Plymouth Albion and Vospers have teamed up to deliver a groundbreaking community initiative aimed at revitalising rugby in Plymouth’s primary schools.

The partnership is providing professional coaching, fostering key values of the sport, and giving hundreds of children the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence through rugby.

With limited access to sports facilities in many schools, the programme is bridging the gap by integrating rugby training into PE lessons and after-school sessions.

Since its launch, the initiative has already made a significant impact with 14 primary schools across the PL1 and PL2 areas actively participating. Over 300 children are engaged in rugby training every week. Three dedicated community coaches are delivering more than 90 hours of coaching each month.

A ground-breaking partnership has been created between All Saints Academy Plymouth and Clean Our Patch CIC.

It follows the opening last November of the Burrington Community Hub at All Saints, designed to support both students and the local community.

The initiative has seen students and local residents come together to tackle the growing issue of litter, demonstrating their love for the community. One group of determined students, all members of the school’s Mindfulness Club, recently took part in a community litter pick, collecting a remarkable 11 bags of rubbish.

A former Royal Navy chef who was based in Devonport nearly 50 years ago is seeking help from Chronicle readers to track down a former girlfriend.

Terry Webster served on HMS Ajax from 1976 to 1981 and it was while he was in Plymouth that he met a young lady called Sherry Wilson, who was in her late teens at the time.

Terry said:

“The last time I saw Sherry was working in The Brown Bear pub in Devonport and I believe she lived in naval accommodation near the pub.”

Anyone who may know Sherry or can provide Terry with some information about her can contact the Chronicle via email at info@cornerstonevision.com. The information will then be passed to Terry.

The crew of Devonport-based warship HMS St Albans were treated to a culinary delight to celebrate Commonwealth Day 2025, whilst preparing for operations off the Southwest.

Organised by two of HMS St Albans’ chefs, Able Seaman Rhodri Henry from St Vincent and Leading Hand Ashanti Green from Jamaica, the pair brought a little bit of the Caribbean to food options on offer to the frigate’s busy crew.

The menu choices were inspired by Rhodri and Ashanti West Indian cultures, that included spicy flavours, fried and baked dishes as well as hearty fish stews.

Plymouth’s brand new state-of-the-art sports, wellbeing and community hub – The Hub at Foulston Park – has been officially opened.

Developed and operated by Argyle Community Trust, The Hub represents the first phase of Plymouth Argyle’s multi-million-pound redevelopment of the former Brickfields Sports Centre and surrounding site.

Police officers in Devonport have achieved a number of positive outcomes as part of their recent effort to drive down crime affecting the livelihoods of local people.

Recent police activity in Devonport has had a focus on shoplifting, police visibility and thorough investigations. Their work has secured a number of successful results.

Plymouth’ s bus network is to receive a £4.5 million investment from April, in partnership with local operators.

A programme of improvements for the coming year, developed in line with the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and funded by the Department for Transport’ s 2025/26 Bus Grant, was approved today.

The improvements will help achieve the Plymouth Enhanced Bus Partnership’s vision to ‘create a thriving bus network where everyone can be connected to important people and places, by services that are frequent, reliable, fast, affordable, safe and clean, which will also help Plymouth to achieve its net zero goals by 2030.’

Parking charges are set to increase in Plymouth.

Over the past 12 months the City Council has a made a number of improvements to support motorists, including the creation of over 400 extra wide spaces, expanding payment options, increasing the maximum stay on street in the city centre, and introducing business permits in some loading areas.

However, increases need to made to parking charges to cover rising costs and the rate of inflation. The plans offer motorists a greater choice of parking and payment options, make tariffs and permit schemes more consistent and brings Plymouth’s parking charges more in line with other parts of the country.

A new, major study aimed at revitalising Britain’s coastal communities has been launched at Parliament, with representatives from Plymouth playing a pivotal role in its development.

On the Waterfront is groundbreaking research and was unveiled at an All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting by Key Cities. The report underscores the immense potential of coastal communities to drive national growth and calls for urgent investment and strategic focus.

Two nurses from Livewell Southwest have been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse for providing the highest standards of patient care in the community.

Megan-Louise Bonner and Lisa-Marie Veale work in Plymouth as District Nurse Specialist Practitioners and have been recognised for their ongoing commitment to supporting the treatment of people with complex medical needs in the comfort of their own surroundings.

An annual budget that injects more than £30 million of additional funding to meet ongoing cost and demand pressures in essential social care and homelessness services has been agreed by Plymouth City Council.

The additional funds have been included in the £253.4 million revenue budget for 2025/26 approved at the Full Council meeting pn February 24. A rise in Council Tax of just under five per cent was also agreed.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said:

“Despite the huge financial challenges we continue to face, we have not only managed to balance the books but also delivered a budget that remains hugely ambitious for growing Plymouth’s prosperity and delivering what Plymouth residents say matters most – creating jobs, more affordable housing, improving health, increasing safety and most importantly, supporting the elderly and protecting the most vulnerable children in Plymouth.”