Our City Issue 37 – Autumn 2014

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Stoke-on-Trent

ISSUE 37: AUTUMN 2014

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Talking and listening show we all have role in future

By City Council Leader Councillor

MOHAMMED PERVEZ I’VE been meeting residents in school halls, in community centres, and in informal gatherings.

It’s all part of the My City, My Say initiative – giving people opportunities to talk about issues, share ideas and help shape the future of our city.

It has been good to hear residents’ views first hand and people have been clear how proud they are of Stoke-on-Trent and about their ambitions for the city. We’re working hard to deliver a better future with more jobs, apprenticeships, growth, education opportunities and a better environment all starting to burst through.

I talk to hard-working families, young and older people and businesses and they can see the changes happening and are optimistic for the future.

But this hope and enthusiasm has to be tempered by the financial realities set by government that we are facing. We have managed to continue to provide services despite having to find an estimated £100m savings over the last four years up to March 2014.

Yet the scale of the challenge ahead continues to be stark with a need to find an estimated £100m savings over the next four years. This means we simply can’t just do more of the same.

There is a real risk that these cuts will undermine progress in the city. So while we will continue to fight tooth and nail for our public services – particularly to protect the most vulnerable in our community – we have to take decisive action to manage this in the best way for residents.

This means tough decisions and squeezing every ounce of value out of every penny. We’ve improved the way we work and are making savings where they don’t affect frontline services first, but the challenge gets more and more difficult. And we have to do all this alongside continuing to invest in our city for the future. That’s why it is so important to get out to places like Kingsland Children’s Centre in Bucknall, as I did a few weeks ago, to talk to the people who use our services. There I met families who wanted better education, health, jobs and wellbeing. While their clear focus was on their children and the difficulties they face in improving their lives, they understood the problems the council faces. They were reasonable, level-headed and understood the challenges ahead. They had some great ideas too.

No-one would relish making the decisions my colleagues and I are facing. But by listening, sharing the challenges and working together we will continue to push forward for Stoke-on-Trent.

These times inevitably mean there is a limit to what the city council can do. That’s why it’s great to meet citizens who take responsibility for their lives and play their part in building a better future.

The same can be said for council workers who continue to amaze me with their commitment, despite the increasing pressures on them. It’s that, as well as seeing the progress we’re making, that means I remain optimistic for the future of our city.

Companies urged to bid

for growth funding USINESSES are being urged to come forward and stake their claim for a share of a £3 million pot of money. Grant funding was awarded to the city council earlier this year following a successful bid to the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

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All companies have to do is show how their projects are innovative and would generate new jobs for a period of at least three years, safeguard existing staff and lead to possible expansion.

Grants from £10,000 to £499,999 are still available and can be used for, among other things, premises expansion, purchase of machinery and equipment, research and development and advice and consultancy.

It is estimated that the funding could create more than 170 jobs and give an overall boost to the local economy of nearly £11 million.

Among those that have been successful is Hartshill-based Hygan Products Ltd, a world-renowned supplier of high-quality sponges and sponging products to the global ceramics industry.

The funding it has received is being used to develop their innovative cleaning products for bicycles, car and hobby craft markets.

It will also allow them to expand their premises and build a dedicated product research and development area creating three new jobs.

Simon Cooper, Joint Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to receive grant aid that will enable us to recruit more staff in Stoke-on-Trent and invest in our company’s future.

“We already export our products to 50 countries so the extra recruitment we can now carry out will be much needed.

“The support given by the city council to complete our application was invaluable. My advice to all other businesses out there would be to get in

Backing business

Jon Hewitt, Joint Chief Executive Officer of Hygan Products Ltd, pictured at their Shelton premises which is being expanded with the help of grant-aid funding. Inset, Production Operative Janet Emberson with some of the company’s specialist cleaning products. touch with them and make an application. The funding is real, it’s out there to get your hands on and it can make a massive difference.”

Other successful companies are UK Control Panel Services Ltd, in Burslem, Lister Trade Frames Limited, in Fenton, and Burslem-based Titanic Brewery.

All applications to the fund are reviewed by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) funding and finance sub-group, which includes

To access the fund please call Vanessa Darlington on 01782 233671 or email, vanessa.darlington@stoke.gov.uk Applications should be made before the end of the year.

BES enterprise coaches give vital support to business start-ups BUDDING entrepreneurs are being offered help and support to set up their own businesses through a scheme part-funded by the city council through the European Regional Development Fund.

Business Enterprise Support’s Enterprise Coach service aims to develop a stronger entrepreneurial culture and business start-up environment in North Staffordshire.

Six specialist coaches are in place to cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and the Staffordshire Moorlands – to offer support, answer queries and help

with business plans or proposals.

The package includes advice on issues such as tax, the advantages and pitfalls of becoming self-employed and tips for maintaining a successful business in the long term.

