Millfields Inspired

29/09/2026

✨Widening Horizons - New Partner!✨

A huge thank you to Matt and Isaac from Bradleys Mannamead Estate Agents for generously volunteering their time to provide the Year 5 children from Mount Wise Community Primary School with a taste of the careers involved in property sales and lettings.

The children thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their career paths and learning some industry terminology. After a neighbourhood walk to spot different types of dwellings, they tried their hand at valuing properties and writing their own descriptions.

The session was a fantastic success, and the children were busy spotting different types of housing all the way back to school!

Millfields Inspired are also absolutely delighted to welcome Bradleys Estate Agents as our newest Widening Horizons partner. We look forward to working together on more inspiring sessions to open up exciting career possibilities for our young people.

With thanks to our supporters:
Millfields Trust
PCiP - Promoting Children in Plymouth

29/09/2026

✨Widening Horizons✨

What a fantastic start to our Widening Horizons trips for the new academic year!

Year 5 pupils from St Andrew’s C of E Primary School spent a wonderful day exploring behind the scenes at the National Marine Aquarium.

The children discovered the many different roles that keep the aquarium running smoothly and successfully. They also put their own skills to the test, working like real engineers and marine biologists to solve a major challenge: how to safely move large marine animals around the UK's largest aquarium.

With thanks to our supporters:
Millfields Trust
PCiP - Promoting Children in Plymouth

22/09/2026

Celebrating our Widening Horizons graduates 2025-2026.

Today we had the pleasure of celebrating the Year 5 children from the 10 primary schools we work with as they graduated from our Widening Horizons programme at Market Hall.

Each child received a certificate and a pencil case filled with everything they will need as they get ready for their year in Year 6.
One of the best parts of the celebration was hearing directly from the children themselves. They bravely came to the front and shared some of their favourite memories from the workplace visits and experiences they have taken part in:

“I liked going to Cattewater Harbour as we went on a boat and got to go out to sea.”
Whitleigh Primary School

“What impacted me the most was the aquarium. We learnt such a lot and had to carry a shark up to the top!”
St George’s Primary School child

“My favourite trip was Foot Anstey and all the activities.”
Mount Wise Community Primary School child

“My favourite trip was the Crowne Plaza because we had snacks and got to see the big hall.”
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School child

“When we went to town, we talked about all the buildings and the work, and we went to Central Park because I loved the nature.”
Pilgrim Primary School child

“When we went to the Moxy Hotel it was really relaxing and we did drawing. We also went to EE to see the work and what you can become when you get older”
High Street Primary School

"The Foot Anstey trip was superfun and EE too and we saw all the people working and got to have some food"
St Peters Primary School

These comments are exactly why Widening Horizons matters. Children get the opportunity to step outside the classroom, experience different workplaces, meet new people and discover places and possibilities they may not otherwise have encountered.

A huge well done to all of our Year 5 graduates. We are incredibly proud of you and hope you take your curiosity, confidence and enthusiasm with you into Year 6!

And, of course, a huge thank you to all the schools, businesses and organisations that make these experiences possible. A special thanks to Devon Community Foundation for the donation for the gifts for the children.

With thanks to our supporters
Millfields Trust
PCiP - Promoting Children in Plymouth

17/09/2026

What a wonderful visit!

Today, the 10 children from St Andrew’s Primary School who form the Millfields Inspired Children’s Advisory Board enjoyed a fantastic visit to the Lord Mayor’s Residence at Elliot Terrace on Plymouth Hoe.

The children learned about the history of the building, the role of the Lord Mayor, Plymouth’s MPs, and the remarkable legacy of Lady Astor. They also enjoyed a fascinating tour and an inspiring talk from the Macebearer, whose wealth of knowledge brought Plymouth’s history to life. The children were engaged and fascinated to learn all about how Lady Astor focused on change for women and children as was the first female MP.

The visit has given the children new ideas about aspiration, leadership, and how individuals can make a lasting difference to their communities, which aligns perfectly with our mission through our children's board to understand our community and support those living within it.

A huge thank you to Councillor Angela Penrose (Deputy Lord Mayor) and all the staff at Elliot Terrace for your kindness, warm hospitality, and for making the day so special for the children. I am incredibly grateful.

09/09/2026

✨ Prom Cellar is Back! ✨

Our next Prom Cellar opening is officially set for Monday 26th October 2026, 10am to 2pm! 🎉

Whether you're searching for the perfect prom dress, suit, shoes, accessories, or finishing touches, we'll have a fantastic selection available at affordable prices.

