It’s the final call to nominate your Community Champions for 2025. Entries close at midnight on Sunday, January 4th and then it will be up to a panel of judges to come up with a shortlist of three for each of the nine categories, all of whom will be invited to a presentation ceremony at Bay Church in Sands Road, Paignton, on Friday, January 23rd. Competition in most categories is fierce, though there is always room for more, so don’t let the New Year celebrations get in the way of you celebrating and thanking that special person who makes a difference in your life.

Our guest contributor today is Kevin Dixon, volunteer chair of Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Have we forgotten the misery and dangers of getting the flu? Despite widespread access to vaccination services, uptake among at-risk groups across Torbay seems to be declining. This raises urgent public health concerns as the flu is a serious illness. In response, NHS bosses in the South West have issued a last chance call for people to get their flu jab to be protected ahead of the festive holidays, as flu hospitalisations in the region surge by three quarters (76%) in just one week.

Can you bring the element of order to a complex, emergent and un-prescribed programme? Do you believe systemic change is possible? Are you passionate about logistics and people in equal measure? Do you want to see long-term change in Torbay? We want to hear from you if you are interested in working at the heart of an exciting approach to change in Torbay. Utilising an innovative and long-term funding opportunity from LocalMotion, we are collaborating across sectors and communities in Torbay to: ● Work together differently, with authenticity and trust.

‘Tis that time of year when there is so much to celebrate. For people on their own this Christmas, Space at Our Table is once again offering the opportunity for isolated people to have a special Christmas day. This free event is at St. Mary the Virgin Church Hall, St. Marychurch TQ1 4PZ from 12pm to 4pm and includes a wonderful Christmas lunch, music, raffle and bingo. Booking is essential. Please call 07356 231796 and leave a message. Free transport can also be provided for people living in Torquay and Paignton.

NOMINATIONS continue to come in for the Torbay Community Champion Awards, but we look forward to receiving more. Deadline for nominations is midnight on Sunday, January 4th, but don’t leave it until the last minute, as Christmas and New Year might mean you forget. So far, there is a good spread across the nine categories, though we would like to see more in the Emergency Worker of the Year Award, which was last year won by Angie Manning from What’s Your Problem. However, it is a broad category and could well feature someone from the RNLI, coastguard, ambulance, fire service or the police, that is up to you.

At the heart of Christmas is community, connection and kindness. Christmas is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, and while the twinkling lights, festive music, and joyful gatherings all play their part, the true magic of the season lies in the spirit of togetherness. Beyond the presents and parties, Christmas is a reminder of what matters most: community, compassion, and the connection with the people around us. At the centre of the celebration are family and friends. Christmas gives us the chance to step away from the rush of everyday life and enjoy quality time with the people who bring warmth and meaning to our world. 

Each week, I get to chat with some truly inspiring people on my Volunteer Show, which goes out each Tuesday between 10 am and 1 pm on Riviera FM. Over the course of a year, I have spent many happy hours talking to people who more often than not do not fully recognise the importance of what they do, nor how they help change lives. To a man and a woman, they are modest and begin the show not really knowing why I am so keen to get them on the radio, to talk about their work, but they are all incredible, and I always get a reaction from our listeners.

We celebrated a few big birthdays in Wellswood recently! Talented Dennis, who plays guitar and sings for Music at the Museum, celebrated his 90th birthday with friends and family. On Tuesday, the 9th December at 2pm – 3.30pm, Dennis is returning to play and sing Xmas carols and songs at the Museum, after a break while it was closed for a while. There will be hot drinks and mince pies. Come along to join us to listen or sing with Dennis in the café at Torquay Museum. Wonderful Eva, who was in the Wrens during the war, based at Bletchley Park, was one hundred and one years old!

Is there anything better in a community than good neighbours? Probably not. They are the glue that holds communities together; they look out for each other, step up when needed, and are always there for one another. In fact, the only thing better than a good neighbour is two good neighbours! Good neighbours play a vital role in fostering a sense of community and enhancing the quality of life in areas across the Bay. A good neighbour is often characterised by their willingness to help, respect for boundaries, and ability to communicate effectively.

We are getting into the Christmas spirit here at Torbay Communities, and what better way to celebrate all things community this year than with a festive advent calendar? Head over to our virtual advent calendar, and open your first door today. Don't forget to keep going back each day, until December 24th. There are no prizes, just the nice warm feeling of a job well done...

I love music.  Believe me, I have little talent playing an instrument, but listening to music is so important.  Finding hidden gems, feel-good anthems, music that makes you laugh, smile or cry.  As a Community Builder, I listen to music in the car between visits and meetings.  I meet people who truly are lonely and isolated.  But with the radio on, you listen to the choices of the DJ.  It might be REM’s Shiny Happy People, songs full of joy or something completely different. There are many songs about loneliness - Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams, The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby, Roy Orbison’s Only the Lonely, to name a few.

NOMINATIONS are already starting to come in for the prestigious Community Champion Awards 2025, and we are looking forward to receiving many, many more. Last year, we were delighted to get an incredible 180 entries across the nine categories, and the judges struggled to come up with a shortlist of three for each. And now they are preparing to do it all again. Please don’t let festivities get in the way, because you only have until midnight on Sunday, January 4th, to get your nominations in here on the Torbay Communities website…

Joey here, talking about Sports and space-related activity. Bringing these two areas of focus together makes me think of the 1996 movie “Space Jam”. This was one of my favourite childhood films featuring the Looney Tunes, Moronic Aliens, Michael Jordon, and other famous basketball legends. An inspiring story of believing you can come back when the odds feel against you, chasing your dreams, rallying together to empower others, and celebrating diversity. I love the power of a good story and how that can resonate, stay with you and motivate you to take positive steps in your life.