Businesswoman Kelly Caddy launched her own domiciliary care company, Helping Angels, just over 12 months ago with the help of Enterprise Coach Julie Holmes and

Live webcast of full council meetings 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.

representatives from education, banking and business support sectors.

Support and advice is on hand and the process is straightforward and can be turned around quickly.

MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online. To see and hear the debates and decisions which affect life in Stoke-on-Trent, visit stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting.

A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee meetings can be found on our website at stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates

Web: stoke.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/ stokeontrent.citycouncil Twitter: @SoTCityCouncil twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil

the business, based in Blurton, is already set to hit its year two target.

She said:“Julie helped me to weigh up the pros and cons of opening a business and helped me to set up my business plan. She also put me in touch with people I could ask for loans, funding and advice.”

For information about how to start your own business and the free support available, please contact Business Enterprise Support on 01782 827536 or visit the website www.enterprisesupport.org/lec

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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Autumn start for third part of city facelift HE third phase of the public realm improvements – which will link the Cultural Quarter to the new Smithfield development – are set to start this autumn.

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Work will incorporate the full length of Piccadilly from Stafford Street to Warner Street, including the Broad Street junction. Features will include high quality paving, street furniture and new trees.

The aim is to create a better environment for visitors and support the development of night time and twilight economies in the Cultural Quarter.

It will also improve the setting for buildings, such as the Regent Theatre and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

Over the last 14 months, Albion Street, Albion Square, the western end

of Old Hall Street and Lichfield Street have been given a complete makeover during the first two phases of the project.

Doug Wardle, Chairman of the City Centre Partnership, said: “There’s no doubt the City Centre is looking a lot better now.

“Things are starting to happen.You only have to walk around to see people using the new amenities such as the seating areas.”

In total, the public realm work is costing £11.5 million, with the cost being met by the city council and the European Regional Development Fund.

How Piccadilly will look after the public realm phase three improvement work.

A computer-generated image showing how Warner Street will look with the new council offices on the right and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery on the left.

A great place to live Delbert Chambers of Meir enjoys the views in recently landscaped Albion Square.

City’s CCTV operation and management is awarded British Standards accreditation THE city council’s state-of-the art CCTV operation has been awarded a prestigious British Standards mark in relation to the work it carries out in helping safeguard the city.

The team applied for the BS7958 Standard for Closed Circuit Television Management and Operation and received the award after independent scrutiny.

It applies to public space CCTV services and assures residents that the service is working to best practice.

CCTV and Security Team Manager Jason Handy said:“We are delighted to get this recognition as it reassures the public and our potential customers that we have great systems of operation, information control and that our CCTV Operators are of the highest standard and calibre.”

The standard has been awarded just months after the operation moved to a brand new command centre, which is manned around the clock, 365-days-a-year by a team of operators using fully

To contact the council by telephone

interactive workstations.

Cameras monitor major roads throughout Stoke-on-Trent and are positioned in public car parks, bus stations, town centres and residential areas. A further 18 rapid deployment cameras can also be quickly relocated to crime hotspots.

The team carries out 17,000 virtual patrols a year and provides around 1,000 pieces of footage to police each year for use in criminal proceedings.

In addition, CCTV Operators Jeff Limer and Steve Rathbone were honoured with Staffordshire Police commendations for their involvement in an incident involving officers from various partner agencies.

Their actions resulted in a dangerous offender being detained and invaluable evidence being provided to the police and the courts.

just call the Customer Access Team on 01782 234234

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HEY want to change things for the better – so Josh Wood and Drew Corbin have been spreading the word about Local Democracy Week and why young people should make themselves heard.

Still “buzzing” from last year’s events when they met the Lord Mayor, toured the Civic Centre and debated issues close to their hearts, both insist the week is a vital way of giving 11 to 18 year-olds a voice.

This year, schools, colleges and the city’s Youth Forum are again sending delegates to the Civic Centre to find how the council works and how decisions are taken.

They will take part in debates and vote in a makeshift ballot station before their ideas and

priorities are fed into the council’s wide-ranging My City, My Say consultation.

The week’s events also include visits by councillors to schools and a chance to meet the Lord Mayor Councillor Majid Khan.

Youth Forum Chair Josh Wood, who supported delegates during last year’s week, is a big backer of democracy and an advocate of the youth voice.

He said: “I enjoy it because I get to make a contribution and a difference. If you’re listened to, you can do more to change things and have an effect.”

Fellow Youth Forum member Drew Corbin is a Peer Mentor with the city’s Youth Service who supports children attending Milton Youth Club.

He said: “If no-one listened to me I would feel left out so

Youth Forum members Josh Wood, left, and Drew Corbin pictured in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour during their tour of the Civic Centre.

People doing it for themselves having a voice makes me feel like I’m really part of something and that I’m not invisible.”

To find out more about Local Democracy Week from 13-19 October, visit stoke.gov.uk or telephone the Councillor and Civic Support Team on 01782 232751.

