of the barriers to connecting with others. It’s not about replacing face-to-face activities, but about giving people another option when getting out is difficult.
The team behind the app is now moving into the final months of the pilot,
with plans for more activities, including live tours from around the world, talks, and even online murder mysteries.
Anyone who is curious or knows someone who might benefit, this is a good time to give it a try! It’s completely free and they will be helping to make the resource even better for future users!
Contact Kieran Green at Kieran.green@plymouth.ac.uk for more information.
Team Plymouth, the coalition of key organisations committed to ensuring Plymouth and the wider region benefit from its new role as a National Defence Growth Area, has been officially launched.
Plymouth was one of just five areas named in the UK Defence Industrial Strategy – and the only city to be named.
The formal launch of Team Plymouth brought together partners from Babcock International Group, the MOD, Plymouth City Council, University of Plymouth, City College Plymouth and others to outline plans to capitalise on unprecedented investment and interest in the city's defence role. Over 100 delegates, including ministers, MPs and senior civil servants, attended the launch at Devonport's Market Hall.
Team Plymouth's early focus includes:
• Supporting City College Plymouth's ambition to become the UK's first National Defence Technical Excellence College, positioning the city as a leader in defence-related technical education.
• Simplifying regulations around marine autonomy and enhancing Smart Sound as a yearround testing and assurance environment.
• Driving innovation through the University of Plymouth's Advanced Marine Technology Hub, supporting dual-use capability development and marine science.
• Establishing a city innovation board to grow the business ecosystem and cross-sector collaboration.
• Maximising the impact of ongoing studies on City Skills and Marine Autonomy.
As a Defence Growth Deal area, Plymouth can access part of a £250 million national fund to support defence and industry. The initiative's mission goes beyond defence, aiming to break down barriers to opportunity and focus on skills development from pre-16 education through to post-16 training.
The launch builds on recent milestones, including Plymouth's designation as the National Centre for Marine Autonomy, a £350 million investment by defence tech firm Helsing, Babcock's expansion at Sherford with a new logistics hub and manufacturing base, and confirmation of Plymouth
Submarine Delivery Agency and Senior Responsible Owner for Team Plymouth, said: "This initiative will not only strengthen national security but unlock the full potential of this region.
“Backed by the Defence Growth Deal, Plymouth is receiving a share of £250 million in investment, recognising our strategic role in marine autonomy and submarine maintenance.
“With over £175 million already committed to regeneration, we are addressing housing, transport, skills and inequality head-on. I call on all stakeholders – from major employers to local SMEs, schools and universities – to join us in making Plymouth one of the best places in the UK to live and work in defence."
Council Leader Tudor Evans added: "The scale of the investment is mind-blowing. Team Plymouth must ensure prosperity reaches every neighbourhood, that we provide the skills needed, housing for workers, and use this once-in-alifetime opportunity to lift people out of poverty."
Harry Holt, chief executive of Babcock's Nuclear Sector, said: "Uniting as a city-wide alliance means we can achieve far more than individually and accelerate change.
"With major investment for UK defence, Babcock is proud to play a central role in delivering lasting benefits for Plymouth and strengthening national security."
and South Devon Freeport as a Defence Strategic Investment Zone.
The MOD's £4.4 billion investment into Devonport Naval Base and Babcock's Royal Dockyard supports the next phase of the Royal Navy's submarine programme and Continuous at Sea Deterrent, with operations running to at least 2070.
Team Plymouth's programme is structured around six themes:
• Business, Innovation & Marine Autonomy –creating a thriving ecosystem for innovation and marine technology.
• Post-16 Skills – addressing a shortage of
25,000 workers over the next decade through collaboration between higher and further education providers.
• Pre-16 Education – tackling educational inequality and improving learning outcomes.
• City Centre, Housing & Regeneration – tackling housing shortages, regenerating the city centre, and attracting skilled workers.
• Transport – reinventing intermodal transport across the city.
• Social Value – delivering measurable impact to make Plymouth the best place to live, work and thrive.
Sir Chris Gardner, chief executive of the
Jackie Grubb, chief executive of City College Plymouth, emphasised the skills mission:: "By working with partners, we are ensuring that young people and adults gain the skills needed for careers in marine autonomy, advanced manufacturing, nuclear technologies, cyber security and construction.
"Plymouth is ideally placed to host one of the new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, building on our heritage and safeguarding national security for generations."
Prof Richard Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, said: "This is a gamechanging moment. Plymouth has the expertise, facilities and will to tackle the complex threats the UK faces. This platform will allow us to drive innovation, education and creativity that benefit the nation's security, resilience and economic growth."
Devonport, Mount Wise and Morice Town, and St Budeaux are set to benefit from significant Government investment, having been selected to take part in the Pride in Place Programme.
The initiative will support long-term regeneration in these areas, helping to revitalise high streets, reclaim derelict pubs and shops, and create new spaces for young people and families. Backed by up to £20 million for each place over the next decade, the Pride in Place Programme is designed to restore pride, rebuild trust and breathe new life into the heart of our neighbourhoods. Each area will be invited to form a Neighbourhood Board made up of local people, councillors, businesses, and community organisations. These boards will help shape a 10-year Regeneration Plan, ensuring that local priorities and aspirations are reflected in the programme’s delivery.
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “I’m thrilled to have secured this funding for Devonport, after working with Housing Secretary Steve Reed to get it over the line.
