Plymouth Chronicle February West 2026

Warrant Officer Angie Cheal has been honoured for her work in helping Navy personnel and Royal Marines recover from illness and injury See Back Page

Plymouth has announced its intention to bid for City of Culture 2029 with £10 million of funding awarded to the winning city See Page 10

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Pupils from Marine Academy Primary School have been taking part in exciting trips on a tall ship thanks to The Island Trust, the Plymouth-based charity which has been motivating young people through sailing for 50 years SEE MORE ON PAGE 2

Marine Academy Primary students set sail for adventure and learning

Pupils from Marine Academy Primary in Kings Tamerton have been making the most of their coastal location this term with a series of exciting sailing days, discovering the sea and its wildlife.

The children sailed on the Johanna Lucretia, learning about seaweed, examining marine life under a microscope, and helping to pull up the stay sail and steer the tall ship.

The trips are designed to encourage students to push themselves out of their comfort zones while spotting marine life and local landmarks along the coast.

The days were organised by the Island Trust, a Plymouth-based charity that has been motivating young people through sailing for 50 years. Participants learn practical skills, build confidence, and develop teamwork and leadership abilities.

Marine Academy Primary, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, aims to help pupils grow into curious, independent, and responsible citizens. Sailing trips like these give them a chance to build resilience, explore the natural world, and learn how to care for it.

Georgina Reid, headteacher at Marine Academy Primary, said: "It's been fantastic to see our pupils throw themselves into the sailing trips. Thanks to The Island Trust, they've not only had fun discovering the sea and its wildlife but also grown in confidence and resilience along the way."

Celebrating national awards

Staff and pupils at Marine Academy Plymouth Primary and Nursery are celebrating after winning prestigious national awards.

The school, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, received both national and regional recognition across multiple categories in the 2025 Edurio Awards, which are based directly on feedback from students, staff and parents.

Nationally, the school won the Career Development Award, Pupil Choice Award and Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback‚ demonstrating its strong commitment to nurturing staff development and listening closely to its pupils' voices.

The school also shared the National Listening & Acting Award – Staff Feedback alongside its secondary phase and Lipson Cooperative Academy.

Regionally, Marine Academy Plymouth Primary and Nursery replicated this success, securing the Career Development Award, Pupil Choice Award, Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback, and Listening & Acting Award – Staff Feedback, highlighting a culture of collaboration, reflection and continuous improvement across the school community.

Marine Academy Secondary was also recognised nationally,

Impressions of Italy

Departing Thu 7 May ‘26

Experience la dolce vita and enjoy many of Italy’s sun-soaked highlights. Discover remarkable Venice with its trademark canals, historic Florence, eternal Rome, iconic Pisa, the beautifully preserved hilltop city of Siena and more on this fantastic trip!

SO MUCH INCLUDED...

 Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth

 First & last night on a bed & breakfast basis in France

(last night with a light evening meal)

 Additional overnight stay on outward journey on a half-board basis in Northern Italy

 6 nights at a selection of hotels in Italy (JG3+ & JG4 rating) with dinner & breakfast

 Welcome drink, porterage, fruit & water in room on arrival & farewell dinner

 8. En-route visit to Pisa 8.

 Excursions to Pisa, Siena, Florence& Venice

 En-route visit to Pisa

SAVE £75 - Quote PLY

- Book by 06 Feb 2026

sharing the Listening & Acting Award – Staff Feedback with its primary phase and Lipson Co-operative Academy. The award highlights the strength of the school's internal communication and its dedication to creating a supportive environment where staff feel valued and heard.

To celebrate these achievements schools were presented with certificates at the recent Confederation of Schools Trust conference and a special awards evening is being planned for later this year.

Moira Marder, chief executive of the Ted Wragg Trust said: “We’re incredibly proud of our schools for securing these Edurio awards. At the heart of the Ted Wragg Trust is a commitment to building strong partnerships with our communities so that together, we can continue to create nurturing and inclusive school environments where all children can thrive.

“These awards recognise our dedication to listening to students, staff and families, valuing their voices, and making meaningful changes based on their feedback.

"A huge thank you to all our schools, their amazing students, families and staff for helping to create environments where every voice truly matters.”

Lake Garda & the Dolomites

Departing Thu 7 May ‘26

We visit the lakeside resorts and historic towns of this lush and rugged region. As well as plenty of time discovering one of the most breathtaking lakes in Italy, we also take in the spectacular scenery of the Dolomites on this Italian getaway.

SO MUCH INCLUDED...

 Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth

 First night on a bed & breakfast basis in France

 6 nights at the Garda Sol Spa Hotel, Toscolano Maderno (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast

 Boat cruise on Lake Garda (Sirmione)

 Scenic coach tours of the Dolomites (Molveno & Trento) & Lake Garda (Garda & Peschiera del Garda)

 Services of a tour manager

 Excursion into the Dolomites

 En route visits to Strasbourg

Optional excursion to Venice (£49pp)

SAVE £75 - Quote PLY

- Book by 06 Feb 2026

Young music artists wanted for city centre performances

Eight young music acts are being sought to help shape the sound of Plymouth this summer, as a new city centre programme opens to support the next generation of emerging artists.

Plymouth City Centre New Music 2026 will support eight Plymouth-based music acts aged 16 to 25 to perform live in the heart of the city, while gaining hands-on experience of recording, releasing and promoting original music.

The selected artists will perform as supporting acts at the new Amphitheatre space in Plymouth City Centre, across a Saturday programme running from June to September 2026. Alongside paid performances, artists will take part in a structured development opportunity designed to build skills, confidence and industry knowledge.

An open call is launched today by Plymouth Culture, Plymouth City Centre Company and and Plymouth Music CIC to put the eight artists on centre stage next summer.

Each selected act will receive a career support package valued at £700, including:

• A paid 30-minute supporting performance in the city centre Amphitheatre (£250 fee)

• Professional recording and mixing of a single at DBS Studios

• A workshop focused on releasing music and getting tracks onto streaming platforms

• Mentoring and creative support from Grace Lightman, producer, songwriter, performer and Plymouth's Music Ambassador

• Inclusion on the Plymouth City Centre New Music playlist on streaming platforms The programme is open to all music genres

and welcomes applications from emerging and unsigned artists, whether performing solo or as part of a band.

Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture, said: "We know how transformative the right opportunity at the right time can be for young artists.

"Plymouth City Centre New Music is designed to support emerging talent not

just to perform, but to develop, record and release their own work, building confidence, experience and momentum for what comes next.

"We know we have incredibly talented young musicians in this city and we want to provide a platform for them to showcase their talent."

Steve Hughes, chief executive of Plymouth

GARDE N WASTE COLLECTION S

To apply, visit plymouthculture.co.uk/newmusic

Out and About

Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

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

The Gruffalo’s Child Garden Trail

Daily until February 1

Experience the magic of the beloved Gruffalo’s Child story brought to life within the garden at Saltram between 10am and 4pm. Step into the world of the Gruffalo’s Child and follow along on the journey through the deep dark wood with games, challenges and plenty of festive photo moments along the way. Free event. Normal admission applies.

Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy

Jan 24 to May 31

The Box presents an exhibition which marks 100 years since Beryl’s birth and will feature more than 80 works including iconic paintings and rarely seen treasures from The Box’s art collection, private lenders and the Cook family archives. Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm. More details at www.theboxplymouth.com

Live Music Sundays

Feb 1, 8,15, 22

Steel Sunday Music every week from 3pm to 5pm at the Steel Brew Co in Mills Bakery at the Royal William Yard. Free entry, so just go along, relax and enjoy the music.

Sing Devon

Feb 5

Do you enjoy singing? Do you like to meet new people? Then go along to the Welcoming New Voices free session at Plymstock School PL9 9AZ from 7.15pm to 9pm. The emphasis is on fun, supporting the local community and supporting each other. Lots of laughing mixed in with beautiful sounds. No auditions. Just go along and give it a go. Details at www. singdevon.com - or call Pete Scott on 07896 276577.

Plymouth Brick Festival

Feb 7

A LEGO fan event dedicated to all things brick at Plymouth Life Centre from 10am to 4pm. A great day for families, collectors, adult builders and every other kind of LEGO fan. With lots to see and do including speed building competitions, large scale displays, activities, traders selling loose bricks, new LEGO sets, retired LEGO sets, minifigures and accessories plus a dedicated building area. For ticket details and more information visit www.brickfestivalevents.com

Coffee Morning

Feb 7

Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls supporting Alzheimer's Research. All welcome.

Sound of the Sirens

Feb 7

Sound of the Sirens, the singer-songwriting duo based in Exeter, present nearly two hours of high-quality live music at the Barbican Theatre from 8pm. Comprising Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood, Sound of the Sirens have been recognised as 'one of the UK's finest folk acts. Their status, and fast-growing fan-base is not only testament to the pair's prowess as songwriters and musicians, but as people too. For details visit www.barbicantheatre.co.uk

Good Food & Craft Market

Feb 1 and Mar 1

The popular Markets will be taking place in Royal William Yard on the first Sunday of every month from 10am to 5pm. Known for showcasing some of the region’s most talented artists and makers, the markets offer everything from tasty treats to handcrafted gifts. The monthly markets have been a staple of Royal William Yard’s event calendar for years, and have won event awards along the way. For details visit www.royalwilliamyard.com/

Chris McCausland is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making – and he will be bringing his new show for 2026 to the Quad Theatre in Plymouth on March 31 and April 1

City College Plymouth Open Day

Feb 7

The ideal opportunity to find out more about the range of courses the college provides. The event runs from 10am to 1pm. For more information visit www.cityplym.ac.uk

Southway’s Valentine’s Table Top Sale

Feb 14

Church of the Holy Spirit, Southway from 1pm to 3pm. Lots of goodies available, children’s crafts, chocolate tombola and refreshments. For more information or to book a table at £5 please contact Veronica on 07855 256383.

