Our City Issue 11

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Stoke-on-Trent

BEST DESIGNED COUNCIL PUBLICATION

Our City ISSUE 11: SEPTEMBER 2009

Four Four page page

CYCLE STOKE FEATURE PAGES PAGES 21-24 21-24

Council scoops top prize (again) at national flower show

PAGE 12

PLUS four page focus on PAGES 15-18

Our

Neighbourhoods

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Our City S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9

Our City wins another top national award OUR City has once again scooped a major honour by being named as Britain’s best designed council publication in the prestigious Good Communications Awards 2009.

It’s the second year running that the magazine, produced in partnership by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Police, NHS Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, has won national acclaim.

Last year it was judged as “Council Publication of the Year” in the awards which are held to recognise excellence in public sector communications.

New schools will drive regeneration

By City Council Leader Councillor Ross Irving WHAT a huge step forward for the city that the Building Schools for the Future programme is ready to start. It is one of my highest priorities to make sure that these hundreds of millions of pounds are well spent to give our young people the schools they deserve.

Improving education in the city is key to the regeneration of the area, and it is about far more than buildings. These new schools will give us a platform to move education forward and we must all work together to translate that into better achievement. That will show how education lies at the heart of our efforts to regenerate Stoke-on-Trent.

A better qualified workforce will attract better, more diverse employers to the city, with the huge investments that can follow.

I hope now – after almost six years of consultation – that we can all work together to make sure the city’s young people get as much as possible out of these improvements.

I WAS very proud to see Stoke-on-Trent well and truly on the horticultural map when the city council scooped the Best in Show award at the prestigious Tatton Park Flower Show. Our garden truly was the envy of the UK, and this was the third year running that Stoke-on-Trent has scooped a top prize at Tatton.

MEANWHILE, an idea to look at giving the city centre a new identity has caused a ripple round the Potteries, but I’d ask everyone to think beyond their gut reaction and look for the benefits.

We all know Hanley is the city centre because we live here, but if we are to make it a sub-regional retail centre, attracting visitors from across the East and West Midlands and Cheshire, we may need to take a bold step to differentiate between Stoke and Hanley to end the confusion.

We have many other ideas to make Hanley a more attractive place to shop. Look out for details in the future.

Please let me know what you think on this or any issue by sending your comments to ourcity@ stoke.gov.uk or write to Freepost Our City.

Our City is printed on recycled paper.

When you have finished with this publication please help the environment by passing it on to a friend or recycling it.

This time Our City stood out from the competition by winning the “Council Publication of the Year – Design” category.

The judges commented: “It’s obvious that an incredible amount of effort goes into making Our City look sexy. It puts many paid for magazines to shame.”

There were more successes for the city during the glittering awards ceremony held at the Emirates Stadium in London.

Our City was commended in the “Council Publication of the Year” category, while there were also commendations for the city

council’s PR and Communications team in the “Local Authority PR Team of the Year” and “IT Partnership” categories.

Council leader Councillor Ross Irving said: “Once again Our City has been recognised as being the best in its field in Britain. In addition the council’s excellent work in informing and involving the city’s residents has been recognised with three commendations.

“These awards are a tribute to the hard work and skill of staff who work for the city council and our partners in the police, NHS and fire service.”

Injunction secured to banish car nuisance D

RIVERS causing misery to residents, businesses, shoppers and visitors by “car cruising” at Festival Park have been warned they face heavy fines and even jail if they carry on.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police announced the clamp down after an injunction was granted to ban the cruisers from the retail, leisure and commercial areas.

Car cruisers who carry on causing a nuisance at Festival Park will first have their name placed on the injunction, the product of 18 months work between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police.

A further offence will see them appear in court and face a hefty fine and/or custodial sentence.

The injunction will operate initially on Festival Park alone, but can be expanded to other areas if the problem spreads to different parts of the city.

Starting with immediate effect, there will be a three week “education period”, informing anyone breaching the injunction of the possible penalties they will face, before enforcement action begins on 14 September.

“Car cruising” has been defined as a congregation of the drivers of two or more vehicles between the hours of 7pm and 7am within Festival Park.

Additional rules regarding the injunction include: ● Excessive noise ● Danger to other road users and pedestrians ● Damage or risk of damage to private property ● Litter ● Causing a nuisance to anyone not participating in the “car cruise” Also covered by the injunction are activities such as driving at excessive

Meeting dates are now online A full list of dates and times of full city council meetings and committee meetings can be found on our website stoke.gov.uk/meeting dates

Car cruisers lining up at Festival Park could soon be a thing of the past. speed, driving in convoy, racing, stunts, shouting, swearing, or other forms of antisocial behaviour.

The area covered by the injunction includes all the roads on Festival Park, including Festival Heights, Forge Lane, Etruria Road past the Forge Lane entrance and Cobridge Road up to Cobridge traffic lights.

Inspector Shaun Kerrigan, City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Unit Commander, said: “The injunction will allow the people who live and work on Festival Park to feel a lot more secure.

“There is a still lot of work to be done in addressing a problem that has become bigger not just here but in

other parts of the country as well.

“Hopefully this is the first step in Stoke-on-Trent tackling that problem on a large scale, and we have the provision to extend the injunction if the problem displaces to other areas.”

Ross Irving, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader, said: “A lot of hard work has been done by us, Staffordshire Police and the residents and businesses of Festival Park to get this injunction.

“This shows that the city will not tolerate any kind of antisocial behaviour and take the strongest measures possible to make sure people are safe and secure in their communities.”

Give us your feedback on this issue of Our City by emailing ourcity@stoke.gov.uk or write to: FREEPOST Our City

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SEPTEMBER 2009

Social problems battle

Our City

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Y2 CASE STUD

being won E

NCOURAGING statistics show that the battle to tackle major social problems blighting the city – such as crime, unemployment and teenage pregnancy – is being won.

A cross-organisation partnership, led by the city council, is well on course to smash through targets set down as part of Stoke-on-Trent’s Local Area Agreement (LAA) with the Government.The LAA aims to transform the city through a new way of shared working between the organisations responsible for making people’s lives better. Through it, 35 target areas have been picked which the partners have pledged to meet by the end of the agreement in April 2011.

However, interim figures show that just into the second year of the initiative, major steps have been taken in addressing these key social issues, which affect the most vulnerable people in society.

These include the reduction of young people entering the Youth Justice System from 602 in 2006-07 to just 204 in 2008-09. Reoffending is down by 45 per cent and crime as a whole was down by 20 per cent in

Back on the right track with MACs’ holistic approach PRIME examples of integrated working to tackle social problems are Multi Access Centres.

The pooled-resource centres known as MACs Places are based at schools and aim to tackle a wide array of issues young people may have, ranging from teenage pregnancy through to staying on in education.

This is a multi-agency approach involving a wide range of agencies such as NHS Stoke on Trent and Connexions and experts including prevention workers, youth offending services and sexual health workers.

The MACs Places started offering services at seven pilot high schools and now the scheme has been extended to a total of 11 schools.

City Council Prevention Worker Michelle Black said the holistic approach to helping school children was really paying dividends.

the last year alone. There has also been a 25 per cent fall in the number of young people who are described as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) over the same period.

Council Leader Ross Irving, who is chair of the Local Strategic Partnership, which brings together key public service providers to raise the quality of life of city residents, is delighted such a remarkable turnaround has been achieved so quickly.

Confident He said: “We still have some way to go in reaching targets and achieving national averages, but to have achieved so much so soon is excellent. We have taken these issues by the scruff of the neck and are now extremely confident that we stand a very realistic chance of achieving the targets agreed with the Government and can move significantly beyond them.”

Alan Turley, the city council’s Head of Sustainable Community Development, has helped to co-ordinate the work. He explained that the key to addressing the issue in such a positive way had been down to partnership working and

listening to the people who work at the frontline of services.

Mr Turley said: “The approach we have taken is to work in partnership with other organisations involved in the LAA, such as NHS Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire Police, Connexions, voluntary groups, schools and colleges in a much more integrated way. In the past, for example, we have all had separate targets to meet and have set about achieving them as individual organisations.

“Secondly, we have really drawn on the experiences of the frontline workers. Rather than let chief executives and senior managers make all the decisions we have asked the people who deal with the problems directly on a day-to-day basis to come up with the solutions.

“It has been a breath of fresh air and the ideas they have put forward have helped us achieve these dramatic results.” Alan added: “The statistics give us the confidence that the strategies we are putting in place are really working and at the same time we believe people will see we are creating opportunities for them, supporting them and showing them that there are big changes happening in the city.”

CASE STUDY 1

Prevention Worker Michelle Black, right, and Lisa Winfield, Connexions Education Support Worker, at a MACs Place.

She said: “I have definitely noticed a big difference in the way we provide services and so have the children. We recognise that children do not have problems or issues in isolation and one concern may have a knock-on effect.

“For instance, a teenage girl who becomes pregnant may find herself dropping out of education and even getting into trouble with the law. The spiral

can be quite alarming and we are looking to address the problem in a holistic manner in a relaxed atmosphere and on a voluntary basis – which is what the MACs allow us to do.

“Working with the teenagers is especially rewarding when you see one of them months or even years after and they recognise you and still thank you for helping them get their life on the right track.”

Jake Martin and his mentor Dave BurgessPearson outside the House of Commons.

Mentor helped turn Jake’s life around AWARD-WINNING student Jake Martin was recognised at the House of Commons as one of the most inspirational young people in the country… but just three years ago his life was spiralling towards crime, truancy and alcohol.

At the age of 15, Jake, from Longton, was identified by the city’s Youth Offending Service as someone who was close to throwing his life away.

However, to provide additional support Jake was referred to the Spurgeons-Axis project, a voluntary organisation commissioned by the Youth Offending Service to recruit, train and support local people as mentors for young people. This partnership has seen over 60 young people mentored in the community in the last year.

Jake was matched with Dave Burgess-Pearson, a Stoke-on-Trent taxi driver, and the pair started to meet once a week.

Things started to turn around and Jake went on to achieve five GCSEs, learn valuable life skills such as budgeting and is currently attending a football skills course at Stoke on Trent College training to be a football coach.

The transformation did not go unrecognised and, in April, Jake was chosen

as the UK’s Most Inspirational Young Person at the Kids Count Inspiration Awards – travelling to the House of Commons with Dave to pick up his award.

Jake, now 18, said: “When I first met Dave I could not believe somebody wanted to help me. It’s made me realise some people do genuinely care and it’s amazing. I did not think my life could get any lower but it’s looking brighter every day now.”

Father-of-two Dave, who has been mentoring for three years, said: “Being a mentor has been so fulfilling and Jake is a prime example of why.

“Here was a young man who had problems in his life and because of the circumstances things were spiralling out of control.

“Working with him I could tell he was a bright, intelligent lad and it was just a case of raising his confidence and esteem and helping him realise what he could get out of life.”

Barbara Pendery, Business Manager for Youth Offending Services, said: “When young people are referred to the Youth Offending Services it is their voluntary decision to take advantage of the mentoring service offered to them.”

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SEPTEMBER 2009

City’s new Area Commander appointed

Scheme to give people their say on health issues WIDE-SWEEPING consultations have now started in the city as part of a feedback scheme aimed at giving people the opportunity to have their say on local health issues.

“Now Have Your Say” has been set up by NHS Stoke on Trent to enable people to directly shape the future direction of the NHS and to determine priority areas.

Anyone signing up to the scheme as a member will be given the chance to join in consultations, contribute to online surveys and polls as well as voice their opinion via a blog messaging service.

Almost 1,000 people have already enlisted as members and many took part in the first consultation event which was held this summer at the Hope Centre, Hanley.

The public’s experiences as patients, carers and service users were taken on board at the meeting which focused on three important topics: patients’ experience of family doctors, public health and Choose and Book.

NHS Stoke on Trent Chair Chris Dawes said: “We value everyone’s thoughts and ideally would have a forum including all 273,000 of our service users.

“But what we have with ‘Now Have Your Say’ is the next best thing: a cross section of people giving their views on issues they feel strongly about.”

He added: “The scheme works because it gives people the opportunity to get involved in a bite size and practical way, which is not demanding on their time.”

For more information about “Now Have Your Say” log onto the website www.nowhaveyoursay.co.uk or telephone 01782 298000.

School place applications PARENTS or guardians with a child born between 1 September, 2005 and 31 August 2006 can apply for a reception place to start at school in September 2010.

The closing date for reception applications is Friday 11 September 2009.

For further information please telephone 236885 or 236867.

STOKE-ON-TRENT has a new Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander. Wayne Bowcock, pictured, has taken over the post from Julian Hilditch.

Wayne’s new job gives him overall management responsibility for the service in the city.

He began his career as a

Firefighter in 1992 when he was based at Burslem. He has since worked in various positions across the county and was Assistant Area Commander for Stoke-on-Trent in 2005/06.

He said: “I’ve taken up this role at a very exciting time for the fire and rescue service in the Stoke-on-Trent area –

building work will start on the brand new station at Sandyford later this year and Hanley and Burslem Fire Stations will start being rebuilt next year.

“These new stations will be community focused and members of the public will be welcome to use the facilities we’ll have on offer.”

Happy times at youth club

shaped Polly’s career P

OLLY Walters looks back a decade to when she entered her teens and speaks warmly about the happy times she spent chilling out at her local youth centre in Stoke-on-Trent.

Those days as a 13-year-old helped to shape Polly’s career as a youth development worker with the city council’s Youth Service, helping young people in the same way that she has benefited.

Today, at the age of 23 and running Stoke Youth Centre, Polly is one of the service’s youngest managers. It’s a success story that started when Polly became one of the first members of Trent Vale Youth Centre when it opened near to her home in neighbouring Penkhull ten years ago.

“In those days there was nothing much for young people to do in that area, apart from hanging about together in the local park,” recalled Polly.

“People complained about us when we congregated in groups, even though we were not causing any trouble.

Placement “The Youth Centre was great. It was a place to chill out with mates of our own age, and we formed a steering group, the forerunner of the Youth Forum, which had regular meetings with councillors so we could tell them about the needs and concerns of young people.”

At just 17 Polly became a part-time worker at Blurton Youth Centre and shortly afterwards landed a placement on a two-year training programme which led to her first full-time job – as a youth worker at Meir Youth Centre.

Then a brief secondment to her present post resulted in Polly being appointed to the manager’s role at Stoke on a permanent basis.

She is currently responsible for around 40 young people aged between 13 and 19 and is busy organising activities.

BOXING CLEVER: Polly Walters leads activities at Stoke Youth Centre with 12-yearold Luis Keen, left, and Josh Grindey,15.

These include recycling clothes for a Christmas fashion show to be put on by Youth Centre members and a photography project that will create a collage of scenes of life around Stoke.

Polly has also introduced Saturday night attractions that will include live bands and movie nights, and boxing training sessions are also on the cards.

The self-assured, mature young woman who now has a four-year-old son called Harry often thinks back to how she first became involved as a bored teenager in playing an important part in developing the lives of young people in the city.

“In my job I draw heavily on my own experience of being a member of Trent Vale Youth Centre,” said Polly. “My time there convinced

me that I wanted to work with young people in the city.

“I’m proud to be part of the youth service. Coming through it as a young person I had a lot of support and encouragement to pursue it as a career. My main role is building relationships with young people so that they want to come and see us.

Energy “Looking back I can see how easily young people can be led into crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour and how that can be stopped by channelling their talent and energy in a direction that will keep them off the streets, out of trouble and really benefit their lives.

“The centre is not just about activities and chilling out. The young people have heart-to-heart

chats with me on a one-to-one basis about issues that affect them, such as sexual relationships, drugs and their physical and mental wellbeing.

“It helps enormously that I am from the area, that I’ve been that young person with problems, fears and hang-ups and that I can pass on the sort of help and support that was given to me by the youth service when I was growing up.”

As part of her community role Polly also returns to her old school, Thistley Hough High, one day a week to run a drop-in centre for young people as part of a multi-agency initiative.

Joining Trent Vale Youth Centre as a place to hang out and chill with her mates really started something for Polly Walters… and for the young people she is helping today. ■

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SEPTEMBER 2009

Our City

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Residents join bobby

on the beat Bottle kiln walk set to boost city hospice charity

PC Russ Elliott pounds his beat at Meir Park with residents, left to right, Maria Graham, Christopher Round, Joan Clarkson and Marion Potter.

R

ESIDENTS in Stoke-on-Trent are joining their local bobby on his beat walk once a week – in a bid to pin point problems.

After receiving complaints about antisocial behaviour, PC Russ

Elliott invited people over 50 living in his patch at Meir Park to accompany him on a foot patrol every Wednesday.

So far as many as twelve people have turned out for the weekly walks to show PC Elliott their causes for concern – and the link up is having positive results.

“Many of the issues they had have been resolved very easily and the antisocial behaviour is not as bad as it was

perceived to be,” said PC Elliott. “The weekly walk is proving an important, and very useful, way of engaging with older people.

“We want them to know who their local officers are and for them to have confidence in the work we do.”

The walks start at 10am from Meir Park Community Centre in Lysander Road and last up to 45 minutes.

Walk your way to a healthier lifestyle – see page seven.