“Labour governments always invest in Devonport. We are delivering massive investment in the dockyard, housebuilding and now £20 million extra for local projects to revitalise the community. The best thing about this new money is that it will be local residents in the driving seat to decide how every penny is spent.”
Councillor for Devonport, Bill Stevens, said: "We all know Devonport and Mount Wise are great places to live, but are always challenges. That's why I'm really excited about this huge investment in our patch. Without doubt, it's a massive vote of confidence for our area and everyone who lives here."
MP for Plymouth Moor View, Fred Thomas,
said: “I couldn’t be more delighted for the people of St Budeaux. £20 million across the next decade for this community is an incredible amount of money that could transform the area.
“The fact that the community will decide how this money is spent represents an enormous transfer of power from Whitehall to our local communities.
“This Labour government recognises that people in St Budeaux know their area better than anyone else, and that’s why we are being allowed to take these big decisions for ourselves.
“We have brilliant community leaders in St Budeaux, and I am really excited to see who comes forward to sit on the board that will decide where this money is spent.”
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “This is brilliant news for Plymouth. We are absolutely delighted that Devonport, Mount Wise, Morice Town and St
Budeaux have been chosen to be part of the Pride in Place Programme. Something, I know our local MPs have lobbied for, for some time.
"These are proud communities with rich histories and huge potential. This investment will help unlock that potential and support meaningful improvements in the places people live, work and spend time.
“This announcement fits perfectly with our wider strategic ambitions for Plymouth. From our work to strengthen community engagement and participation through the local government reorganisation process to our ambitious regeneration plans for the city centre and waterfront, we are building a future that is inclusive, ambitious and locally focused."
The council will now begin working with residents, businesses and community organisations to shape a shared vision for each area, supported by a Neighbourhood Board and a locally driven Regeneration Plan.
Plymouth is set to receive additional funding from the Government to deliver more services to people who are homeless, including those with a history of, or at risk of, rough sleeping.
The additional £850,000 was allocated as a share of an £84 million injection, announced to coincide with World Homelessness Day.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said: "This additional government funding comes as a welcome boost to people experiencing homelessness in Plymouth and will help us support them at the most difficult times in their lives.
"Homeless families are far more than just statistics; the housing crisis is very real and as a result real people are affected.
"That is why any and all additional resource will help us invest more in those who need it by providing an early help service, where we can help people in the early stages of needing support, and deliver the right care at the right time, and in the right place."
An executive decision to passport the funding to the Plymouth Alliance will be published in the next few weeks.
The housing crisis in Plymouth is set to benefit from a new agreement between Plymouth City Council and BCHA.
BCHA (Bournemouth Churches Housing Association), who already accommodate more than 240 households across Plymouth, are a trusted local partner thanks to their work with the Plymouth Alliance, a multi-agency operation dedicated to the support of households facing multiple disadvantages.
The new Housing Partnership Agreement aims to bring forward a total of £18.3 million of investment in the city and will deliver a forecasted 63 new affordable homes within the next five years.
As well as the building of new homes, the agreement will help consolidate and further develop the joint work between the council and BCHA and enable the acquisition of existing homes for those in housing need.
With extensive experience and proven track record for delivery, BCHA will provide an initial £7 million of funding, while the council will provide £1 million and land opportunities through the Plan for Homes. A further £10 million will be sought through Homes England grants.
The new homes will be a mix of affordable tenures, whilst seeking to maximise homes available for social rent. Delivery will focus on the provision of general needs family affordable housing, as well as ensuring the right supply of more specialist and supported accommodation.
Plymouth homeless charity, Path, has unveiled two inspiring art installations in Plymouth city centre, aiming to raise awareness and spark conversation about homelessness in the city.
The launch was timed to mark World Homeless Day on October 10. The first installation — a striking mural titled ‘There’s No Place Like Home’ — was revealed in the heart of the city centre, serving as a bold reminder that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. The second, a collaborative project with Plymouth Artists Together, was launched at the Union Corner Artists’ gallery.
The charity invited local artists and members of the community to contribute their own artwork symbolising what homelessness means to them, creating a shared space for expression, empathy and awareness.
In attendance were Councillor Chris Penberthy and Luke Pollard MP, who praised the initiative for blending creativity and compassion in support of some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
For over 30 years, Path has been at the heart of tackling homelessness in Plymouth, supporting thousands of people to find stability, security, and a place to call home. In 2024/25 alone, Path supported more than 1,700 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, supported 421 people sleeping rough through outreach, provided prevention advice and support to 249 people, and housed an average of 350 people each night in Path accommodation.
Victoria Allen, chief executive of Path said: “At Path, we believe that everyone deserves the safety, dignity, and stability of a home. These art installations are a visual reminder that homelessness isn’t just about bricks and mortar — it’s about community, compassion, and shared humanity. As we mark World Homeless Day, we also celebrate the resilience of those we support and the dedication of our staff and partners who make change possible every day.”
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said:
“As Path celebrates its 30th birthday, these artistic projects are a timely reminder to everyone that homeless people are not just statistics and numbers on a page, they are real
people, living real lives, who just want somewhere to call home.
"We will continue to work with Path and the Plymouth Alliance improve the lives of homeless households in the city both in the short-term through support services for people at the coal face of the housing crisis, and in the long-term, by supporting the market to deliver more truly affordable housing through the ambitious Plan for Homes programme.”
Mike Vosper from Plymouth Artists Together, said: “I was delighted to be part of this important project, and I knew our members would feel the same. Their artwork truly speaks for itself.”