Have a say in use of pharmacies THE council is pulling together a report on the use of the city’s pharmacies, and would like people to have their say. A 60-day consultation is being held (beginning on the 13 October) with all members of the public and your views will help shape the final report. To take part, please visit www.stoke.gov.uk/pharmacyconsultation

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St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy Little Chell Lane, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6LZ T: 01782 883000 E: smwadmin@sgfl.org.uk W: www.stmargaretward.co.uk

St Thomas More Catholic Academy Longton Hall Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 2NJ T: 01782 882900 E: office@stmcc.net W: www.stmca.org.uk

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Decision makers learn

of Stoke Route plan host of national decision makers have, over the last few months, learned about Stoke-on-Trent’s plans for an HS2 station in the city. They have all been impressed by how much the area is changing and the committed focus on regeneration and jobs.

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They include the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP, Transport Minister Baroness Kramer and Under Secretary of State for Transport Robert Goodwill MP. Shadow Transport Secretary of State Mary Creagh MP, Shadow Rail Minister Lilian Greenwood MP and Shadow Transport Minister Richard Burden MP have also been told about the plans.

The city council has been working with the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to reach the business community nationally and has impressed them with the city’s case. The “Stoke Route” delivers the maximum economic impact and costs the tax payer less cash.

High Speed Rail Select Committee Chair Ian Mearns MP has said the Stoke-on-Trent case for a station is “very good and the Government should give it serious consideration”.

Freight Transport Association Chair and Conservative Lord Berkeley is backing the plans.

The Campaign for Better Transport’s Chief Executive Stephen Joseph visited the city and was impressed by the hard work which has been done, and he has told the Government they should look

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Together we are building a brighter future – that’s a fact

By City Council Chief Executive

John van de Laarschot

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP pictured during his visit to the city with Council Leader Councillor Mohammed Pervez and Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley who both put the case for the Stoke Route to the Minister. very hard at the “Stoke Route”.

Additionally, there is consensus across political parties to use HS2 to regenerate industrial heartlands and reinvigorate the national economy.

Council Leader Councillor Mohammed Pervez, said: “We have set out our plans for HS2 very clearly and the decision now lies with the Government.

“There is a real opportunity to

VISION FOR THE FUTURE: a computer generated image showing a high speed train on route to Stoke-on-Trent.

accelerate growth and prosperity where it is most needed while delivering the most economically viable proposal for the project.

Stoke-on-Trent is the only major city between Birmingham and Manchester, with enormous potential.

“An international HS2 station at the heart of the city would accelerate growth in the area and benefit hundreds of thousands of residents and those who rely on the local economy for employment.

“The Stoke Route is the best and most advanced case on the table nationally. We have set the standard and put Stoke-on-Trent centre stage in the debate about city growth. That’s got to be good for business.”

Jobs and growth

For more details of the Stoke-on-Trent HS2 submission, and the impact it will have on the city’s economy go to stoke.gov.uk/hs2

Interest from Chinese investors is growing CHINESE investors are flocking to Stoke-on-Trent as the city council and its partners promote a range of business opportunities across the city.

Following a visit by the Chinese Ambassador late last year to the British Ceramics Biennial, seminars on Chinese investment were organised by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Groups from China have twice been to the city since then, including a group of heavyweight

Our City

investors representing more than 10,000 businesses. Among them was the Chair of a big investment group, which is in partnership with Softbank China – the largest bank of its kind in the country. They spent an afternoon visiting sites, including the new city centre Smithfield development, and being briefed by Council Leader, Councillor Mohammed Pervez.

The visits were organised by Dr Yu Xiong, who works for the BIS and is Executive Chair of the China Innovation and Development Association.

Dr Xiong said:“The last group of

investors we brought over were really impressed by the city’s welcome, the can-do attitude and the range of innovative and creative enterprises bubbling up in the city.

“I know that some of the party are thinking hard about potential collaborations and investments.”

Councillor Pervez, said:“Stoke-on-Trent is growing again with local business growing and investing again.

“But international cities need international investment to supercharge their economies. That’s what we are doing – laying out the red carpet for inward investment.”

THE news headlines are full of financial challenges, crime, politics and conflict. We all have busy lives, but it’s really important to stop and look at all the good stuff that is happening around us. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses, as they say!

Stoke-on-Trent is a beautiful city and there’s so much good news if we open our eyes to it.

Amazingly, almost a third of the city is open space, more than virtually any other city in the UK. We now have 10 Blooming Stoke wildflower areas which have been created by the city council and communities working together. They are colourful, beautiful wildlife-rich meadows. Bees, birds and kids love them and they cost less to manage – good news for the tax payer.

We also have over 90 parks in the city (five with Green Flag status) and our extensive Summer Fun programme of nature activities has kept hundreds of children busy throughout the summer. We’ve had archery, mountain biking, toddler fun, day trips, reading challenges, interactive story sessions, music activities, bat walks, craft sessions, football, cricket – the list goes on and on!