Lord Mayor leads mass dog ‘walkies’ on canal towpath

In training for the sponsored dog walk is Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers with Tinker, Jet and Rosa.

PLENTY of feet will step out on a sponsored walk organised by Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers – for she has invited those taking part to bring their dogs.

The five-mile dog walk starts at Westport Lake at 11.30am on Sunday 13 September.

Two-legged and fourlegged participants will walk along the Trent and Mersey Canal to Festival Park and back again.

There is also the option of a shorter route around

Westport Lake.

Pooches and their owners will be greeted by the dog loving Lord Mayor, her 15year-old Yorkshire Terrier Tinker and much younger Cocker Spaniels Rosa and Jet before starting their “walkies” to raise money for the Lord Mayor’s chosen charities, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Child Victims of Crime. ● Anyone interested in joining can get a sponsorship form from Denise Powell on 01782 232625.

VETERAN sponsored walker Keith Meeson is about to embark on his latest charity trek through the city – centred on one of the most iconic images of the pottery industry.

The former miner, pictured above, will undertake The Bottle Kiln Walk – a 15-mile journey taking in all 46 of the remaining landmarks.

Keith, 63, will begin his walk at Ceramica, in Burslem, travelling through Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton before finishing at the Gladstone Pottery Museum, where five of the bottle kilns have been preserved.

Staff at Gladstone have also fitted out Keith in traditional pot bank wear – and he will even complete the walk in a pair of pottery worker’s iron-toed clogs.

The event – which takes place on Sunday 20 September – has been organised to raise money for the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice Trust. Filmmaker and historian Ray Johnson will be filming Keith’s progress on the day and compiling a DVD, which will include historic footage of the bottle kilns in operation.

Keith said:“Bottle kilns are in the blood of all Potteries people so it is nice to organise a walk that combines fundraising with awareness-raising of our industrial heritage. Hopefully it will help to bring to life some of the colour and experiences of working on ‘the pots’.”

Over the last five years Keith has completed a number of successful charity walks including a 40-mile walk around the colliery sites of North Staffordshire dressed as a colliery worker.

He is set to be joined by a number of celebrities and VIPs for sections of the bottle kiln walk – including Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers and Sir Stanley Matthew’s daughter Jean Gough.

Keith added:“I hope as many people as possible will come along on the day and join me for the walk – or at least complete a stage of it with me.” ● Anyone who wants to join Keith or support his walk can contact him on 07940 192718.

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Our City S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9

The state-of-the-art Lifestyle building at Stoke on Trent College’s Cauldon Campus. Inset, the impressive main entrance hall.

City’s tongue-in-cheek comedy connection with a TV classic KEEN local debate has been sparked by the City Centre Partnership’s call for businesses in the commercial heart of Stoke-on-Trent to stop using Hanley in their address. Instead, they want traders located inside the ring road to use the name Stoke-on-Trent City Centre in order to create a stronger brand image which, in turn they argue, would support regeneration.

It rekindles a memory of another time Hanley was at the centre of an identity crisis. I recall a play on the town’s name in an episode of the classic Sixties television sit-com Steptoe and Son in which Hanley was the punch line of a superbly crafted joke.

The two down-at-heel rag and bone men, Albert and his son Harold (picured above), were always on the look out for gems in other people’s junk.

In this particular show, an excited Harold thought he had finally struck it rich by picking up

a Ming vase on his round. The old man carefully examined the ceramic piece, turned it upside down and proclaimed:“Oh yes, it’s definitely ancient Chinese – it says on the bottom ‘Made in HAN LEE’.”

It was one of many tongue-incheek – and not always flattering – references to Stoke-on-Trent in the comedy written by the brilliant Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who had previously penned Hancock’s Half Hour.

Mention of Albert’s “aunty in Stoke” always seemed to get a laugh.

In another episode Harold had booked a skiing holiday and his dad asked if he could go with him – a request firmly rejected by the younger Steptoe, not wanting his style cramped.

Albert complained that he would be left on his own, to which Harold suggested he should go to stay with his aunty in Stoke. Albert protested:“Stoke in February – it’ll be full!”

Mystery is the snuff of novels THIS is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Staffordshire-born Samuel Johnson, arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history, and there is a timely reminder of the great man in the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery that is not to be sniffed at.

It’s a snuffbox inscribed “Dr Samuel Johnson 1769” so it may well have been a 60th birthday gift for the poet, essayist, novelist, literary critic and compiler of the famous Dictionary of the English Language.

The box, made largely from horn, and donated to the former Hanley Museum by the family of pottery manufacturer William Goss after his death in

1908, still smells of snuff and contains a lock of grey plaited hair – but whose is it?

Was it from Johnson’s wife Elizabeth whose death in 1752 caused him “grief in the strongest manner,” or a keepsake from his friend Mrs Hester Thrale, a brewer’s wife with whom Johnson had a close relationship?

The stuff of novels, perhaps.

Centre of learning is

taking shape W

ORK on Stoke-onTrent’s £285 million “centre of learning” is taking shape with its first flagship project throwing open its doors to students.

The state-of-the-art Lifestyle building at Stoke on Trent College’s Cauldon Campus will house its Caring and Service Industries Faculty and will include a spa open to the public.

The facility, which opened earlier this month, forms the first major project to be completed as part of the exciting University Quarter scheme.

The University Quarter (or UniQ) aims to use investment in education facilities as a catalyst to deliver long-term regeneration.

It involves three key partners: Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent College and Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and is based in Shelton – between Stoke Railway Station and the city centre.

Exciting projects include the relocation of the Sixth Form College from Fenton to the University Quarter site, the redevelopment of Stoke on Trent College’s Cauldon Campus and

remodelling and development of Staffordshire University’s Leek Road and College Road Campuses.

The project also includes a series of shared flagship educational facilities including a hi-tech science centre, a purpose-built media centre and a cutting-edge library called a knowledge hub.

The majority of the construction schemes should be complete within three years with all work set to be finished by 2016.

The £11 million Lifestyle building provides 600 full-time and hundreds more part-time students with a unique training ground in areas such as care, hairdressing, beauty and catering.

Facilities include a spa, flotation tanks, hydrotherapy baths, saunas and aromatherapy steam baths.

Carol Thomas, Stoke on Trent College’s Head of Caring and Service Industries said: “The Lifestyle building is absolutely outstanding and is the shape of things to come in the University Quarter.

“The equipment is state-of-the-art and the training rooms far exceed anything people will find anywhere else in the city.”

One of the most ambitious projects is the relocation of the Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. The £26 million project will see a new campus built on a 10,000 square metre site alongside a new Staffordshire University science centre.

The building, which is due for completion in September 2010, will centre around two atriums, designed to reflect different facets of learning.

The front of the building will be dominated by a four-storey glass atrium, complete with a floating roof.

Inside, one of the more unusual features will be a row of three pods in the atrium. People will be able to walk inside to access different study areas.

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SEPTEMBER 2009

Success marks the city as a

top race venue T

HE UK’s biggest cycling race will be back in Stoke-on-Trent when the Tour of Britain returns to the city later this month.

Last September huge crowds saw some of the world’s best cyclists sprint into the city centre when the West Midlands stage of the Tour finished outside Hanley Town Hall.

This year Stoke-on-Trent is playing host to the start and finish of stage five of the round Britain race and will welcome world famous cyclists like Team GB Olympic gold medallist and Tour De France hero Bradley Wiggins.

Thousands of people are expected to line the route and cheer on the cyclists as they take to the countryside of the county and the streets of the cities and towns.

The race will start at the Britannia Stadium, home of Stoke City Football Club, at 10:15am on Wednesday 16 September and will finish outside the Town Hall in the city centre about four hours later.

It is the first time the start and finish of the West Midlands stage has ever taken place in one city and Stoke-on-Trent was further rewarded for its commitment to cycling by staging the Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride, earlier this month.

The fundraising event featured three different courses, The Pro Ride, Challenge Tour Ride and Family ride, which all started and finished at the Britannia Stadium. It was the first time an event like this had taken place in the country.

And now the amateurs have had their chance to ride the Stoke-on-Trent stage, it is the turn of the professionals.

There will be sixteen

teams, with a total of 96 riders taking part, on a course which will showcase the best of the region and test the riders’ strength and ability.

Councillor Derek Capey, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, said: “The success of the televised Tour Series earlier this year showed we have the facilities to host major international cycling events in Stoke-onTrent.

“A whole stage of the Tour of Britain, starting and finishing in this city, will maintain our profile as a place where cycling is thriving – and the TV cameras will be here again.”

The Tour of Britain was keen to return to the city following last year’s overwhelming success.

Chief Executive Hugh Roberts said: “We are extremely pleased to have stage 5 of the 2009 Tour of Britain take place in Stokeon-Trent on a route that sees the riders taking on the scenic and testing Staffordshire Moorlands and countryside.

“Our partners Stoke-onTrent City Council have provided us with the confidence that the stage in Stoke will be a challenging one for the riders and at the same time an exciting one for all the spectators.”

The whole day will be a celebration of cycling in the city with hundreds of schoolchildren taking part in the Potteries Pied Piper Challenge, a community ride which will also start at the Britannia Stadium and finish at Hanley Town Hall.

For further details of the day’s supporting activities please see page 24 in our special ‘Cycle Stoke’ feature.

Edvald Boasson Hagen sprints to victory in the city centre at the end of last year’s Tour of Britain stage.

Highlights of the route involve challenging sprints and climbs THE Tour of Britain stage starts at the Britannia Stadium at 10.15 and less than an hour later there will be an exciting sprint at Stone at about 11.14.

The first big climb of the stage comes at Wootton Hill, near Rocester at about 12.03, where a King of the Mountain jersey will be earned by the fastest rider to the top.

Another big King of the Mountain climb is at Gun Hill at approximately 12.38, followed closely by a sprint through Leek at 12.51.

The final big climb of the stage takes place at Cheddleton Hill at around 12.59, and the riders will sprint through the Wedgwood factory at Barlaston at 13.32, before racing to the finish in front of the crowds at Hanley Town Hall at 13.45.

Two top awards for city teams working with children TWO teams working with children in Stoke-onTrent have each scooped a prestigious national award. Judges awarded a Leading Aspect Award to the REACH project for vulnerable children, describing it as “innovative, dynamic and of outstanding quality.”

The initiative helps children and young people who may have been excluded from

school achieve good GCSE results and get back into mainstream education as soon as possible. A similar award was presented to the city council’s Access to Learning team, who worked with nurture groups in schools to help families achieve a balance of a good home life and successful learning.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Councillor Ian Mitchell said:

“Both teams do extremely valuable and challenging work and these awards are testimony to their achievements both with young people and the community as a whole.

It is right and proper their efforts have been given national recognition.“ The awards recognised both teams as examples of how outstanding practice impacts directly on schoolchildren.

Our City 7

Healthy walks initiative to target 1,000 sedentary city people A WALKING Your Way to Health Programme is helping people in the city to step out and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

One thousand sedentary adults are being targetted each year by NHS Stoke on Trent which has commissioned and funded the healthy walks initiative as part of its efforts to tackle obesity.

Those taking part can aim to complete the 12-week walking plan on their own or in groups supported by the Healthy Walks Team who will be able to issue a pedometer to help people track the number of steps they do.

Also available are “Closer to Home” maps suitable for all abilities and featuring points of interest on routes in their locality.

A 30-minute brisk walk five times a week can help maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure and increase all-round physical and mental wellbeing.

Siu-Ann Pang, NHS Stoke on Trent’s Senior Health Improvement Specialist for Obesity, said: “The walks in the programme are tailored to suit all abilities and the pedometers encourage those taking part to increase the number of steps they take each day.”

The programme also offers free training for anyone who wants to become a volunteer walk leader to lead group walks in their community.

To find out how you can get involved and for the latest timetable and map of walks in your area please contact the Healthy Walks Team on 01782 831900 or email walks@stadiumcommunities .org.uk The “Closer to Home” maps can also be downloaded online at www.hpns.uk/news

Pupils learn firefighting More than 350 pupils in the city will have the opportunity to go on a Junior Firefighter course this school year.

The course is for children aged 11 to 14 who will learn training and squad drills, hose running and pumping, first aid, fire safety in the home and life skills such as teamwork.

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College is key partner in 20:20 academy We want it to A

N exciting partnership between Stoke on Trent College and two of the city’s high schools is set to create an academy that will help young people discover new educational and employment opportunities.

The College is principal sponsor of the proposed 20:20 Discovery Academy which will replace Mitchell Business and Enterprise College and Edensor Technology College.

Both schools have a strong vocational bias, and the new academy will continue this focus as a centre of educational excellence in technology, enterprise and innovation for students aged 11 to 16 years.

Its prime role will be to prepare students for vocational and academic courses in further and higher education so they will be well placed to meet the needs of today’s employers.

Subject to Government approval in the spring of 2010, the academy should be ready to welcome its first students by September 2011, followed a year or so later by a new purpose-designed site mid-way between the existing schools.

Thanks to the schools’ and college’s long-established links with local industries and businesses, academy students will have opportunities to gain valuable first-hand experience in the workplace.

In fact some of the participating companies, such as Kier Group, will be partnering the academy and will be in a good position to help students achieve recognised qualifications such as diplomas in sectors as diverse as business, care, manufacturing technology and construction.

College Principal Graham Moore OBE said: “We are well placed to sponsor an academy like this because we already

be run by local people who appreciate the educational and training needs of the area GRAHAM MOORE, STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE PRINCIPAL support schools through our schools link programme which involves as many as 1,000 pupils at any one time.

“Both Mitchell and Edensor are very good schools which have improved in recent years, and we want to build on these solid foundations.

£250m plan will transform schools THE ambitious £250 million investment programme to transform secondary and special schools in Stoke-on-Trent into 21st century centres of learning excellence will shortly be taking shape.

City education chiefs will soon be submitting final plans for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative that will create five new academies and include six foundation schools and three voluntary aided schools.

It follows a widespread public consultation during which six exhibitions across the city gave residents the opportunity to learn more about the extensive building proposals and have their say about how they should take shape.

In addition around 6,000 letters were sent to residents who live close to the proposed sites as well as to school governors and MPs. Subject to planning approval, there will be a “Mexican wave” of surveys that will pave the way for an intensive

In the background is one of the first computer generated images of plans for the 20:20 Discovery Academy.

four-year programme of building new schools and refurbishing or remodelling others. Building work is expected to start in the autumn of 2010 and be completed by 2014.

The BSF programme – which has already seen the opening of the brand new Sandon Business and Enterprise College and an extensively refurbished Birches Head High School – is designed to provide first class buildings and facilities.

The aim is to raise young people’s aspirations, improve their enjoyment of school, educational achievements and increase skill levels that will attract high quality employers to the area and boost the regeneration of the city.

Tracy Penrose, Building Schools for the Future Project Director, said: “I’m delighted by the response to the pre-planning consultation and by the number of people who came along to the exhibitions.

“The schools programme has broadly

“We do not want to import a vision of how the academy should be run from other parts of the country. We want it to be run by local people who appreciate the educational and training needs of the area and to make sure our young people are encouraged to develop skills that will drive the

local economy.”

Mr Moore added: “The aim of the academy will be to develop students into work-ready and employable young people who are good team players and also pro-active, thrusting and self-confident individuals with leadership qualities.”

City Council Leader Ross Irving signs the Expressions of Interest – the formal documents which indicate an organisation’s intention to sponsor an Academy in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Looking on are Cabinet Member for Children and Young People's Services, Councillor Ian Mitchell, and BSF Support Officer Louise Wright.

received an enthusiastic welcome, and residents – particularly those who live close to the proposed sites – contributed useful suggestions about access and other issues.

“Once we have planning approval there will be a ‘Mexican wave‘ of surveys across the city from the end of this year until early in 2010 in preparation for the construction work.”

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SEPTEMBER 2009

Festival to celebrate diversity A

A colourful Brazilian Samba parade is just one of the dazzling attractions at the Samba Mela fesitval.

Lost your balance?

Are you struggling to juggle work and family life?

Learn more about your rights and entitlements as a working parent...

From maternity and beyond, Stoke-on-Trent Parent Direct can give you the information you need most about being a working parent.

Speak to Stoke-on-Trent Parent Direct, your Local Families Information Service, FREE on:

0800 015 1120 You can also email us at parent.direct@stoke.gov.uk or visit our website at www.stokeeycs.co.uk

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9

Cutting home fire risks for elderly people

N eye-catching festival of dance, music and ethnicity is set to take a city park by storm later this month.

Samba Mela will combine a mixture of art and culture to bring together as many people and performers from different backgrounds as possible to celebrate diversity.

The event, taking place on Sunday 27 September, at Hanley Park, will start with a Brazilian Samba parade.

It will also feature African drumming, Bangra and Bollywood dance and a host of other entertainers and artists.

There will also be stalls, a fair, marquees, workshops and stage acts at the event, which is organised by a series of partners including the city council, Staffordshire Police and youth events management organisation Nex Level.

For more information about the Samba Mela line up log onto www.sambamela.org.uk

Our City

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01782 417444 or shop online at

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THOUSANDS of elderly people are set to be safer from the risk of fire in their homes thanks to the expansion of an innovative partnership.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the city council’s Social Care and Health Teams are providing more protection through their Olive Branch joint initiative.