Plymouth Literary Festival

Feb 14 and Feb 15

Plymouth Literary Festival is a vibrant celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community. Taking place at the Portland Square Building on the Plymouth University campuis, the Festival presents a diverse range of events including author talks, workshops, panel discussions, and open mic sessions designed to inspire readers and writers of all ages and backgrounds. For more information visit www. eventbrite.com and search for Plymouth Literary Festival.

Jack Rhodes

Feb 14

From finishing runner-up on last year’s Britain’s Got Talent, Jack Rhodes is bringing his debut comedy magic show to The Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus. With a background in close-up magic and stand up comedy, Jack has amassed over 150 million views online with his ‘comedy, magic and nonsense’ videos and has firmly established his presence as a magician who doesn’t take himself too seriously. For details visit www.eventbrite.co.uk

Plymouth Jazz Club

Feb 15

Featuring The Roosters with good time jazz and jive at the Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill from 7.30pm. Tickets £15 on the door, £12 for club members. Nonmembers welcome. See www.plymouth-jazz-club.com

Suzi Ruffell

Feb 19

Multi-award winning, confessional comedian, Suzi Ruffell is back on the road in 2026 with her brand new show The Juggle and brings the tour to The Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus. With five sell-out runs at the Fringe, a nomination for Best Stand-Up Show in the National Comedy Awards and critical acclaim from reviewers and audiences alike, suited and booted stand-up Suzi is a force to be reckoned with. Full details including times and tickets from www. comicalentertainment.com

Charity Sale in aid of The Rainbow Project

Feb 19 to Feb 21

The Rainbow Project Plymouth supports Children and families in need in Romania and Ukraine. They are holding a three-day sale at Plymstock United Church, Plymstock Road, PL9 7PB opening 10am to 3pm on Thursday and Friday and 10 am to 2pm on Saturday. Lots of preloved goods will be for sale including brica-brac, linen, clothes, jewellery, shoes and bags, toys, jigsaws and more. There will also be tea and coffee, homemade cakes and light lunches available. For more info go to www.rainbowprojectplymouth.org

Vittorio Angelone

Feb 21

One of the fastest-rising names in comedy Vittorio is at the Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus at 7.30pm. Vittorio has built a big following with stand-up clips and podcasts racking up millions of views. For details and tickets visit www.comicalentertainment.com

Jumble Sale

Feb 21

St Francis Church Hall, Honicknowle from 11am to 2pm. Lots of bargains and refreshments on sale.

Talk - Post War Industries of Plymouth

Feb 25

Illustrated talk by Alan Bricknell looks at the first three large companies to set up in Plymouth after the war, Tecalemit, Berkertex and Bush Radio, and also looks at one of the city’s largest home grown companies, Farleys. Taking place at Plymouth Proprietary Library, St Barnabas Terrace from 2pm. For details visit www.theppl.org.uk

Plymouth Gang Show

Feb 26 to Feb 28

The Plymouth Scout & Guide Gang Show will be performing at The Devonport Playhouse at 7.30pm with a matinee on the Saturday at 2pm. Adults £12 concessions £10 For more information contact Andrew on 07810 880536 or go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/ plymouth-scout-and-guide-gang-show

John Kearns

Feb 27

Taskmaster star John Kearns brings his ‘Tilting at Windmills’ tour to the Quad Theatre on the Marjon Campus at 7.30pm. For details and tickets visit www. comicalentertainment.com

Blackbeard’s Tea Party

Feb 27

Folk-rock rebels Blackbeard’s Tea Party celebrate 10 years of their seminal album ‘Reprobates’ – a collection of stories about wrong’uns from history – at the Barbican Theatre from 8pm. They debuted material from the album during their now legendary appearance at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, and it was the album that earned them thousands of new fans. Mixing sounds of traditional folk and classic

rock, Blackbeard’s Tea Party look back to the album that reviewers called ‘a hell of a lot of fun’. Tickets and details from www.eventbrite.co.uk

Omid Djalili - Namaste

Feb 28

The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his critically acclaimed new show at the Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus at 8pm. Omid peacefully bows to his inner anger and unleashes a torrent of comedic vitriol on the current state of this dangerously messed up planet. Tickets and details from www. comicalentertainment.com

Faulty Towers at The Duke of Cornwall

Mar 6 and Mar 7

A hilarious and interactive dining experiences like no other when the world of the iconic British comedy show, Faulty Towers, arrives at the historic Duke of Cornwall Hotel. Basil, Manuel and Sybil are in town – and they’re bringing a healthy dose of mayhem to Plymouth. Fully immersive, highly interactive and completely original, this is the show where anything can and usually does happen. With 70 per cent of the show improvised, it’s never the same twice. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search Faulty Towers.

Alisdar Beckett-King - King Of Crumbs

Mar 6

ABK is the crumbliest comedian in the game: a multiaward-winning stand-up comic and (occasionally) an internet sensation. ABK is appearing at the Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus at 8pm. Come vagabonds, come mountebanks, come coneycatchers and cutpurses and meet the King of Crumbs! As seen on Mock the Week and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Tickets and details from www. comicalentertainment.com

Plymouth Jazz Club

Mar 15

Featuring The Two Counties Jazz Band with trad jazz Fotonow movat the Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill from 7.30pm. Tickets £15 on the door, £12 for club members. Non-members welcome. For details see www.plymouth-jazz-club.com

An Evening with Toyah: Songs and Stories

Mar 28

Singer, actor, TV host and film star Toyah is hitting the road for an extensive UK tour in which she'll sing favourite hits and tell stories from her remarkable career and will be at The Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus. Tickets and timings from www. comicalentertainment.com

Music of the Night Concert

Mar 31

The music of the night choir will be holding their spring concert on the theme of Colour My World – sky, land and sea – at Mount Gould Methodist Church at 7.30pm. Doors open at 6.45pm and tickets are £8 per adult and £4 per child. For information email motnchoir25@gmail.com or phone Paula Ingram on 07860354290

Chris McClausland - Yonks!

Mar 31 and Apr 1

Chris McCausland is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making. His brand new show will be at the Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus in Plymouth. Chris will be presenting two shows each night. Tickets and timings from www. comicalentertainment.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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Huge increase in social care costs presents budget challenges for city councillors

An additional £25.7 million needs to be allocated towards providing vital statutory social care and support services for Plymouth's most vulnerable residents next year as cost and demand pressures continue to increase.

A report to Cabinet on the draft 2026/27 budget highlights that – like in many other local authorities – demand for adult social care, children's social care, homelessness and SEND services in Plymouth continues to rise despite ongoing efforts to put proactive preventative measures in place to reduce the number of people needing more intensive and higher cost support.

The additional £25.7 million allocated in the draft budget is needed to meet demand pressures in areas such as children social care and placements (£9.4m), SEND home to school transport (£2m); adult social care (£11.1m); homelessness prevention £623,000; short breaks (£1.2m); and the Dedicated School Grant deficit funding (£1.6m).

Tax increase

The report says that while the Government's latest Provisional funding settlement has given greater certainty over future funding, it has not provided enough additional funding to cover the scale of demand pressures the council is facing.

This means that to set a balanced revenue budget that will enable the delivery of more than 300 services in 2026/27 the council will need to deliver an additional £17.3 million of new savings above those previously agreed. These include proposed savings totalling £10.5m; invest to save projects that will save £4.3m and further decisions that will reduce costs by another £2.5 million.

The council will also need to change underlying arrangements for part of its debt and investment portfolio to save an additional £9.7m, with council departments needing to continue working on finding further savings to minimise the use of reserves.

The draft budget for 2026/27 assumes an increase in Council Tax of up to 2.99 per cent and use of the 2.0 per cent adult social care precept, in line with the policy set out in the Government's Autumn Statement and the Local Government Settlement.

However, final Council Tax levels will be decided by the Full Council in February.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for Finance, said: "While our financial position is exceptionally challenging and we are having to make difficult decisions as we work to propose a balanced budget, we are confident that can protect hundreds of services that we know Plymouth residents need and value.

"We will be working continuously up until the budget setting meeting and beyond to drive out more efficiency in everything we do. We have already been very successful in ongoing efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiency but unfortunately – like other councils across the country – we continue to face unprecedented cost and demand pressures in critical statutory care services, which account for around two thirds of our total revenue budget."

Plymouth STEM pilot will be led by Babcock

Babcock is to lead a new STEM pilot in Plymouth as part of a major Government £182m national skills drive.

The pilot is part of a wider package of investment under the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) aimed at addressing critical skills gaps in engineering, cyber and other defence sectors.

Details of the pilot were unveiled at Babcock’s recent Engineering Skills: Powering UK Defence event in Parliament.

Babcock will lead and coordinate a package of STEM engagement activities for local schools, prioritising those with little to no prior STEM engagement. The Plymouth pilot which will serve as a model for future UK regional STEM programmes, demonstrating the value of industry led engagement in areas with significant defence activity.

STEM sessions under the pilot will begin in March or April this year and continue until the end of the academic year in July.

Neil Young, Babcock's global engineering capability director, who is leading the pilot, said: "The world needs more engineers and we need them now. As a major UK defence company, Babcock delivers both employment and economic growth, investing in skills development and future talent across the UK and beyond.

