Many thanks to Kevin Foster for permitting us to use part of his weekly Residents’ Update. This is an abridged version and the full version can be found on his website.
£1.8m For Disabled Facilities Grants,
The Government has confirmed Torbay Council will receive £1,876,076 of funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in 2020-21.
The DFG is capital funding for the provision of home adaptations to help older and disabled people to live as independently and safely as possible in their homes.
Homeless Funding Plans Confirmed,
Torbay Council has confirmed its plans for the latest funding it has received from the Government for reducing rough sleeping in our bay.
Over the past year a team of six workers have worked with 140 people. This funding continuing means they can continue to work with the 90 people who are on their active case load. The team will also be able to support 23 people who are in stable accommodation in case they need any help in keeping their tenancy, preventing them ending up back on the streets.
The funding, which will be available from April 2020, will continue to pay for workers in areas like resettlement, tenancy support, drug and alcohol, Landlord liaison and Prison support roles. The funding will also support much needed mental health interventions.
You can read more on the Torbay Council website
Half a Mile of Pennies,
Once again Co-ordin8 students and staff are hoping to put together a half a mile of pennies.
Following the appeal collected coppers will be gathered up, tables will be set out and lines of pennies painstakingly placed in line. All hands will be on deck to help see if they can break last year’s record of over 5,000 individual coins!
You can drop off any spare coppers you may like to donate at Paignton Parish Church Hall (Church Path, Tower Road) on Tuesday to Friday at 10am til 3pm, with the main event taking place in the Hall on Friday 27th March at 1pm.
and finally….VIP Birds.
Ending on a different note earlier this week Torbay Council’s Planning Committee approved detailed plans for 187 new homes in Paignton, which includes a plan which is anything but cheap.
The site is at Yannon’s Farm and already had outline permission, yet as part of a scheme, the developer (not the taxpayer) is paying £437,500 to provide an alternative breeding habitat for five pairs of cirl buntings, a rare finch-like bird once common in the south of England but now only found in south Devon. At an average of £43,750 per bird these really are some VIPs.
You can read more on Devon Live website.
Forthcoming Local Events
LENT Lunch at St Marychurch (Church Hall), Thursdays throughout Lent at 12.30pm
£5 for Home made Soup with Crusty Bread /Fruit/Coffee or tea. Money raised goes to a different charity each week.
Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd March – Torbay Art Show – Torquay Boy’s Grammar School 10am – 5pm. Entry is free. The second Torbay Art Show with over 75 professional artists from across the UK exhibiting their works of art for visitors to enjoy and buy. A large selection of original paintings, observations, drawings and limited edition prints from Robert Lenkiewicz’s will be on display for all to enjoy. For more info click here. Every Monday Noon until 2pm (Soup from Noon) – Snack and Natter is in the Coverdale Centre, Church Path, Paignton. We are also looking for volunteers to come along and help out, either at Snack & Natter or Christ Church. Please call Anita 07895925785 for more information.
Every Tuesday from 0930 till 1230. The Royal British Legion Office, 39 Church Street, Paignton is open. It is where ex members of the armed forces can receive help and advice. Appointments can be made by phoning 01803 555838, or email paignton.bcs@rbl.community.
Every Tuesday & Wednesday (10:45 – 12 noon) – Lectures at Torquay Museum
529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 1HG – Lectures are free to TMSM,& cost £5 to Non-Members on the door! For more details click here.
Torbay Interfaith Forum – The Forum was re-named as the Torbay Faith and Belief Forum from 1st January 2020. Please click here for the new Programme that has just come out for 2020.