An anonymous local artist, who was referred to Path after becoming homeless last year and has since rebuilt their life, said: “I was referred to Path in December 2024 after being made homeless. From the very first contact, the team were helpful and did whatever they could to support me.
“They guided me through all the forms and administration I struggle with and even over Christmas helped me find temporary accommodation and checked in with me. Later they supported me to find a more permanent room and apply for a bursary to move my things. Since then, they’ve continued to help me work towards social housing. Path are such a good organisation — they make you feel heard and genuinely want to help. Thanks to Path, I have a roof over my head tonight.”
For more information, please visit www.pathdevon.org
The Livewell Foundation brought together charities, community groups and partners from across Plymouth and South West Devon in October for a celebration of local impact and a look ahead to new funding opportunities.
The event reflected on another successful year for the Foundation, which supports community-led projects that improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and prevent ill health across the region.
In 2023/24, the Livewell Foundation received a £100,000 annual contribution from its sister organisation, Livewell South West, allowing it to award 21 grants projected to benefit over 10,200 people in Plymouth and South West Devon.
Chair of Trustees Chris Davies opened the event, sharing the Foundation's journey towards two major milestones – its 10th anniversary in 2026 and reaching a total of £1 million in local grant giving.
"We're proud to have supported so many brilliant organisations making a difference on the ground," said Chris. "This event is about celebrating that work – but also about making sure that applying for funding feels accessible, encouraging, and achievable for everyone, from grassroots projects to well-established charities."
A highlight of the event was an information Q&A session led by Hayley Everett, the foundation's charity manager and an experienced bid writer, who shared practical advice on what makes a successful grant application and how to avoid the common pitfalls.
She also encouraged applicants to make their proposals readable and jargon-free, to align outcomes with the Livewell Foundation's and Livewell South West's priorities, and to ensure their work reflects wider local health strategies such as Thrive Plymouth and the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Projects that address women's health, children's mental health, or childhood obesity will be particularly prioritised this year, reflecting local health data and identified community need.
"We know how competitive the funding landscape is right now," she added. "Our aim
is to make applying for a grant as accessible as possible, and to give every organisation the best chance of success."
The Livewell Foundation's large grant application window is now open, and organisations are encouraged to apply for funding up to £10,000 to support projects that make a measurable difference to health and wellbeing in local communities. For more information visit www. livewellfoundation.org.uk
Staff and volunteers at The Village Hub in Stoke are celebrating after winning the Team Award in the first-ever Plymouth Community Awards.
The Village Hub beat off competition from the other finalists – George House and Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled – to secure the award.
The Team Award is a recognition given to a group of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding collaboration, performance, and achievement in working together towards a common goal.
The award celebrates the collective efforts and success of a team, highlighting their ability to work effectively, solve problems, and achieve significant results through teamwork.
Jade Ward, Andrea Caunter, Karen Pilkington and Diane Flynn from The Village Hub were present at the event to receive the award.
Karen said: “This award is for everyone who makes The Village Hub the wonderful, community-driven success it is. We’re really thrilled to have won and thank Azets UK for sponsoring the team category.”
The magic of Christmas is coming to Stoke Village at the end of November.
Local residents and families are invited to join the event on Saturday November 29 from 5pm to 6pm for the Christmas Switch-On, a joyful community event that promises to light up the night with festive cheer, carols and community spirit.
Sponsored by Raybould & Wild, and delivered by Stoke in Bloom, this year’s celebration will see the village Christmas tree shining brightly once again — a symbol of local pride, creativity and togetherness. The team are even decorating the high street this year too!
Visitors can look forward to a heart-warming evening filled with:
• Live carols to sing along to, from local schools and community groups
• Raffle for the chance to press the big button and switch on the lights
• Festive atmosphere bursting with the magic of the season
• Lantern parade, with homemade creations or borrowing one for the night
“The Christmas lights switch-on is one of our favourite new community traditions, now in its third year,” said Kenny Raybould-Wilding, from Stoke in Bloom.
“It brings people together, supports local pride, and starts the festive season with a real sense of joy and connection.”
The raffle and collections at the event will be donated to Jeremiah’s Journey, the bereavement charity supporting local families, and Stoke in Bloom to support future community events.
Three students from Marine Academy Plymouth were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Plymouth Argyle's official squad photo at Home Park, thanks to Vertu's ongoing partnership with the club.
Marine Academy pupils, Sophie Hillebrandt, Riley Hoyle and Thomas Clarke, all passionate Argyle supporters, were selected through the school's 'Make Their Day' initiative.
The visit saw Sophie seated beside her footballing hero Joe Edwards, while Riley shook hands with every player and Thomas impressed the club with his knowledge of the team's performance.
The visit was made possible through Plymouth Argyle’s association with Vertu, the UK's fourth largest motor retailer, which includes support across community engagement and fan-focused initiatives.
Jennifer Brimming, principal at Marine Academy Plymouth, said: "This was a truly special moment for our students. To be invited to take part in something so unique, and to meet the players they admire, was incredibly powerful.
"Opportunities like this help build confidence and inspire ambition, and we're grateful to Vertu and Plymouth Argyle for making it happen."
Keira Bassett, head of commercial a Plymouth Argyle, said: "Whenever we work with partners, we are keen to align with businesses that match the values we live by every day.