As a parent, I know just how important it is to keep children entertained, active and happy.

Little Ellie-May Stacey, aged six, from Stoke, went along to dance at the Yeaman Street Fun Day. She summed it up beautifully. “I met an owl, a fox and a snake for the first time. I loved them.”

I hope that you and your children found plenty to do and were inspired to love their city. If you have any ideas for inclusion next year, we’d love to hear from you. Please email ourcity@stoke.gov.uk Things really are looking up for the next generation. The city council is way above the national average in getting two year-old children into early education. Stoke-on-Trent is achieving 85 per cent compared to 73 per cent nationally.

We had the best ever results in primary schools in 2013. This year’s GCSE results for city schools have improved despite major changes to the exams system. Our students recorded a massive jump in A level results: 82.5 per cent getting three grades A*-E compared with 73.5 per cent last year.

The city is also leading the way in getting young people into employment, education and training.

The number not actively engaged fell by a stunning 21.5 per cent in 2014. The regional figure was just 4.5 per cent. All of which supports our young people towards jobs and apprenticeships feeding through to the world of work.

Against the national picture of doom and gloom, Stoke-on-Trent is actually bucking the trend. In 2011 when the city council launched its Mandate for Change, we pledged to make Stoke-on-Trent a great working city. The following year saw a 7.5 per cent increase in our economic output and we’ve continued upwards ever since. The Centre for Cities report ranked us fourth out of 64 UK cities for job creation in 2013, and we are now the third fastest growing city economy in the UK. We have just been named one of the top five councils in the country for how much we spend with small businesses – we’re doing our bit to support local jobs and local people.

So next time you read that it’s all doom and gloom – just ask a youngster about their hopes and aspirations. Financial challenges? Yes. But together we really are delivering a brighter future.

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More ways to contact council WHETHER it is help with making a Council Tax payment or answering questions on waste collections, the council’s Customer Access Team is a one-stop shop of advice and information for residents.

People can call, text, email or even use social media to access advice and support on a range of services.

However, if people still prefer, they can drop into one of four One Stop Shops, located across the city, and deal with queries face-to-face.

Customer Access can provide support on more than 200 services that include: ■ Helping make a payment in relation to a bill or invoice.

■ Support with Council Tax or benefit queries.

■ Offering guidance on waste collection-related issues.

■ Booking bulky collection appointments to remove unwanted household items.

■ Assisting with licensing queries.

Here, at a glance is how you can contact the city council…

Phone on

01782 234234 Monday to Friday 8am-8pm

www.

stoke.gov.uk

and Saturdays 9am-1pm

Text on Email on

Enquiries@ stoke.gov.uk Social Media Access the council via social media on:

Facebook Facebook.com/sotcitycouncil Twitter @SoTCityCouncil

07786200700 Face-to-Face At the One Stop Shops: Stoke – South Wolfe Street, ST4 4SZ

Bentilee – Dawlish Drive, ST2 0EU Burslem – Brick House Street, ST6 3AE Norton – St Nicholas Avenue, ST6 8JW See website for opening hours – stoke.gov.uk and press contact us option

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Scheme aims to breathe new life into old properties UILDING industry professionals are being urged to take advantage of subsidised training to help deliver 26 million energy efficient homes across the UK.

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Alsecco Specifications Manager Charles Redmond on the roof of the iconic CoRE building in Longton.

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CoRE – the not-for-profit national Centre of Refurbishment Excellence in Longton, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund – is already training the sector in the new language, techniques and materials needed to retrofit the nation’s existing housing stock – using modern materials and technology – to make them warmer and more energy efficient.

The CoRE Diploma is a 10-day training programme to upskill existing professionals to become Retrofit Coordinators and can be completed as a full programme or as individual modules. Learners can complete the programme at their own pace – either taking a fast track route or spreading the modules over several months to suit their schedule.

Candidates are taught a range of topics by the UK’s leading experts, including retrofit building services, building physics, solid wall insulation and ventilation to co-ordination and risk management, fabric and responsible retrofitting of traditional buildings.

CoRE Chief Executive David Pierpoint said: “Retrofit projects are often complex and require expert

technical and managerial leadership.

Moreover, building trust with householders requires individuals able to provide impartial, expert advice, leadership and knowledge.

“These skills are currently lacking in the retrofit supply chain. Retrofit co-ordinators will fill that gap, delivering better retrofit projects both large and small. BBC Radio 4 featured a story about problems caused by inadequate installation of cavity wall insulation – we need to train people who city residents can trust.

“What I would say to the construction sector is – if your teams want to be part of a major new programme of refurbishment, or do not have the full array of skills to enable your company to take advantage of it, then get registered with us and get along to our programme of training courses.”

