PLANS are being drawn up for a Torbay wide celebration of volunteers.

Torbay Community Development Trust (TCDT), Torbay Council and Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust have come together to thank the thousands of people who volunteered during the COVID crisis.

One big event is being staged on Paignton Green on September 18th 2021, when community and neighbourhood groups are also being encouraged to organise their own celebrations such as street parties.

The announcement of the celebrations was made to coincide with the first national Thank You Day, and more details will be released later.

Thousands of people across the Bay have been helping their neighbours and friends, and even strangers by signing up to the Torbay Community Helpline or through the NHS volunteers and helping out at the Torbay Food Alliance Foodbanks.

On the Helpline alone, there were, at the peak, more than 1,400 helping out, and seventy new Good Neighbour schemes were set up alongside to help on a street by street basis.

Never before have so many people stepped up to help to make sure that no one in the Bay went hungry and no one in the Bay was left lonely and isolated, and a new hashtag was adopted to reflect it #TorbayKind.

Tracey Cabache, Operations Director from TCDT which set up the Helpline one week before the first lockdown in March 2020 said: “It has been a tough year for so many people, but it would have been even harder without our team of volunteers who stepped up during the crisis.”

“Without their help, we could not have staffed the Torbay Community Helpline, we could not have done shopping or prescription deliveries, and we could not have marshalled the vaccination centres.”

“Our volunteers have worked tirelessly, and we want to show our appreciation as well as enabling many people to meet each other face to face, perhaps for the first time. This is a thank you well deserved.”

Words echoed by the leader of Torbay Council, Councillor Steve Darling, who said: “As the national ‘Thank You’ day approaches the whole council and I want to let all our volunteers and community groups know how we appreciate all the hard work you have put in over the past 15 months. Without your help and support, so many people would have been isolated and struggling through what was a difficult time for us all.”

Councillor Darren Cowell, Deputy Leader of Torbay Council, also said: “Everyone has worked so hard supporting friends, family, neighbours and even strangers over the past year; thank you for everything you have done. This event in September will be a fantastic opportunity for us and you to show your thanks to those who gave up their time for others.”

Let us know if you will be there or give us details of your neighbourhood celebration by visiting: bit.ly/celebrations180921