"Initiatives such as this from Vertu emphasise the community-focused value we have here at Argyle by providing unforgettable experiences for people throughout Devon, Cornwall and beyond. We're pleased to work with Vertu to provide this opportunity to students from Marine Academy Plymouth and hope they enjoyed the day."
Local creative talent takes centre stage as Royal William Yard celebrates an autumn of arts with Artober – showcasing the best of the South West’s artistic community from October 24 to November 2.
Artober will bring a packed programme of events to Royal William Yard, with a free-to-attend exhibition at its heart, featuring locally and nationally renowned artists displaying work across multiple styles and mediums.
From contemporary portraits and landscape art to printmaking, mixed media and student work, Artober will showcase a broad spectrum of talent – and invite visitors to get involved.
There will be opportunities to watch artists at work, learn or hone skills in workshops, and for families
to enjoy free creative activities including a dedicated Art Zone throughout the festival and pumpkin carving during half-term.
The celebration of creativity extends beyond the main exhibition, with the Affordable Art Market bringing original, accessible art to Royal William Yard earlier in the month, and a variety of workshops offering hands-on experiences for all ages and abilities. The activities and exhibitions will take place right across the site, as the destination transforms into a thriving hub for arts and creativity.
The Artober Exhibition is open from 11am to 4pm at the Arcade and Melville Corner from October 24 to November 2.
For more information visit www.royalwilliamyard.com/artober
Transforming Plymouth Together (TPT), the local charity dedicated to tackling poverty and inequality across the city, has marked a decade of transformational work with a special anniversary event – and a prestigious national honour.
As part of the celebrations, TPT announced it has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) – the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, equivalent to an MBE. This recognition shines a spotlight on the tireless commitment of TPT’s staff, volunteers, churches, and community partners who have worked together to bring positive change to Plymouth.
Over the past ten years, TPT has led and supported initiatives that tackle food insecurity, fuel poverty, social isolation, debt, and inequalities in health and education. Through partnerships with churches, charities, and community groups, the charity has brought people together to make a real difference in the lives of Plymouth residents.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration and Award Event took place at The Hub at Foulston Park, bringing together volunteers,
churches, community partners, supporters, and local leaders to reflect on the past decade and look ahead to future opportunities. The event also provided an opportunity to thank those who have given their time, skills, and compassion to help others.
The Deputy Lord Lieutenants, Richard Stevens and Ric Cheadle presented the King’s Award for Voluntary Service to both TPT and their volunteers on behalf of the King.
The Bishop of Plymouth, The Right Reverend James Grier, chair of Transforming Plymouth Together Board of Trustees, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in our 10th anniversary year. This award is a tribute to the hundreds of volunteers and church community partners who have worked alongside us to tackle some of the toughest challenges in our city.
"We are committed to building on the fantastic work of the last ten years, and to continue seeking to bring hope, love and good news to all, and especially those who are the most disadvantaged. Our prayer is that we can work together for lasting transformation across the city.”
Pastor Ian Winter is a passionate and seasoned Christian leader with a heart for church planting, discipleship, and equipping the Church for global commission.
As well as working as a church leader Ian and his wife Sarah have for many years lived, worked and ministered overseas and especially in the middle east in countries where Christianity is heavily persecuted.
Ian’s vision is to build churches that are Kingdomminded, Spirit-filled, and radically committed to releasing every believer into their God-given calling.
Hear him speak:
The King’s, Pixon Lane, Tavistock, PL19 9AZ
Saturday 22nd November from 11am to 3:30pm
Sunday 23rd November from 10:30
The event is free to attend and open to all. There will be a voluntary offering taken to cover costs.
For more information
email info@fathershouse.org.uk or call 01752 225623
www.fathershouse.org.uk
Plymouth is still leading the way in delivering cycle training for school children – and that's official!
The city has once again been placed in the top 10 nationally for the number of Year 6 pupils taking part in Bikeability, a programme that teaches them how to cycle confidently, safely and competently on today's roads and equips them with a vital life skill.
More than five and a half million children and young people across the country have received Bikeability training since it was set up by the Department for Transport in 2007 and children spent almost three million hours cycling with Bikeability in 2024/5.
Locally the programme is delivered by the Plymouth School Sports Partnership and last year 91 per cent of eligible Year 6 children in the city received either Level 1 and 2 combined or Level 2 training – seven per cent more than in the previous year.
Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: "We are very proud that Plymouth continues to have one of the highest percentages of school children receiving Bikeability cycle training in the country.
"The programme has been a real success here for over a decade and it is greatly reassuring to see the benefits being
Councillors John Stephens (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport) and Sally Cresswell (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships) with Plymouth School Sports Partnership Bikeability instructors and Level 1, 2 and 3 trainees at St Boniface's Catholic College
passed on across generations. Instilling confidence and independence and enabling our youngsters to get out and about in a greener and healthier way is what it's all about.
"A big thank you to our schools for supporting the programme and to the instructors who work so hard in ensuring our young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge to enjoy cycling into their adult lives."
Anna Clooke, partnership leader for the Plymouth School Sports Partnership said: "We welcome the recognition that this provides for all the hard work of our committed Instructors and teachers in schools to ensure that this essential life skill is delivered.
"Our instructors have highlighted the challenges that they are experiencing with many children not having their own bikes and having little riding experience. We provide all children wanting to complete the training with a bike and helmet and we are currently working with schools within the Plymouth School Sports Partnership to ensure we can provide schools with some long-term loan bikes to ensure that children can practice riding before the training as well as afterwards.