“Demand for engineering skills continues to soar and partnerships like this are vital in helping us to secure the skills and talent pipeline needed to underpin national security.

"Our mission is to break down barriers and make engineering accessible, available and within reach of every schoolchild in the country."

At the Engineering skills: Powering UK Defence event, Babcock’s chief people officer, Louise Atkinson, spoke of the breadth of skills programmes Babcock was investing in from welding and cyber apprenticeships through to career paths for veterans.

Over the next five years, an additional 834,000 jobs are expected to be created in clean energy, defence, digital and housebuilding industries, bringing the combined workforce across these sectors to 5.3 million by 2030.

Record number of new starters at Babcock

Babcock has welcomed a new wave of graduates and apprentices to its facility in Devonport marking an exciting step in the company’s commitment to developing future talent and strengthening the UK and its allies defence capability, as applications for its 2026 apprentice intake open.

In 2025 a record 362 new starters joined a wide range of programmes at Devonport. The intake included 235 apprentices across 27 different programmes, ranging from Level 2 entry roles to Level 6 degree apprenticeships, and 127 graduates and undergraduates who began their careers in September.

Emerging talent makes a positive difference across Babcock and is central to its long-term success – helping to support national security, drive economic growth, and continue building a future workforce ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The company’s graduate and apprenticeship programmes are designed to equip individuals with the technical and professional skills needed to thrive in a specialist industry. From working on the

latest naval platforms to contributing to sustainability and innovation, recruits are exposed to a wide range of opportunities that help shape rewarding and impactful careers.

John Gane, site managing director at Devonport welcomed the new intake, and said: “It’s great to welcome an increasing number of colleagues to our graduate and apprenticeship programme. We need more people learning and developing specialist skills, so we can deliver our current and future pipeline of work.

Exciting time

“This is an exciting time for the business, and it’s fantastic that we can offer such a wide range of new career opportunities and continue to deliver the defence dividend, helping to strengthen the UK’s defence industrial base and fostering prosperity in the communities we operate in.

”The company is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. Last year's intake includes individuals from a wide range of educational, cultural and geographic

backgrounds, with targeted outreach and partnerships helping to offer opportunities to more recruits than ever before."

As part of its commitment to developing emerging talent, Babcock has created around 1,600 roles across the 2025/26 period in the UK as it ramps up investing in the next generation of talent to support national and international defence.

Emma Piper, a Devonport based welding apprentice, joined the programme last year: “I’ve always had an interest in welding, so knowing that I can learn new skills and make a difference every day is great, and everyone is really friendly so that’s a massive plus as well.”

Babcock works closely with schools, colleges, universities and community organisations to inspire future talent and promote STEM based careers. With a strong pipeline of opportunities and a culture of continuous learning, Babcock is proud to support the development of the next generation of leaders, engineers and innovators.

Outstanding Stoke care home

A care home in Stoke has received an outstanding rating from a highly regarded organisation which specialises in auditing care providers.

Parkwood House in Exmouth Road, received praise for their homely and caring practices and the home environment from Meaningful Care Matters auditors who were assessing the care home’s Butterfly programme.

Meaningful Care Matters (MCM) auditors said Parkwood House delivered ‘a consistently exceptional standard of person-centred care’ and awarded it a Level 1, Outstanding rating.

One of the auditors and the MCM managing director, Peter Bewert, said: “People living and working in the home flourish within a warm, inclusive, and homelike environment where meaning, mattering, and connection are at the heart of daily life.”

Established in 2019, MCM aims to change the culture of care by ensuring people have purpose, are empowered to be themselves and have meaningful relationships within their care setting.

MCM rate care providers on care delivery, individual care plans (including the restricted use of medication) and meaningful relationships between staff and residents. Those dementia care providers, who demonstrate a high number of meaningful interactions against a long list of criteria, are awarded the status of a ‘Butterfly’ Home.

Peter added: “There is a strong sense of mutual connection, giving, and wellbeing. The environment feels like a true home, filled with warmth and inclusivity, without any division between those being supported and living there, and those working there.”

Auditors also praised their strong sense

of family, consistently exceptional standard of person-centred care and the meaningful experiences, fun and inclusion woven into daily life.

Geoffrey Cox, managing director of Southern Healthcare, which operates Parkwood House, said: “This is an amazing outcome made even more exceptional by the auditor’s comments, which truly reflect

the skills and knowledge of the people in our team, their compassion, heart, and meaningful connection to the people they are caring for. I’m thrilled the auditor picked up on the home’s wonderful, loving environment.”

Princess Yachts 'book poverty' campaign

Princess Yachts is continuing to partner with Promoting Children in Plymouth (PCiP) to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library – a transformative literacy initiative that is changing young lives across the city, one book at a time.

As a leading Plymouth-based business, Princess Yachts takes its responsibility to the wider community seriously, actively supporting initiatives that provide opportunity, inspire learning, and foster creativity.

The Plymouth Dolly Parton Imagination Library recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, marking a major milestone in a programme that has already reached over 1,300 local children. Each registered child receives a free, highquality, age-appropriate book every month from birth until their fifth birthday, helping to build home libraries, nurture imagination, and ignite a lifelong love of reading.

Previous initiatives have seen Princess Yachts launch the Corporate Pre-Loved Book Drive, encouraging employees to donate gently used books. This saw over 200 books collected, ensuring that every child at a local school near the company's headquarters was able to choose a book to take home, with each one personalised with a special Princess Yachts sticker for the child to write their name inside.

Princess Yachts team members also joined PCiP's Community World Book Day event as volunteer storytellers, reaching more than 8,000 children in a single afternoon.

Later that year, the team also took part in a BBC feature that highlighted the impact of book poverty, and the powerful role local businesses can play in driving positive social change. The

Council

£850,000 funding to help

Organisations across the city are set to receive funding to support people who are homeless, including those with a history of, or at risk of rough sleeping.

The city has been allocated £850,000 from the Government's Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery Grant and as part of this funding, £478,649 will be transferred to organisations within the Plymouth Alliance and the remainder awarded directly to partner organisations that aim to offer people a way out of homelessness and rough sleeping and to work as 'one team.'

The 'one team' which builds on the success of the ‘Health Inclusion Pathway Plymouth' team, is a pilot to see if a more joined up, holistic service can be offered in the city.

The Plymouth Alliance helps hundreds of people a year and is a city-wide partnership between a group of organisations and charities, which is commissioned by and includes Plymouth City Council working in partnership with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), Harbour, Shekinah, the Zone, Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH), Livewell Southwest and Hamoaze House.

Through the various organisations, the alliance offers housing advice and support, day centres, supported temporary accommodation, mental health support, drug and alcohol recovery and treatment support and helps homeless people to find longer term accommodation.

Adelaide Surgery in Stonehouse is also due to receive funding as staff regularly work with the homeless and rough sleepers.

story caught the attention of the Dolly Parton Foundation, which praised the innovative partnership between business and community in Plymouth.

Adrian Bratt, chief people officer & general counsel at Princess Yachts said: "Being able to read confidently is one of the most important indicators of a child's future success.

"As a local business, we feel a strong responsibility not just to our employees, but to the wider community. Through initiatives like this, and many others supporting young people, such as sports and local opportunities, we want to help ensure that every child and every person in our city has the chance to thrive.

“We've grown alongside this city over the past six decades, sharing in its heritage and its future. By collaborating and investing in the community, we can help keep the city moving forward and support and nurture the ambitions of everyone who calls this city home."

Access to books at home remains one of the key barriers to literacy. Research shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are up to 20 per cent behind their peers in reading by the time they start school, not because of ability, but often due to a lack of books and reading support at home. The Imagination Library directly addresses this challenge, ensuring every child can build confidence and curiosity through stories.

It will enable staff to provide support for people experiencing homelessness, offer dedicated drug and alcohol assessments and treatment hours and help people with complex needs access specialist healthcare.

The aim is to provide a more joined up approach across health, housing, and support services, giving a more personalised response for those at risk of or experiencing rough sleeping.

Other organisations to receive a pot include:

• Trevi to employ a Women's Street Outreach Worker, who will offer help to access housing, therapeutic, and support services for women and children.

• Plymouth Community Homes to provide accommodation, tailored housing management and welfare related services in partnership with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA) and Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH) to deliver a Housing First Service to long-term rough sleepers and/or those with a history of long-term homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

• University of Plymouth to employ a research-based role designed to support the development and sustainability of integrated health, housing, and homelessness services.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "People sleeping rough often have complex needs but cannot get the help that they desperately need.

"The Adelaide project, for instance, aims to provide a more personalised approach – to look at the issues that have led to someone living on the streets or at risk of it and to help that person address them.

"There is no one size fits all approach to homelessness so we hope that these organisations who have received funding will be able to contribute to tackling this complex issue and help those who most need it."

Plymouth has announced its intention to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2029, with £10 million of funding for a year-long celebration of arts and culture awarded to the winning city. This is an invitation to everyone to make life an adventure in Plymouth 2029 and join the celebration.

Securing the title will give Plymouth the opportunity to celebrate the people and places that make the city so vibrant, while supporting the city’s wider ambitions for inclusive growth and regeneration. Plymouth City of Culture 2029 will celebrate our proud city shaped by the sea and its dynamic histories.

From music, performance, heritage and visual arts to film, festivals, sport and community-led projects, the bid will showcase the breadth of creativity already thriving across Plymouth, and our pioneering approach to marine research to health, social enterprise to volunteering.

