By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead The nights are getting lighter, moods are lifting, and we all could be forgiven for thinking we are out of the woods. We aren’t. Not by a long way. Stage one of the road to recovery will be completed next week with the return of children to school, causing parents across the Bay to breath a collective sigh … Continue reading Out of the frying pan, hopefully not into the fire…
By Leah Whitcher, Community Builder for Torre & Upton What a whirlwind of an 18 months! Back in February 2020, as a community builder of only eight months, I felt I was really starting to get to grips with lots of lovely things happening in my patch. I was just about to release the new Torre and Upton Community Magazine, with a full diary of … Continue reading Heart-warming to see incredible community support – Community Matters
By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead AT last, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but there can still be no cause for complacency no matter what. We have managed to keep COVID rates in the Bay through hard work and diligence, and if we get it wrong this time, we know what the consequences will be. We have seen too … Continue reading A light at the end of the tunnel?
By Theo Tanser, Community & Timebanking Coordinator, Community Builder for Hele, Watcombe & Barton During lockdown, community building becomes much more difficult as we are forced to use the phone to keep in touch with people in our communities and match people in need to volunteers that are close by and happy to help. However, over the last few weeks I have been talking to … Continue reading Thousands vaccinated thanks to help from volunteers – Community Matters
Christine Durrant is the community builder for Preston, Paignton. Here she recounts the far-reaching effects of the Coronavirus Crisis on both herself and the people she is normally in regular face to face contact with. This morning I had a brief taste of my pre-covid life. I walked along the beach from Preston Sands to Goodrington Sands and got chatting to people along the way … Continue reading Connectors staying connected during Covid-19
By Sally Farrant, Community Builder for Shiphay & The Willows There’s a weariness to this lockdown. Last spring, we pulled together to beat the virus. We had a common purpose. The Thursday nights clap for the NHS brought neighbours together. Residents in Edginswell brought out chairs and drinks. Flecher Close in Shiphay learned an exercise routine together. This time, our goal seems less within reach … Continue reading What we all really need is a small project! – Community Matters
By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead Another week in lockdown, but there is good reason for optimism that we will come out of this sooner rather than later. The vaccines are being rolled out across the Bay, with most still being delivered at the Riviera Centre in Torquay where there is an endless stream of visitors receiving their jabs. Our volunteer marshals are braving … Continue reading Determination – ongoing efforts to help Torbay
By Ruth Tshoukas, Timebank Broker for Paignton In these unprecedented times, people have been helping and supporting each other in so many different ways. People have got to know their neighbours and made new friends. Through the Torbay Community Helpline hundreds of people have signed up as volunteers. It’s amazing what people will do for each other. Wouldn’t it be good if some of those … Continue reading Offer (and earn) time to help through timebanking – Community Matters
On Tuesday 2nd February, Torbay Community Helpline appeared on BBC Spotlight, covering the topic of mental health, as it is becoming an ever growing concern during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, the helpline has put out an appeal for more volunteers to sign up as Specialist Befrienders, as a large proportion of calls coming in to the helpline are those in need of … Continue reading Specialist Befrienders appeal on BBC Spotlight
By David Gledhill, Marketing & Communications Lead It is sometimes hard to see it through the noise that coronavirus inevitably creates, but there is a lot of good news around at the moment. Infection rates are falling across the Bay, due in no small part to the actions each and every one of you have taken to halt the spread. So much so that we … Continue reading A silver lining?