"As a result of this, we have high numbers of young people in Plymouth who complete Bikeability training and become lifelong cyclists." For more information visit www.cyclepssp.co.uk
Plymouth University, in collaboration with Rare Dementia Support, is launching a new public engagement series entitled Dementia Voices: Stories & Science in Conversation.
The first event in the series of six will take place on Thursday, October 30, from 11am to 1pm, in the Foulston Room at The Box in Tavistock Place, Plymouth. It is free for all to attend.
The series is intended to deepen public awareness and understanding of dementia by bringing together voices from lived experience and scientific research across multiple dialogues over time.
The first of the series will include a lived-experience narrative when a person living with dementia – or closely connected to this condition – will share their story, reflecting on daily life, challenges, hopes, and meaning.
Dr Nicolas Farina, associate professor at Plymouth University
will present his research, focusing on issues of stigma, ways to support quality of life, and the ethical and methodological dimensions of co-productive research.
Following the individual presentations, both speakers will hold an open discussion, exploring intersections and divergences between lived experience and research. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and join the discussion.
Refreshments of light snacks and drinks will be provided at no cost. Anyone planning to attend should register at www. plymouth.ac.uk/talks/dementia-voices-stories-and-sciencein-conversation
Dr Daniela Oehring of Plymouth University said: This is not a one-off lecture; it's the beginning of a sustained conversation. We're launching a series so that voices can evolve, connections can deepen, and mutual learning can grow over time."
Growing up in Totnes Jo Taylor had every reason to be happy with her life. She had done well in her education, had a loving family, plenty of friends and a promising career in accountancy ahead of her.
But in reality she was far from happy. In her late teens and twenties she started to question what life was all about and would spend most weekends going out with friends partying and drinking heavily.
“We would go out drinking all weekend and then I would dread the thought of work on a Monday morning,” said Jo. “I remember thinking there must be more to life than this - is this what the rest of my life is going to be.”
After finishing her accountancy training Jo worked abroad for two years as a children’s holiday rep. She returned to Devon, but still felt unfulfilled and without a purpose in life. “I couldn’t understand why I was depressed. I had nothing bad in my life, but I knew I needed to change,” she added.
Over time she became concerned about her body image, developed an eating disorder and became depressed.
Jo’s eating disorder continued and she became obsessed with her diet and the food she was eating. Counselling sessions and anti-depressants helped, but Jo still couldn’t find the answers to the burning questions of life and what the future held. By her mid twenties Jo had secured a job in the accounts department at the local authority in Totnes. Unbeknown to Jo, her future husband Dan worked in the print room – but there was no immediate spark or romance.
Jo said: “Then one day I was walking down a corridor and Dan was walking towards me. Our eyes met and I thought to myself ‘he’s pretty handsome!’”
Encouraged by colleagues and friends Jo and Dan started dating and the relationship blossomed. Then Dan told her that he was a Christian and his faith was the most important thing in his life.
“I remember thinking ‘that’s nice’ but didn’t really understand what it all really meant. I had never felt I needed religion or God.”
But all that was about to change. Dan had been an active member of The Worship Centre on Plymbridge Road in Estover for most of his life and was part of the leadership team there.
Dan invited her to go to church with him and Jo was surprised at what she found. “I love singing and the praise and worship was something really
special. It was wonderful watching and being involved. I could see that the people at the church had something different, something special.
Jo started to attend the church on a regular basis and over time felt her life was beginning to change.
“I could see that there was a hope and a future for my life. It was a massive revelation and I could see it wasn’t about religion or just about where you go when you die, but about having life now because of a personal relationship with Jesus.
“Every week the pastor would invite people forward if they wanted to give their life to the Lord and I could feel God’s calling growing month by month. But I knew it was an important decision to make and it had to be for me personally and not for any other reason.
“I came to realise that what these people had was very real to them and I could see they had a life in them that I didn’t have. I realised I was just existing and not living!”
Jo wrestled with her feelings for several months and eventually felt that she was ready to invite Jesus into her life. “I was in my bedroom at home and I read the prayer from a daily devotional called Word for Today and invited Jesus to come into my life,” she said.
Dan and the rest of the leadership team were thrilled when Jo revealed that she had given her life to Jesus.
“The heaviness I had been feeling lifted off me and enabled me to gradually overcome the
depression and the eating disorder,” added Jo. “I received life and God showed me He can do anything in our lives.”
Jo and Dan were married in 2004 – Jo proposed in February that year as it was a Leap Year – and in 2012 their daughter Rosie was born. For the last eight years Jo has worked at a local primary school helping children with their speech and language skills. Dan is now full time associate pastor at North Plymouth Community Church, having been commissioned as an Assemblies of God minister in 2018.
He works alongside senior minister Rob Clift and his wife Wendy.
Jo added: “I know God is looking after me now and has given me a heart for people who are struggling with health issues. I have come to understand that church is a place where hurting
people can come for healing and restoration.
“I remember someone once saying that as a church we should be a hospital for the broken and not a museum for perfect people. That is what life in the church should be all about.”
Jo’s testimony was broadcast recently on Cross Rhythms in Plymouth. Click on the QR Code here for a link.
Jo prayed this prayer, which appears in Word for Today, published by UCB (United Christian Broadcasters)
“Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask Your forgiveness. Thank You for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with Your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank You, Lord Jesus, Amen.”