Architects, energy assessors, building company owners and other construction professionals are already signing up so they can add the new title of Retrofit Co-ordinator to their CVs. To find out more about the training on offer, visit core-skills.com

Jobs and growth

Fastrack course helps to give engineer the edge ENGINEER Charles Redmond has just completed CoRE’s fast track Retrofit Co-ordinator Diploma – further expanding his knowledge and understanding to give his company the edge.

Potteries born and bred, the geology graduate who lives in Bignall End worked extensively in the city in processing and consultant engineering roles before joining Alsecco (UK) Ltd in 2008.The company, part of a

German-based group with offices across Europe, is a specialist in designing external wall insulation systems.

One of its current big contracts involves the cladding of council-owned flats in Bucknall New Road to save heat and energy.

Charles said:“We do work on new builds but we are also a retrofit company and a retrofit orientated supplier – a lot of our

projects involve social housing schemes. Going on the CoRE fast track Retrofit Co-ordinator Diploma has given me a much better understanding of how to co-ordinate schemes and sustainability. It should give me the edge in the market we’re in.

“There’s no doubt about it that it’s a big market so the skills I’ve learned will go a good way to taking us past the competition.”

Experts give advice on warmer, greener homes

CoRE Chief Executive David Pierpoint explains the benefits of warmer and greener homes.

A great place to live

HUNDREDS of people have been finding out how to make their homes warmer and greener at a two-day show staged by CoRE in Longton.

The Warm and Healthy Homes Show featured five themed areas designed to help people across North Staffordshire and beyond improve their properties.

Experts were on hand to give advice about: ● Heating – gas boilers, controls and renewable heat. ● Insulation – doors, windows and insulation. ● Power – electricity, lighting and renewables. ● Home Improvements

– professional services including design and finance. ● Green Ideas – recycling and eco-friendly solutions.

Each themed zone featured presentations and clinics from representives of a range of organisations including housing associations, energy and sustainability charities, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, trusted local installers and Staffordshire Police.

Anyone who wants warm and greener homes advice can call CoRE on 01782 792900 or email info@core-skills.com

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More companies

join scheme total of 76 companies of all sizes have now signed up to work with the Travel Smart project, which is making journeys to work cheaper – while offering more sustainable forms of transport.

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Now in its third year, the £5 million programme has engaged with a total of 350 businesses as it looks to promote initiatives to employees such as an annual SMART bus pass scheme, car sharing and cycling to work, Personalised Travel Plans and Travel Plan Grants of up to £5,000 for businesses.

Businesses that have signed up include the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Emma Bridgewater, BHS, Vodafone, DHL, Norbert Dentressangle as well as Staffordshire University and Keele University.

Treona Holden, Business Engagement Officer, said: “We are now aiming to contact another 350 businesses. By the end of the project in spring 2015, we hope to see at least 100 business implementing Travel Smart activities and over 700 companies aware of the project.”

■ Meanwhile, the Home to Work programme, which supports people into work by enabling them to overcome

transport difficulties and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has supported its 1,000th client.

Amy Artis is working at The Swan public house in Burslem as part of an apprenticeship in Food and Beverage. She has to travel to and from her home in Hanley by bus most days of the week to her workplace. As an apprentice, the 20-year-old is entitled to up to six months’ worth of support from Home to Work in the form of a free bus pass.

She said: “It is invaluable to me. By the time I have paid my rent and other bills I don’t have that much left and travel costs would really eat into that.

“Now I am able to save a little bit of money each month for my future travel costs. The scheme has really benefited me and allowed me to get a foot on the career ladder.”

Amy Artis with her free bus pass outside The Swan public house in Burslem where she is working as part of an apprenticeship in Food and Beverage.

For more details contact the Home To Work team on 01782 235367, email H2W@stoke.gov.uk or visit stoke.gov.uk/hometowork

Backing business

New WiFi, passenger information screens and cycle maps launched Real time passenger information screens and WiFi is being provided on selected services along the Keele to Stoke-on-Trent City Centre (Hanley) corridor. First’s service 3 and D&G Buses’ service 85 will be the first to benefit from the new service.

Key bus stops along this corridor will provide bus users with the most up-to-date information about their buses highlighting when they are due to arrive. A new revised bus map will be coming soon.

Bus users will also benefit from free WiFi

Download the TravelSmart AR app. It’s FREE and easy to use.

Download our free app to your smartphone or tablet and bring TravelSmart to life using the power of a new technology called Augmented Reality (AR).

To access bonus content in this issue follow these instructions:

allowing them to work or surf the net on their journey.

Travel Smart has produced a new cycle map for Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme encouraging employees to commute by bike.

The hard copy map is complemented by an interactive online cycle map, at travelsmartns.co.uk/ planyourjourney which allows you to plan your cycling journey.

• Download the TravelSmart AR app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android).

• Open the app and point your device at the photos where you see the AR content icon pictured above – and wait for the surprise.

• Double tap for a full-screen.

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Two charities to benefit from

Our City

A great place to live

the city’s top ball WO charities are set to benefit from the Lord Mayor’s Ball taking place this November – the Donna Louise Trust and the Asmir Begovic Foundation.