Originally it involved fire officers training social care and health workers to identify fire hazards in homes and refer people in need to the fire service for a home risk check.

Now, with their permission, the details of all 3,500 people aged over 60 who receive help from the city council are being passed on to the fire service, who then contact them to arrange a free home visit.

A pilot of the project has already proven highly successful with hundreds of checks booked in since the start of the year.

The free home fire risk check service is available to everyone by ringing Freephone 0800 0241 999.

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Our City S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9

Petition can be effective way to flag up an issue ORGANISING a petition can be an effective way of bringing a problem in your community to the attention of Stoke-on-Trent City Council – whether it’s about road improvements, antisocial behaviour or proposals to close a school. In fact, residents can organise petitions to present to the city council about a whole host of concerns, as long as they relate to something the city council does, for which it is responsible or is something that affects the whole city.

There are some issues on which the city council will not consider a petition – for instance if they are libellous or abusive, relate to an identifiable person or the granting of a licence or planning permission, a matter already the subject of legal proceedings and anything that contains matters associated with a political party or organisation. Anyone leading a petition with at least 100 signatures can present it in person to a meeting of the city council and speak for up to five minutes. The petitioner can also be questioned by councillors.

For advice on petitions phone the council’s Member Services Division on 01782 232842 or email memberservices@stoke.gov.uk

Ceramic artist Alan Clarke with some of his distinctive vase designs.

Volunteers for the BCB are needed, for a variety of opportunities. Anyone interested should contact Rosie Grieve at rosie@britishceramicsbiennial.com or call 01782 597083.

Biennial set to showcase

city’s proud heritage S

TOKE-ON-TRENT is gearing up to celebrate its proud creative heritage by hosting the first ever British Ceramics Biennial, the UK’s only festival to showcase and support contemporary ceramics.

The Potteries will welcome visitors from all over the world who will be flocking to the capital of British ceramics for the ten-week festival of exhibitions, awards, events and activities which will feature everyone from emerging makers and designers to established international artists and the area’s home-grown talent.

The Biennial, which runs from 3 October to 13 December, is supported by BCB projects – a five-year initiative of residencies, fellowships, commissions, education and business start-ups – from 2009 through to 2013.

Centrepiece of the event is an awards exhibition in which winning artists from a shortlist of 27 exhibitors will share £40,000 worth of prize money.

A fascinating calendar of events includes volunteers reviving the dying craft of ceramic flower making.

Across the city, artist CJ O’Neill will be working with young people in a project at Burslem’s Old Post Office building – home of the Glazed Art Gallery – to experiment with ceramics and graffiti, while retired potters will be on hand to pass on their experiences of the industry in years gone by.

Also, Glazed Art’s resident ceramic artists Alan Clarke and Lise Moorcroft – grandaughter of William Moorcroft, founder of the world famous Moorcroft pottery company – will be giving masterclasses throughout the Biennial celebrations.

Glazed Art owner Mark Nixon, who is Chairman of the North Staffordshire Creative Economy Forum, said: “The industry is reforming and I hope this amazing festival will bring it to the attention of more people.” ● To find out more go to www.britishceramicsbiennial.com

EngAGE Stoke-on-Trent

Launch Event 2009 Friday 18 September 2009, 10am to 3.30pm WRVS, opp. Hanley Bus Station

• textile printing • photography workshops • graphic novel design • • dance classes • knitting sessions • older people’s choir • Don’t miss out on your chance to find out how you can influence the planning of services within the City for people aged 50 & over in this one day activity-packed Launch Event!

Contact the EngAGE Team on 01782 200736 or email admin@engagestokeontrent.org.uk Helping to build a strong and influential Fifty+Forum in Stoke-on-Trent

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Work starts on new £16m

extra care village B

UILDING work has started on the second of a series of luxury self-contained retirement villages to provide independent but secure lifestyles for older people people in Stoke-on-Trent.

The £16 million West End Village extra care housing development is taking shape at London Road, Stoke, on the former Bilton Works pottery site, and is scheduled to welcome its first residents in January 2011.

Situated on a key gateway into Stoke, the partnership project is being jointly funded by Staffordshire Housing Association, the Homes and Communities Agency, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and RENEW North Staffordshire.

The sumptuous complex for the over-55s will boast 100 two-bedroom high quality

affordable apartments (20 for sale and 80 for rent) with a host of communal facilities such as a hairdressing salon, lounge bar, gym, meeting rooms, therapy suite and guest rooms.

Like Rowan Village which opened in Meir last year, West End Village has been purpose-designed for people who need independent accommodation, with the reassurance that care and support is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week if and when needed.

Town regeneration Diane Lea, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Housing Association, which will manage the village, said: “The development not only brings much needed housing, but will also play a big part in the regeneration of Stoke town. During the building phase we expect to

provide around 30 training places for local people and once the village is complete it will provide a number of new jobs.”

Extra care housing developments such as Rowan Village and West End Village are among a number of developments set out in the city council’s Older People’s Housing and Accommodation Strategy, which aims to develop a range of good quality housing options for older people.

If a city council bid for Private Finance Initiative funding is successful, a further three extra care housing schemes will be built by 2014, providing up to 560 units of accommodation.

Other developments within the city include a 38 unit sheltered accommodation scheme in Normacot and 58 bungalows to be developed

by Registered Social Landlords which will be provided in various parts of the city by 2011.

Not a lot of people know ...but these hoardings have that... become a real talking point Staffordshire Housing Association Extra Care Co-ordinator Dianne Mason with one of the hoardings at the West End Village construction site.

HOARDINGS around the West End Village construction site have become a real talking point – for they display fascinating and little-known facts about the London Road area of Stoke.

For instance, passers-by are told that: ■ An elephant escaped from the PT Barnum circus when it visited Stoke at the turn of the 20th century and the animal ran amok along London Road.

■ Local pottery owners used to race their horses against each other every Sunday along a racetrack near London Road.

■ Traffic using the highway once had to pay a road toll.

■ Arnold Machin, who sculpted the effigy of the Queen used on coins and postage stamps, lived just off London Road.

Sandra Barber, Communications Manager for Staffordshire Housing Association, said: “I live in the area and hear lots of amusing and quirky stories from local people, so I thought we should share them with everyone who passes the site.

“It’s generated a lot of interest. Pedestrians look at

the hoardings and motorists stop to read them.

“We’ve had lots of phone calls and emails thanking us for providing such an interesting feature.”

Staffordshire Housing Association worked with local historian Richard Talbot, of Penkhull, to research the weird and wacky facts for the eye catching hoardings.

Now Our City is giving readers a chance to come up with facts about Stoke-on-Trent that not many people might know.

We’re looking for such snippets of information – perhaps useless, but nevertheless interesting – such as the fact that Rudyard Kipling’s father taught art in rooms where the New Inn pub now stands in Burslem.

The 12 best entries will be published in a future issue of Our City.

Send your ideas to: Unusual Facts, FREEPOST, Our City; or ourcity@stoke.gov.uk – and do not forget to include your name and a daytime contact number.

Our City

11

New forum can help to shape services OLDER people in Stoke-on-Trent can have a real say in shaping services that affect their lives – thanks to a new forum that has been launched in the city for those aged 50-plus.

The Stoke-on-Trent Fifty+ Forum gives older people an opportunity to come together four times a year to give policy makers and service providers their views on existing services and new ones that they would like to see developed.

The Forum, established by EngAGE, a partnership of Age Concern North Staffordshire, Approach, North Staffs Pensioners’ Convention and The Saltbox, holds its first meeting on Thursday 1 October at Swan Bank Methodist Centre, Burslem.

Under the theme Independence and Wellbeing, the Forum will look at what services are needed to enable older people to live independently at home and how those services should be provided.

Representatives from NHS Stoke on Trent and the city council will be present to answer questions from older people and listen to their views.

Alternatively, those unable or who do not wish to attend Forum meetings can still have their voice heard. An EngAGE outreach worker is visiting groups such as lunch clubs, social clubs and church groups to give members an opportunity to take part in consultations.

For more details about the Forum please phone the EngAGE team on 01782 200736. Also contact the EngAGE team on this number if you would like to arrange a visit to your group, or email admin@engagestoke ontrent.org.uk

Future of city council RESIDENTS can help shape the future of the city council by visiting their local library or city council office and give their views in the first of three rounds of consultation which ends on 14 September.

They are being asked for ideas on the number of councillors and wards in the city, and their boundaries, and can also comment online by logging on to www. boundarycommittee.org.uk

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Our City S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9

Questionnaire reveals home preferences A SURVEY of older people is helping the city council to develop the sort of accommodation and services that best meet their needs.

As part of a consultation exercise by the Housing Enabling Team, older people were asked to complete a questionnaire asking about their current housing circumstances, preferences for the future and their views on the information available for older people.

Some of the key findings to emerge from responses to the survey include: ● Older people want a range of housing options to choose from – bungalows, extra care housing or remaining in their current home were all popular choices. ● The majority of respondents want a home with at least two bedrooms. ● Many others want to stay in their current home for as long as possible, with services to help them live independently.

A summary of the results of the survey has been published in a booklet. To obtain a copy contact the Housing Enabling Team on 01782 233330 or email housing.strategy@stoke.gov.uk

DVD shows how to be a foster carer AN informative DVD has been produced which follows the journey of a couple who want to become foster carers. The short film called Fostering: Changing Lives is a step-by-step account of the process involved.

The DVD has been compiled by the city council’s Children and Young People’s Services Directorate, and filming involved real foster carers, young people and staff. It will be handed out free of charge to people who attend the city council’s monthly fostering information meetings.

They will then be able to watch it again at home and share it with other members of their family to help decide if fostering is for them.

Currently, there are 400 children in care in the city and more local foster carers are needed. In particular, foster carers are needed for older children, brothers and sisters and long-term foster placements.

For more information or to book a place at the monthly information meetings call 01782 234555 or visit stoke.gov.uk/fostering

Sailing into the

record book books The magnificent city council flower bed themed on the shipwreck and story of HMS Swift.

City council is first to win best in show twice exhibitor has been twice named best in show – the annual event’s highest accolade.

Greenfingered city council workers nurtured and arranged more than 3,500 flowers to create a replica of the 18th century Royal Navy ship HMS Swift which hit rocks and sank off Patagonia in 1770 while undertaking surveys in South America.

The entry also scooped gold for the third year running, and It’s the first time in the history thanks to the fact that the city of the Royal Horticultural council has won the best in show Society (RHS) Tatton Park title once before, in 2007, this Flower Show in Cheshire that an year’s achievements make the authority the most successful flower bed competition entrant ever.

The flower beds competition was introduced to the Tatton Park Flower Show in 2001.

The wreck of HMS Swift was discovered in 1982 with perfectly preserved North Staffordshire tea and tablewares on board – Lord Mayor which inspired Councillor Jean the From the Bowers shows off Potteries to the Best in Show Patagonia floral trophy. creation that beat off stiff

A

STUNNING floral shipwreck display has helped Stoke-on-Trent City Council sail into the record books by winning the best in show title in a prestigious garden competition for an unprecedented second time.

competition from around 20 other exhibitors.

The Argentinean National Institute for Anthropology called on the expertise of city council archaeologists to uncover the history of the pottery finds, and the artefacts are now on permanent display in Patagonia, some 7,000 miles from where they were made.

A team of nine city council workers recreated the Georgian ship out of reclaimed timbers.They used flowers, including blue lobelias, white alyssum and juncas twister to represent the swaying sea, along with seaweed made from New Zealand flax and echeverias and rosette shaped succulents to represent the kelp and coral that thrive around the timbers of the wreck.

The remarkable garden was admired by millions during the BBC’s television coverage of the Tatton Park Flower Show, and highly praised by Gardener’s World lead presenter Toby Buckland who said of the pottery found mostly intact on the wreck of HMS Swift: “If that doesn’t prove to be dishwasher proof – I don’t know what does!”

Judges said they were impressed with “the good use of colours, beautiful planting, good combinations and proportions, good quality plants and a perfectly presented boat.”

Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers, who launched the display at Tatton Park, said: “The dedication of our workers is

Gardener’s World presenter Toby Buckland visits the city’s entry.

without question. To go on winning like they do shows how they respect our city and want the best for it. The story behind the display is also very poignant for Stoke-on-Trent, and to find fresh and exciting ideas each year takes dedication and commitment.”

Tom Bourne, a city council Grounds and Cleansing Manager and one of the team who created the winning garden, said: “Even though we had won before we really weren’t expecting it. There was such strong competition and the entries get better every year.

“It’s a really enjoyable change from the day job.

“It just shows that the city council is capable of doing really positive things.”

Parks Manager Andy Finch, another member of the team, said: “One of the judges said it had come down to three entries and they chose us because they couldn’t find any fault.” ● The city council provided plants for other authorities’ entries at the Tatton Park Flower Show. Newcastleunder-Lyme Borough Council won a gold medal with plants supplied from “across the border” in the Potteries. ■

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13

£35m flagship hospital to

boost healthcare A

£35 million flagship healthcare complex serving the north of the city is set to open its doors this month.

The new three-storey Haywood Hospital at Stanfields – between Burslem and Tunstall – will bring a host of new services under one roof. It will cater for 140 in-patients as well as around 42,000 people visiting the Walk In Centre every year. On top of this,

the hospital will continue to operate its world class rheumatological and specialist rehabilitation services.

Other services will include intermediate care for patients discharged from the main University of North Staffordshire Hospital, support for patients with life-threatening conditions and services for older people.

There is also a ward dedicated to palliative care and pain relief for terminal illnesses.

X ray engineer Keith Adams installs new state-of-the-art equipment at the hospital.

The first of three phases involving the building of five new wards, a purpose built imaging department and new Walk In Centre has now been completed.

Hospital Manager Helen Duffy said: “This really is a state-of-the-art facility which will provide patients with first class health care in excellent surroundings. At £35 million, it is a major investment within the health service of Stoke-on-Trent and will be a huge benefit to local people.

“I am delighted that the first phase of the project is now complete and am looking forward to the day when the patients are transferred from the old building to this new hospital for their treatment.”

Stage two of the development will start in October this year when the old building will be demolished and the landscaping and development of additional car parking will be undertaken.

The final phase of the scheme – expected to be completed within a year – involves upgrading the retained part of the building.

The impressive entrance foyer to the new £35 million Haywood Hospital.

The new Walk In Centre is on the right.

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For more information about the free entitlement and a list of childcare settings who deliver Early Education in your local area, please contact Stoke-on-Trent Parent Direct, your Local Families Information Service on:

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Course helps in the battle to

curb prostitution A

HARD-HITTING course, which focuses on kerb crawlers and makes them address their antisocial behaviour, is helping police win the battle against prostitution.

Officers who arrest suspected kerb crawlers can now send them on an intensive training session instead of charging them.

It means the suspect avoids a court appearance but has to pay to attend a one-day course aimed at addressing their behaviour and giving them an understanding about how their actions affect the community.

Home Office experts and criminologists believe the new tactic is having the best impact on reducing kerb crawling – and research shows those who attend the course are much less likely to reoffend.

The scheme forms part of a larger strategy, which has seen Staffordshire Police’s Stoke-on-Trent Division Prostitution Team become part of a wider Action Team based at Burslem Police Station.

It means the team has more staff and resources and is able to tackle the wider problems faced by local residents.

Chief Inspector Jeff Moore, of Staffordshire Police, said: “The course is known to be very hard hitting on those involved and they are forced to address their behaviour as part of the session. Prostitution has been a problem in this community for many

years and particularly over the last few years the police, working closely with our partners, have achieved some significant reductions in the problems in the area.

“The new tactic is building on the fantastic work already achieved by the team. Over the past few years the number of sex workers visible in our communities has significantly reduced.

The number of complaints from local residents has also been reduced.”

PC Kate Beardmore speaks to a suspected kerb crawler. Above left, PC Jim Goddard of the action team.

‘Wheelie’ good sticker idea reminds motorists to keep to speed limit

Birches Head resident Adrian Siegertsz pictured with PC Ruth Barlow, left and PCSO Michelle Chadwick, right, with their new 30mph stickers.

POLICE have teamed up with residents to tackle speeding drivers with the help of a “wheelie” good idea.

People who live on Widecombe Road, Birches Head, have been given 30mph stickers to attach to their outside bins.

It is hoped the stickers, that will be visible from the road when the wheelie bins are emptied on Mondays, will alert drivers and remind them to curb their speed.

The initiative follows numerous complaints to Staffordshire Police about speeding motorists. The signs – which have been produced by Stoke-on-Trent Safer City Partnership – have already been used

successfully in parts of Trentham and Sneyd Green.

PCSO Michelle Chadwick, who is a member of the Birches Head Neighbourhood Policing Unit, worked with residents to introduce the scheme.

She said:“The wheelie bin stickers can be used to educate motorists about the speed limit within the area.

“It can also act as a reminder that they could be fined or issued with points if they exceed the speed limit.

“This is just one of the tools we can use as the area is regularly patrolled by response offices and the Stoke-on-Trent Division’s Road Policing Team.”