It will also create space for new voices, new ideas and new ways for people to take part in culture across the city, helping to shape places, strengthen communities and improve access to opportunity.

The bid to become the UK’s City of Culture builds on the momentum Plymouth has created after more than a decade of sustained investment in arts and culture. It’s a chance to showcase Plymouth’s strengths as a coastal city, and how it embraces its waterfront identity as an example to other cities particularly those with coastal communities.

It aligns closely with the city’s wider priorities, including city centre regeneration, new neighbourhoods and housing, and Plymouth’s unique role as a centre for defence and innovation, showing how culture can support placemaking, skills development and wellbeing alongside economic growth.

The prestigious national competition is led by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and runs every four years. Bradford currently holds the title, with previous winners including Derry/Londonderry (2013), Hull (2017) and Coventry (2021).

Longlisted places will receive £60,000 to support the development of their bids, with the overall winner receiving £10 million in prize funding. The competition has a strong track record of unlocking long-term cultural, social and economic benefits for places, helping to drive regeneration, civic pride and inclusive growth.

Experience from previous host cities shows that

Bid launch

the title can also help attract significant additional investment, supporting jobs, skills, infrastructure and community development well beyond the programme year itself.

Plymouth previously bid for City of Culture in 2017. Since then, the city’s cultural landscape has changed significantly, and it is ready to show the nation what a coastal city can achieve when creativity sits at the heart of its ambitions.

More than a decade of sustained investment has helped establish strong cultural infrastructure, a rich ecology of artists and organisations, and confident, collaborative leadership across the sector. The 2029 bid represents an opportunity to build on these foundations and demonstrate how a coastal city like Plymouth can reimagine its future, drawing on its history, its communities and its global connections.

Cllr Jemima Laing said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for Plymouth to show the power of creativity to improve the lives of everyone. This gives us an opportunity to put culture at the heart of our city plans, supporting regeneration, new jobs and investment while ensuring growth is inclusive and benefits communities across the city.

“The City Council has asked Victoria Pomery,

chief executive of The Box and Head of Culture for Plymouth City Council, and Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture, to lead on the bid to become City of Culture. Both are extremely well placed to do so and are at the heart of two of the city’s strategic cultural organisations.”

Victoria Pomery said: “This is a real now or never moment for Plymouth a city so intrinsically linked to the UK’s histories. We have spent years building the cultural partnerships and infrastructure that will enable Plymouth to live up to the title of City of Culture, and the timing aligns perfectly with the wider ambition for growth, regeneration and opportunity in the city.”

Hannah Harris added: “Plymouth is a city that embraces culture from football to food, Beryl Cook to Joshua Reynolds, history to adventure. This competition gives us an opportunity to show the UK, and beyond, how a key coastal city can use creativity to reimagine its future, amplify the voices of its communities and drive a new form of sustainable regeneration and growth.”

The development of the bid will take place with the full backing of Plymouth City Council and partners from across the city.

An initial Expression of Interest will be

submitted by February 8, with a full bid to follow in summer 2026 should Plymouth be longlisted. A programme of creative community engagement will sit at the heart of the bid process and will begin from January 19, ensuring that people across Plymouth can get involved, share their ideas and help shape the city’s vision for UK City of Culture 2029. Details of creative community drop-in sessions will be shared on the Plymouth Culture and Plymouth City Council websites.

To find out more, visit plymouthculture.co.uk/ city-of-culture

WHAT THE 2029 RACE COULD MEAN FOR THE CITY’S FUTURE

Plymouth has officially entered the competition to become the UK City of Culture 2029, a move that could unlock £10 million in direct prize funding and hundreds of millions in wider investment.

The bid is being positioned as a ‘now or never’ moment for the city to transform its national reputation and address long-standing economic challenges.

For residents, this is not just about a year of festivals. Local leaders say the bid is a strategic tool to drive regeneration, improve social mobility, and link Plymouth’s world-leading marine technology to its creative identity

Learning from Hull and Coventry

The decision to bid is backed by evidence from previous winners who have seen dramatic urban shifts.

Hull (2017): The city attracted £676 million in public and private investment between 2013 and 2019. The year-long celebration created nearly 800 jobs in the creative and visitor sectors, with one in four local businesses hiring new staff during the programme.

Derry/Londonderry (2013): The first titleholder saw a 33% increase in visitor trips shortly after its tenure, demonstrating the title’s power to put cities on the national tourism map.

Coventry (2021): Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the city saw a £150 million boost in tourism income above 2019 levels. However, Coventry also offers a warning: the 2021 trust eventually entered administration due to financial pressures, highlighting the need for the institutional stability Plymouth is now promising. Why 2029 is different for Plymouth

This is the city’s first attempt at the title since a failed bid for 2017. While the previous effort was criticized for lacking community depth, leaders argue the landscape has changed significantly over the last decade.

The bid is anchored by the success of The Box, Plymouth’s flagship museum and gallery. An independent assessment released in late 2025 revealed the institution has already generated a £244 million economic footprint since opening in 2020. Crucially, 13% of its 1.1 million visitors were people who had never engaged with a cultural venue before, proving that culture is reaching beyond traditional

audiences. Unique to Plymouth’s pitch is the integration of its status as the National Centre for Marine Autonomy. The bid aligns with a £250 million UK Defence Growth Deal aimed at boosting skills in electrical engineering and robotics. By combining these high-tech industries with the arts, the city aims to create a sustainable form of growth that supports wellbeing and new neighbourhoods alongside economic gains.

What Happens Next?

The race for 2029 is a multi-phase process with high stakes. February 8, 2026: Deadline for the initial Expression of Interest to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Summer 2026: If longlisted, Plymouth will receive £60,000 to develop a full bid.

Late 2026: The winner will be announced.If selected, the £10 million prize will fund a massive programme of sport, performance, and community-led heritage projects.

Even if the city falls short of the top spot, runners-up are eligible for £125,000 to take elements of their plans forward, ensuring the work put into the bid serves a lasting purpose.

Plymouth Literary Festival returns to spark city's imagination this February

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Plymouth Literary Festival is set to make a return, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of storytelling, creativity, and community spirit.

Scheduled for the weekend of February 14 and 15, the festival promises to be a landmark event for book lovers, aspiring writers, and families alike.

Hosted at the Portland Square Building on the University of Plymouth campus, the two-day programme has been curated to ensure there is something for everyone: from devotees of gripping crime thrillers, to romance enthusiasts, or simply for those looking for a creative way to spend a weekend with the children, the festival opens its doors with a clear message: literature is for everyone.

The 2026 line-up is a testament to the region's rich cultural vein. The festival kicks off on Valentine's Day, February 14, with a diverse schedule. Highlights include the 7 Summits Lecture by adventurer Ed Buckingham at 11am, perfect for those who prefer their stories with a dose of adrenaline.

For those looking to hone their craft, the morning also features a practical workshop on The Business of Self-Publishing with Elizabeth Ducie, offering vital industry insights to budding authors.

Fiction fans will be spoilt for choice on Sunday February 15. The festival has secured a headline appearance from Jane Corry, the Sunday Times best-selling author. At 2.30 pm, she will share her inspiring journey from writing romantic shorts to conquering the world of domestic noir.

Crime fiction aficionados should mark their calendars for the Crime Writer Panel at midday on Sunday. Featuring authors such as Caroline Serpell, Stephanie Austin, and Helena Dixon, the panel will dissect what makes a perfect murder mystery – from building suspense to crafting the ultimate twist.

The festival organisers have placed a strong emphasis on family-friendly and interactive events. Saturday afternoon sees a Fantasy

Plymouth City Council elections will go ahead in May this year as planned.

The announcement confirming the election came after the Government contacted more than 60 local authorities – including Plymouth City Council – inviting them to consider whether postponing elections might be appropriate in areas affected by Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor Jemima Laing, acting leader of Plymouth City Council said: “We recognise that this may be the right approach for some councils facing capacity challenges due to Local Government Reorganisation – however, this is not the case for Plymouth.

"We are already well advanced in our preparations for the May 2026 local elections and plans are firmly in place. Therefore, the elections will proceed as scheduled."

The elections will take place on Thursday

scheduled to stand for re-elction or retirement: Budshead Lee Finn (Conservative); Compton Dylan Tippetts (Liberal Democrat); Devonport Bill Stevens (Labour); Drake Charlotte Holloway (Labour); Efford and Lipson Neil Hendy (Labour); Eggbuckland Chip Tofan (Conservative); Ham Tina Tuohy (Labour); Honicknowle Zoe Reilly (Independent); Moor View Maddi Bridgeman (The Independents); Peverell Jeremy Goslin (Labour); Plympton Chaddlewood Ian Poyser (Green); Plympton Erle No election; Plympton St Mary Ian Darcy (Conservative); Plymstock Dunstone Stefan Krizanac (Labour); Plymstock Radford Rebecca Smith (Conservative); Southway Andy Lugger (Conservative) St Budeaux Sally Haydon (Labour); St Peter and the Waterfront Alison Raynsford (Labour); Stoke Tom Briars-Delve (Labour); Sutton and Mount Gould Mary Aspinall (Labour).

Plymouth Boat Fest to return in June

Organisers of the South West's major boat show have announced it will return in 2026 after a successful inaugural event last year.

Plymouth Boat Fest 2025 attracted over 50 exhibiting companies and 30 vessels, ranging from marine technology to leisure, services, conservation and more. This year's event is scheduled for Saturday June 20 hosted at Plymouth Yacht Haven.

