30 Jul Let’s continue to bring people together, with plenty of events coming soon…

Shanties by the Sea concert, 13th November 2024 at the Berry Head Hotel

Torbay Communities has been operating in the bay now for eleven years, as of this month. Founded back in July 2014 under our original name, the Torbay Community Development Trust, we’ve since gone from strength to strength, establishing a number of partnerships and projects around Torbay, with the aim of bringing the community together by enabling and empowering connections between people.

But, like most charities and community-based organisations, this is heavily dependent on funding. We’ve been very lucky (and are very thankful) to those who have funded our efforts so far, from major funders such as the National Lottery, Torbay Council, and the NHS, to the generosity of the community through fundraising and donations. However, this does not mean we have a Scrooge McDuck-esque vault, piled high with money we can simply dive into at will for whatever we want; if anything, it means we’re under more pressure to get things done on budget, and still, at times, will also have had to tighten our belts or make hard decisions to achieve it.

This year, we’ve got a variety of fundraising events coming up, which we hope will appeal to people from all walks of life, who we can bring together for a good time, and can help us raise funds for services we’ve proven time and time again make a difference and have helped Torbay residents in their thousands.

Our first event is coming up in less than a month’s time – our ABBA Silent Disco outside the new Cantina Torquay in Abbey Park, 16^th August. Two discos, 3-5pm for families at £10 a head, and an adults-only disco 7-9pm, £15 each. Join us for lots of ABBA & 70s hits, a fancy-dress contest, and refreshments from Cantina Torquay. Bust a move and help mark 50 years since ABBA’s concert in the bay, and 75 years since Eurovision was first dreamt up in a hotel, right here in Torbay. Tickets are going fast, so I’d recommend getting yours ASAP online, at https://bit.ly/abbatorbay25

On Monday 8^th September (or maybe 12^th, depending on the weather!) we will be setting sail from Paignton Harbour to a Wildlife & Cream Tea Cruise, 2-5pm and journeying out towards Teignmouth, followed by Berry Head and disembarking back at Paignton Harbour. Cream teas are included in the ticket; however, a raffle & bar will be available onboard. There’s only 50 tickets, £25 each, so to claim yours, please call Jess on 07772 023170.

The following day, Tuesday 9^th, we’ll be returning to Berry Head Hotel for our Sea Shan-Teas concert, 3-6pm, with cream tea & music brought to you by pianist Anne Fairey and the Harbour Buoys, all for £12. Tickets will be available from our website as well, or go to https://bit.ly/seateatq25

Now, after two cream teas and enjoying the sights and sounds of our previous events, you may want to stretch your legs, so how about joining us on Saturday 13^th September for Walk & Talk the Bay? Join us for as little or as much as you’re feeling up to, on one of our two routes culminating at People’s Parkfield (Parkfield House) in Paignton, with starting points in Torquay & Brixham, led by our fantastic Community Builders. There will be lots to see and talk about en route, including local history and landmarks, with locals in the know. You can book for just £10 as a grown-up, under 18s for £5, or for a family of four, just £15. And hey, why not grab a commemorative t-shirt while you’re at it? All can be booked online on our site or via https://bit.ly/walktalkbay25

Coming soon, following the success of last year, will be our second annual ball. More details will be revealed soon, but pencil in Saturday 1^st November, and keep your eyes on both our Facebook page @torbaycdt and here on our website, as tickets will go live very soon, along with more information. What can we guarantee? You’ll have a blast, with a fiery line-up of entertainment, a three-course meal of fine dining, a casino and then some.

Join us for any of these events, have fun, try something different, all while helping to fund life-changing services such as the Torbay Community Helpline, our Community Builders, Active Lives, Imagine This and much, much more. Help us continue to bring people together, by joining in the fun!