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SEPTEMBER 2009

Our

Our City

15

STOKE-ON-TRENT CITY COUNCIL

Neighbourhoods SEPTEMBER 2009

A GREEN-FINGERED community project is set to see its operation grow after being awarded a £10,800 grant.

Newstead Community Association was awarded the cash to develop its Market Garden Project – to engage long term unemployed people and support individuals with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Participants cultivate derelict land in the area and then grow and sell the produce.

And thanks to the city council’s Community Grants scheme – which uses cash from the European Social Fund – more local people will be helped to fulfil their potential through the scheme.

Chairman of the community association, Bill Harvey, said: “This project gives volunteers something different to do and raises their self esteem. Some people find

CULTIVATING PROGRESS...

Garden Supervisors Carl Hodgson and David Eardley.

Developing what has already been done to rid communities of the problem of loutish and threatening behaviour is a key priority for Denise Grant.

Before her appointment in June, Denise had been Manager of the South Eastern Neighbourhood Management Team, based at Longton, for three years and brings a wealth of experience to her new post.

“I see it as a very interesting and challenging role in which I intend to build on what has already been

ESU

Music festival South Western: A NEW festival for Jazz and Blues enthusiasts hit the right note with more than 5,000 music lovers who flocked to Penkhull. The event, which raised money for the Donna Louise Trust, could be expanded to venues across the city.

Sporting success

they have an affinity with gardening and and it’s a relaxed atmosphere where they can learn.”

The community association’s sister organisation NCA Enterprises has been awarded £575,000 to buy the former Good Shepherd RC Church

and turn it into a community centre.

Funding body Futurebuilders handed over the money – made up of a £400,000 loan and a £175,000 grant – after being impressed by the work going on to get people back into employment and improve the area.

Teams step up efforts to improve quality of life A FRESH drive to tackle the problem of antisocial behaviour is being spearheaded by the new Head of Neighbourhood Services in Stoke-on-Trent.

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achieved by the Neighbourhood Management Teams,” she said.

Denise added: “Much has already been done by neighbourhood teams and our partners in reducing antisocial behaviour through such measures as gathering evidence to serve injunctions and apply for Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

“To support these efforts we will be introducing a new database on which each reported case will be recorded and tracked, and the information will be shared with relevant partner agencies such as the police and the Safer City Partnership.”

In addition Denise wants even more people in the community to have a say on how public money is spent in their neighbourhood – whether it’s for house management,

grass cutting, benefit advice, litter or any other issues that affect their neighbourhood.

She said: “We will be working to improve levels of customer engagement through such measures as wider public consultation in order to make it easier for residents to tell us what they want for their communities, and to give people of the city a bigger say in the decisions that determine the quality of their lives.”

‘‘ ’’ We will be working to make it easier for people to tell us what they want DENISE GRANT, HEAD OF NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES

South Eastern: A SUMMER sports camp at Sandon Business and Enterprise college has been helping to keep youngsters occupied during the holidays. Activities and events from football to table tennis were on offer, with fully-trained coaches on hand.

Carnival time

Eastern: A COMMUNITY carnival in Milton brought villagers together for a fun-packed day of events. Milton Community Association funded the day – which featured the crowning of the carnival queen, and an appearance by Signal Radio presenter Louise Stones.

It’s the business Western: MORE than 40 entrepreneurs have started up their own business thanks to Burslem and Middleport based Bizfizz. The project, which was set-up by the city council and Midland Heart Housing Association works with pre-start and existing businesses to remove barriers and develop new skills.

Kids have a say Northern: A COMPLETE refurbishment of Monks Neil Park playground, Chell Heath, has been carried out. Among the improvements are a new child friendly play surface, seats purchased by a local business and a basket ball hoop. Funding was obtained from the Ward Budget.

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Summer of fun South Western: SUMMER activities for young people at Foley Fields in Fenton have been given a lift this year – thanks to a joint project between the city council, Groundworks and Staffordshire University.

Among the events taking place as part of the ProGreSS project were football, play and family activities. The scheme was launched during a community event at the fields.

Medieval Mayhem Eastern: HUNDREDS of residents enjoyed a successful medieval open day at Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre. The family fun day event, which was officially opened by Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers, saw staff donning fancy dress for a wide range of community activities.

Garden memory Western: A STUNNING garden has been created in Hanley Park in memory of a city council staff member. Jane Richards worked with staff and communities to improve the environmental appearance of parts of the Western area.

And following her death in February this year, staff in partnership with the Safer Angling For Everyone (SAFE) community group created the eye-catching tribute.

Caring pair look after public

Residents back tidy-up teams MASSIVE strides have been taken towards improving the appearance of neighbourhoods since environmental enforcement teams began tackling problems locally nearly two years ago.

Each of the five neighbourhoods has its own dedicated officers – who have received intensive training – and are committed to constantly tidying up streets and open spaces in the city.

As well as making sure fly-tippers, dog foulers and litterbugs receive appropriate penalties, they have also been educating residents to ensure a cleaner future for Stoke-on-Trent.

It’s a robust approach that has already proved popular with residents.

A survey showed people felt there had been an improvement in their local environment – and that tidier communities remained among their top priorities for the future.

So far this year, city council officers have carried out more than 6,200 environmental investigations, compared to 4,550 to the first year of the local team operating.

More than 100 fixed penalty notices have been issued as a result this year – compared to 71 last year.

John Deakin, Project Manager for the city council’s Neighbourhood Services said: “Dropping litter and not clearing up after a dog that has fouled are examples of environmental crimes that continue to blight our communities.

Whilst they are not serious crimes they continue to affect the appearance of the neighbourhoods in which we live, giving an appearance that there is an

Tunstall in bloom Northern: BUDDING gardeners showedoff their produce at the prestigious Tunstall Park Floral Show. The event on 6 September featured a competition for growers as well as a host of community attractions.

Forging new links South Eastern: A PILOT scheme to develop a relationship between young people and the police has been run with pupils from Alexandra Junior School in Meir. For six weeks, 12 children learnt how Longton Neighbourhood Police Station is run, while Enforcement Officer school staff supported their Ian Grice, left, clearing learning. The course is an up with Groundwork extension of the already environmental task force successful study support members Darren projects which the city Davies and Matthew council operates in Rushton. conjunction with Port Vale and Stoke City Football Clubs.

uncaring attitude in the community.”

Recent initiatives having an impact include “zero tolerance” whereby people dropping litter and allowing their dogs to foul are handed an immediate fixed penalty notice.

To further develop this work, the city council is one of 100 councils in Britain to volunteer to work with the Keep Britain Tidy group to support the Litter from Cars campaign in July.

Members of the public were asked to report details of people throwing litter from their cars, anonymously, to a national website while enforcement officers are issuing Fixed Penalty Notices when they witness offenders throwing litter of any sort out of their car windows.

The city council, along with Keep Britain Tidy, are working to develop business awards to reward local companies that work with the community to keep the city clean.

And initiatives planned to begin later this year include Police Community Support Officers being trained by the city council to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and Dog Control Orders being introduced to clean-up areas of the city suffering with high levels of fouling. The continuing success of the work by Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers and Neighbourhood Impact Officers will lead to a more proactive service.

Mr Deakin added: “This approach should eventually allow resources targeted for tidying up the streets around the city to be re-allocated to other tasks, less litter and rubbish means less requirement to sweep streets and have litter collections.”

DYNAMIC duo Anika Hunter and Greg Willott have had a real impact on the lives of two elderly residents.

For the pair saved one woman’s waterlogged house and supported another through a diabetic attack in the space of just one week.

The Neighbourhood Impact Officers (NIOs) based at Fenton Local Centre first swung into action after calling on an elderly lady in Hanford who had reported a fall.

When they arrived, they found the house swamped with water from broken bath taps and quickly had to borrow pumping equipment from Kier Stoke and mops from neighbours.

After spending hours drying out the hall and bathroom, Anika and Greg arranged and waited for the lady’s GP to attend to check her out. They then made the necessary arrangements for the woman, who was in her eighties, to be looked after.

Anika said: “She was understandably quite upset and had injured her knee. After sorting things out and getting

READY FOR ACTION...

Housing Officer Nicky Goodwin, left, with NIOs Greg Willott and Anika Hunter.

her house somewhere close to normal we arranged to carry out home visits in the future.”

However, the dramatic week didn’t end there – three days later they were called to Hayfield Crescent, Fenton

by Lifeline – who had received an alert.

There, Anika and Greg found another elderly lady, who suffers from diabetes, in an agitated and confused state.

However after talking to her, Anika and Greg found she was a diabetic and realized she could be experiencing low blood sugar – which can lead to a coma.

They called an ambulance and paramedics confirmed her blood sugar was only 1.3. The normal level is 3-7.

After the medical staff had gone, Greg and Anika made the lady a meal, arranged a follow-up visit and contacted her daughter and GP. “We will now continue to keep a check on her and keep in touch with her daughter.”

Anika said.

Campaign pays off with crossing WORK is set to get underway on a £10,000 pedestrian crossing in Leek Road following a campaign by residents.

Queen’s Park Partnership Committee Member Harry Tunnicliffe, left, pictured on the refurbished bridge over the lake with Committee Chairperson Susan Whalley, Head of Publicity Steve Malam and Secretary Stan Leason.

The improvements near the Co-op in Joiners Square – which is used by pupils from nearby Waterside Primary – will include a refuge, lit bollards, dropped kerbs, a flashing beacon and tactile paving for the disabled.

Sixteen people on average try to cross the road during rush hour – at the same time as 2,222 vehicles – according to a recent survey.

But now, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is carrying out works after members of Joiners Square Residents’

Improvements are being planned at Burslem, Longton and Tunstall parks to restore their original charm.

And the restoration projects could help bring hundreds of tourists into the city and boost the amount of people using the facilities locally.

At Longton a £10,000 Victorian Fountain – the first in the city to be solar-powered – is being proposed.

If successful, a bid to the Big Lottery’s Community Spaces charity could bring a total of nearly £50,000 worth of improvements including a pond where pupils can learn about wildlife.

A £2.2M grant is being sought at Burslem where

ideas include an original pavilion, lodge buildings and formal terrace gardens.

Work already completed includes improvements to paths, the lake, the seating, the skate area and sports courts.

The community is being involved in drawing up detailed plans and an Urban Park Ranger has been appointed.

In Tunstall a community charity – the Tunstall Victoria Park Trust – has been formed after £330,000 was donated to the park through the Alfred Meakin Trust.

The group will oversee how the money is spent on improving the 100-year-old park.

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Fashion on show South Western: A FASHION show boosted the self-esteem of children in the Trentham area and taught them a host of new skills.

Lights, Camera, Fashion got pupils from Trentham High School, Ash Green Primary School and Abbey Hill School running the event and designing clothes.

A series of courses – including mask and tiara making and beauty courses – were held for pupils in the run-up to the event.

Eastern: TRAFFIC calming measures are being planned in Milton village following increasing concerns among local residents. A scheme is currently being drafted which will then be put to local residents and businesses to seek their views. It is hoped a scheme will be finalised by the end of March 2010.

RESPECT success Western: A RESPECT week in Forest Park saw streets cleaned, enforcement action taken and the local community treated to a fun day. Overgrown trees in Shaw Street, which had been a long-standing issue were also cut back – giving the area a brighter and neater appearance.

Village celebration Northern: Pictured in Arthur’s Garden are, left to right, Mark Birkin of Sanctuary Housing Association, Harpreet Rayet, from RENEW North Staffordshire, Garden Chairman Vic Rawlinson, resident Gayle Lambert, city council Project Officer Lynsey Woodvine and Arthur’s sister Sonia Williams.

Community garden to remember a ‘champ’

PCSO Andy Alcock points out the site of the new pedestrian crossing to Area Implementation Team Officer Kevin Bradshaw and residents’ association members Peter and Shelby Yates.

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Road safety plan

Association highlighted the problem.

City council Area Implementation Team Officer for the Eastern Neighbourhood, Kevin Bradshaw, said: “A lot of people cross there from the Joiners Square Estate to use the shop and other nearby facilities. It will form part of a safer route to school and make crossing this busy road a lot less dangerous.”

Chairman of the residents’ association, Mandi Cotton, said: “This is going to make a big difference. It can be manic on this road – it doesn’t matter what time of day it is. There are a lot more people crossing there, including elderly people since the Co-op opened.”

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A MUCH-LOVED community champion from Shelton has been commemorated with a community garden – after locals managed to win £125,000 worth of funding.

Arthur Garside, a former Chamberlain Street resident and member of the Upper Shelton Residents’ Association, worked tirelessly for his neighbourhood.

And, following his death, a former clearance area in his old street has been transformed into a space for people to enjoy.

Arthur’s sister, Sonia Williams, said: “He was very popular and it’s lovely that he will be remembered in this way. It’s a beautiful little garden and people have put a lot of work into it. Arthur lived to help people in the community and he would have been very proud.”

Local artist Philip Hardacre designed and built a mosaic tile bench for the garden, and children from St Mark’s Primary School joined forces with residents to design and paint tiles for the seat.

A CELEBRATION of village life was the theme for Fegg Hayes fun day. Home made cakes, hanging basket competitions, wooden stocks and old family and village photos helped entertain the residents. The event was organised by the Fegg Hayes Residents’ Association, Northern Area Implementation Team and Staffordshire Housing.

Game on to learn South Eastern:

FANTASY battles with epic figurines have been used as a way of improving literacy and numeracy for children visiting Meir Library.

Games Workshop events allow youngsters to use models they paint themselves in a game before taking them home.

Meanwhile, they are encouraged to develop their literacy and numeracy during the sessions and get involved in the Quest Seekers Summer Reading Challenge.

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Summer of fun South Western: SUMMER activities for young people at Foley Fields in Fenton have been given a lift this year – thanks to a joint project between the city council, Groundworks and Staffordshire University.

Among the events taking place as part of the ProGreSS project were football, play and family activities. The scheme was launched during a community event at the fields.

Medieval Mayhem Eastern: HUNDREDS of residents enjoyed a successful medieval open day at Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre. The family fun day event, which was officially opened by Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers, saw staff donning fancy dress for a wide range of community activities.

Garden memory Western: A STUNNING garden has been created in Hanley Park in memory of a city council staff member. Jane Richards worked with staff and communities to improve the environmental appearance of parts of the Western area.

And following her death in February this year, staff in partnership with the Safer Angling For Everyone (SAFE) community group created the eye-catching tribute.

Caring pair look after public

Residents back tidy-up teams MASSIVE strides have been taken towards improving the appearance of neighbourhoods since environmental enforcement teams began tackling problems locally nearly two years ago.

Each of the five neighbourhoods has its own dedicated officers – who have received intensive training – and are committed to constantly tidying up streets and open spaces in the city.

As well as making sure fly-tippers, dog foulers and litterbugs receive appropriate penalties, they have also been educating residents to ensure a cleaner future for Stoke-on-Trent.

It’s a robust approach that has already proved popular with residents.

A survey showed people felt there had been an improvement in their local environment – and that tidier communities remained among their top priorities for the future.

So far this year, city council officers have carried out more than 6,200 environmental investigations, compared to 4,550 to the first year of the local team operating.

More than 100 fixed penalty notices have been issued as a result this year – compared to 71 last year.

John Deakin, Project Manager for the city council’s Neighbourhood Services said: “Dropping litter and not clearing up after a dog that has fouled are examples of environmental crimes that continue to blight our communities.

Whilst they are not serious crimes they continue to affect the appearance of the neighbourhoods in which we live, giving an appearance that there is an

Tunstall in bloom Northern: BUDDING gardeners showedoff their produce at the prestigious Tunstall Park Floral Show. The event on 6 September featured a competition for growers as well as a host of community attractions.

Forging new links South Eastern: A PILOT scheme to develop a relationship between young people and the police has been run with pupils from Alexandra Junior School in Meir. For six weeks, 12 children learnt how Longton Neighbourhood Police Station is run, while Enforcement Officer school staff supported their Ian Grice, left, clearing learning. The course is an up with Groundwork extension of the already environmental task force successful study support members Darren projects which the city Davies and Matthew council operates in Rushton. conjunction with Port Vale and Stoke City Football Clubs.

uncaring attitude in the community.”

Recent initiatives having an impact include “zero tolerance” whereby people dropping litter and allowing their dogs to foul are handed an immediate fixed penalty notice.

To further develop this work, the city council is one of 100 councils in Britain to volunteer to work with the Keep Britain Tidy group to support the Litter from Cars campaign in July.

Members of the public were asked to report details of people throwing litter from their cars, anonymously, to a national website while enforcement officers are issuing Fixed Penalty Notices when they witness offenders throwing litter of any sort out of their car windows.

The city council, along with Keep Britain Tidy, are working to develop business awards to reward local companies that work with the community to keep the city clean.

And initiatives planned to begin later this year include Police Community Support Officers being trained by the city council to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and Dog Control Orders being introduced to clean-up areas of the city suffering with high levels of fouling. The continuing success of the work by Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers and Neighbourhood Impact Officers will lead to a more proactive service.

Mr Deakin added: “This approach should eventually allow resources targeted for tidying up the streets around the city to be re-allocated to other tasks, less litter and rubbish means less requirement to sweep streets and have litter collections.”

