This year, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) has once again supported and organised a whole host of festive events to help our residents, the local community and our staff get in the Christmas spirit.
We started our celebrations on Tuesday 2nd December with our Plumer House Christmas tree light switch on, as staff, their families, local residents and families supported by our current charities of the year, St Luke's Hospice Plymouth and Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) gathered as we turned on this year’s Christmas tree lights.
We were joined by our Resident Communication Advisors (RCA) who sang carols so wonderfully for the occasion before the crowd buzzed with excitement as the eagerly anticipated countdown began. Dude Sutton, a PCH resident who is being supported by CHSW pressed the giant plunger, lighting up our Christmas conifer which has become a regular feature for those who pass Plumer House. Find out more.
At the start of the month, Tracy, a member of our RCA alongside Jo, our Resident Involvement Coordinator delivered donations to The Jan Cutting Healthy Living Centre Wellbeing Hub who were collecting for Plymouth’s Official Homeless Shoebox Appeal 2025. Staff and residents came together to collect donations in November for their appeal. Thank you for your support.
On Monday 8th December, the St Budeaux Platform Gardening Men’s Group held their Christmas event at the Kings Tamerton Community Centre. The members enjoyed a buffet and played skittles.
The group was set-up two years ago by the Pioneer Project and Ryan Huws, Communities Worker at PCH started supporting the group this year to increase the involvement of PCH residents. The group is working on transforming an old disused railway platform which is currently totally overgrown into a productive garden.
On 10th December, PCH supported the Efford Community Christmas Event with a free toy stall at High View School, Torridge Way, Efford. The stall was held by PCH contractor, Acorn by Synergie and the toys were collected by our Reuse Centre. Hundreds of people and children came along to buy items from the different stalls, enjoy a huge raffle and see Santa in his grotto.
Xavier Ayling-Brasnell, Branch Manager at Acorn by Synergie, said: “‘Over the next 3 years (by June 2027) we pledge to dedicate a minimum of 10,000 hours of company time towards initiatives and activities which will enhance social mobility within our organisation and the wider community.”
On Thursday 11th December, PCH held a free toy giveaway at The Beacon, our community hub located in the heart of the North Prospect for all PCH residents and the local community to enjoy. The toys were donated by our Reuse Centre who clean up toys that are accumulated when residents leave their PCH properties and are provided free to local families.
The event was supported by staff from across PCH, and we would like to thank Ian Williams for their donation of selection boxes.
Leigh Ferguson, Senior Communities Worker at PCH, said: “We understand that Christmas time can put financial pressures on families, so our toy giveaway event helps us to support those families whilst also making sure a number of our pre-loved toys from our Reuse Centre find a new home. The event is also a great opportunity for PCH staff to meet our residents and share some festive spirit.”
PCH & Ian Williams
Staff at PCH also celebrated Christmas Jumper Day on 11th December, raising over £170 for Save the Children.
Last Monday, PCH held their annual Christmas event at The Beacon, where many children and families came along to enjoy a fun afternoon meeting Santa, having their face painted and indulging in sweet treats, all free of charge.
Thank you to the following contractors and local businesses for supporting the event:
- Hallwell Projects Ltd - 40 Selection Boxes
- SJS construction - 50 Selection Boxes
- M J Pepper – 10 Selection Boxes
- Ian Williams - 150 Selection Boxes
- R TJ Martin - 180 Selection Boxes.
- SCCI - 100 Selection Boxes
- Plymouth Citybus - £500 donation
- The Works, Plymstock - organised toys which were purchased with Citybus Funding
Richard Stevens Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus, said: “At Plymouth Citybus, we care deeply about the communities we serve, and we’re proud to support Plymouth Community Homes with their Christmas events. We know how important these moments are for local families, especially at this time of year, and we’re delighted that our donation will help bring a little extra joy to children and families across the city this Christmas."
On Tuesday 16th December, the Janner Men’s Shed hosted their annual Christmas lunch, thanks to the generous £600 donation from the Asda Foundation Better Together fund.
We were proud to support Devonport Live with their Winter Wonderland event this year, at their café in Devonport. Huge well done to the team for organising yet another successful event.
Throughout December, we’ve been giving away prizes of up to £100 to four lucky residents through our ‘Festive Giveaway Series’ on social media.
Congratulations to Lauren, Lisa and Stacey for winning three of the four prizes. The fourth winner is to be selected very soon…
Festive Giveaway Winner 1
Festive Giveaway Winner 2
Festive Giveaway Winner 3
This month, Jonathan Cowie, our Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Dawson, Executive Director of Homes & Communities and Nick Jackson, Executive Director of Business Services & Development have been visiting five local charities to present them with a donation of £1,000 each.
PCH has made five donations of £1,000 each to local charities Plymouth Foodbank, Provide Devon, Jeremiah's Journey, Devon and Cornwall Food Action and Southway Community Group CIC who provide valuable support to some of our residents and others in need across Plymouth, and into Devon and Cornwall. Find out more.
This Christmas PCH also supported Provide Devon's winter fundraiser appeal by hosting a Christmas Foodbank Donation Week on Monday 15 December - Friday 19 December. Earlier this week, Maddie and Steve from Provide Devon visited PCH to collect the donations from staff and meet with Nicola and Darren from our Financial Inclusion and Income Recovery team, and CEO Jonathan Cowie.