They’re back, the Torbay Community Champion Awards have launched to celebrate the very best of our communities and those who live in them. It is your chance to say a very public thank you to someone who deserves recognition and has gone the extra mile in their role, helping make the Bay a brighter and more inspiring place to live. Torbay Communities has again teamed up with the Torbay Weekly to shine a spotlight on remarkable individuals in the Bay. We aim to celebrate and honour those who contribute so much to our communities, particularly within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector.

Our work is extremely varied, and we meet some wonderful people.  This includes those who run groups and folks who go along and take part; they connect, make friends, and eventually support others. I’d like to say a big thank you to Viv, a wonderful lady who takes part in many activities in the community. She also volunteers at two bereavement groups and the Paignton Town Memory Café.  She always has time to listen to others; she is caring and has much empathy. Viv has had a massive loss of her own; that’s how we met.

Many people think they know what it is like to be lonely. Thankfully, few understand what it is like to be lonely and isolated. Those who have had the misfortune to be lonely and isolated know only too well how debilitating it can be, triggering depression, illness and even suicidal thoughts, and it can affect people of any age. Loneliness can come in many forms, and for most people, it is a transient emotion. It is often confused with solitude, but one can still feel lonely in a room full of people.

The Timebank is a wonderful way to meet new people, make new friends, and at the same time earn time credits. For every hour you give, you earn a time credit, which you can then save up to spend when you need something yourself. No money changes hands, but if you incur costs when giving time, these should be paid for. You can offer a variety of things that you enjoy doing. We have Timebankers who visit people at home or just telephone those who can’t get out. This can be mutually satisfying; you may be greeted with a warm smile and make a big difference to someone’s life.

Christmas is coming up fast, and as you read this, there are just over seven weeks to go! For most of us, it is a time to look forward to, full of love and joy, but for others, it is a time to dread. A time of loneliness and isolation. Just like every other day of the year. Our Community Builders are busy across the Bay throughout the year, but they are especially aware as we approach the big day that there are thousands of people in our communities who will need help and support to get through it.

How can we create a community, when it’s difficult to find ways to meet each other? – Answers on a postcard, please… I really do have a lovely job, but amongst its many challenges is finding ways to connect and bring a hidden community together.  Large housing estates, very limited community infrastructure, lack of what we call “bumping spaces” – no schools, doctors' Surgeries, corner shops, takeaways, or even a noticeboard, or community benches.  Many of these new estates could be considered dormitories, but somehow connections do begin to be made.

Wow! We asked for ideas about what you would like to improve in Torquay, and they flooded in. We asked you to think in and out of the box, and boy, did you deliver – more than 60 projects designed to improve lives in the town as part of the ten-year Government-funded Plan for Neighbourhoods investment – now renamed Pride in Place - Torquay. You were asked to focus on three key areas with the following guidance: Thriving places - People take immense pride in their local areas, but too many of our high streets and estates have become neglected and left behind.

Exciting opportunity for a charity sector Community Helpline Manager in Torbay The Torbay Health and Wellbeing Voluntary Sector Network in Torbay is recruiting a full-time Manager to oversee the Torbay Community Helpline. This post will be based in the local voluntary sector infrastructure organisation - Torbay Communities, hosts of the Community Helpline. We are seeking an exceptional individual to lead this nationally recognised and acclaimed innovation. Torbay’s Community Helpline was established during the Covid pandemic and has since been developed by the local community into a central access point to the voluntary and community sector as a whole.

My name is Sarah and I’m the Community Builder for Kings Ash, which includes Foxhole and QED areas of Paignton.  My role as a Community Builder is to bring communities together and help those in our community who may feel alone and isolated, feel more a part of their community.  Also, to highlight what great things are happening within our community. It’s been a busy couple of months in Kings Ash, and there are some great things going on.  The Wellbeing Walking group is going from strength to strength, and we love to explore different places around the bay, especially the coffee shops!

On 25th September, the Torbay Community Builders had the incredible opportunity to welcome Joe Erpenbach and Rebecca Pauls from the USA. As fellow Community Connectors.  Joe Erpenbeck is a consultant and Faculty Member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute. Their visit was more than just a meeting—it was a moment of shared inspiration and affirmation. We were deeply moved by the exchange of ideas, stories, and experiences. Discovering that we walk a similar path, guided by the same ethos of connection and community, was a powerful validation that we’re heading in the right direction.

Each week, we receive a steady stream of people putting themselves forward to volunteer. Some know exactly what they want to do and which sector they want to volunteer for, others are not sure – they just know they want to give something back, and a handful simply want to explore volunteering in principle to see if it is for them. We can help all of them, and one of our team will always give them a ring to chat it through and work out where their skills and interests would be best served.

The Torbay heat for the Baton of Hope UK was incredible. The community really pulled together for this, and it was awe-inspiring. All those involved in the preparations, delivery and attendance on the day did Torbay proud. What a powerful community we have. I loved engaging with people around community building for Torbay Communities, and I represented Active Devon with a stall, sharing information around Torbay on the Move and Sports Torbay. It was a heartfelt day of connectivity and support for one another, and I look forward to what is going to grow from such a united event.