Supporting Content
About
At a time when we’re being asked to work together, we will be sharing details of where you can find help and support from organisations and individuals in your area who are working hard to make things easier for you.
If you are in a position to help and have something that you’d like us to share, get in touch:
Email: radio.devon@bbc.co.uk and put "Make a Difference" into the subject title.
Phone: 01752 260323
Happy Heads Volunteering
Some of our partner organisations offer volunteering opportunities for you to help children and young people locally. We'll post those here.
Listen to volunteers making a difference now
The following charities are looking for volunteers. Could you give your time to help?
Devonport documentary
Hear the story of one community connecting through the Covid crisis.
Local people look back on the pandemic and share their experiences and learning of life under lockdown.Listen here on 鶹Լ Sounds
Give a laptop
With schools across the country closed to most children, because of the latest coronavirus lockdown, teachers are worried some pupils will struggle to access lessons online.Nearly 1 in 10 households in the UK with children - don’t have access to a computer or tablet to get online.Do you have old devices you don’t need anymore?
How to donate a device
Please DO NOT bring donations to 鶹Լ sites as we are unable to accept them.
Please visit this page for details of where and how to donate your laptop.
Share your scheme
If you are a tech or data company with schemes that can help with access to the internet, or a charity not listed who would like to share details with the 鶹Լ's Make a Difference Give a Laptop campaign, contact your local 鶹Լ radio station or email england@bbc.co.uk.Pledge to talk
If you've had a conversation and made a difference as part of our pledge to talkwe'd love to hear from you. Who did you talk to? How did it go? What difference did it make? Call 鶹Լ Radio Devon on 0808 100 1034
And thank you for helping us to try and turn the tide on loneliness.Not Welcome
A Radio Devon listener steps forward after an NHS surgeon is told to leave a friend's empty flat because of residents fears he was a coronavirus risk.
Hear the surgeon's reaction and from the man who heard and helped.Millie volunteers
More than 1,300 people have answered a call from Devon's healthcare providers and councils to help support our most vulnerable residents. Since an urgent appeal was launched earlier in April people of all ages and backgrounds including lawyers, students, hairdressers, engineers and retired soldiers have registered to become Healthcare Assistants
Hear from Nineteen-year old student Millie Doodson.Pasty tips for Woody
If you're missing a good pasty in lockdown, you're not alone!
Bastille drummer Woody turns to listeners for top tips to bake for his family.
Hear what goes in and stays out of a Devon pastyGiant Pokémon in East Devon
Twelve year old Liam is saying thank you, and spreading some happiness.
Hear why he's dressed as a massive PikachuBob's shoes
Finding big shoes for key worker Bob who's worn his out walking miles to his job.
Hear how listener Chris came to his aid.Plymouth's student nurses
Devon nursing degree students volunteering to make a difference.
"You've gotta do what you've gotta do"
Staff at a care home in Teignmouth have left loved ones behind to move in and look after vulnerable residents.
Hear about theirsacrifice to care.Say it with stones
A 13 year old girl from Kingsbridge has made it her mission to bring a smile to people's faces painting messages of support on pebbles and placing them around the local area.
Hear Erin and mum Nikita telling Laura James all about it.The battle of homeschooling
Former Royal MarineMark Ormrod from Plymouth is now a motivational speaker but has his experience prepared him for homeschooling?
Hear how things are on the home front.
NHS thank you at Devon cricket club
Nice work from the groundsman at the Shaldon Optimists cricket club in Devon
Pocket money to help Argyle
A young American Plymouth Argyle fan has posted his pocket money to them.
Hear Kasra and his dad chatting to Michael Chequer and Charlie Price
When life gives you limes...
We all know what to do when life gives you lemons... make lemonade, right?When Ikes Green from Newton Abbot set up a fundraiser challenge for the Exeter Deaf Academy she didn't have lemons to but she did have 26 limes instead.
Hear how she set about eating them one after the other.
Ramadan like no other
This year's Ramadan is unlike any other. Questions have been being asked about whether it is sensible to fast if you are a key worker and if there are other ways that Muslims can mark the festival.
Hear the views of Syed Jusef, a Barnstaple Town Councillor and a member of North Devon's Muslim community.Father and son team at Torbay Hospital
We're living like monks
A Benedictine monk says coronavirus restrictions mean many of us are now living lives comparable to nuns and monks.Hear Abbot Christopher Jamison, the President of the English Benedictine Congregation, which Buckfast Abbey belongs to.
Music across the continents
When Exeter Harpist Anna Tanvir's 81 year old mother caught coronavirus she was stuck in India. Thankfully her mum is on the mend and Anna isentertaining people with her music from lockdown.
Hear how music is bringing them together across separate continents.
Happy 100th George!
