17 Jul Community connectors celebrate 10 years of bringing people together

We kicked off our tenth-anniversary celebrations at Torbay Communities this week with a cream tea for some of our most important ambassadors.

Our community connectors, the backbone of Torbay Communities, play a crucial role in identifying vulnerable individuals at risk of loneliness and isolation. Their work is invaluable and integral to our success.

They work tirelessly in their communities, acting as the eyes and ears of neighbourhoods and signposting to our team of community builders who are always on hand to provide help and support.

We brought together more than 130 of them on Sunday from across the Bay, and they only represented a percentage of the army of connectors who work tirelessly to help make sure everyone who wants help and support gets it.

John Ingram, with Helen Ambler (Community Builder for Brixham)

One community connector at the event on Sunday was John Ingram of the Bay Coffee Company in Brixham, who works alongside community builder Helen Ambler.

“It is really important that we are all there for each other,” he said, “after all, we are all potentially vulnerable at times.

“It is all about making the connections, and let’s face it, it is easy to be nice to people,” he added.

John recalled how, on one occasion, he helped support a reformed alcoholic who was about to become homeless and did not know where to turn. John with the help of Torbay Communities and Brixham Does Care, provided the support he needed to get back on his feet.

“If you can help one person a day, in whatever way, then it makes all the difference. It is the least you can do,” he said.

Joy Bastone

Joy Bastone has been making connections in her community of Ellacombe for more than eight years and organises a twice-monthly Monday evening walk, which helps get people out and about.

“We had one dear lady who was thrilled to be able to go out in the evening and she was over 90,” said Joy, “it not only got her out, but it gave her something to look forward to as well as providing here a new circle of friends.”

Joy also helps organise a Singing for Fun evening once a month with a pianist that brings people together.

“When I started, I was also at a loose end; my dog had just died and I knew I needed to do something, and this has fulfilled so much of that, “ she said before adding with a smile, “It also keeps me out of trouble.”

Another walk organiser of six years standing is Lousie Trewern who leads welbeing walks from the Gaia Café in Winner Street,  Paignton and Drew Park in Newton Abbot.

The Paignton walk has 14 regulars, each joining as and when they want to: “I have been staggered by the number of people that have said that the walk has changed their lives. You

Louise Trewern

think what you are doing is a small thing, but the opposite is true,” she said.

“Walking works wonders for all sorts of ailments and has a positive effect on mental health,” she added. “I try to encourage everyone to join us no matter what is wrong as we always only walk as fast as the slowest person.

One person does stick in my mind who joined our walk was suffering with their mental health but having found the courage to come along, has found lots of new friends, done some courses, changed their doctor, claimed PiP and is gaining confidence all the time.

“He says it is down to me, but I am just the catalyst and it is down to everyone on the walk; they all help each other.”

People like John, Joy, and Louise make a difference in their communities every day, bringing people together and proving that communities across the Bay are stronger together.

They are all volunteers and ask nothing in return, but they deserve our thanks and admiration because without them, we would all be poorer and our communities less resilient.