Announcing the 2026 event, organisers outlined plans to expand this year's event.

"Last year was a great starting point for Plymouth Boat Fest," said event organiser Steve Cox from Plymouth Yacht Haven.

"It became a showcase for the West Country's broad maritime sector with companies looking to not only showcase their vessels, products and services, but engage the local community for future skills and employment.

“This year's show will build on these foundations as well as increased ticket capacity and, by popular demand, expanding the on-water demonstration schedule."

Adults, young people and active seniors make up our brilliant team of delivery people across Plymouth. Get in touch to be part of the team. Own transport helpful but not essential. Scan to apply.

Early plans for the 2026 show include the expansion of the Marine Technology Zone, highlighting Plymouth's growing reputation in the marine autonomy sector. Supported by Turnchapel Wharf, the home of UK maritime autonomy, the zone will include demonstrations of remotely-operated and autonomous vessels, as well as on-water displays showcasing the capabilities of the

The on-water area will also be expanded with additional pontoon space allocated to the show, inviting more vessels to be on-display. On-water exhibitors from 2025 included Princess Motor Yacht Sales, The Island Trust's 96ft tallship, Plymouth RNLI lifeboat, Wolf Rock Boat Company, and

City College Plymouth partners with Scottish college on developing defence skills training

City College Plymouth and West College Scotland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in response to the UK Government's Defence Industrial Strategy.

The partnership will support the development of a skilled workforce for the defence sector and contribute to national priorities for technical excellence. West College Scotland has campuses in Greenock, Clydebank and Paisley.

The agreement confirms a shared commitment to widen access to defence technical training, align curriculum with employer expectations, and support national and international activity linked to defence skills development.

The partnership directly supports the Government's initiative to establish Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, which aim to address skills shortages and provide specialist training pathways into defence roles.

Both colleges will explore ways to share specialist knowledge, facilities, and teaching practice. This includes cooperation on curriculum design, joint professional development for staff, and coordinated engagement with defence employers, supply chain partners, and government bodies.

The collaboration provides a framework for future joint projects to enhance technical education, create clear progression routes into defence roles, and ensure consistent quality standards across programmes.

Jackie Grubb, chief executive and principal of City College Plymouth, said: “This partnership represents an exciting step forward in developing the next generation of skilled professionals for the defence sector.

“By working closely with West College Scotland, we can ensure our students gain access to world-class training and progression opportunities that meet the needs of employers both nationally and internationally.”

Cattewater Harbour Commissioners' vessels.

To support the event's continued growth, organisers have also launched a new standalone website dedicated exclusively to Plymouth Boat Fest.

The platform brings together exhibitor information, visitor guides, ticketing information and the latest show updates, reflecting the long-term commitment to establishing the Boat Fest as a key date in the South West's maritime calendar.

"Creating a standalone website underlines our ambition to grow the show year-onyear and provide a central hub for everyone involved." commented Steve Cox.

For more details about the event visit www.plymouthboatfest.com.

Pressure from local MPs and the public has led to a U-turn on proposals to increase the TamarTag admin fee.

In the wake of growing opposition the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee reversed its previous proposal to increase the admin fee from 80p to £2 per month.

The decision followed extensive public backlash and pressure from local MPs Luke Pollard, Fred Thomas and Anna Gelderd.

In December, the MPs wrote a letter to the committee, urging it to reconsider the increase and ensure that any changes were fully justified, consulted on, communicated transparently, and implemented with due regard for the impact on local communities.

The MPs are calling for action to be taken to deliver cheaper tolls for local people, with the TamarTag a key component in this mission.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: "I'm glad the committee have realised they got their initial decision wrong. We now need a full implementation plan to deliver cheaper tolls for local people. All the local MPs are committed to working with the Tamar Crossing committee to get this right. I hope we can have more joined up working from now on."

Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth

PRESSURE FROM MPS LEADS TO TAMARTAG ADMIN FEE U-TURN

Moor View added: "I am pleased that the joint committee have now reversed this decision. I want cheaper tolls for local people and a rise in the cost of the TamarTag would not deliver that. I now want the committee to work with me and my neighbouring MPs to deliver on this aim and I am looking forward to working more closely with the committee going forward."

The Committee will be launching a consultation to fully consider the impacts of any admin fee increase to local people. The MPs will be pushing for cheaper tolls for local people and that any future changes to the toll charges are as open and transparent as possible.

Helping you to become smoke free Sponsored Content

Plymouth’s free Stop Smoking Service

would love to hear from you if you are looking to quit smoking in 2026.

If you smoke, quitting is the single most important change you can make to improve your health and wellbeing and you are more likely to quit long term with the right support behind you.

Making it your resolution for 2026 is a big step forward. We know it’s not easy, so we’ve put together a few commonly asked questions to help.

Why should I quit smoking?

There are plenty of reasons to quit, but the most compelling are the ones that are personal to you. Health benefits start almost immediately. Your body will quickly start getting more oxygen and you will have more energy and better circulation. Your sense of taste and smell will improve; breathing will become easier. Longer-term, your risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer drops significantly

Financially, the money you save by quitting may be a pleasant surprise. If you smoke 20 a day, quitting could give you back up to £500 a month, so more money for everyday living and extras.

Why can quitting smoking be so difficult?

Nicotine, the highly addictive chemical present in tobacco, affects the parts of the brain involved in producing feelings of pleasure and reward. It creates a powerful

cycle of cravings, relief, and withdrawal. Over time, smoking becomes strongly tied to everyday routines - first coffee of the day, stress relief, socialising - so you’re fighting both a chemical addiction and a linked set of habits.

What treatments are available?

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches and lozenges, help reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms, without all the harmful chemicals from smoking. There are also three prescription medicines

“Now

that work by blocking the effects of nicotine - stopping the satisfaction and reward from smoking.

I’ve heard some people use vapes (e-cigarettes) to stop smoking - aren’t they worse than smoking?

Vapes have become a very popular way to help stop smoking. They are substantially less harmful than smoking, though not risk free. They are recommended by the NHS and healthcare experts as an effective way to cut down and quit smoking.

I’ve tried quitting before, but it didn’t workwhat can I do this time?

Don’t despair - it often takes several tries. Support from friends, family and a specialist stop smoking service like ours can make a big difference.

Use previous attempts as a learning experience to know what worked and what didn’t. Think of the reasons why you want to stop as this can help with motivation. It’s also useful to identify your triggers to smoking, such as stress, after meals, certain times of the day and consider doing something to distract from or to replace the ritual of smoking.

How can I get help and support?

Contact our team on 01752 437177 for a friendly chat or email us on livewell.oyp@ nhs.net. For further information and tips, visit www.smokefreeplymouth.org.uk

Amber shares how life-changing MS research saved her

A Plymouth woman who thought her 'life was over' when diagnosed with MS aged just 20 is urging others to take part in health and care research.

Amber Reeves was away from home at university in Plymouth when she got the news she had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The diagnosis followed years of health problems, coming to a head when Amber briefly lost the sight in one eye.

Scared and uncertain about what the future might hold, Amber was given hope when offered the chance to take part in a clinical trial. The study, made possible thanks to support from the NIHR Research Delivery Network, was testing a drug called ocrelizumab. And it was recruiting people like Amber, in the early stages of the disease, who had not yet tried other treatments.

In 2026, the NIHR celebrates 20 years of supporting health and care research across the UK. Over two decades, it has helped turn research into better care, new treatments and real change for patients and the public.

Amber's participation in the study ended in 2021, but, now aged 27, she continues to take the drug, which she says has made a huge difference to her quality of life.

She said: "When I was in secondary school, I was often a bit unwell and I always felt something wasn’t right. Then when I went to uni, it got worse. But doctors always said it was growing pains, or assumed because I was a student I was out partying all the time. I started to think, maybe I was the problem.

"But when I was 20, my symptoms flared up massively. I was on a placement year, working long hours with lots of driving. I had sickness, headaches, and when I lost my vision in one eye, I ended up going to A&E.

"They couldn't confirm it was MS straightaway. But they didn't say there was nothing to worry about. And then I got the diagnosis, and that was when my whole life changed.

"I was so scared and I didn’t know what to do. The only person I knew that had MS was an old friend’s mum, and she couldn’t walk.

"I was thinking, my life is literally over at the age of 20. I haven’t even got my first proper adult job yet, I’ve not lived my life, I can’t be in a wheelchair."

Amber, who is originally from Bristol, but now lives in Plymouth, was told her disease was progressing quickly. Different treatments were discussed, but her care team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust also mentioned an upcoming trial she could be eligible for.

Amber continued: "It was such a scary time, and I felt I needed all the support I could get. I thought I would receive that if I took part in the study, and I also wanted to help others in my situation in future. I’m so glad I made that decision, because I was supported amazingly.

"After taking part in the study for two or three years, I was in a much better headspace. I knew how to manage everything and I was used to the treatment. And luckily, for me, it has worked. I'm still on the drug, and I haven't relapsed or had any change in my scans since I started treatment seven years ago.

"I am just so, so grateful to the research team, I don’t have any negatives about being part of the study at all. It’s all just positive, and if I got asked to be part of another research study, I would absolutely do it."

Thanks to this and other studies supported by the NIH R, and the volunteers who take part in them, Ocrelizumab has now been proven to be an effective disease modifying treatment for MS. It is available on the NHS to treat active relapsing MS or early primary progressive MS.

A new volunteer registry has now been launched to make it easier for people to find and take part in studies like this. Visit the Be Part of Research website at www.bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk to learn more about research and how to get involved.