DYNAMIC duo Anika Hunter and Greg Willott have had a real impact on the lives of two elderly residents.

For the pair saved one woman’s waterlogged house and supported another through a diabetic attack in the space of just one week.

The Neighbourhood Impact Officers (NIOs) based at Fenton Local Centre first swung into action after calling on an elderly lady in Hanford who had reported a fall.

When they arrived, they found the house swamped with water from broken bath taps and quickly had to borrow pumping equipment from Kier Stoke and mops from neighbours.

After spending hours drying out the hall and bathroom, Anika and Greg arranged and waited for the lady’s GP to attend to check her out. They then made the necessary arrangements for the woman, who was in her eighties, to be looked after.

Anika said: “She was understandably quite upset and had injured her knee. After sorting things out and getting

READY FOR ACTION...

Housing Officer Nicky Goodwin, left, with NIOs Greg Willott and Anika Hunter.

her house somewhere close to normal we arranged to carry out home visits in the future.”

However, the dramatic week didn’t end there – three days later they were called to Hayfield Crescent, Fenton

by Lifeline – who had received an alert.

There, Anika and Greg found another elderly lady, who suffers from diabetes, in an agitated and confused state.

However after talking to her, Anika and Greg found she was a diabetic and realized she could be experiencing low blood sugar – which can lead to a coma.

They called an ambulance and paramedics confirmed her blood sugar was only 1.3. The normal level is 3-7.

After the medical staff had gone, Greg and Anika made the lady a meal, arranged a follow-up visit and contacted her daughter and GP. “We will now continue to keep a check on her and keep in touch with her daughter.”

Anika said.

Campaign pays off with crossing WORK is set to get underway on a £10,000 pedestrian crossing in Leek Road following a campaign by residents.

Queen’s Park Partnership Committee Member Harry Tunnicliffe, left, pictured on the refurbished bridge over the lake with Committee Chairperson Susan Whalley, Head of Publicity Steve Malam and Secretary Stan Leason.

The improvements near the Co-op in Joiners Square – which is used by pupils from nearby Waterside Primary – will include a refuge, lit bollards, dropped kerbs, a flashing beacon and tactile paving for the disabled.

Sixteen people on average try to cross the road during rush hour – at the same time as 2,222 vehicles – according to a recent survey.

But now, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is carrying out works after members of Joiners Square Residents’

Improvements are being planned at Burslem, Longton and Tunstall parks to restore their original charm.

And the restoration projects could help bring hundreds of tourists into the city and boost the amount of people using the facilities locally.

At Longton a £10,000 Victorian Fountain – the first in the city to be solar-powered – is being proposed.

If successful, a bid to the Big Lottery’s Community Spaces charity could bring a total of nearly £50,000 worth of improvements including a pond where pupils can learn about wildlife.

A £2.2M grant is being sought at Burslem where

ideas include an original pavilion, lodge buildings and formal terrace gardens.

Work already completed includes improvements to paths, the lake, the seating, the skate area and sports courts.

The community is being involved in drawing up detailed plans and an Urban Park Ranger has been appointed.

In Tunstall a community charity – the Tunstall Victoria Park Trust – has been formed after £330,000 was donated to the park through the Alfred Meakin Trust.

The group will oversee how the money is spent on improving the 100-year-old park.

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Fashion on show South Western: A FASHION show boosted the self-esteem of children in the Trentham area and taught them a host of new skills.

Lights, Camera, Fashion got pupils from Trentham High School, Ash Green Primary School and Abbey Hill School running the event and designing clothes.

A series of courses – including mask and tiara making and beauty courses – were held for pupils in the run-up to the event.

Eastern: TRAFFIC calming measures are being planned in Milton village following increasing concerns among local residents. A scheme is currently being drafted which will then be put to local residents and businesses to seek their views. It is hoped a scheme will be finalised by the end of March 2010.

RESPECT success Western: A RESPECT week in Forest Park saw streets cleaned, enforcement action taken and the local community treated to a fun day. Overgrown trees in Shaw Street, which had been a long-standing issue were also cut back – giving the area a brighter and neater appearance.

Village celebration Northern: Pictured in Arthur’s Garden are, left to right, Mark Birkin of Sanctuary Housing Association, Harpreet Rayet, from RENEW North Staffordshire, Garden Chairman Vic Rawlinson, resident Gayle Lambert, city council Project Officer Lynsey Woodvine and Arthur’s sister Sonia Williams.

Community garden to remember a ‘champ’

PCSO Andy Alcock points out the site of the new pedestrian crossing to Area Implementation Team Officer Kevin Bradshaw and residents’ association members Peter and Shelby Yates.

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Road safety plan

Association highlighted the problem.

City council Area Implementation Team Officer for the Eastern Neighbourhood, Kevin Bradshaw, said: “A lot of people cross there from the Joiners Square Estate to use the shop and other nearby facilities. It will form part of a safer route to school and make crossing this busy road a lot less dangerous.”

Chairman of the residents’ association, Mandi Cotton, said: “This is going to make a big difference. It can be manic on this road – it doesn’t matter what time of day it is. There are a lot more people crossing there, including elderly people since the Co-op opened.”

Improvements restore parks to former glory

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A MUCH-LOVED community champion from Shelton has been commemorated with a community garden – after locals managed to win £125,000 worth of funding.

Arthur Garside, a former Chamberlain Street resident and member of the Upper Shelton Residents’ Association, worked tirelessly for his neighbourhood.

And, following his death, a former clearance area in his old street has been transformed into a space for people to enjoy.

Arthur’s sister, Sonia Williams, said: “He was very popular and it’s lovely that he will be remembered in this way. It’s a beautiful little garden and people have put a lot of work into it. Arthur lived to help people in the community and he would have been very proud.”

Local artist Philip Hardacre designed and built a mosaic tile bench for the garden, and children from St Mark’s Primary School joined forces with residents to design and paint tiles for the seat.

A CELEBRATION of village life was the theme for Fegg Hayes fun day. Home made cakes, hanging basket competitions, wooden stocks and old family and village photos helped entertain the residents. The event was organised by the Fegg Hayes Residents’ Association, Northern Area Implementation Team and Staffordshire Housing.

Game on to learn South Eastern:

FANTASY battles with epic figurines have been used as a way of improving literacy and numeracy for children visiting Meir Library.

Games Workshop events allow youngsters to use models they paint themselves in a game before taking them home.

Meanwhile, they are encouraged to develop their literacy and numeracy during the sessions and get involved in the Quest Seekers Summer Reading Challenge.

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LEE Buxton, 30, tells Our Neighbourhoods about a typical day as a Neighbourhood Impact Officer covering the areas of Mount Pleasant and Heron Cross.

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Litterpicking and checking reports of antisocial behaviour behind Clarice Cliff Primary School, Fenton.

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City wildlife Eastern:

A WILDLIFE haven in Joiners Square is set to be restored to its former glory.Trentmill Nature Park will benefit from work to footpaths and improved access so that it can be enjoyed by all members of the community.

Among the animals to have been spotted at the park – which is situated alongside the River Trent – are badgers, foxes, newts and a mink.

Police post boost

me Lee carries out so s. tie du e general offic

Western:

Busy Lee helps residents access

the city services they need 9.00AM Lee receives a complaint that teenagers are drinking and taking drugs in the shrubbed area at the rear of Clarice Cliffe primary school.

He carries out an inspection, does a litter pick and finds large volumes of low strength beer and some syringes.

To tackle the problem, Lee informs the local police officer and PCSO and asks them to carry out regular patrols. He also alerts the Environmental Manager and makes arrangements for vegetation in the area to be cut back regularly.

For his part, Lee makes an agreement for him to carry out weekly inspections, litter picks and carry out regular checks for syringes.

10.30AM Reports reach Lee that a large amount of tree branches had been fly-tipped on a green area in Heron Cross and that someone had tried to set them on fire. He arranges to link-up with Grounds Maintenance and remove the branches to stop any further risk.

12PM Lee has been carrying out consultations at Travers Court regarding the fire safety work that is soon to start. He makes

Lee talks to 72-year-old Travers Court resident Mary Cooper about fire safety.

A POLICE post has been opened in Birches Head to make officers more accessible to locals. The new facility at the Bridge Centre holds police surgeries every Tuesday from 2-4pm. Residents are being encouraged to drop in to raise any concerns with local PCs and PCSOs. It is being staffed by PC Ruth Barlow and PCSOs Michelle Chadwick and Rebecca Simon.

Heritage tour Northern:

CHATTERLEY Whitfield opens its doors to the public this month for a special guided tour around the site as part of an Heritage Open Day. The tour offers visitors rare access to the former colliery, which is a scheduled ancient monument. It also provides a glimpse into the site's unique history. The colliery is acknowledged to be the most comprehensive surviving deep mine site in England.

Garden opens South Western:

appointments with the residents to keep them updated, checks the condition of the communal areas and sorts out issues ad-hoc.

1PM After being contacted by an elderly couple from a bungalow in Fenton who are having trouble

managing their rear garden Lee arranges an inspection alongside Groundwork. The garden is cut back and arrangements are made for Grounds Maintenance to visit in future as part of their programmed work.

Alleygates combat crime hotspots HOTSPOT crime areas in Shelton are the first to benefit from a new city-wide alleygating scheme set to get underway this month.

The barriers have already proved effective in reducing domestic burglary, antisocial behaviour and fly tipping in many other areas of Stoke-onTrent.

And now the Safer City Partnership are funding a new drive – set to run until March 2011 – to erect more of the security gates.

This first phase will be targeted at a number of properties in Shelton South which are predominately terraced housing with a maze of alleyways between the rear yards of the properties.

Over a number of years these houses have been subject to high levels of crime and have been identified as hotspot locations.

A consultation with residents in Shelton – involving 400 letters to owner occupiers – found 94 per cent of people were in support of the scheme.

2.30PM At the request of Councillor Derek Capey, Lee carries out an inspection on a street in Fenton where there is a problem with wheelie bins and refuse bags being left out.

He knocks on seven doors and speaks to residents.

Lee then goes through the rubbish and finds evidence linking it to an address. He calls at the address, explains the enforcement procedure and issues a Section 46 Notice explaining how to dispose of their rubbish.

4PM Lee carries out a site inspection on a city council address in Fenton where he had informed a resident that a three piece suite dumped in the side garden was a breach of their tenancy. The sofas have been removed, so Lee closes the case.

AN ATTRACTIVE gateway to Stoke town centre has been created with the opening of a new community garden in Boothen. The green space, opposite the community hall, was developed by the city council, Staffordshire Housing Association and local residents to create a good first impression of the city.

Awareness day South Eastern:

MEIR Park’s Awareness Day offered residents advice on services available to tackle problems such as crime and antisocial behaviour.

The city council joined Staffordshire Police, the Breast Screening Service, Rethink, Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service, Adult Drug Services, Partnership Approach to Racial Incidents in North Staffordshire and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

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ORK is underway on a new one-stop maintenance and servicing depot in Stoke-on-Trent for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s fleet of fire engines and support vehicles.

Hats off to the site of the new depot at Trentham Lakes – City Councillor Denver Tolley, a member of the County Fire Authority, centre, with, left to right, Development Surveyor Andrew Cox of developers St Modwen, Trentham Lakes Site Manager Trevor Eccleston, and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Workshop Technicians Dave Hawthorne and Steve Knight.

This will enable the maintenance of a host of essential firefighting equipment including ladders, rescue equipment, light portable pumps, portable generators, hose reel tubing and branches.

Apprentice fire service technicians will also be able to train at the new unit, which is due

to be up and running by early 2010.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Dartford said: “Trentham Lakes is the ideal location for our new Vehicle Maintenance Unit, offering swift transport links to all locations across the city and county, while also providing us with the capacity

to design and construct a building to meet both the needs and standards of the fire and rescue service.”

The fire service has bought the land from regeneration specialists St Modwen who will also carry out construction of the 22,400 sq ft bespoke property.

RESIDENTS are being urged to ensure their electric blankets are not a fire risk by getting them tested free of charge.

As winter approaches, more and more people will be plugging in the instant warmth bedspreads without realising they are faulty.

Approximately half of those tested in Stoke-onTrent last year were found to be unsafe.

Testing stations will be operating at Tunstall Library on October 8 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Hanley Town Hall, Burslem Fire station and Longton Market will also be holding sessions on October 7, 8 and 9 respectively from 9.30am to 4pm.

Blankets that fail the test will not be handed back. Everyone over the age of 60 will be offered a free single or double underblanket as a replacement.

For more information phone 0800 0241 999.

Community Grants To help people into learning, training or employment If you are a community or voluntary organisation based in Staffordshire with a turnover of less than £100,000, you are eligible to apply for a grant of up to £12,000 from the European Social Fund.

Activities could include: volunteering projects confidence building activities initial advice and counselling initial help in basic skills engagement events referral and signposting services to mainstream provision

Our website is constantly updated with new jobs, so you’re always in the know about new opportunities. If you don’t have internet access call 0845 6060 234 (Textphone 0845 6055 255).

19

Free tests for electric blankets

Building work underway on £3m unit to provide all maintenance

The Vehicle Maintenance Unit is being built on a 22,000 square feet site at Trentham Lakes providing swift access to the A500 and A50.

The £3m facility will be used to maintain and service the 208-strong fire and rescue fleet ranging from incident response vehicles to reserve appliances and will support all 30 fire stations across the county.

Facilities will include 12 vehicle servicing and repair bays alongside a machine workshop, spray booth, storage areas and a training/meeting room.

Our City

We want your ideas for what works in your community

For help with your application contact Mark Price to discuss your eligibility on

01782 232145 or email mark.price@stoke.gov.uk For further information and to download an application form go to www.stoke.gov.uk

Working in partnership with

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New web directory for childcare PARENTS can key into services that will help them from the conception of their child through to adulthood thanks to a new website.

The Stoke Know How web directory brings together a whole raft of information and contacts and is the result of months of work and extensive collaboration.

It includes everything from virtual forums for parents to advice, local and national contacts and information on a wide variety of services.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council Family Information Service Manager Jane Fallows said:“This is a real hub of information that can help people all the way through their parenting life with information focused on two broad areas – childcare and non-childcare.

“Everything from maternity rights to dealing with a difficult teenager is covered.”

The site has been set up in response to the growing trend among parents to access childcare information via the internet and is an extension of the existing helpline.

It brings together information from the Stokeon-Trent Parent Direct, our families’ information service – which is on 0800 015 1120 – and the Children and Young People’s Trust website, currently known as Stoke What’s Up. For more information go to stoke.gov.uk/parent knowhow

What’s on outdoors THE latest edition of the city's Outdoor Events booklet – a what’s on guide to upcoming autumn and winter activities – is available now.

The booklet provides information on all the outdoor activities within Stoke-on-Trent including events in parks, country parks, community events and fun days.

Cycling City events and Respect Weeks as well as high profile events such as the Tour of Britain Series are also featured.

Next year, the city council we will be producing a spring and summer issue and an autumn and winter issue.

Anyone who wants a copy of the booklet should call 01782 232395.

Toni Wyatt and her daughter Robyn T-shirt painting – one of the activities at the stomp.

A

nley Park – youngsters at Ha mmer fun.

RY NT VE CO G IN su CALL ve” of nds “Mexican wa join in the Midla

g n i p stom ime t d o o g

and Tiaba Davina Beckett, right, es. fac ed int pa h wit Hussain

C

ITY youngsters enjoyed summer fun with a mass “stomp” at Hanley Park which was linked to similar events across the Midlands.

More than two hundred stamped the ground as a signal to children in Coventry who, in turn, chanted to a gathering in Solihull. Earlier the “Mexican wave” of activities was started in Warwickshire and then on to Staffordshire and Stoke-onTrent.

The stomp fun day marked National Play Day and was one of many city council organised events for thousands of children throughout the summer.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Ian Mitchell said: “Children need to be having fun, playing and enjoying life.

“The Stoke-on-Trent play service gives young people a huge range of positive experiences aimed to prevent antisocial behaviour.

“The children are able to play freely and have choices, which expands their social skills and tests their emotional, physical and creative wellbeing, but with the safety and security of experienced playworkers at hand. Children can join in with games, art and crafts, parachute play, role play, singing and dancing.”

Let’s all do the stomp.

Life-saving defibrillator presented to Longton Market LONGTON Market Officer Charlotte Wright-Bevans has been presented with a defibrillator from West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Response Manager Matt Heward. Two market officers and up to eight traders will be trained to operate the machine.

Councillor Brian Ward, city council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “We were asked by a trader if we would look into having

a defibrillator installed at the market because the market is seen as a hub for visitors to Longton. We are always looking at ways to ensure we continue to provide the best possible service to customers, and were happy to oblige.

“Staff and traders are being trained to use the machine, and it can be used around the town as well as in the market.”

Matt Heward said: “We are always looking for places where defibrillators can be located.

The chance of survival falls ten per cent every minute someone is in cardiac arrest. Having defibrillators in communities and town centres is vital in helping save lives.

“Anyone in the Stoke-on-Trent area who feels they have a suitable location for a defibrillator please call me on 07793 040310.”

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CycleStoke... a four page Our City special feature

£4.8million cash boost to transform cycling facilities WHEN it comes to cycling facilities, routes and innovations Stoke-on-Trent is on the right path to success.

