I am a great believer in ‘collaboration’, and its definition which says “to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavour.” Our great city of Plymouth is going through some amazing challenges. Like much of life, some of these challenges are good opportunities and some are more difficult. In terms of opportunities, one of the biggest is an opportunity to work together for the good of the city.
We are still facing tough national and global economic issues, which challenge the more vulnerable within our society. Employment, especially for the young, is vital. Plymouth’s ‘1,000 Club’ initiative is a fine example of collaboration between Plymouth City Council’s Employment Sub Group, and a wide range of local employers, aiming to recruit 1000 companies in the Plymouth area to commit to support young people into employment. The success of the 1,000 Club is essential for the future.
Elsewhere in the city, almost £200 million is being invested from the private sector. Over £60 million has been invested into the Royal William Yard. However, we are a city with a strong reliance on the public sector. Whether we work in the private or public sector we all live in the same town, and we need a strong vision for ‘Britain’s Ocean City’.
It wouldn’t cost us a lot to invest some goodwill and just say ‘well done’ to everybody involved in governing these opportunities and challenges – our politicians, councillors and council officers, major employers in both the public and private sectors and to everyone who makes a positive contribution to Plymouth. Encouraging those who have responsibility for the welfare and prosperity of our city doesn’t mean we lose our convictions and opinions on issues, but it can be helpful to communicate gratitude with respect and maturity – ‘less heat and more light’ goes a long way to making for better communication.
We may have lost our bid to become city of culture in 2017, but from a positive perspective we now have a focus on the sailing of the Mayflower in 1620 and its 400th anniversary in 2020. Cross Rhythms, in collaboration with Cornerstone Vision who publish this newspaper and the Plymouth Magazine, have started a new programme called ‘Destiny Plymouth’ every Wednesday between 10.00am – 12.00 noon. This programme is created to celebrate some of the encouraging developments in Plymouth, and to see these opportunities through the perspective of being ‘a glass half full, not half empty.’
My family has been connected to Plymouth for many generations, but it is amazing how negative we locals can become about our city. New arrivals seem to possess a more upbeat attitude towards Plymouth and don’t understand why some of us, (I think it is a minority, at least I hope it is), have a ‘downer’ on the city.
I can see Plymouth attracting people from West Devon and East Cornwall as an amazing city of opportunity and experience. I can also see people coming from all over the world as the GOD TV plans take root to broadcast from Plymouth to the globe.
There is a principle that impacts the ‘spiritual heart of man’, which I believe in as a Christian. ‘You reap what you sow’. If you sow negativity, you will reap negativity. As someone once said with reference to negative criticism, “if you point your finger, you have three fingers pointing back at you.”
Instead of pointing fingers in tough times, a hand extended in friendship, appreciation and collaboration may be worth considering as a better alternative in tough times