Babcock and Plymouth University in new partnership to attract more students to city

Babcock and Plymouth University have signed an agreement to formalise their strategic partnership, strengthening collaboration in support of skills development, innovation and sustainable economic growth for Plymouth and the wider South West.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reflects a shared commitment to attracting students to study in Plymouth, enhancing the student experience, promoting routes into employment, addressing future workforce requirements and attracting further investment into the city. It also ensures that the wider benefits of defence investment are felt across the city and its communities.

The signing follows the UK Government's designation of Plymouth as the National Centre of Marine Autonomy, alongside the UK Defence Growth Deal announcement in September 2025, which saw the establishment of Team Plymouth, a collaborative approach with defence investment serving as a catalyst for wider economic prosperity across the city.

Together, these milestones are expected to create significant opportunities for collaboration across skills, research and innovation – areas where Babcock and the University of Plymouth already demonstrate strong alignment and shared ambition.

John Gane, managing director of Babcock's Devonport facility said: "We

Professor Richard Davies from Plymouth University and John Gane of Babcock signing the Memorandum of Understanding

are proud to strengthen our partnership with the university to drive innovation and tackle the skills gap head-on. By creating opportunities that attract talented students to study in Plymouth and providing clear pathways into employment, we are investing in the current and future workforce, while supporting the growth of our city.

“Together, education and industry are working hand in hand to deliver real impact for our communities."

Professor Richard Davies, ViceChancellor of Plymouth University, said:

"We have enjoyed a close connection to Babcock for many years, and it has generated countless opportunities for our staff, students and graduates.

“This agreement takes that work to a new level and demonstrates a shared commitment to working together to boost the UK's security and resilience in sectors including defence, energy and business

management. But it also goes beyond our two organisations, potentially benefitting our entire city and region and everyone living, working and learning within it."

The MoU builds on an expanding portfolio of successful collaboration already underway.

Recent examples include the development of a co-created module for those wanting to succeed in the nuclear industry – available to University students and Babcock employees – and the creation of a Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship.

The two organisations have also secured joint funding from the Royal Society to deliver a programme of STEM outreach to schools across the South West. This initiative sees the University delivering in-school computer coding programmes, alongside Babcock offering structured work experience opportunities at their Devonport dockyard facility.

City College Plymouth students create powerful videos about knife crime

Devon & Cornwall Police and students from City College, Plymouth have collaborated to create two videos about knife crime, aimed at the students’ peer group.

The project was designed to create messaging by young people for young people to bust the myth that you are safer if you carry a knife, to help people make the right decision about knife carrying. Young people sometimes have an inaccurate picture of knife crime in Devon and Cornwall, believing it to be as prevalent as in more urban locations which have particular issues with deprivation and gang culture. This view may also be magnified by media reports.

This causes young people to carry a knife because they think they will be safer, but the stark truth is that carrying a knife can put a person in more danger of being involved in a knife-related incident.

The nine students aged 17 and 18 wrote, directed and starred in the videos which will be shared and promoted by City College and Devon & Cornwall Police through various channels.

Devon & Cornwall Police Force lead for knife crime, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Fleetwood said: “Knife crime in Devon and Cornwall is very low and we aim to keep it that way.  By working with students at the college to create these videos, we hope that their perspective will resonate with young people, encourage them to seek information about knife crime if they are unsure and provide pathways to reporting and advice if anyone has any concerns about knife carrying.

“We are very proud of the videos created by this team of young people and have really enjoyed collaborating with them. We hope to do so again in the future.

“In November, we launched the website www.dc.nottheone. co.uk which provides information for all age groups around knife carrying, including educational packages for schools. These videos will be a really useful addition to our website and, we

A still from one of the videos made by City College students

hope, will provide relatable information for young people and help them make the safe choices about knife carrying.”

Chief executive and principal of City College, Jackie Grubb said:

“Working with the police on such an important project has been a real privilege for our college and builds on our strong existing relationship. We were delighted that the police chose to involve our students, who rose to the challenge and handled such a serious and sensitive subject with impressive maturity.

“The chance for our writers, directors and actors to receive real world feedback from the police was invaluable, and the powerful message in these videos will resonate widely.”

Tommy Holden, student and director/actor in the videos added: “Working on this knife crime project has allowed me to develop as a filmmaker and make useful connections with people inside and outside the industry.

"I’ve enjoyed all the experiences I’ve had, and it’s allowed me to contribute to a production with real impact - and to tell a story with a strong message that I’m very proud of.”

The videos can be viewed at https://dc.nottheone.co.uk/ resources/

Councillors' Column

With Devonport Ward Councillors Bill

Stevens, Mark Coker and Anne Freeman

Cllr Bill Stevens writes...

CAMPAIGNING FOR KING'S ARMS AND CORNWALL BEACH TO BE RESTORED

Recently, I've been working with Devonport residents to bring the historic King's Arms pub into a fit state.

This historic building survived the Blitz, but has been allowed to go to rack and ruin, so I'll continue to put pressure on the owners to do the right thing and give the King's Arms the love and care we all know it deserves.

In Keyham, I'm putting plans in place to get the railings at Alexandra Park restored and freshly painted. Keyham is a great community that's gone through a lot in recent years and getting the park looking good will help boost local pride.

Another historic area I'm working to get back to its former glory is Cornwall Beach. This historic site was where the famous 'Cockleshell Heroes' mission was launched from, and our MP Luke Pollard is helping me get the abandoned boats removed to allow us to be proud of this spot once again.

Councillor Anne Freeman and I have been lobbying hard against the proposed bin

Cllr Mark Coker writes...

The Number 14 bus serving Devonport and Keyham which operated Monday to Saturday was recently extended to run on Sundays providing a link to both the City Centre and Derriford Hospital.

I had been working closely with our cabinet member for transport and the council’s public transport team to fund this valued link at weekends.

Thanks to the government’s extension to the Bus Service Improvement Fund we were able to get this extension.

I have long championed better bus

storage changes in the flats at Ross and Pentamar Street. Local people are dead against these plans and we stand alongside them in wanting officials to refuse them permission.

Every day brings new issues and fresh challenges. I want to encourage everyone in our Ward to continue to keep in touch, so I can continue to get the bins emptied, the fly tipping removed, the potholes repaired and the drains cleared.

I pledge to continue working alongside everyone in Devonport, and will always be a hardworking, approachable and accessible local councillor for everyone.

To contact me email william.stevens@ plymouth.gov.uk

Good news as No 14 bus service will now run on Sundays

services for Devonport and Keyham and I am delighted that together we have delivered this extension to a popular route in the ward. The extended timetable can be found on both the Stagecoach and www.bustimes.org websites. Please let's make sure we use this bus and make it a permanent extension!

To contact me email mark.coker@plymouth. gov.uk

Cllr Anne Freeman writes...

HELPING RESIDENTS DEAL WITH SOCIAL HOUSING LANDLORDS OVER KEY SSUES

It's been a constant learning curve for me after being elected to represent the Mount Wise, Devonport, Morice Town and Keyham areas in May 2024.

There is a steady stream of individual casework where residents need help and support. In particular I have been supporting residents who have had issues with social housing landlords.

Somebody living in social housing should never have to live in sub-standard accommodation with leaky roofs or windows. I will always do my utmost in helping to tackle this unfairness.

I have been working closely with residents of Morice Town regarding the application by a social landlord to install a new outdoor waste bin system. This system would have resulted in the loss of green space areas where children play.

It would have also increased pests around the area and anti social behaviour through flytipping, household waste and graffiti.

£20M PRIDE OF PLACE FUNDING

Residents from Devonport, Morice Town and Mount Wise attended a drop in at the Market Hall with Luke Pollard MP to share their ideas on ways to use the landmark £20 million long-term investment as part of the Pride in Place funding.

The funding, secured through the Government's Pride in Place Programme, will be delivered over the next decade, providing a consistent £2 million every year. The investment is dedicated to improving local facilities, backing community groups, creating jobs, and making streets safer and stronger.

Following a successful campaign in Parliament to ensure these neighbourhoods were included in the programme, the MP is now handing the power to the community to set the spending priorities.

Luke Pollard MP said: “This investment is a once-in-ageneration opportunity. With the community’s input, we can use it to rebuild pride in our neighbourhood, tackle long-standing problems, and give the next generation more opportunities than the last.

“But my job as your MP does not end with securing the funding. My responsibility now is to make sure that every penny is spent wisely, transparently, and in line with local priorities. I will be working with the council, community groups, and residents every step of the way to ensure that happens.”

Bill Stevens, Ward Councillor for Devonport said: "This funding is a huge vote of confidence from the government, and we should all be looking forward to an exciting time ahead. I hope that as many local residents as possible take the opportunity to

suggest ways to spend the money, and encourage them to come along on Saturday, or to take part in the online survey."

Instead of central government deciding the local agenda, Luke Pollard is launching a series of consultations to ensure the £20 million goes toward what matters most – ranging from youth facilities and green spaces to support for small businesses. Luke Pollard concluded: ”Our community has been neglected for too long. Now, we have the resources to start putting that right. This is our chance to shape a stronger, safer and fairer neighbourhood together.”

Residents are encouraged to share their views and ideas by emailing luke.pollard.mp@parliament.uk

We had the official decision on January 15 that the application was refused, which is good news for local residents and shows that collective action can work. Your voices will be heard.

As councillors we are allocated to represent the City Council on 'outside bodies.' Mine is the North Yard Community Trust. We look at grant applications for small, medium and large funding requests.