In July 2008 it was awarded Cycling City status by Cycling England – the independent, expert body set up by the Department for Transport – just one of the 18 towns and cities across England to be awarded this accolade.

This means residents are benefiting from an additional £4.8 million of cycle funding to spend until March 2011 which has been matched by Stoke-onTrent City Council.

The cash boost is being used on projects to improve the image and promotion of cycling and, most importantly, its availability and accessibility.

This four page Our City special spotlights the work that the newly-formed CycleStoke team is doing to achieve its goal of doubling cycling in Stoke-on-Trent by the end of March 2011.

Specific projects include providing better cycle facilities, community cycle projects, cycle storage and facilities at schools, leisure centres and the town centres.

There is also a programme to enhance road safety measures and the production of an annual cycling map and guide for North Staffordshire, plus themed rides and

an array of other useful information.

The CycleStoke team also linked in with organisers of the Tour Ride which took place on Sunday 6 September and Tour of Britain stage which comes to Stoke-onTrent for the second year running on Wednesday, 16 September.

An activity-packed CycleStoke roadshow aims, over the two days to demonstrate how cycling is a fun, healthy and good way to get around and can be enjoyed by all members of the family – whatever their experience or fitness levels.

For more information about the CycleStoke project or to put forward your ideas for encouraging people to get on their bikes, call on 01782 238692 or email transportation@stoke.gov.uk

Bike ‘n’Hike throws gauntlet to pupils T

HOUSANDS of schoolchildren and employees are being invited to take part in a unique challenge which aims to encourage more people to cycle or walk.

The school initiative will challenge children to Bike ‘n’ Hike for four weeks from Monday September 28 until Friday October 23. Five thousand young students have been invited to take part in the 2009 event as part of a city-wide campaign to promote

alternative and healthy modes of transport.

This follows on from the first ever Bike 2 School Challenge in June when over 680 pupils cycled to school.

The decision to combine cycling and walking for the Bike ‘n’ Hike event will ensure that all pupils in the targeted schools have the opportunity to take part.

This major campaign is also targeting businesses and will challenge employees to Bike to Work over any two week period during Autumn.

Both challenges form part of a city-wide campaign to encourage everyone to leave the car at home and cycle, walk or use public transport.

CycleStoke Project Manager Beverley Cope said: “The aim of the Bike ‘n’ Hike event and the campaign as a whole is to encourage everyone to travel in a sustainable way.

“We have an action packed series of events and activities taking place throughout September, October and November including the prestigious Tour of Britain (see page seven) and people of all ages are being encouraged to take part.”

■ Turn to page 24 for more details of the Autumn programme.

World BMX champ urges pupils: ‘Never give up on cycling dream’ OLYMPIC BMX rider and World Champion Shanaze Reade visited the city to officially launch a UK cycling first and pass on words of encouragement to aspiring cyclists.

South Cheshire born Shanaze was greeted by more than 200 children at Burnwood Community Primary School in Chell Heath where she

officially unveiled the only BMX track within a school in the UK. Speaking to the young pupils she said: “Never give up on your dream – I haven’t and neither should you.

“There are always lots of twists and turns in anyone’s career, particularly in cycling, and you just have to follow them and keep going.”

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Improvements and new projects pave the way for cycling

£700,000 spent building new cycleways Bike It urges pupils to use pedal power CYCLESTOKE funding is supporting an innovative scheme which sees experts working directly with schools.

Bike It is one of the most successful projects in the UK at bringing about changes in travel behaviour at an early age by enabling young people to cycle to school. It is managed by Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, which is also responsible for the National Cycle Network.

Two Bike It officers – Carl Ward and Stephen Dyster – are now in post working with pupils in the city following the funding boost.

Carl and Stephen are working directly in schools that want to be part of the initiative.“There will be fun events and activities aimed at making children safe, confident and enthusiastic cyclists,” said Carl. He added that “There will be activities for teachers, parents or carers, too.

“By the end of the two years over which we work with a school, we believe that cycling to school will become a normal part of school life and, as the children grow up, they will decide to use a bicycle in daily life.”

In the five years that the Bike It project has been running nationally it has already quadrupled the number of children cycling to and from its target schools.

Bike storage in schools CYCLESTOKE is continuing to fund the installation of cycle storage facilities at schools.

A £155,000 cash injection is paying for safe, secure and undercover spaces for pupils’ cycles at selected schools.

This highly successful cycle storage programme was rolled out last year and 10 more schools are being included as part of this years plans.

These include 30 spaces at Ball Green Primary School, 20 spaces at Eaton Park Primary, 10 spaces at Forest Park Primary, 20 spaces at Newford Primary and 20 spaces at St Mary’s CE Primary.

It is expected that this latest round of cycle storage installation will be completed before November with the aim of encouraging more young people to cycle to school everyday.

MORE than £700,000 has so far been invested improving existing pathways and constructing new routes that are transforming Stoke-on-Trent into one of the country’s best cycling networks.

Since being awarded Cycling City status in July 2008, four major construction schemes have been completed as part of the £4.8m funding that has been provided.

Since January, work has been carried out on Meir Hay Greenway between Hazlitt Way and Weston Coyney Road; Longton Brook Greenway between

New Inn Lane and the A34 at Trentham; Goms Mill Greenway between Cemetery Road and Goms Mill Road; and Glebedale Greenway between the Victoria Place Link and Christchurch Street.

The 2009-2010 stage of the overall programme, which runs until March 2011, includes the Grange Park Greenway project which improves existing paths and provides new ones.

The paths – running from Festival Way to Stonor Street and Peacock Street, Middleport, to the Festival Park retail complex – will be designated as

shared footway/cycleways. CycleStoke Project Manager Beverley Cope said:“This year we are planning schemes to the approximate value of £2.2 million.

“In addition to the Grange Park project, we will be including a series of improvements to signage, storage, advanced stop lines and roundabouts.

“We also have a programme of activities which includes the CycleStoke Bike ‘n’ Hike, the Port Vale project and a successful series of training initiatives that are benefiting people of all ages.”

Vale fans invited to cycle to the match

VALIANT EFFORT...

Vale centre half John McCombe and Councillor Derek Capey, Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure, Parks and Open Spaces, get on their bikes at Vale Park.

PORT Vale fans are invited to get match fit by taking part in a new series of organised free cycle rides to every home game.

Starting with Vale’s home game against Bury on Saturday 19 September, the rides will begin at Burnwood Primary School, Chell Heath at 1pm and then pick up other cyclists along the way. The leisurely paced ride is suitable for everyone.

Each ride will use reclaimed greenways which form parts of National Cycle Routes 5 and 55 which are the main cycling arteries in the city. Stops to pick up other riders will be made at Ford Green Hall, Newford, Holden Lane High School and Central Forest Park before arriving at the ground.

Organiser Phil Chatterley, part of the CycleStoke project

team, said: “Port Vale have been absolutely brilliant in supporting this idea.

“In addition to offering safe, secure cycle storage at the ground, free marketing through the match day programme and scoreboard, the club have offered all under 16’s who take part in the ride a free match ticket for the next two home games featuring Bury and Bournemouth.

“We are going to run the scheme at every home game with the hope that this becomes a regular cycling experience.”

Marshalls Wanted!

CycleStoke are looking for experienced cyclists to assist in marshalling the match day ride. Free training will be provided. Contact Cycle Stoke on 01782 238692.

Maintenance training kicks off at soccer ground

T

HE concept of a new cycle maintenance course for ex-offenders, disadvantaged people and deprived communities is looking set to kick off at Port Vale Football Club.

A series of 8-10 week courses will potentially be run as part of the CycleStoke Project after the club agreed to host the sessions after approaching Stoke-on-Trent City Council to become a cycling hub.

Starting in the New Year, the club will host the courses within a community cycle maintenance workshop in the Lorne Street Stand.

In the first instance those taking part will be referred to the project by Nacro, a national independent voluntary organisation working to prevent crime.

Phil Chatterley, who has organised the initiative as part of the CycleStoke Project, said: “Nacro are very keen to expand their current cycle workshop in Goldenhill.

“Nacro have a proven track record of working with ex-offenders, disadvantaged people and deprived communities with the goal of finding practical solutions to reducing crime and building a better future for the local communities, this coincided with ‘Vale in the

Community’ offering the use of the Lorne Street Stand to host projects which benefit the local community.

“This project is a forerunner to a planned bike recycling project in the city. It is our objective to remove barriers to cycling within the city and to recycle as many unwanted bicycles back into the local community at an

affordable price.” Nacro currently runs more than 200 projects across England and Wales and directly benefits 60,000 people every year.

■ Our picture shows CycleStoke Project Officer Phil Chatterley, who is helping to organise the course.

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Cyclists of all ages boost health and fitness Resident wheelers boost fitness with weekly trips FORGET the Swinging Sixties... residents of two of the city’s flagship retirement villages at Bradeley and Berryhill are enjoying the cycling seventies.

Riders aged up to 78 have joined regular bike rides to help them remain active and boost their fitness.

Ten bikes designed for comfort have been bought by the CycleStoke initiative, which also provided lockers and safety equipment for the rides on the greenways and cycle tracks around the city.

Ageing Well Project Worker Kerry Lawler co-ordinates the rides. She goes into each retirement village every week to teach the residents how to ride a

bike before leading each ride.

She said: “It’s a great way of getting exercise and it has really had a positive effect on the groups – their fitness levels have improved significantly over the first few months.

“It is really all about confidence and once we have built this up there will be no stopping us.” ● The project is looking to expand in 2010 and is already seeking further funding, as there are lots of older people within the city who have a bike but are just lacking the confidence to take to the road.

For more information on the project call Kerry Lawler on 01782 812063.

Training helps citizens to get ‘on their bikes’ A THREE-level cycling training package to give more children and adults the skills and confidence they need to get on their bikes is being pushed out across the city.

Free cycling training for all the family is being offered by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is currently training more than 2,000 children in the city.

Bike2Basics is a basic entry level training course being run for 7-9 year-olds in local schools. The two-hour course gives basic cycling skills training in an off-road situation and provides a level of preparation for the Bikeability courses, which are the next stage.

Hailed as the Cycling Proficiency Test for the 21st century, the scheme offers a course for 9-16 year-olds and also for adults. It is designed to give both the skills and confidence they need to ride their bikes in today’s roads conditions.

Councillor Derek Capey, Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure, Parks and Open Spaces,

who oversees the CycleStoke project, said: “Bikeability will give children – and adults – the necessary skills and knowledge needed to cycle safely throughout the rest of their life.

“But Bikeability is more than just teaching children to ride a bike.

“It’s also about introducing them to cycling as an everyday activity – an alternative mode of transport, an enjoyable pastime which brings a healthier lifestyle and is ultimately lots of fun.

“This project will give children a life skill that once they’ve learnt, they will never forget. The great joy of cycling is like no other healthy activity or sport as it begins, and ends, at your own front door,” he added.

A number of free cycling confidence camps have also been launched at Fenton Manor Leisure Centre and Dimensions in Burslem.

The bespoke courses are for cyclists of all ages and include learning to ride, family training,

adult training, cycling confidence for women and also commuters.

Stoke resident Sue Kerry, who attended a recent confidence camp for women at Dimensions, said: “I started as a complete novice but after two hours became a cyclist. The tutors Shaun and Nicki were very patient and understanding with me and also very encouraging.

“I borrowed my daughter’s bike for this first session but I now want to go out and buy my own and get out there.

“I’m not there yet by any means but I am going to do another beginner’s session and then move on to the second stage once my confidence level goes up a little more.”

A full calendar of training and confidence camps at both Fenton Manor and Dimensions Leisure Centres can be viewed online at www.cyclestoke.co.uk To get a free leaflet contact the CycleStoke Team on 01782 238692 or email transportation@stoke.gov.uk The team is looking at providing even more training opportunities for cyclists in 2010.

Annual map a popular guide WORK on the new 2010 cycling map and guide is now underway and cyclists and members of the public are being asked to put forward suggestions for new riding routes or ideas for themed rides in our region.

The 2010 map will also feature new cycling routes in Tunstall, Trentham, Blurton, Longton and Fenton.

Anyone who has any suggestions for new routes or ideas for themed rides should contact CycleStoke on 01782 238692.

Free copies of the 2009 map are still available from the same number or email transportation@stoke.gov.uk

Try bike a big success CHILDREN at a local primary school have been taking part in a free scheme that offers them the chance to try out a selection of different bikes in the hope it will increase the number of people cycling.

The Try Bike facility, an original idea created by Blurton Dads Group, has been running at Newstead Primary School where it allows individual pupils to ride a choice of different cycles.

Headmistress Helen Stocking said:“We are always seeking new ways to encourage our pupils to cycle to school. The Newstead Primary School Try Bike scheme allows more young people to experience the pleasures of cycling and hopefully, longer term, will ensure that cycling becomes a lifestyle choice.”

Pupils at the school have also been given Bike2Basics Training.

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Prestigious Tour of Britain stage sprints back to the city

T-shirt design scoops a national prize for Alonso Autumn Events Bike ‘n’ Hike Challenge: Monday 28 September until October 23. Contact Cycle Stoke on 01782 238692 for more information.

Bike to Work Challenge: During September, October and November. Contact Phil Chatterley on 01782 236665 or email philip.chatterley@ stoke.gov.uk International Car Free Day – pre event: 1, 9 and 19 September, Old Hall Street, City Centre.

Pre event activities to promote International Car Free Day. Tour of Britain: CycleStoke Roadshow Wednesday 16 September.

Watch this elite cycle race and join in a host of free family fun activities.

Port Vale Match Day Ride: Saturday 19 September. Meet at Burnwood Primary School, 1pm.

Cycle2000 Leisurely Ride: Sunday 20 September, 9.45am, Central Forest Park, Hanley.

Bring your bike and friends for the last Cycle2000 ‘Easy’ leisurely ride of 2009. Free and open to all. Register on the day.

International Car Free Day: City Centre. Tuesday 22 September, all day. Travel without a car. Free activities and advice will be available on the day.

Cycle Speedway training: Every Wednesday during September and October, 7pm.

Smallwood Playing Fields, Compton Street, off Sun Street, Shelton. Stoke Whiterock Cycle Speedway Club are opening their autumn training sessions to everyone.

Contact Janet Kirkman, mobile 07966 493372 – evenings only, or email: janet.kirkman1@ btinternet.com For more details on upcoming events contact the CycleStoke team on 01782 238692, email cyclestoke@stoke.gov.uk or visit www.cyclestoke.co.uk FREE Autumn Training Free Level 1, 2 and 3 Bikeability training and Commuter Confidence Camps are being held at Fenton Manor Sports Complex and Dimensions during September and October.

For more details contact: Fenton Manor – 233222.

Dimensions – 233500.

Award-winning designer Alonso Everest is pictured with his winning t-shirt, with, left to right, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, Councillor Derek Capey, his mum Claudia Everest, Team Leader Tracey McLernon, and Claire Blackburn of the Prostate Cancer Charity.

KEEN cyclist Alonso Everest beat stiff competition to win a national contest and scoop a top-of-the-range bike.

The eight-year-old pupil at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Stoke created the winning entry in a T-shirt design contest marking the Prostate Cancer Charity’s partnership with The Tour of Britain.

Alonso drew a colourful bike circling the Earth.

Modelled on his own, it was accompanied by the words

“When I ride my bike I feel like I am flying”.

His design has been turned into real T-shirts which will be sold on behalf of The Prostate Cancer Charity.

Alonso’s fellow pupils will also get to share in his success as the school will receive £1,000 of new sports equipment.

He said:“I can’t believe I won the competition, I feel absolutely brilliant. I really love my bike and I go out on it all the time.”

Packed programme of events marks Tour return THE exhilarating excitement of professional cycle racing will sprint into the city later this month when the Tour of Britain returns.

Stoke-on-Trent is playing host to the start and finish of the West Midlands stage of the popular national tour – following on from the successful staging of last year’s dramatic final heat.

World famous cyclists including Team GB gold medallist Bradley Wiggins will take to the streets on Wednesday 16 September for the event, which promises to attract thousands of people.

It will start at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium; take in North Staffordshire countryside, before finishing outside the town hall in the city centre, the scene of last year’s last gasp victory by Edvald Boasson Hagen.

In the run up to the Tour of Britain three amateur rides was staged on 6 September to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

The three courses, The Pro Tour Ride, Challenge Tour ride and Family Tour Ride all start and finish at the Britannia Stadium and offer differing experiences for seasoned riders and beginners.

On the day of the Tour of Britain Stage, CycleStoke will be at the start and finish, offering a whole host of activities to promote cycling to as wide an audience as possible.

● Extreme Mountain Bike Display A breathtaking display of amazing mountain bike skills and stunts that push the limits of rider and bike to the extreme. Trial bike riders include Daniel Butler a top world 15 trials rider, an Atomz world team rider, two times British Champion and European Champion. ● Blendavenda Your chance to make your own cycle powered tasty smoothie – a quirky and fun means of getting your 5-a-day. ● Stilts Bike Entertainer Standing head and shoulders above the crowd Mr Doo is a rare sight as he performs on a unique stilts bicycle. Using a special bike with 6ft high handlebars and a seat he rides while wearing stilts to entertain the crowds with his juggling skills, magic and balloon modelling. ● Get Cycling Roadshow Race your friends on the breathtaking Get Cycling Scalextrix or try one of many unusual bikes that will be available on the day.