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Tickets priced at £45 are now on sale for the Winter Wonderland themed dinner with live entertainment from band Untitled States and a disco by BBC Radio DJ Jason Hardy.

Lord Mayor Councillor Majid Khan said: “I’m looking forward to the Ball very much and keeping my fingers crossed that we can raise as much money for my

charities as possible.

Donna Louise is my main charity. Helping ill children as well as supporting and giving respite to their families is very important to me.

“I’ve visited the hospice and had a guided tour. It’s a fantastic organisation for families in the area and I’m proud to have it in Stoke-on-Trent.

“The second charity I’m supporting during my year in office is the Asmir Begovic Foundation set up by Stoke City’s goalkeeper. I was invited to the launch when I was Deputy Mayor and after gaining an insight into its

IN SAFE HANDS: Lord Mayor Majid Khan and Stoke City star Asmir Begovic don goalkeeping gloves to promote this year’s civic ball. aims, I wanted to get more involved. It’s all about supporting recreational activities in the city and Bosnia to help young people stay fit and healthy. Who knows it could create another Asmir or a Stanley Matthews.”

Asmir said: “It’s a tremendous feeling to know the Foundation has the support of the Lord Mayor. It’s another motivation to push on with our good work and progress with the work we have already done.”

To buy tickets for the black tie dinner, please call the Lord Mayor’s Office on 01782 232625 or email denise.powell@stoke.gov.uk

Pole vaulter Steven Lewis.

Long jumper Jazmin Sawyers.

Sprinter Ashleigh Nelson in action.

Sports stars honoured by Lord Mayor THE city council has honoured two of the four Stoke-on-Trent sports stars who won medals in this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Long jumper Jazmin Sawyers and cyclist Kian Emadi both won silver while representing England at the Glasgow Games.

A special civic ceremony was staged at Northwood Stadium and, in the presence of Council Leader Councillor Mohammed Pervez, they were presented with commemorative plates by the Lord Mayor Councillor Majid Khan.

Sprinter Ashleigh Nelson, who came away from the Commonwealth Games and the European Athletics Championship in Zurich with a gold and two bronze medals and pole vaulter Steven Lewis who took gold in Glasgow were unable to attend because of prior commitments.

The Lord Mayor said:“We were all glued to our televisions throughout the games to cheer on our local stars and they all proved themselves stunning competitors on the highest of international stages.

To contact the council by email

“To have brought so many medals back to our city and in so many different disciplines is a fantastic achievement and one that I’m proud to be able to recognise and show appreciation of on behalf of the whole city.”

Council Leader Councillor Mohammed Pervez said:“Each of these athletes is a sporting hero for our city and they all started out learning how to be world beaters right here in Stoke-on-Trent.

“Young people today can and are using the same sporting facilities as our sporting stars. It is a fantastic inspiration

Cyclist Kian Emadi.

Picture courtesy of britishcycling.org.uk

for them to reach for their sporting dreams. We have a wealth of wonderful facilities, in particular, Northwood Stadium, Dimensions Leisure Centre and Fenton Manor Sports Complex.”

simply go to enquiries@stoke.gov.uk

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Where in the City?

Win a digital camera in photo competition FOR the chance to win a Samsung digital camera have a go at our photo competition called Where in the City? Below are three pictures showing close-up images of parts of three buildings in Stoke-on-Trent which are all playing a part in regeneration.

All you have to do is name the buildings – and send your answers with your name, address and contact telephone number by email to ourcity@stoke.gov.uk or post to: Where in the City competition, FREEPOST Our City Deadline for entries is Friday 7 November.

To give a little help in identifying the buildings, there is a clue with each photo. The winner of a digital camera for last issue’s competition was Mr Palin of Widecombe Road, Birches Head.

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School nursing sister Kate Powell administers the Fluenz nasal spray vaccination to Thistley Hough pupil Elle Shinner, aged 11.

Healthy lives

Nasal spray can keep

that flu at bay Gaining access to 21st Century NHS services.

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ECONDARY schools in Stoke-on-Trent are leading the way by taking part in a pilot scheme with NHS England to offer the flu vaccination to all Years Seven and Eight pupils this autumn.

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In preparation for the illness-prone winter months, schools nurses will be offering the vaccine as part of the childhood flu vaccination scheme, which is expected to be introduced nationally in a few years. The Fluenz vaccination is a simple, painless nasal spray that will protect children against many strains of the flu virus.

Work in progress to attract new investment.

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An academy named after the wizard of dribble.

The spray has been used safely and effectively in the USA for over 10 years, and last year it was introduced in the UK as a way of protecting healthy two and three year olds against the virus.

Angela Dean from Penkhull said: “I’m pleased my daughter is able to have this flu spray. It’s great that she’s protected and also that it will help to prevent other more vulnerable members of my family from getting the flu.”