936125 07745 392764 jjmmdesign@yahoo.co.uk
The new Princess Yachts Academy has officially opened at City College Plymouth, marking a key milestone in the partnership between the college and luxury yacht manufacturer Princess Yachts.
Located within the college's Construction Centre at Kings Road, the purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility has been developed with industry needs at its core.
The Princess Yachts Academy offers a dedicated learning environment for the company's apprentices, combining practical, hands-on training with the latest digital technology.
The facility includes a fully equipped marine engineering workshop with new tooling machinery, and a specialist boatbuilding carpentry workshop featuring custom-built mock ship-side assessment bays. Together, the facilities will ensure apprentices gain the technical skills, knowledge and experience required to thrive in today's advanced marine manufacturing sector.
The opening event was attended by key stakeholders, including the apprentices‚ families and employers such as representatives from the Plymouth Manufacturing Group. Guest of honour, Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh, director of Data Acquisition and National Hydrographer for
“This
to be able to do the things that are needed in our modern technological workforce,” he told guests. Addressing the apprentices particularly, Angus said they were 'very lucky
to have passed the recruitment process to become an apprentice at Princess Yachts' and that 'it’s a wonderful time to be in Plymouth.'
City College Plymouth chief executive Jackie Grubb said: "This Academy represents the next stage in our partnership with Princess Yachts. Through close collaboration, we are ensuring apprentices receive the highest quality training to prepare them for successful careers.
"The investment in this Academy demonstrates our commitment to providing training that meets industry demands. Our goal is to continue developing a skilled workforce that strengthens Plymouth's economy."
Princess Yachts chief executive Will Green added: "The partnership between Princess Yachts and City College is critical to the longevity of our business. I'd like to thank the college for helping us to create these fantastic facilities.
"This is an absolutely fundamental part of ther future of Princess Yachts."
Frankie, one of a number of first-year Princess Yachts apprentices who were in attendance at the opening, said: "It's everything you could want. Everything we need, we have. It's a great place to learn and improve our skills."
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Stalking – what it is and what to do about it if you have concerns
What is stalking?
Stalking is a form of harassment - the stalker will be fixated on and obsessed with the person they’re targeting, and their unwanted, repeated behaviour can make the victim feel distressed or scared. We use the acronym FOUR (fixated, obsessive, unwanted, repeated) to describe stalking behaviour.
Stalking may include:
• following someone
• going uninvited to their home
• hanging around somewhere they know the person often visits
• watching or spying on someone
• identity theft (signing-up to services, buying things in someone’s name)
• writing or posting online about someone if it’s unwanted or the person doesn’t know
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In the last two editions of the Plymouth Chronicle, Devon and Cornwall Police have highlighted the harmful effect that domestic abuse is having in Plymouth and further afield as well as the impact of sexual abuse and more serious offences. In this latest article the focus is on stalking and how to report it.
It’s stalking if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel scared, distressed or threatened.
What is the impact?
The unwanted, repeated attention can have a serious impact on your physical or mental health, as well as your day-to-day life.
Some people who have been stalked or harassed have had to make changes to their daily lives; some have changed jobs or moved house.
It’s important that you get the support you need if this is something you’re experiencing. If you’re not ready to report to us, that’s OK, there are other organisations that can support you.
If you, or someone you know, has experienced two or more incidents of stalking or harassment you can report it to us. Your information could help us bring the offender to justice and make sure you, and other people in a similar situation, are kept safe. What can police do?
Both stalking and harassment are offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. They’re crimes we take very seriously and we’re here for you if this is something you’re experiencing. Using the powers from
this act, we can look to charge and ultimately convict offenders of this kind of offending. Offenders may receive lengthy custodial sentences, but can and often will receive restraining orders upon conviction. As police, we also look at civil orders such as Stalking Protection Orders (SPO). An SPO is a civil order in England and Wales, introduced by the Stalking Protection Act 2019, that protects victims from stalking behaviours before a full criminal prosecution is necessary. We, as police, not the victim, apply for the order, which prohibits the stalker from contacting the victim or visiting their home and workplace. While not a conviction, breaching the terms of an SPO is a criminal offence with potential consequences including imprisonment. Devon & Cornwall Police are committed to making Plymouth a safer place to live. We urge anyone who is concerned about stalking to contact us and/or report online.
Useful information:
For more information about stalking, how to get help and support and how to report visit: www.dc.police.uk/stalking-harassment
If a crime is taking place or has one just happened - call 999 straight away and ask for the police.
Hundreds of generous-spirited cyclists pedalled with a purpose to make this year’s St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s Tour de Moor bike challenge a memorable and successful occasion.
Wearing striking orange branded T-shirts, more than 900 riders turned the wild landscape of Dartmoor into a thrilling twowheeler spectacle while raising vital funds to support the charity’s compassionate end-oflife care for local people and their families.
There was a choice of routes for of all ages and abilities: the 53km Beast Mode tested the stamina of the bravest riders aged 12 and up, while the 28km Adventurer Style offered a slightly gentler, but still exciting, ride. Families, beginners and more casual cyclists enjoyed the 11km Mini-Moor, a scenic spin along Drake’s Trail.
The weather was kind too – chilly to start, but bright and dry with plenty of autumnal sunshine - making for a perfect morning of cycle action.
Many riders took part in memory of loved ones and friends who have been cared for by St Luke’s, knowing that every pound raised helps another family receive the same specialist holistic hospice support when and where they need it most, with the majority taking place people’s own homes.