See page seven for details of the Tour of Britain stage route.

These will include: ● The CycleStoke Roadshow Come and meet the CycleStoke team and find out about the many improvements being made to routes throughout the city as part of the CycleStoke 3 year programme.

There will be information about free training, details of leisure rides and lots of enjoyable activities on the day.

For more information visit www.cyclestoke.co.uk www.tourof britain.co.uk

Our picture shows a rider in last years Potteries Pedlar Pied Piper community bike ride. This took place on the same day as last year’s Tour of Britain. This year’s event on September 16 starts at 10.45am from the Britannia Stadium. Participants must register by Wednesday September 9. Pick up a form from Fenton Manor Sports Complex or call 01782 233222.

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Our City focuses on two new initiatives giving extra support to families with young children

Pre-school sessions

give kids a head start F

REE early education sessions have been extended in Stoke-onTrent – helping to reduce child poverty, give youngsters the best start in life and parents a helping hand.

From September, free education is available in the city’s children’s centres for 15 hours per week – an increase of two-and-a-half hours – and are open to the most disadvantaged families.

The structured and safe sessions give youngsters up to age four the best preparation for school and are now more flexible than ever to access.

The extra support forms part of the city council’s commitment to improving life for youngsters as part of the Stoke-on-Trent Children and Young People's Plan.

The extra sessions also “free up” parents to pursue other interests, college course or even hold down a part-time job.

Around 80 per cent of parents make use of early education funding in the city.

Tracy Cadman – whose four-year-old

daughter Nieve attends the Crescent Children’s Centre in Meir – is a prime example.

She has found more free time to improve her prospects without having to find the extra money for childcare bills.

Tracy, of Meir, – who has been using her extra free time to attend a craft course – is working on starting her own social enterprise with her new-found skills.

She said: “Being able to access 15 hours a week free nursery care has really made a difference to me – and I know I am leaving Nieve in safe hands also.

Safe and structured Carol Salt, Children’s Centre Service Manager, said: “Free early education gives children the best start in life. Through learning and playing with other children in a safe and structured environment they will be getting a head start for when they go to school.”

For more information about the free places contact Parent Direct on 0800 015 1120.

Tracy Cadman, left, and her daughter Nieve pictured at the Crescent Children’s Centre with Senior Childcare Practitioner Alexis Weston.

Three new centres fill any gaps in service THREE new children’s centres have opened in Stoke-on-Trent to make sure all communities in the city have access to the huge range of services they provide.

The new centres – at Baddeley Green, Meir and Trentham – are the third and final phase of the work under the government’s SureStart

Family Support Worker Debbie Walters, centre, with mum Rada Arlaviciene and her children, left to right, Kristina, aged two, Liana, six, and Ramina, eight, at the new Grange Children’s Centre, Meir.

initiative to roll out centres across the city.

Thousands of families across Stoke-onTrent already receive help and support from the 13 existing centres.

They offer services from play and learn sessions to healthy eating and community activities, and also provide a hub for a range of children’s services from health and social care to child protection and family support.

Planning applications have been submitted for three modular buildings to house the new centres at Hillside

School, Baddeley Green, The Grange Primary School, Meir, and the Priory Primary, Trentham.

It is hoped the new buildings will be ready by March 2010, although services are already being provided in existing buildings at all three centres.

Tracy Jackson, who manages the Grange Children’s Centre and

the existing Crescent Children’s Centre, said: “Phase Three marks the completion of the city council’s programme to provide children’s centre services throughout the city.

“The new centres will fill in any gaps by supporting families in areas not currently covered by a children’s centre.” ● Find out more about what children’s centres can do for your family.

Call Stoke-on-Trent’s Parent Direct hotline on 0800 015 1120.

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New garden to be officially opened THE AWARD-WINNING Carmountside Cemetery and Crematorium is throwing open its doors to the public for its annual open day later this month.

The event, being held on Sunday, 13 September between 10am and 2pm, provides the chance for people to tour the grounds to see new developments and remembrance areas.

It will also be an opportunity to observe how the cremators work and to get a better understanding into the work of the Bereavement Care Service.

The day will also include the official opening of the new sensory garden within the Garden of Remembrance.

The garden will contain several themed areas, which will include features designed to heighten visitor response to sight, smell, touch and sound.

Memorial staff will also be on hand to advise visitors on a wide range of issues and answer their questions.

For more information call 01782 235050.

New Action for Blind People charity offers more services T

HE Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), which has a Stoke-on-Trent branch in the city centre, has changed its name to Action for Blind People.

But the fresh identity recently introduced in England isn’t an image makeover. The newly-named charity now gives blind and partially sighted people the benefit of “one stop” access to a complete range of services, advice and activities.

For many years RNIB and Action for Blind People have worked together and decided that their successful partnership could be made even more effective by joining forces as a single organisation to provide support in all aspects of the lives of blind and partially sighted people.

Action for Blind People provides services that include help with benefit claims, access technology training, Braille tuition and craft and social groups.

Michele Manville, Action for Blind People Development Officer in Stoke-on-Trent, said: “Combining the two charities has avoided duplication of some services and created a single organisation that is able to provide and develop a comprehensive range of services for blind and partially sighted people.”

The Action for Blind People branch in Stoke-on-Trent is at the Foxall Centre, 108/110 Lichfield Street, Hanley, where volunteers are needed for the Talking Newspaper, compiling a newsletter, supporting social and craft groups, driving and helping to develop a gardening group.

For more details on what help can be provided, or to enquire about volunteering, please call at the Hanley branch.

Alternatively, phone 01782 215755 or 07908 818957 or email michele.manville@actionfor blindpeople.org.uk

● Pictured outside the Foxall Centre with posters showing the new branding are Manager Lyn Mills and Receptionist Adam Boustead, who is a service user.

Find your fastest route to a new job by visiting our website

As the biggest employer in the area we have a whole range of exciting and challenging roles just waiting for you. From Social Workers to Teachers, Gardeners to Librarians, Cleaners to School Crossing Wardens, Office Administrators to Care Assistants – we have them all. To view our latest jobs, visit our website at stoke.gov.uk/jobs and see what’s on offer.

Visit Signal Radio’s Get A Job Day on Tuesday 6 October, 11am–7pm at King’s Hall, Stoke.

We value diversity in our workforce and positively encourage applications from all sections of the community

stoke.gov.uk/jobs

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Try a job scheme is helping people get back into work A

“try it and see” approach to recruiting for jobs with Stoke-on-Trent City Council is helping people get back to work.

The city council’s Local Employment Partnership (LEP) Agreement with JobCentre Plus was promoted at a Get a Job Day at the King’s Hall in May which attracted more than 4,250 people.

Local Employment Partnership aims to simplify the process of applying for jobs with the authority, as well as providing more full-time and part-time employment opportunities for local people.

“It’s an initiative to encourage unemployed people who would not normally consider the possibility of a job with the city council to see for themselves what we have to offer,” said Dawn Hewins, the city council’s Head of Human Resources.

As part of our commitment we launched the multi-million pound Jobs, Enterprise and Training (Jet) service earlier this year to help local people find jobs that match their experience and get 3,500 people in the city back to work over the next three years.”

Two week trial There are four Jet community centres based in Burslem, Blurton, Bentilee and Knutton, as well as outreach facilities across the area.

Jet Business, based in the city centre, provides a free, comprehensive recruitment service to local employers, helping them to match their vacancies with the right people.

The scheme offers “getting job ready support,” which includes a two-week trial so the person can decide if it’s suitable for them, as well as half-day site visits for applicants to meet colleagues they would be working with and get a feel for the company.

In addition, each person who enrols with Jet is offered help with completing job application forms and developing their interview techniques.

When they are ready to apply for relevant jobs at the city council, they are guaranteed interviews to help with their confidence building and gain vital real world experience.

In the last nine months, 100 people aged between 16 and 55 have been supported by the scheme; of these 45 have been recruited by the city council for posts as diverse as grounds and cleansing operatives, administration assistants, bereavement care workers, caretaking, catering and cleaning.

Relaxed and friendly JobCentre Plus publicise the scheme and city council job opportunities at a number of unusual sites, such as children’s centres, health centres and Stoke on Trent College.

Dawn Hewins said: “The scheme is open to anyone who is out of work, no matter for how long. They will be helped in a relaxed and friendly environment, so that they are fully prepared for the job and know what will be expected of them.

“Many of those who have already benefitted have said how the whole experience has changed their lives by improving their self-confidence and self-esteem as well as helping them back into work.”

To find out how Jet can help you phone 0800 731 8587 or email jet@stoke.gov.uk To look for a job at the city council phone 01782 238189 or visit www.stoke.gov.uk/jobs The next Get a Job Day is on Tuesday, October 6 at the King’s Hall, Stoke.

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27

‘‘’’ The Jet staff were fantastic and could not have been more helpful.

STEVE LEIGH

Dropping in at his local JET centre changed Steve’s life for the better LIFE was bleak for Steve Leigh after he was made redundant by the welding firm he worked for. Over the following 12 months the 33-year-old from Blurton applied for around 60 jobs without even being offered an interview.

However, a walk to his local shops for a loaf of bread quickly changed Steve’s life for the better – because on the way he decided to drop into the Jet centre at Blurton.

The friendly staff told him about how the city council is trying to get local people back into employment. They also helped him complete an on-line job application and enrolled him on a free computer refresher course to brush up on IT qualifications he had acquired some years earlier through studying at college and Staffordshire University.

As a result he landed a job with the city council as a Grounds and Cleansing

Operative where he is a member of a team that cuts grass, picks litter and clears overgrown vegetation in the Trentham, Hanford and Trent Vale areas of the city.

“Jet even supplied me with a suit for my job interview, as I hadn’t owned a suit since my school leaving party and after being out of work for so long I certainly didn’t have the money to buy one,” Steve recalled.

Thrilled Steve, whose impressive CV includes a Diploma in Social Studies, was one of around a thousand people to apply for six vacancies in the city council’s Environmental Services – and he was thrilled to be offered one of them.

After giving the job a “trial run” Steve signed up for the post in March and is enjoying his new life.“The people I work with are a really great bunch. I love the job and working in the

Steve Leigh is enjoying his new job as a city council Grounds and Cleansing Operative.

fresh air – and it has helped me to lose some weight!

“When I was unemployed I was prepared to do any kind of work – but I always thought it was difficult to find a job with the city council so I didn’t bother asking.”

Steve added: “The Jet staff were fantastic and could not have been more helpful. I would strongly recommend anyone who is in the situation that I found myself in to contact Jet and give this scheme a try.”

Andy Chesworth, Environment Manager for South Western Neighbourhood, said: “Steve impressed us at the interview and he has fitted in very well with the team. He’s a good example of how the city council is helping local people who have lost their job to find work.”

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National awards are cause

to fly the flags

A

TRIO of the city’s cemeteries have been awarded Green Flag status – the national standard which recognises the best green spaces in the country.

Tasty fun at lunch YOUNGSTERS joined in the fun at the Big Lunch held for City Waterside residents at Hanley.

Designed to boost community spirit, it was one of thousands of similar events held throughout the UK. As well as a free lunch, families were treated to a fun-filled afternoon of music, face-painting and games. There was also an exhibition showing development options for City Waterside East. ● Pictured above are, clockwise from bottom left, Kimberley Butler, Aimee Joinson, Kieran Lambie and “TJ” Joinson.

Bigger and better PREPARATIONS are underway for an even “bigger and better” Armed Forces Day following this year’s hugely successful event in Stoke-on-Trent.

Hundreds of serving troops, families, veterans, recruits and members of the public took part in the celebrations which centred around Hanley at the end of June.

And now plans are in motion to get more people involved for a bigger tribute to our service men and women and their fight to protect our freedom in the city in 2010.

This year’s event was part of the first national Armed Forces Day – which was renamed by the Government from Veterans Day to raise awareness and appreciation for those on active duty.

A parade was led by the pipes and drums of the Black Watch Association. The march then proceeded from Cheapside through Piccadilly and Pall Mall, before taking the salute from Staffordshire Lord Lieutenant James Hawley in front of Hanley Town Hall. ● Pictured above is a young bugler in the Armed Forces Day parade in the city centre.

Carmountside Cemetery Crematorium, which won the city’s first Green Flag in 2008/09, held on to its award for the second year, while Burslem and Fenton Cemeteries also scooped the accolades at the 2009/10 ceremony held in Bournemouth.

Green Flag winners must meet eight criteria and prove a well managed and maintained space for the local community. Winners range from country and urban parks to nature gardens and cemeteries.

Criteria include creating a welcoming space, maintaining a healthy, safe and secure area, being sustainable, increasing community involvement and good marketing and management.

The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark for all green spaces and recreational areas.

Dedication Awards are handed out on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag.

Council Leader Ross Irving officially unveiled the flags at a special ceremony held at Carmountside.

Karen Deaville, city council Lifetime Services Manager, said: “To have won the award last year was a great achievement, but for Carmountside to retain it and two other places to win Green Flags too shows the dedication of our staff. An immense amount of work is done to maintain these high standards and it’s important we strive to do even better next year.”

Jeanette McGarry, Director of Housing, Environment and Neighbourhood Services, added: “There’s plenty of good work done by our staff at these three sites and it’s important that it is recognised.”

CIVIC PRIDE: City Council Leader Ross Irving draped in a Green Flag at the unveiling ceremony at Carmountside.

First “Tyro” students graduate in style THE first students to take part in a pioneering project which raises career aspirations and boosts confidence and life skills have graduated.

The nine successful graduates of the creative arts programme Tyro – which means beginner or apprentice – were recognised for completing the six week course at a ceremony held at Port Vale.

The scheme is aimed at helping people back into work by giving them confidence through working in the creative arts. The goal is to re-connect 200 young people from the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the city with education, training and employment over the next three years.

Among the first to take part was aspiring singer and vocal coach Amy Henderson. Before becoming involved

with the course Amy was unemployed but since graduating has enrolled on a Psychology degree at Staffordshire University and hopes to use her singing talents to train others. Also involved was author Becky Woodcock, who is writing a book about her experiences.

Remarkable Before becoming involved with Tyro, Becky was diagnosed with agoraphobia.

She is now training to become a mentor in the community and is helping to set up a support group for people who complete the programme.

Councillor Hazel Lyth, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Culture, said: “The results that these nine individuals have achieved over the six weeks is nothing short of remarkable.

“We have so many talented people living in Stoke-on-Trent who may not have the confidence to really push forward in what they want to do with their lives. Tyro is about making people aware of their unlimited potential and not letting negative emotions stop them from improving their standard of life.

“The residents of Stoke-on-Trent have long had a creative gene and we must encourage and engage with them to make sure that this trend continues for many years to come.”

Tyro aims to challenge Staffordshire’s lack of enterprise culture and tackle the reasons why people stay out of work. The programme allows individuals the time to look on their previous experiences, plan for the future and focus on what they are trying to achieve.

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29

New credit union saves borrowers from loan sharks PEOPLE who live, work and study in the city can now take advantage of a new not-for-profit savings and borrowing scheme, which aims to make loan sharks and extortionate lenders a thing of the past.

Hundreds of people have already signed up with the Staffordshire Credit Union, which was set up to help those struggling on low incomes access credit

and reduce levels of personal debt.

Members who have been saving with the union for more than 12 weeks can borrow a small, unsecured loan, repayable at affordable rates.

The scheme – which operates from the Dudson Centre, Hanley city centre – is funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and other partners including local authorities and

voluntary organisations.

Staffordshire Credit Union Chief Executive Kevin Waters said: “We want to bring about a fairer system of lending and throw a lifeline to people struggling to make ends meet.”

For more information about the Staffordshire Credit Union call 0845 2241215, email info@staffscu.co.uk or visit www.staffscu.co.uk

Go-ahead for Health and

Well Being Centre A

ONE-STOP healthcare centre, which aims to provide residents, shoppers and city centre workers with seven-day-a week access to doctors and medical services, has been given the green light.

A former financial building in Hanley will be transformed into a Health and Well Being Centre offering on-the-spot appointments with GPs and nurses.

The £1.3 million facility will be built on the site of the former Yorkshire Bank in Stafford Street.

Work should commence this month and the centre is set to be up and running by the beginning of next year.

It will provide local residents, shoppers and town centre workers with a range of services such as screening for chronic diseases, advice on healthy living and treatment of minor injuries.

COMMUTERS are being urged to leave their cars at home for a day on 22 September and take a greener route to work. The theme of the day is “Skip the Car”.

This will be graphically illustrated in the city centre, where a car will literally be placed in a skip to promote the campaign.

Vouchers are being distributed to employers in the city offering unlimited public transport for just £1 on the day.

Jean Ball, City Centre Manager said: “We all need to make adjustments to our lifestyles to reduce our impact on the environment and Car Free Day is a practical opportunity to try a different way to travel to work. Car Free Day offers people an opportunity to try alternatives to using their car, such as walking, cycling and travelling by public transport, break old travel habits and even improve their health.” ● Ask your employer for the voucher offering cut price public transport. If they have not got any yet they can contact carfreeday@stoke.gov.uk to request them.