With Mount Wise Village by the Sea, I have worked with some residents from Leeward House to get Firstport to honour their responsibilities and this has resulted in Building Control from Plymouth City Council intervening.

For such action to take place, as this is part of a private development, demonstrates serious issues where intervention was the only correct course of action.

I am now also the Joint Chair of Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee. The Joint Committee is split between Plymouth and Cornwall and is a hive of information. The recent storm heavily impacted both the Ferry and the Bridge – actually resulting in the Bridge being completely closed to all traffic for a little over an hour.

As Joint Chairs, we are regularly updated on major changes such as this. Did you know you can undertake a tour underneath Tamar Bridge and see all the actual mechanics and workings of the supports?

To contact me email me at anne.freeman@ plymouth.gov.uk

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National award for veterans self-build project

A collaborative partnership to provide a life-changing military veterans’ self-build project in Plymouth has won a national award.

The Stirling Housing Project in Honicknowle won the Excellence in Planning for Communities (small schemes under 50 homes) category at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards in London.

Stirling House, which houses five veterans in need of a new and affordable home, is a joint partnership between LiveWest, Plymouth City Council and veterans’ charity Alabaré.

The development, based on the site of a former residential care home at Honicknowle Green, has seen a number of previously homeless military veterans involved in the construction of the self-contained affordable homes for social rent.

The project has helped the veterans with employment, learning skills for life and

helping them settle into their new homes.

Judges on the award’s panel commented: “This project stands out for its innovative environmental solutions and commitment to sustainability.

“Collaborative planning and strong partnerships have produced resilient outcomes that benefit both people and nature, with clear evidence of social capital returned to the economy.

“The scheme demonstrates how thoughtful design can address climate challenges, while enhancing community value.”

Gareth Jones, development director for LiveWest, said: “We are delighted to have won the Excellence in Planning Communities category at the RTPI Awards.

“The recognition demonstrates the fantastic

collaborative work which made this project a huge success. Stirling House has provided much-needed affordable housing and offered ex-service personnel the unique opportunity to get involved with the construction of the homes and to learn new skills, supported in the process by Alabaré.

“We are proud to offer these high-quality and energy-efficient homes, where the build and design of the project focuses on the wellbeing of its residents.”

The Stirling House Project began in 2021 after Plymouth City Council selected LiveWest as a partner to redevelop the site. Together, the two organisations joined forces with Alabaré who provide a range of accommodation and support for ex-Armed Forces personnel who have faced challenges

in their civilian lives, and who run several veterans’ self-build schemes across the South and South West.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said: “The Stirling Project was a flagship endeavour for the trio of partners who delivered it and I’m delighted that it has been rightfully recognised on a national stage.

“We know that partnership working like this is so important to making a difference by getting homes build and in this case, giving back to veterans who have served our country.”

Throughout the project, Alabaré has provided support to the veterans, helping them to rebuild their self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing, and empowering them to go on to live successful, independent civilian lives in the new homes they have built.

The support provided by Alabaré has been funded thanks to grants from Plymouth City Council, LiveWest, Veterans’ Foundation and Army Benevolent Fund.

The development was delivered through Homes England’s Shared Ownership Homes Programme by LiveWest, with support from Plymouth City Council and Alabaré. Homes England is the Government’s housing and regeneration agency.

Totnes-based Coyde Construction was also contracted to build the Stirling House scheme which was designed by architects Form Design.

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Devonport divers raise funds for colleague

Royal Navy Divers from Plymouth have completed an epic 180-mile trek along the south coast to help a comrade. The team at Bravo Diving Unit 1 in Devonport – who deal with unexploded ordnance callouts across the South West –were spurred into action by the plight of a colleague. Petty Officer (Diver) James King was a serving member of the team prior to a recent sea deployment and was due to re-join in the summer before being diagnosed with Stage 2 bowel cancer.

James, who’s served his nation for nearly two decades, has since been receiving treatment – which is progressing well – but the diagnosis has, understandably, had a significant

impact on his life and family.

His fellow divers decided to get together to support James, who is serving in the naval base with the Plymouth Support Group for personnel recovering from serious illnesses and injuries.

The result, organised by Bravo’s colleagues in Alpha Diving Squadron from the two squadrons’ parent Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG), was a trek along the coast in December wearing diving kit from Horsea Island in Portsmouth to BDU1’s home in Devonport Naval Base.  Whilst the diving kit is state of the art and just what the divers need to do their jobs in the water, out of it, it was a

The team from Bravo Diving Unit 1 with supporters and families

30kg millstone on their backs.  That wasn’t the worst of the 180-mile odyssey, however.

“The weather was the most challenging aspect of this task,” said Lieutenant Matt Bowden, Officer in Charge of Bravo Diving Unit 1. “With storm Bram hammering the coastline, most notably around Lulworth Cove, it was extremely difficult for the team. On one day in particular the combined ascent was in excess of 1300 metres, which is higher than Snowdonia.”

Most importantly, the walk has so far raised more than £14,500 for the cause.

Experience

I was recently talking with a medical consultant and as we were finishing our conversation, I was motivated to encourage him about an article which appeared in the January issue of the Plymouth Chronicle highlighting that his colleagues had been positively acknowledged as an exceptionally run department within the NHS.

He was delighted with the news because ‘encouragement is the antidote for discouragement’ which is often in greater supply in our day to day experiences and especially in the health care sector.

The more secure we become as people in life, despite all the negativity, the more we are blessed within our interactions to be positive. I was delighted that this particular doctor who spends his life around people who are processing difficult health issues was so upbeat at the end of the call.

As people we are all working through the difficulties of life such as broken relationships and financial challenges. As a wise man once said ‘we come into life with nothing and we go out with nothing’ other than the effectiveness of the life we’ve lived. Happiness is a great pursuit, but as we all

Finding peace in life's storms

Chris Cole

know it can be temporary.

That is why happiness built on joy enables us to walk through the ups and downs of life without being blown all over the place by the

The former Royal Mail building in Central Park Avenue

GWR invests in huge office building

Great Western Railway has confirmed significant longterm investment in Plymouth after securing a major office building next to the city's railway station, as part of its wider commitment to rail-led regeneration and growth in the region.

The deal represents the largest office letting in Plymouth for a decade and the largest in the region outside of Bristol.

The new lease will bring together GWR operational and administrative teams and rail industry partners in a single, modern hub immediately adjoining Plymouth station. The move strengthens the station's role as a focal point for employment, investment and future development.

The 53,650 sq ft four-storey building, located on a two-acre site with approximately 100 parking spaces, will provide significantly enhanced accommodation for operational staff, administrative teams, and rail industry partners working in connection with station operations and future development.

Originally constructed as a Royal Mail sorting office, the building was comprehensively refurbished and converted by the University of Plymouth in 2019. Following the university’s vacation in September and the grant of planning consent for office use, GWR moved to lease the space.

GWR business assurance director Joe Graham said:

"We are delighted to announce that GWR has secured a new building lease that will provide our teams and rail industry partners with modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation for years to come.

"This significant investment demonstrates our commitment to creating an excellent working environment for our people. The building will be refurbished to deliver substantially improved facilities for operational staff, administrative teams, and colleagues from across the wider rail industryenabling us to better serve our passengers and communities."

Hector Pearce and Altitude Investments acted jointly for the landlord, supported by Temple Bright LLP Solicitors, with additional support from Tozers LLP on planning.

By Chris Cole, founder of Cross Rhythms Charity

winds of change. The joy of the Lord is a real foundation. to experience peace within the storms of life.

This is the hope that Jesus Christ gives across the globe to those who put their trust, hope and reliance upon Him. Life isn’t easy and the written word of the Bible confirms that.

The book of Job in the Old Testament is a fascinating book of why we experience good and bad circumstances which can all be used to help us understand life’s complexities.

I mention the global Christian church because the persecuted church demonstrates that people groups who have no cultural Christian experience are becoming Christians through major personal spiritual encounters with Jesus.

We are aware of what media and public theologians are calling ‘the Quiet Revival’ in the West, but global revival has been happening for decades. We can now realise this through access to news on social media such as YouTube and TikTok.

Finally, in Parliament, MPs are starting to ask questions about the tens of thousands

of Nigerian Christians literally being killed for their faith. These persecuted Christians aren’t putting their faith in a religion because many of the countries they live in do not allow Christian churches.

Their faith is in the person of Jesus Christ who the Bible teaches is 100% Divine and 100% human and demonstrates how Jesus deals, relationally, with His spiritual children through the experiences of life's journey.

This is why true peace, joy and encouragement can be experienced by those who put their trust in Him.

I’m encouraged by some of the Christian content on YouTube at the moment and there is a wonderful film called ‘Life after Death’ (2026) which is a great movie. Promoting it within this article is our encouragement to you from all of us at Cross Rhythms.

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

Drake pupils visit Eden Project

Pupils from Drake Primary Academy recently visited the Eden Project to learn more about where food comes from and how it reaches their plates.

Before entering the biomes, pupils planned their best packed lunch, thinking about the ingredients needed to create a balanced meal.

During a guided tour, pupils identified the ingredients and learned where different foods are grown and the environments they come from.

The visit also explored the journey food takes from production to consumption, helping pupils understand food choices and sustainability. Pupils later enjoyed lunch while continuing discussions about what they had learned.

The visit was part of a range of learning experiences offered by the school, giving pupils first-hand understanding and helping to connect classroom learning with the wider world.

