By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead If you are one of the lucky ones who is no longer self-isolating, you could be forgiven for thinking that everyone else is out and about too. After all, Torbay is busy, particularly given the recent good weather, but what you can’t see are those that are choosing to continue to shield or are choosing to avoid crowds … Continue reading Buddy system and shielding hours for trips out

By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead Tricky this coronavirus – just when you think it is (relatively safe) to go out and about it comes up and bites you where it hurts the most. Last week saw the official lifting of shielding by the Government, which ironically coincided with a strengthening of the rules regarding socialising in as much as you are no longer … Continue reading A thank you to helpline rapid responders

By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead TORBAY is getting busy again with the streets thronged with shoppers and tourists – so much so you could be forgiven for thinking things were back to normal. But we should not be lulled into a false sense of security and it is important to remember that not everyone is back out and about shopping, visiting cafes, restaurants … Continue reading Shielding and socialising in Torbay

The convenience of companionship through the coronavirus crisis led to love blossoming in lockdown for a couple who had both previously sworn never again. Sylvia Harrison had nursed her second husband Don for more than ten years before he died and she moved to Brixham three years ago to be nearer her daughter. The last thing on her mind was another relationship. Graham White, who … Continue reading Love in Lockdown

By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead At the end of next week, many of the services provided for people who are shielding will be withdrawn. Following Government advice, Torbay Council won’t be checking in with you on a regular basis anymore and the food parcels and medicines will no longer be delivered, which for some people will be problematical. Not everyone is happy about … Continue reading Torbay Community Helpline set to stay for the long run

A new report from the Ageing Well Torbay learning series has been released, detailing the work that went into establishing the Torbay Community Helpline. In the days leading up to March 23rd (the beginning of lockdown) and beyond, staff from all projects and programmes of Torbay Community Development Trust rallied together both members of the community, volunteers and partner organisations in an effort to help … Continue reading Pandemic Response – Building resilience in the community in response to COVID 19 pandemic – 2020 report

By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead The tourists are back, albeit in slightly lower numbers, the pubs are open, even though they are serving fewer people and restaurants and cafes are serving again though the footfall has had to be reduced. Along with the High Streets throwing open their doors and attractions welcoming back visitors you could be forgiven for thinking that life is … Continue reading For some, the lockdown continues

A new report from the Ageing Well Torbay learning series has been released, explaining the development of a Social Prescribing Ecosystem – a mapped journey of support for individuals to improve their health and wellbeing, aided by the Community Builders from Torbay Community Development Trust, and the Wellbeing Coordinators from Age UK Torbay. ‘Social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of … Continue reading Social Prescribing ecosystems report 2020

By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead A few months ago, as the coronavirus crisis began to bite, we began to see spontaneous acts of kindness taking place across the Bay and coined the hashtag #TorbayKind. News of acts of kindness trickled in at first, but within weeks it had gathered a momentum all of its own, and we were deluged with stories of neighbours … Continue reading Neighbourliness – the new normal?

Across Torbay, hundreds of people stepped up to help each other during the coronavirus crisis. Dozens of streets formed their own groups – more than 50 with the help of the Torbay Community Helpline who registered the schemes and offered advice on how to stay in touch safely. Others simply pushed notes through each other’s doors, formed telephone trees, WhatsApp groups and began shopping, gardening, … Continue reading Good Neighbours across Torbay win cream teas