29 Jan Here’s to a happy and healthy 2026!

What a quick start to the year, we are almost through January already!!

With the success of the 2^nd Torbay Community Champion Awards having just completed, it’s really heartwarming to see how many amazing members of our community are helping and supporting those around them. It is a wonderful way to celebrate these individuals and groups of people, especially as organisations like ours wouldn’t function as well as it does without our volunteers, supporters, and connectors. A huge Thank You to those of you who do this day in, day out, and not always recognised for it, but keep going, as that is who you are!

I know this time of year can be challenging for some of us, dull days, weather doesn’t help with getting out and about, festivities over with, families back to everyday things…but we don’t want to let that stop us getting on with life, building up resilience for mental and physical health.

There are things we can do from home, for example telephone befriending – where you make a call once a week to a matched person (someone you have something in common with) and build that connection up over time or you could host a small group of people from your local community for a social or specific topic (with support from your community builder), or maybe help with organising events even (admin support is always welcome), please get in touch if you would like to find out more.

If you are able to get out but still unsure what to do or where to go; here are some ideas that may be useful…

Active Lives Torbay course – a free course that presents simple and practical steps to maintain and improve your health and wellbeing. It is all about empowerment and choosing goals to move forward positively and enjoy healthy activities. An opportunity to focus on you and make new friends. All classes run for 10 weeks from 10:30am – 1:30pm, with an optional social lunch from 1:30pm to 2:30pm – Wednesdays in Torquay commencing 28^th January 2026, Upton Vale Baptist Church, St Marychurch Road, Torquay TQ1 3HY. There are also classes in Paignton and Brixham, should you have a friend you would like to go with from those areas. Please contact Jess Slade if you would like to join – Mobile: 07772023170 Email: [email protected]

We also have our regular groups, TQ2 Social Group meets weekly at the Central Conservative Club on Thursdays 5-7pm, plus we still have the Monthly Adventurers meal, all are welcome to join these lovely groups, no matter where you live in the Bay (Please get in touch with Mervyn on 07748 661150 if you would like to join us) There are also Walking groups (Community Builder can advise), or Social sewing (Fiver Fabrics at 19 Lucius St – please email Sophie at [email protected] for further info)

You can call me on 07977 187138 or email: [email protected]