Making her proud Tour de Moor debut in the 11km was five-year-old Daisy, who saw her mum Kayleigh Cooke come in as first woman past the finish line in last year’s 28km.
“Daisy has been asking for a whole year to take part and now she is here. We’ve been doing a lot of practising around the dog walking path at the top of our street as well as up on the moor,” said Kayleigh, from Keyham, who was riding alongside her daughter in memory of two special family friends.
“I do as much as I can for St Luke’s because so many people need their care. Without them there would be a lot more people suffering.”
Jenni Everson got into gear for the 28km circuit to “give something back” after her mother, Margaret, was cared for by St Luke’s at home before she died two years ago.
“Mum was at home in Plymouth. My dad was there with her, but it was so good to have someone coming in to support them both.
The care they received was invaluable, and the guys that came were absolutely amazing. It took the pressure off the whole family.
Knowing that she could stay at home was the most important thing to her and to us,” said Jenni, whose husband, Tony, rode the 53km route.
As Sam Whitehead served up coffee and cake to participants, supporters and organisers from his Freewheelin’ Coffee trike, he was remembering his father-in-law Paul Collard who spent his last 24 hours at St Luke’s specialist unit at Turnchapel before he
died in July this year, aged 90.
“It was just such a wonderful space; the staff and everything about it were just incredible. My wife and I were so grateful that he was there. Despite the trauma of the occasion I felt it was the loveliest way to have gone,” said Sam, from Yelverton, who has also ridden the Tour de Moor with his family several times.
Georgina Dyke, Events Lead at St Luke’s, said: “It was absolutely wonderful to see so many people jumping on their bikes for this year’s Tour de Moor. Their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to support St Luke’s care was truly heartening.
“We’re so grateful to each and every cyclist who took part, gave it their all, and helped raise vital funds to support our services. We hope they had a brilliant time out on the moor.
“And to everyone who helped make it happen, from our sponsors and our army of amazing volunteers to the local organisations who have pitched in, you’ve done your community proud!
“Our special thanks go to sponsors Pyramid AV, as well as Dartmoor National Park, Certini Bicycle Company, Martin French at The Hire Shop, Devon and Cornwall 4x4 Response, Devon Contract Waste, Appleby Westward, Airvent Services, Turnbulls, Kieron Jewell Cycle Marshals, Curly Gaz and everyone else who helped with refreshments and logistics or donated raffle prizes to make the event go so brilliantly!”
Every £1,000 raised by the challenge will cover a full package of care at home in Plymouth, and surrounding areas of Dartmoor, the South Hams, West Devon or East Cornwall, completely free of charge, for one patient and their family. Tour de Moor entrants are urged to pay in their sponsorship as soon as possible so St Luke’s can tot up the grand total raised.
The Plymouth Chronicle is excited to announce a collaboration with Argyle Life to provide regular Plymouth Argyle content from the perspective of the fans. We’ll be publishing regular pieces from Argyle Life contributors in print and via our website at www.plymouthchronicle.co.uk. Our latest article is from one of Argyle Life’s founders Sam Down who was at Home Park to watch history made as Argyle's youngest-ever goalscorer 16-year-old Seb Campbell netted against Spurs. It inspired Sam to look back at some of Argyle's other youngest goalscorers
It was an unusual sort of night at Home Park as Argyle demolished Spurs under-21s in the Vertu Trophy.
Firstly, it was nice to attend a game without the knot of nerves resting in the stomach that a league match so often presents and to enjoy the football on its own terms. I also watched from Block 9, an unusual vantage point for me. I think, in fact, my first time there.
One thing I did have the honour of witnessing was an Argyle record being broken. Not our biggest ever win, no (although we did have hopes of that going 4-0 up before half-time). It was the second half substitute Seb Campbell who came off the bench to slot home our sixth and – at 16 years and 279 days – break the record as Argyle’s youngest ever goalscorer in a competitive fixture.
He was visibly happy if a little dazed at the prospect of scoring on his first outing in green in his post-match interview...hopefully, the first of many.
The question, then: how excited can Argyle fans be about this dynamic central-midfielder? This week, I’ve taken a look at some of the other youngest scorers for the Pilgrims and examined how their career has unfolded since that big breakthrough moment.
With thanks as ever to the wonderful Argyle resource that is Greens on Screen, Where Are They Now?
Darren Bastow – second youngest
Every club has those ‘What Might Have Been’ players, don’t they? Despite my online reputation, my memory isn’t endless and when I attended my first Argyle game Bastow had already departed the club. I remember him having been described in rather wistful terms as a player with sublime talent, if not quite the application to match. Think Ravel Morrison for Manchester United. He played 53 times before leaving in a career riddled with off-field distractions.
Richard Reynolds – third youngest
If I’m too young to have seen Bastow, I’m definitely too young to have seen 77-year-old Reynolds. He did amass a creditable 100 appearances for the greens before moving to Pompey and then overseas. Barring a brief sojourn into management in the Isle of Wight, he’s had no involvement in football during my lifetime.
Matt Lecointe – fourth youngest
Now this one, I do remember pretty well. Lecointe is not dissimilar to Bastow in that he is yet another ‘what might have been’ player. However, it was not discipline that was the issue for him, but injuries.
He broke onto the scene in exciting fashion in 2011, giving some life and soul to a team ravaged and weary following administration and widespread player departures. Despite only being a first-year-apprentice, he scored a pivotal goal in our first away win of the season at Dagenham.