📍 5 Craigie Drive, The Millfields, Plymouth, PL1 3JB
⏰ 10am - 2pm
💷 Cash Only

👀 And there's even more to come...

We're excited to announce another 8 Prom Cellar opening dates between January and June 2027! The full schedule will be released at the end of the year, so keep your eyes peeled for those dates.

Follow our page and share this post with anyone who might be getting ready for prom season.

08/09/2026

🏆 We're Award Winners! 🏆

We are incredibly proud to share that our Development Manager, Keely Burch, and the Millfields Inspired team have been named winners in the Recognising Excellence Programme in South West England 2025-2026 for their outstanding contribution to STEM enrichment and volunteering.

This award recognises the passion and dedication that goes into creating life changing opportunities for young people across Plymouth. Through educational visits, employer engagement, inspiring events, and enrichment activities, we help students broaden their horizons, build confidence, and discover new possibilities for their future.

"Keely and the Millfields Team work tirelessly to create life-changing enrichment opportunities for students from some of Plymouth’s most deprived communities, broadening horizons through events, visits, and meaningful employer engagement. Despite operating on a minimal budget, they successfully bring together local businesses and organisations to provide inspiring experiences that raise aspirations, build confidence, and help young people recognise their potential and the opportunities available to them."

At Millfields Inspired, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to dream big and achieve their goals. This recognition belongs not only to Keely and our team, but also to the schools, volunteers, employers, partners, and supporters who share our vision and help make these opportunities possible.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our work and helped us inspire the next generation.

Please join us in congratulating Keely and the entire Millfields Inspired team on this fantastic achievement! 🎉

05/09/2026

International Day of Charity

Today, we're celebrating the power of community, kindness and opportunity.

Every day at Millfields Inspired, we work alongside schools, families, volunteers, businesses and supporters to help young people build confidence, raise aspirations and discover what's possible for their future. Through programmes such as Widening Horizons, Inspire Me, Teddy Bears Picnic, Generations Together and Prom Cellar we create opportunities that can have a lasting impact on the lives of local children and young people.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our supporters, volunteers, business partners and community.

Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation. Together, we are creating brighter futures across Plymouth.

✨ Every act of kindness makes a difference.

26/08/2026

When did being small stop feeling mighty?

As someone who has worked in large charities and small ones, I often reflect on how different the funding landscape feels today.

Like many grassroots organisations, my week is not spent solely writing funding applications. I am delivering projects, supporting children, recruiting volunteers, collecting impact data, writing reports, organising events, managing partnerships and often doing countless practical jobs that keep everything running.

Yet funding applications increasingly require significant time, specialist knowledge and resources. Many larger charities have dedicated fundraising teams and bid writers. Small charities often do not. We are fitting funding applications around everything else.

What concerns me most is that some of the organisations closest to their communities can find themselves overlooked. We see needs emerge around us, build trusted relationships over years and deliver localised support, yet funding criteria and organisational thresholds can sometimes unintentionally favour larger organisations.

There is also a growing challenge when funding opportunities become so specific that charities responding directly to community need find themselves trying to squeeze essential work into predefined funding categories, which is not ideal or the way in which we should best serve our communities.

This is by no way a criticism of larger charities or funders. There are many examples of excellent partnership working and transformative grant-making. But it is a reminder that if we want thriving communities, we need a funding environment where grassroots organisations have a genuine opportunity to compete and be recognised for the impact they create.

Sometimes the smallest charities are doing some of the biggest work.

Keely Burch - Development Manager

12/08/2026

🛒🌱 A little behind the scenes look at grow Stonehouse!

Our Development Manager, Keely, has been busy gathering gardening gloves, trowels, watering cans, wheelbarrows, tools and more as part of this exciting project.

Grow Stonehouse is already underway, and we’re working with local nurseries to help children learn how to their own healthy snacks while discovering the joys of gardening, nature and healthy eating! 🍓🥕🌻

Stay tuned for updates…

12/08/2026

🎨 Young creatives wanted!

The Plymouth Mini-Makes Competition is now open, giving children and young people the chance to showcase their creativity and win some fantastic prizes!

🏆 Local goodies up for grabs 📅 Deadline: 14 September 2026

Find out more and enter: 👉 https://plymouthmakes.co.uk/mini-makes/

A brilliant way to celebrate the amazing things made right here in Plymouth!

Would you like to show off your crafting, building, and recycling skills and celebrate some of the amazing products that we manufacture in and around Plymouth? Enter our Plymouth Mini-Makes competition this summer!