School nurses from the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust will be responsible for ensuring children receive the Fluenz spray in their schools. It is not available at local GP practices unless children are in an

at-risk group. Schools contacted the parents of all Years Seven and Eight pupils during September to provide more details.

For further information about the Fluenz vaccination, visit the NHS Choices website: www.nhs.uk/ conditions/vaccinations/pages/ child-flu-vaccine.aspx, contact the school nurse or call North Staffordshire school nursing immunisations on 0300 123 1894 Ext 1857 (Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm).

Work begins on three new extra care villages – creating 390 apartments WORK has started on three extra care villages in the city, which will see 390 apartments constructed in the next two years.

The facilities in Abbey Hulton, Blurton and Chell will offer spacious apartments within a community setting for people aged over 55.

They include facilities on site and conveniently located close to transport links.

Sapphire Extra Care Ltd have been awarded the contract to build the villages over the next three years at Holdcroft Road, Abbey Hulton, Consett Road, Blurton and Turnhurst Road, Chell.

The developments will offer spacious apartments within a community setting for

people aged over 55. They include facilities such as hairdressers, treatment rooms, gymnasium, retail outlets, library space and hobby/craft rooms.

Your Housing Group will manage the 390 one and two bedroom extra care apartments, adding to their substantial portfolio of apartments for the over 55s across the North West and the Midlands.

The villages are designed by PRP Architects and will create a community where residents will be able to live an independent life in a socially supportive environment.

The on-site care and support team will

provide 24/7 help and support that is flexible to meet individual needs.

Reverend Martin Stephens of St John’s Welcome Centre, Abbey Hulton, said: “While it is inevitable there will be some short-term disruption as work gets underway, I welcome the development of good quality homes in the area.

“It will be great to welcome new people who’ll be choosing to live in Abbey Hulton and I trust they will get involved in activities within the wider community.

“I also hope there’ll be opportunities for local people who will benefit by getting jobs, both now and in the long-term.”

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Veg garden is win, win for the park REEN fingered volunteers have transformed a patch of ground at Burslem Park into a fantastic vegetable garden that now supplies the park’s café with fresh produce.

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A team of up to 10 people work nine hours a week on the plot, growing everything from various varieties of lettuce, runner beans and four varieties of potato to radishes, pumpkins and even chillies.

Everything goes into delicious healthy meals at the volunteer-run café just a short walk away with all profits ploughed back into the garden as well as the park’s upkeep.

The idea of Park Liaison Officer Dave Grice, the volunteers first started work on the project in December last year and were soon recycling tyres and bricks to make raised beds

Checking the pumpkins is volunteer gardener Alan Dobell.

Our City 11

GROWING THEIR OWN VEGETABLES: Volunteers at the Burslem Park garden with Park Liaison Office Dave Grice, centre, wearing a blue shirt.

and using lopped branches for fencing.

Dave said: “It’s fantastic – a great example of what can be achieved. Our volunteers, who include people with assisted needs, have worked really hard and I’m proud of what they’ve achieved.

“We want to involve the whole community so we’ve had local school children in. We want to strengthen that bond and help everyone appreciate park life. The size and space of the garden is limited so we’re next looking at creating a more sustainable area in the park.”

Mike Watson, Chairman of the Burslem Park Partnership, said: “When we told our volunteers the plan, their eyes lit up. We applied to our local Councillor Joy Garner and she gave us £230 from the ward budget to get us started.

“The work done since then has been tremendous. I reckon the vegetables produced are better than you can buy at the supermarket.”

A great place to live

Volunteer gardener Mark Meddings of Tunstall picks lettuce for the park café.

Mike Watson, Chairman of the Burslem Park Partnership, serves up healthy meals in the café using fresh produce from the park garden.

Call for volunteers to help run healthy outdoor activities project A RALLYING call has gone out around the city to recruit an army of volunteers for the popular Green Door project.

The National Lottery-funded four-year initiative encourages people to make the most of Stoke-on-Trent’s abundant green spaces by laying on cost-free or low-cost activities.

The overall aim of this is to improve the health and wellbeing of participants, particularly older or disabled people.

Local history Schemes include the expert Mervyn access-for-all cycle hub at Edwards leads a Westport Lake – which guided walk at now has 220 members – Etruria Hall. guided history and nature walks, as well as a range of

free taster workshops in activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, gardening, archery and beekeeping.

More than 3,500 people took part during the first year of the project with the work of a host of volunteers essential to running and co-ordinating activities.

However as the project expands more and more people are needed to help out – and all they need to bring to the role is a passion to help. Green Door Project Manager Lesley Smith said:“We are continually expanding the activities we lay on and as established facilities such as the cycling become even more popular, extra bodies are vital.

“We literally need an army of volunteers going forward. All types of skills are useful

but the only thing essential is a passion for the project.” Volunteer Ryan Foster, of Norton, said: “I’ve gained a lot of skills, such as customer service and it has helped me be more sociable and outgoing.”

