Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) established its Communities and Partnerships Team in August 2025, reinforcing its commitment to building strong local partnerships, supporting residents and creating thriving communities.
Summer has been a busy time for the team, with 22 events scheduled from June to September.
From celebrating diversity and inclusion at Plymouth Pride to helping residents build confidence and develop cooking skills through sessions at Poole Farm, the team continues to make a positive impact across the city.
Have a look at some of the great work they've been doing.
June Events
The summer began in June with the team supporting the Plymouth Hope Festival, an annual multicultural community event that celebrates diversity, promotes social cohesion and marks the start of Refugee Week. The team attended to raise awareness of PCH's services and engage with residents, while also providing free, family-friendly activities. PCH also supported the event with a £500 community grant.
Later in the month, the team took a different approach by delivering the Community Wellbeing Champion Programme alongside partners Livewell Southwest. The programme equips residents with the skills, knowledge and recognised qualifications needed to support health and wellbeing within their communities.
The training proved to be a great success, with additional sessions now planned for 3rd November at The Beacon. Spaces are limited; to book your place, contact healthandhousing@pch.co.uk or contact Rachael on 07753852243.
July Events
As July arrived, one highlight was the Food is Fun cooking sessions delivered at Poole Farm. These sessions allowed residents to learn new recipes, develop kitchen skills and explore healthy, affordable meal options in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Colin McEwan, Plymouth Community Homes resident said:
"I love cooking, so it's great to come along to something like this. It's not just about learning new recipes; it's also a fantastic opportunity to meet new people.”
The team also joined thousands of people on Plymouth Hoe for Plymouth Pride, celebrating inclusion, diversity and equality. The event provided an opportunity to connect with communities from across the city while demonstrating PCH's ongoing commitment to creating neighbourhoods where everyone feels welcome, respected and able to be themselves
August Events
August began with a visit to Janner Men's Shed, highlighting the importance of creating welcoming spaces where people can come together, share skills and build friendships. PCH is proud to support the group through funding and promotion.
Andy, Janner Men’s Shed Chair, added:
“Without PCH, we wouldn’t be running. They have played valuable part in building Janner Men’s Shed, not just through funding of the space, but also support and promotion of our activities. For this open day specifically, they also helped fund the bouncy castle and delivered leaflets to residents in the area. We are all extremely grateful for their continued support."
The team’s work continued through a joint initiative with Plymouth City Council and Grow, Share, Cook, a local organisation dedicated to promoting healthy eating and reducing food waste. The initiative went beyond attendance at Fit & Fed events, focusing on engaging families who may benefit from additional support and extending access to vegetable bags and other services throughout the summer holidays.
Rachael Fox, Communities and Partnerships Manager at Plymouth Community Homes, said:
“Being part of events like this is especially rewarding because it brings local organisations together. It’s been great to attend the Fit & Fed events and help extend the support offered through Grow Share Cook. It has also provided a valuable opportunity to talk to people about the other ways Plymouth Community Homes can support them."
In addition, the team supported Play and Beyond sessions, working in partnership with Family Hubs across the city.
Community Fun Days and Events
Throughout the summer, the team supported community fun days across the city, alongside a range of health and wellbeing events delivered with partner organisations. One such event at Honicknowle Green was supported by Bell Group, which generously donated children's books to help engage young attendees and promote a love of reading. Kovia also supported the Efford event by providing free toys for children.
These events provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from residents about their communities and discover what matters most to them. The feedback gathered over the summer will help shape our future Community Investment Plan, with further resident consultation taking place from September.
These events included:
- 29 July - Community Fun Day at The Barn, Barne Barton
- 3 August - Honicknowle Community Fun Day, Honicknowle Green
- 5 August - Manadon Summer Fun Day, Manadon Sports and Community Hub
- 12 August - Wellness Wednesday Health and Social Inclusion Event, Oxford House Creative Hub
- 15 August - Our Efford Community Event, High View School
- 19 August - Pembroke Street Community Event
- 24 August - Community Alcohol Partnerships Summer Festival, Tinside Lido
Finally, the summer rounded off on a high with a Summer Bonanza at Tamar House. Residents enjoyed an afternoon of fun, games and ice-cream, coming together to celebrate the last of the summer sunshine.
Thank you to all the residents, community groups, partners and colleagues who helped make these events such a success. We look forward to continuing the conversation and working together to create stronger, thriving communities across Plymouth.
If you're interested in the work of our Communities and Partnerships Team and would like to find out more, we'd love to hear from you. You can get in touch via communitypartnerships@pch.co.uk or 0808 230 6500.