Jacqueline Stephens, executive headteacher at Drake Primary Academy, said: "The children had a fantastic day at the Eden Project learning about where

food comes from and the journey it takes to reach us. Experiences like this really support pupils' understanding and make learning memorable."

...and also receive a visitor from Parliament

Drake Primary Academy recently welcomed Tomas Williams, the senior education and engagement officer for the South West of England, as part of the UK Parliament's Education Service outreach programme. Tomas, who works with schools across the region to help young people understand democracy and Parliament, visited the school to deliver a free Introduction to Parliament assembly for children in Years 4, 5 and 6.

The visit included an engaging presentation and a lively question and answer session, giving pupils the chance to ask questions and share their ideas.

The assembly focused on two key British values: democracy and exploring how general elections work and how MPs represent their constituencies, as well as the rule of law and learning how laws are made in Parliament.

The visit was an opportunity for pupils to see democracy in action and to learn more about the role Parliament plays in shaping the country's laws and policies. Tomas helped pupils

gain a deeper understanding of how Parliament works and the importance of having their voices heard.

Jacqueline Stephens, executive headteacher at Drake Primary Academy said: "It was wonderful to see our pupils so engaged and curious about how Parliament works and how laws are made. Visits like this bring democracy to life and help our children understand that their voices matter. At Drake Primary Academy, we believe in nurturing confident, respectful young citizens who are ready to play an active role in modern Britain."

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 written by Sam Down, one of the founders of Argyle Life. He reflects on a rollercoaster year in 2025 for Argyle - and some of his personal views and opinions are controversial. Be warned!

2025 - best forgotten!

2025 for Argyle. The old cliche goes that there are years where nothing happens and weeks where decades happen. By that logic, it feels like several centuries have passed for Argyle since we were last singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and gearing up for the annual New Year manager search tradition.

It’s certainly been a year of contrasts. Some amazing highs and a LOT of awful lows with very little in the way of forgettability.

It’s a bit crazy really – imagine if you will –waking from a year long sleep or a trip to Mars to be shown a highlights reel of the year without any other context. The away end jubilation following Whittaker’s curling winner at Brentford.

The cauldron-like atmosphere at Home Park as we inflicted an unforgettable FA Cup shock on Liverpool. The sheer insanity of taking the lead at Man City! This isn’t to mention a pair of 5-1 wins at each end of the year, and a 4-0 battering of Burton. Three home wins in a row under Miron Muslic in April hardly scratch the surface. The chaotic 3-2 win at Luton, an afterthought.

You’d finish this happy montage to think it was one of the best years in our history, would you not? Yet in reality, despite all the above, it’s been one of our worst. People talk about ‘feast or famine’ but it seems that Argyle aren’t able to keep to anything approaching a balanced diet.

For each happy memory, there have been at least two bad ones - some of which are dismal. We dropped out of the Championship after a spirited, but ultimately doomed survival push. That hurt a lot, but the real pain is in what came after. Since returning to League One, the mood of much (not all, but much) of the fanbase has turned from sombre to downright mutinous. Chairman Simon Hallett’s famous words from the February Fans Forum live long in the memory. When/if we go down, he said, we can expect to be fighting at the top end - at the very least when it comes to budget. That may be true, but our ability to spend that budget effectively has been nothing short of dismal.

I’m a guy who likes to look for patterns. It’s one thing to understand what happened and another to understand the underlying factors that lead to it. It’s not about recrimination - it’s about making sure we learn from our errors so they don’t happen again. In this context, I think Argyle’s on and off pitch failures (more detail on this later) can be put down to one simple underlying factor: We have stopped being smart.

Argyle have never been one of the richest clubs around, even in the year Steven Schumacher got us promoted as champions. Simon Hallett has always said that the secret to his Argyle success was the ability to consistently over perform our budget. We may not be able to outspend teams but we would sign smarter. We’d use advanced data metrics to sign players who specifically suited systems that we wanted to build.

We wouldn’t just spend our budget well, we’d also uplift it. Our player trading model (which whilst imperfectly executed definitely had the right ideas) meant that we’d gradually increase revenue into the club to ensure the budget was increased for the next season.

The prevailing narrative of 2025? All of the above pretty much going to hell in a handcart. To sign Michael Baidoo for a club record fee only to then hire a manager who’s style of football was fundamentally unsuited for such a player... that was silly.

We saw nowhere near the best of Baidoo, partly because. coming off the back of a Swedish ‘calendar year’ system, he was tired after a full season but the failure of integration was also a big issue.

To put the cherry on the cake, Hallett confirmed in an interview to our fellow podcasters Pilgrims Pod that Baidoo had a clause that allowed him to leave on loan in the event of relegation. Imagine if he’d been good and allowed to leave with no fee. We’d be fuming and we’d be right to be.

The summer of recruitment was arguably even worse. The long, seemingly doomed pursuit of a number nine obviously ended happily with the hire of Laurent Tolaj. Yet, Tolaj, such a clearly suitable player for our system, was available at a modest release clause from pretty early in the window. For whatever reason, we prevaricated and targeted other players first making it hard to feel that landing Tolaj was anything other than a triumph of luck over judgement. Refusing (until it was too late) to sign loan players? Not smart. Willingly letting Callum Wright and Nathaniel Ogbeta leave on loan despite both being proven at this level? Really not smart.

As for the rest of the recruitment? Well, Owen Oseni certainly looks like a diamond in the rough. But as to the rest? There are clearly some players who have quality but are prone to injuries. Xavier Amaechi, Caleb Watts, Ayman Benarous and Jack

One of the few highlights from 2025 – Ryan Hardie scores a 52nd minute penalty to give Argyle a historic FA Cup win over Liverpool

MacKenzie come to mind.

That being said, we haven’t yet hired a new senior fitness coach to replace Eddie Latimer who left for Schalke with Muslic. I don’t mean any disrespect to the club’s internal fitness staff when I say it’s no surprise the player availability has dropped off a cliff.

And frankly, there have been some signings who just aren’t even in the right postcode of being good enough and it makes you wonder what data could have led us to them.

Above all, despite the recent uptick in form, it’s far from certain we made the right choice appointing Tom Cleverley as head coach.

This is before we get to the biggest alarm bell of the lot. In the recent publication of the 2024/25 accounts, it became clear that we made a small profit of about £500,000 during the season.

Now that sounds OK at first but far less so when you realise we made over £8 million in player sales.

Without these, the losses would be huge. Alarmingly, the BBC reported that Simon Hallett has ALREADY loaned the club £10m in the six months following July 2025. Yes, some of it was pre-planned due to Foulston Park.

But it’s clear that some of it has gone towards plugging the financial black hole that is opening up.

Overall, it’s tough to see Argyle as such a smart club anymore. It’s not all bad. As mentioned, 2025 has not been without its good moments.

The women’s team is in fine form under Marie Hourihan and Foulston is set to fully open this year, hopefully with a positive impact on our academy.

Argyle haven’t lost their soul but they’ve certainly lost their edge. It looks like 2025 was the year where we stopped outsmarting other reactionary clubs and just became another club who lose money hand over foot and are reliant on an owner to make up the shortfall.

Here’s to a smarter 2026.

New Year honour for Angie

More than 1,000 sailors and Royal Marines have a dedicated colleague to thank for helping them recover from serious illnesses and injuries – earning her recognition in the New Year’s Honours.

Warrant Officer Angie Cheal from Plymouth has been made an MBE for her tireless efforts over the past eight years dedicated to the welfare and recovery of fellow Naval personnel so they can resume their careers – or, if unable, build new lives in civvy street.

The former naval photographer, whose images of helicopter carrier HMS Ocean in action during operations in Iraq in 2003 were used worldwide, has spent the past decade focused on colleagues’ welfare in Devonport Naval Base at the Personnel Support Group and Recovery Headquarters (often referred to simply as ‘PSG’ in the military).

She spent her first couple of years in the welfare role as a divisional officer, supporting medicallydowngraded personnel through complex recovery journeys. But it was during the Covid pandemic in 2020 when she identified a significant gap in

recovery provision following the loss of external charity support from Help for Heroes.

Concerned about the lack of structured recovery opportunities for long-term sick and injured personnel, Angie took the initiative to secure funding from multiple charities – including the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital – and began delivering recovery courses independently.

Since then she’s worked tirelessly to design, develop and deliver a bespoke recovery programme for Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.It uses adaptive sport and wellbeing activities to support physical rehabilitation, mental wellbeing and a renewed sense of value and purpose among Service personnel.

What began as a single initiative has grown into around 80 recovery courses annually, delivered by a five-strong team with much of the funding now coming directly by the Royal Navy.

15

In addition to her recovery work, Angie has also led specialist retreats supporting women in the Armed Forces who have experienced child loss, providing safe spaces for healing, connection and recovery.

In the words of the citation for her MBE, her efforts have had a 'direct impact on up to 1,000 people, making the experience and recovery outcomes significantly better, and laid the foundations to support many more'.

For the 51-year-old mum of two, who lives in Plymouth and hails from a naval family, working with the recovery team has been the most rewarding period of her long and varied career.

“I am immensely proud of what we have built; the people who we support are always at the forefront of my mind and I am grateful for the assistance my command has given me over the past five years to see this project become what it is today,” she said.

“It is an incredible honour to receive an MBE, and one that I accept with great pride on behalf of my very supportive family and everyone I have worked alongside throughout my career in recovery.”

Angie is one of 27 Naval personnel named in The King’s combined New Year’s/Operational Honours.

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