Residents are helping shape the future for the children of our city.

Residents have say on vital city vision

Easy access The aim is that it will be accessible by anyone and would be open every day (including all Bank Holidays) from 8am until 8pm. The project forms part of a £4 million Government cash injection to tackle deprivation and a shortage of GPs in the Potteries area.

Graham Urwin, Chief Executive for NHS Stoke on Trent, said: “We are delighted that the city council has granted permission for this Health and Well Being Centre in Hanley.

“The new centre will benefit the local area by providing easy access to a range of services and healthcare information.

“It is a very exciting time for healthcare in Stoke-on-Trent with proposals for health centres at Cobridge and Tunstall having been submitted, while a new GP Practice in Middleport is now under construction.

“We have already completed schemes providing improved facilities, the most recent example being Shelton Primary Care Centre.”

He added: “Our commitment is to improve the overall health of the community and the approval of the plans for the Health and Well Being Centre brings us one step closer to meeting our objective.”

£1 public transport in ‘Skip the Car’ drive

ECO PUPILS – Maddie Wilson, left, and Hannah Bostock of Moorpark Junior School, Burslem, found plenty to interest them at the Eco Schools Showcase event.

Top marks for schools eco show AN AWARD winning event has again been held to encourage schools in Stoke-onTrent to be more aware of the environment.

The second Eco Schools Showcase showed representatives from seats of learning across the city how to tackle issues like sustainable energy, conserving water, congestion and healthy living.

The initiative was so successful last year the city council was presented with a

Government Business Innovation Award.

During this year’s showcase at the Regent Theatre, local service providers offered support, inspiration, and an interactive sample of how they can help schools.

Schools were given the chance to network with each other to exchange ideas on how to improve their environments.

Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers formally presented awards as part of the national Eco-Schools scheme.

RESIDENTS of Stoke on Trent will be encouraged to give their views on an important framework for the future of Stoke-on-Trent in the coming months.

Stoke 2020 sets out a vision for the future, based on the city's needs, and addressing important issues like the economy, health, climate change and creating a more inclusive society.

It is being drawn up by a partnership of the city’s public services, private sector, community and voluntary sector called the Local Strategic Partnership. ● Look out for more information on events about Stoke 2020 in future issues of Our City.

Important advice for jobseekers launched JOBCENTRE PLUS has launched a series of online tips for people seeking employment.

The useful information, which includes a free job kit packed with advice, is available from direct.gov.uk/backtowork The local Jobcentre Plus offices also have a top ten tips for anyone attending a jobfair.

Advice includes doing homework on companies attending, dressing for success, producing an up-to-date CV and being positive. ● For more information or on looking for a job, please contact Jobcentre Plus on 0845 6060 234 .

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HEALTH CENTRES

ABBEY HULTON BENTILEE BLURTON BURSLEM WHITFIELD VALLEY (FEGG HAYES) FENTON HANFORD HANLEY LONGTON MEIR NORTON PACKMOOR SMALLTHORNE STOKE TRENT VALE TUNSTALL

01782 427900 01782 231300 01782 227770 01782 425700 01782 425720 01782 743100 01782 421000 01782 202422 01782 425530 01782 425676 01782 534599 01782 794600 01782 425755 01782 425220 01782 425260 01782 425800

For more information and advice on health issues please call NHS Direct – 24 hours a day – on

0845 46 47

Abbots House resident Dorothy Bentley holds her great grandaughter Ellie with daughter Jenny and grandaughter Sarah looking on.

or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk

For all city council services

New dementia centre is

state-of-the-art F

OUR generations of the same family helped to celebrate the official opening of a million pound specialist facility that provides pioneering support for people with dementia.

Dorothy Bentley, aged 95, is the oldest resident of Abbots House Centre of Excellence in Abbey Hulton, a former residential care home that has been transformed after a £1.3 million revamp by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Dorothy was joined by her daughter Jenny Wilkinson, from Hanley, Jenny’s daughter Sarah and Sarah’s six-month-old daughter Ellie who were among more than 50 guests who gathered for the opening by Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers.

Jenny, whose mother has been a resident for two years, said: “Mum is very happy at Abbots House and could not be better cared for – which is a huge comfort for all of us.

“It was nice that mum’s daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter could be with her on this special occasion.”

Jenny added: “I visit mum most

days and I’ve seen how services have been transformed. The centre was lovely beforehand, but now it is completely state-of-the-art with every facility – even a hairdressing salon and sensory garden – and the staff are excellent.

“It was difficult when mum was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. At first I felt as though I was having to cope on my own, but there is no need to feel like that when you have the fabulous support of everyone at Abbots House.”

Integrated services Abbots House, which was rated “excellent” by external inspectors from the Care Quality Commission earlier this year, delivers integrated services by city council social care staff and health service professionals such as community psychiatric nurses and occupational therapists.

The centre also boasts a day assessment unit for older people with mental health problems, a consultant psychiatrist’s outpatients clinic and an Alzheimer’s support worker.

Internationally acclaimed dementia experts at Stirling University have supported the centre’s

transformation, which incorporates leading-edge design to give people with dementia independence, self confidence and stimulation.

Features include memory boxes outside residents’ bedrooms with easily recognisable items from the residents’ past such as medals and pictures to help them find their own way to their rooms. There are also colour schemes to aid orientation and meals are served in specially designed crockery which gives contrast and definition to food.

Abbots House has 29 beds – 14 for permanent residents, 10 for an assessment and therapy unit with a rehabilitative focus and five for a short break or carer relief facility.

Councillor Clive Brian, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “This is a truly wonderful facility which raises the bar in the quality of care for people with dementia. We have around 2,700 people with dementia in Stoke-on-Trent and this is projected to rise to 3,500 by 2025. We want to ensure city residents are able to take advantage of preventative and rehabilitative care, instead of dependency and institutionalisation.”

contact 234234 Fire & Rescue contact numbers To book your home fire risk check ring: 0800 0241 999 S-O-T AREA COMMAND AREA COMMANDER Wayne Bowcock 01785 898894 ASSISTANT AREA COMMANDER – LONGTON Glynn Luznyj 01785 898693 ASSISTANT AREA COMMANDER – HANLEY Andy Leedham 01785 898765 ASSISTANT AREA COMMANDER – BURSLEM Ruth Watchorn-Rice 01785 898554 RISK REDUCTION MANAGER Kelvin Knapper 01785 898882 ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Paula Goodwin 01785 898895

COMMUNITY SAFETY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS Will Gascoigne

01785 898884

Chris Thompson

01785 898883

Dave Gallimore

01785 898885

Guy Volpe

01785 898977

RISK REDUCTION OFFICERS Donna Broadhead 01785 898904 Jim Taaffe

01785 898942

Maj Ullah

01785 898948

Rehana Iqbal

01785 898891

Neil Cheshire

01785 898498

Tracey Cresswell Longton

01785 898951

Ed Case Burslem

01785 898887

Mick Warillow Hanley

01785 898902

Pete Hall 07967 573263 Safer City Partnership Officer

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Abbey Green

COUNCILLORS

ELLIE WALKER (BNP) (01782) 397870 07917 854352 ellie.walker@stoke.gov.uk

Berryhill and Hanley East

Blurton

RITA DALE (City Independents) (01782) 267451 07778 858734 rita.dale@stoke.gov.uk

ADRIAN KNAPPER (Lab) 07714 334453/ 07825 732724 adrian.knapper@stoke. gov.uk

JOHN DAVIS (City Independents) (01782) 264126 07786 440876 john.davis@stoke.gov.uk

Burslem South

JAVID IQBAL NAJMI (Lab) 07846 879920 javid.najmi@stoke.gov.uk

DEBRA GRATTON (Lab) 07748 251695 debra.gratton@ stoke.gov.uk

MOHAMMED PERVEZ (Lab) 07919 917632 07825 732690 mohammed.pervez@ stoke.gov.uk

ALBY WALKER (BNP) (01782) 397870 07917 854342 albert.walker@stoke.gov.uk

DEREK CAPEY (City Independents) (01782) 319949 07752 851323 derek.capey@stoke.gov.uk

PAUL SHOTTON (Lab) 07805 638609 paul.shotton@ stoke.gov.uk

TOM REYNOLDS (Lab) (01782) 342295 07850 828717 tom.reynolds@stoke.gov.uk

ZULFIQAR ALI (Lib Dem) 07838 262062 zulfiqar.ali@stoke.gov.uk

DEREK HALL (City Independents) (01782) 258715 07837 185310 derek.hall@stoke.gov.uk

BRIAN WARD (City Independents) (01782) 312670 07814 501534 brian.ward@stoke.gov.uk

BAGH ALI (Lab) (01782) 343246 07973 848428 bagh.ali@stoke.gov.uk

PETER KENT-BAGULEY (Potteries Alliance) 07773 464626 peter.kent-baguley@ stoke.gov.uk

ALAN JOYNSON (Non-aligned Group) (01782) 413683 alan.joynson@ stoke.gov.uk

JOAN BELL (Lab) (01782) 318998, 07757 708703 or 07825 732 701 joan.bell@stoke.gov.uk

Norton and Bradeley

DAVE SUTTON (Lib Dem) (01782) 542998 07512 564815 dave.sutton@stoke.gov.uk

ALAN RIGBY (City Independents) (01782) 542364 07790 374152 alan.rigby@stoke.gov.uk

JEAN BOWERS (Lib Dem) (01782) 262613 07712 350430 jean.bowers@stoke.gov.uk

KIERAN CLARKE (Lib Dem) (01782) 788010 07886 358143 kieran.clarke@stoke.gov.uk

Trentham and Hanford

ROGER IBBS (Conservative & Independent Alliance) 07824 867748 roger.ibbs@stoke.gov.uk

JANINE BRIDGES (City Independents) (01782) 851842 07989 385631 janine.bridges@ stoke.gov.uk

MEGAN RYAN (Conservative & Independent Alliance) (01782) 866761 07903 458768 megan.ryan@stoke.gov.uk

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press.

DAVID MARFLEET (BNP) (01782) 876661 07745 157918 david.marfleet@ stoke.gov.uk

MICK SALIH (Non-aligned Group) (01782) 533542 07977 843026 mick.salih@stoke.gov.uk

JEAN EDWARDS (Lab) (01782) 816171 jean.edwards@ stoke.gov.uk

DAVID CONWAY (City Independents) (01782) 790922 david.conway@ stoke.gov.uk

JOY GARNER (Lab) (01782) 768846 07986 442770 joy.garner@stoke.gov.uk

HAZEL LYTH (Conservative & Independent Alliance) 07825 732680 hazel.lyth@stoke.gov.uk

GEOFF KNIGHT (Potteries Alliance) (01782) 765770 geoff.knight@ stoke.gov.uk

JOANNE POWELLBECKETT (Cons & Independent Alliance) 07816 518275 joanne.powell-beckett@ stoke.gov.uk

Hartshill and Penkhull

MOHAMMAD IQBAL (Lab) (01782) 266893 07792 071266 mohammad.iqbal@ stoke.gov.uk

IAN MITCHELL (City Independents) (01782) 314353 07885 104596 ian.mitchell@stoke.gov.uk

RANDOLPH CONTEH (City Independents) (01782) 256869 randolph.conteh@ stoke.gov.uk

BARBARA BEESTON (City Independents) (01782) 612072 07729 896622 barbara.beeston@ stoke.gov.uk

Meir Park and Sandon

MICHAEL BARNES (Lab) (01782) 870065 07879 118138 michael.barnes@ stoke.gov.uk

CLIVE BRIAN (Conservative & Independent Alliance) (01782) 315702 clive.brian@stoke.gov.uk

JOHN BURGESS (BNP) (01782) 394397 07889 137308 john.burgess@stoke.gov.uk

MARGARET PYATT (City Independents) (01782) 319372 margaret.pyatt@ stoke.gov.uk

Stoke and Trent Vale

SHEILA MATTHEWS (Conservative & Independent Alliance) (01782) 258374 sheila.matthews@ stoke.gov.uk

Tunstall

ROSS IRVING (Conservative & Independent Alliance) (01782) 335982 07900 135565 ross.irving@stoke.gov.uk

PHILLIP SANDLAND (BNP) (01782) 342372 phillip.sandland@ stoke.gov.uk

East Valley

Longton South

DENVER TOLLEY (Lab) (01782) 316815 07799 032939 denver.tolley@stoke.gov.uk

STEVEN BATKIN (BNP) (01782) 859054 steven.batkin@ stoke.gov.uk

Burslem North

Northwood and Birches Head

TERENCE FOLLOWS (City Independents) (01782) 318127 07944 055379 terence.follows@ stoke.gov.uk

MELANIE BADDELEY (BNP) (01782) 763615 07979 508837 melanie.baddeley@ stoke.gov.uk

Hanley West and Shelton

Longton North

MARK DAVIS (Lab) 07813 473625 mark.davis@stoke.gov.uk

ANN JAMES (City Independents) (01782) 836766 ann.james@stoke.gov.uk

31

Bentilee and Townsend

Chell and Packmoor

Fenton

MICK BELL (City Independents) (01782) 847760 mick.bell@stoke.gov.uk

ROY NAYLOR (City Independents) (01782) 313975 07833 183922 roy.naylor@ stoke.gov.uk

Our City

GAVIN WEBB (Lib Dem-Libertarian) 07949 026660 gavin.webb@ stoke.gov.uk

PAUL BILLINGTON (Lib Dem) (01782) 413225 07743 566138 paul.billington@stoke.gov.uk

PAULINE JOYNSON (Non-aligned Group) (01782) 413683 07813 836057 pauline.joynson@ stoke.gov.uk

Weston and Meir North

MOHAMMED MATLOOB (Lab) (01782) 577658 07811 147372 mohammed.matloob@ stoke.gov.uk

LEE WANGER (Conservative & Independent Alliance) 07971 303729 lee.wanger@stoke.gov.uk

MICHAEL COLEMAN (BNP) (01782) 311697 07926 532922 michael.coleman@ stoke.gov.uk

JOHN DANIELS (Conservative & Independent Alliance) (01782) 396780 07885 894804 john.daniels@stoke.gov.uk

ANTHONY SIMMONDS (BNP) (01782) 334919 07855 885606 anthony.simmonds@ stoke.gov.uk

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Big Big thumbs thumbs up up for for

Socca & Rocka u

Socca is a winner with five-year-old Louis Goble who played on the mobile football pitch in Stoke.

th

Checking out the technology inside the Rocka are Rebekah Mountford, 18, and Jonathan Simpson, 17.

Y

OUNG people in the city have given a big thumbs up to a touring football pitch and a hi-tech recording studio that brings them lots of free fun to where they live.

The “Socca” pitch and “Rocka” studio are both mobile facilities being taken on tour by the city council’s youth service to areas that lack youth provision or have a history of high rates of antisocial behaviour.

The £13,000 “flat pack” 10 metres by 15 metres Socca pitch is used by football clubs such as Charlton and Plymouth – but it’s the first time it has been used by a youth service.

It’s transported in one of the city council’s Uth Hoppa mobile youth centres and can be assembled on any flat surface within 20 minutes.

Coaching Socca has its own dedicated staff team and usually works four evenings a week, as well as additional days over the summer holidays, and it visits a different neighbourhood each day.

Rules of the game are set by the young people themselves, with points awarded for sportsmanship so that even the team scoring fewer goals can win – and teams that play regularly on the

pitch for a month receive a free team Pat Shelley,Youth and kit. In addition, soccer coaching courses Play Services Manager, said: have been organised with Staffordshire “The Socca, Rocka and FA and the 24 young people Hoppa have all been very well contributing most to the Socca project received and are playing an will be offered the chance to gain this important part in improving young qualification. people’s behaviour and increasing their The £35,000 Rocka mobile studio, employability in a fun way.” which has been built to the city council’s specification, brings multi media training facilities like web design, music technology and graphic design to young people and usually goes out with the Uth Hoppas.

On board the Rocka vehicle is a range of hi-tech digital equipment, such as Mac Computers, DJing equipment and a range of computer software to develop skills such as website design. A plasma screen faces out on to the street so young people can stand outside and play Daley on the games console.

Thompson Tristan Hulme, aged 14, at the from Tunstall, said: “We Streetgames would just be dossing about project. if the vans weren’t here. The computer is cool.”

His friend Jack Humphries, 13, said: “This is really good. It should be in more parks – overall it is wicked.”

GOOD STUFF – Anthony Holland, 15, gets to grips with the Rocka’s equipment.

Daley praises project

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HERO decathlete Daley Thompson visited Stoke-onTrent’s Streetgames project as part of his drive to get youngsters who are into gangs and knife crime playing sport.

The double Olympic gold medallist played football, tennis and awarded medals to children taking part in activities at Norton Sports Court.

Daley, pictured during his visit, said: “You only need to look how many youngsters are here to judge how successful it is, and I think other areas should look at its impact and build on it.”

Stoke-on-Trent’s StreetGames programme – the largest of its kind in the country – is run by the city council’s Sports Development Team.