His departure from Argyle was delayed as the club offered him numerous contracts to help him through setback after setback on a recurrent knee injury. In 2015, however, the situation proved unsustainable and Lecointe retired from football for good.
Dan Gosling – fifth youngest
Quite possibly the finest ever product of our academy, Gosling’s achievements were even more impressive than most on this list, given he broke into a successful Championship side.
Riding the crest of Argyle‘s mid-00s optimism, Ian Holloway described Dan Gosling as a 16-year-old who could tackle harder than most of the squad. That however, was far from his only skill.
An exciting and energetic midfielder, he had an eye for the net too with frequent late runs into the penalty area. He left Argyle in the great fire sale of January 2008 and his legacy later had the addition of a sour postscript. In far gloomier times for Argyle, Gosling was at the heart of a protracted contract dispute with Everton, the upshot of which was that he was allowed to sign for Newcastle on a free transfer.
Argyle missed out on a healthy share of transfer revenue which sent us deeper into the financial mire. Gosling is currently a coach for Watford under18s.
YOUNG STARS: The day after creating history at Home Park, Seb Campbell (left) was back studying BTEC in Sport at Plymouth City College with his team mate Tegan Finn, who scored twice in the Vertu Trophy win over Spurs U21s Photo: Plymouth Argyle FC
Caleb Roberts – sixth youngest
The first in this list to still be at the club! Roberts got his goal about a year after his debut, against Charlton in the Papa John’s Trophy (as was).
Four years on from his debut and three from that night, he’s yet to add to his goal tally for Argyle. Don’t get me wrong, as a central midfielder with limited minutes in green, you wouldn’t necessarily expect him to be banging them in left, right and centre.
That said, despite some excellent performances (the Brentford FA Cup game comes particularly to mind) he has yet to either firmly establish himself in the Argyle side or indeed find a suitable loan. You get the sense that his ‘now or never’ season is coming, if not this then certainly next.
Tegan Finn – seventh youngest
Yep, Campbell wasn’t the only player to break into the scoring charts last week. Finn’s debut came around a year ago and wasn’t quite quick enough to get a podium place but his two goals against Spurs were just the tip of the iceberg. He assisted two more with a fine cross for Mathias Ross and a lovely through ball for Owen Oseni, as well as having involvement in Campbell’s aforementioned goal. Finn was spectacular against his peers and no doubt has a bright future ahead of him.
Tyler Harvey – eighth youngest
In what seems to be an increasingly common trend in this list, Harvey was another one of those players who ‘it didn’t quite happen for’. Who could forget his debut against Torquay, bursting onto the scene in swashbuckling fashion?
‘He’s one of our own’ was the chant, ringing around the Devonport End. Many hoped that he’d either become a club legend or be sold, making us some money in the process. Despite interest from Forest and Cardiff, the latter never occurred and the former began to look less likely with each passing year. He eventually left Argyle in 2015 and after a fruitless season in Wrexham, a long and successful association with Truro City began (punctuated by a brief spell at Bath).
He was the National League South’s top scorer last season, taking the Tinners into the fifth tier for the first time. Now 30, Harvey remains in Cornwall.
A Royal Navy warship has completed the first firing of new ship-busting missiles capable of taking out enemy vessels at ranges of more than 100 miles
Plymouth-based frigate HMS Somerset headed to Norway’s Arctic rocket range in Andøya to unleash the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during an exercise – known as Aegir 25 – alongside Norwegian and Polish allies.
The successful missile launch marked a major milestone on the journey to make the Royal Navy more lethal – and is demonstration of the strong bilateral cooperation between the UK and Norway.
The 400kg NSM can be used against warships or land targets and is 20 years newer, has greater range and is a far more capable successor than the Harpoon system on Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers.
Plymouth MP and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard said: “The NSM is one of the most advanced missiles in our naval arsenal. It will give the Royal Navy and our allies an edge against our enemies.
“This milestone, achieved through our exemplary international partnership with Norway, significantly enhances our maritime deterrent and underscores the Government’s dedication to investing in the technologies that will maintain Britain’s secure.”
Commander Matt Millyard, Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset said: “I am very proud of the team following the successful first of class firing of the Naval Strike Missile.“This is not something that comes together easily and has involved an incredible amount of work by the crew and staff from across the defence enterprise.
“The professionalism and teamwork
demonstrated by all throughout the planning and execution has been exemplary.”
The successful firing was the culmination of months of dedicated work, which involved meticulous planning and thorough tuning of the system – including alignment and sea acceptance trials.
Staff from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace – who manufacture NSM – were on board HMS Somerset supporting prior and during the firing.
The NSM, which is also in service with the Norwegian, US and Polish navies, travels close to supersonic speeds (Mach 1) and can strike targets more than 100 miles away, evading detection by skimming on the sea It will be a complementary weapon for the
‘Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon’, which will become the Fleet’s premier long-range, heavy duty anti-ship missile, carried by the Royal Navy’s nextgeneration warships fitted with the Mk41 vertical launch system – including the new Type 26 and 31 frigates. Currently NSM is fitted to HMS Richmond, HMS Somerset and HMS Portland.
Commander Matthew Cox, NSM Programme Director said: “This programme showcases the strong UK-Norwegian strategic partnership, enabling the UK to achieve its first ship installation within 12 months of business case approval – an unprecedented pace for a complex weapons programme.“The UK’s first NSM firing, hosted by Norway at Andøya, further highlights this enduring collaboration.”
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