Villagers came out of their homes to celebrate a neighbour's 100th birthday.George Hamilton’s celebrations may not have been quite what he would have expected, but his neighbours in Witheridge, led the singing from a safe distance.
See George's surprise!Top chef cooks for the vulnerable
A Teignbridge Councillor - who also happens to be a top chef - is cooking meals for vulnerable people in Newton Abbot.Chris Jenks has cooked for celebrities around the world but is now working with Teignbridge Community and Voluntary Services, the HITS Foodbank and the Avenue Church, to provide hot meals for people who are stuck at home.
Hear what's on the menu
Dino postie
Two six hour shifts posting letters and parcels dressed up as a T-Rex.
Hear whyPostman Adam Prowse from East Devon is doing his rounds dressed as a dinosaur.
Birthday surprise
After a lovely email about a long distance love,Laura and Gordoninvited Maria to surprise someone special who she couldn’t see on his birthday.
Hear how the birthday surprise turned out.
Plantation of poems
If you were given three random words, could you include them in a poem?That's the task that's been set in North Devon where there's a plan to create a "Plantation of Poems" in a small wood in the Taw Valley.Katy Lee owns the copse and works at Bideford Library.
Hear about the challenge you can be a part of
A Nudge for change
Community benefit society Nudge is working for Plymouth people during coronavirus.
Hear Wendy Hart explain how.Devon’s air ambulances are flying again!
After a series of modifications for the coronavirus they’re back in the air.
Hear Ian Payne the Flight Operations Director on the work they've been doing.
The Sewing Scrub Army
Local people with sewing skills have been working hard under lockdown making easily washable uniforms for NHS and care home staff.The Sewing Scrub Army has taken off in such a huge way that they've smashed the target they set for themselves.
Colonel Tony's challenge
Retired Colonel Tony Hare is finishing a 26 mile charity challenge on his 87th birthday.
Hear how he's been getting onNursing on the new frontline
Some nurses have moved from the military frontline to lead the fight against coronavirus in Devon.
Vanessa Crossey QN, is Head of Nursing and Quality for the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, and is currently leading efforts to source Personal Protective Equipment.
Hear how she's been using the skills developed as an Army Major in Cyprus, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yvonne says “Thank You”
Yvonne from Exeter thanks her lifeline: Exeter City Community Trust for delivering food and medicine.
Hear the difference that it's made in her life.Dementia cartoons
Cartoons from the Exeter Dementia Alliance to make a difference and make us smile.
Beautiful Teignmouth during lockdown
Claire Twitchin has been putting her photography skills to great use during the coronavirus. She's compiled a fundraising calendar.
Virtual Devon County Show
We're missing the Devon County Show as much as you, so here's a virtual show with some memories from previous years. Here's to Devon County Show 2021!
A Poem for Devon
All over the country, poets are writing about the Make A Difference campaign. If you've been inspired to write your own poem then we'd love to hear it.Just go to bbc.co.uk/upload
"We will keep our hearts open"
The emotion of a seaside town in lockdown, captured by a lifeboat volunteer.
Sam's diary
Sam from Young Devon has been finding new places to explore during lockdown.
Hear his storyBea's diary
Bea from Young Devon shares her audio diary and thoughts on mental health support during the crisis.
Hear her storyJasmine's diary
Jasmine from Young Devon reflects on how the crisis has changed her thoughts on the future.
Hear her storyEzme's cards
A 9 year old decided she wanted to raise money for Torbay hospital - so she started to sell handmade cards outside her home. She sold them for around 20 pence each. With donations she's raised more than £500 in a week!
Hear Ezme and her familyDerek's coming home
Exmouth locals work together to help transform Derek's home after an accident left him with life changing injuries.
Hear the difference kindness will make for Derek.Right there with you
The University of Exeter’s Contemporary Choir has written a new song. It’s in memory of the mums of two choir members, who died from cancer last year.
Hear how they're supporting each other.Coffee and chat
Epilepsy Action makes a difference with online coffee and chat sessions in Torbay and Exeter.
Hear Simon Privett on the support that's available.Lockdown Anthem
Lives in lockdown inspire a new song and a new choir from the Exeter Northcott Theatre.
Hear the song and a chat with some of the performers and Thomas Johnson, the composer and creator here.One boy's life
"This is a remarkable story"Emma Barnett speaks to 鶹Լ Radio Devon EditorMark Grinnell about the impact the #MakeADifferencecampaign had on one boy's life.
Remembrance 2020
As we were asked to stay at home and remember, we brought you a special service of Remembrance. You you can watch the full event on All of the elements you’d expect from the annual service are there including the wreath laying and music from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth.Led by the Bishop of Plymouth with commentary from David Fitzgerald, it’s a “virtual” Remembrance Sunday organised by Plymouth City Council.You can watch it
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