In two years when the lottery funding comes to an end, the aim is to continue to run the project as a social enterprise. At this point the volunteers will have even more hands-on involvement in the co-ordination of the project.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer, pop into the project offices next to Westport Lake Visitor Centre, call Lesley on 07824 473432 or email greendoor@stoke.gov.uk

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Manage your account online with 24/7 easy access IT is click and easy...

Stoke-on-Trent residents and businesses can now keep track of their council payments through an online account.

Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefit and Council Tax support claims are just a few of the things that can be managed through the new online service.

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the secure online system means residents can access their information, view statements, pay bills or check on the progress of claims at any time of the day or night.

Account holders can also apply for discounts and notify the council of a change in their circumstances. The online account is easy to use and free to register.

For more information, visit stoke.gov.uk/online account

Access to social fund now online EOPLE on low incomes who need help from the Social Fund can now apply online – making the process easier, quicker and more cost effective.

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The new online system means applications to the pot of cash can be made at any time of the day or night without the need for applicants to have an interview with council officials.

They can also track the progress of any claim they make and go back into the system to make changes if their circumstances have altered.

A similar online application process has also been put in place for people seeking Discretionary Housing Payments – stoke.gov. uk/benefits Acting Benefits Manager Daniel Marson said: “The aim of the new system is to make both funds more accessible and convenient for people to use.

“From a local authority point of view it will bring about efficiency savings and free-up resources to allow council staff to spend time dealing with the more complex cases while straightforward applications are dealt with online.”

Subject to eligibility, the Social Fund can help people who are in a crisis, with things such as food and gas or electric. It can also assist people who need help resettling in the community with white goods and furniture.

People on a low income may also be able to get additional help with living costs, rent or other housing costs, and Council Tax. Discretionary Housing Payments are intended to help people who are having trouble paying their rent or finding enough money to pay for the start-up costs of a tenancy.

Access the new online system at stoke.gov.uk/socialfund

Supporting people

Acting Benefits Manager Daniel Marson shows the Social Fund application page on the council website.

I’m two and I get 15 hours free childcare!

Could you?

To find out about free early education for 2,3 and 4 year olds call 01782 232200 or visit stoke.gov.uk/beststart

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Our City

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Call to back appeal to save historic Wedgwood pottery

A jasperware teapot manufactured in Burslem between 1775 and 1780.

THE city council is backing a public appeal which has been launched to save the Wedgwood Museum pottery collection.

The Art Fund needs to raise £2.74 million to ensure the collection is not broken up and sold to private buyers.

Residents are being urged to support the campaign as the deadline to raise the sum – November 30 – approaches.

The city council, The Sentinel, local MPs and business and community leaders have thrown their weight behind the race-against-time fundraiser.

The collection, of 8,000 pieces spanning 250 years of history, is a vitally important part North Staffordshire’s pottery heritage and is housed at the Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston.

The intention to break it up follows

the collapse of the Waterford Wedgwood group in 2009. It led to the pensions debt being transferred to the museum trust.

The Art Fund has already raised around £13 million to buy the collection and keep it together – but needs to raise another £2.7 million by the end of November.

Campaigner Alison Wedgwood, who is married to a direct descendent of master potter Josiah Wedgwood, said: “It is a stressful time but with the backing for the campaign we do have optimism and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

To donate to the appeal fund call 0744 415 4100 or text WEDGWOOD – followed the amount you want to donate – to 70800.

Tell us what you think about

Our City and you could WIN A £25 shopping voucher

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ET us know your thoughts on Our City magazine and you could be in with a chance of winning one of four £25 shopping centre vouchers.

We want your ideas as we look to shape the publication and keep you up to date on the latest news and initiatives affecting your community.

For example, what type of articles would you like to see more of and are there any subjects we feature that you think should be given less prominence?

Do you think the balance between articles and reader information is right and what other types of information would be useful to you?

We would also like to know if you read the magazine that is sent directly to your home or prefer to read the online version.

Barbara Andrew, of Hartshill, a committee member of the Hartshill and Harpfields Occasions community group said: “In my opinion Our City is a very important part of community life. It brings to public attention the work that is

going on in the public and voluntary sectors and the role the community is playing in improving everyday life.

“It is extremely important for people to take part in this reader feedback and tell the city council and its partners what matters to them and what type of articles they want to read about.”

Just fill in the questionnaire (below), make sure you include your name, address and a daytime contact number and send it to FREEPOST Our City.

Alternatively, email your views to ourcity@stoke.gov.uk with the

subject title Reader Feedback.

Everyone who takes part will be entered into a draw to win one of four £25 shopping vouchers.

Closing date for entry into the draw is 31 October, 2014.

The winners of the shopping vouchers will be notified by post.

The editor’s decision is final.

(For multiple choice questions please circle your chosen response)

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How many people in your household read it?

Please insert number ___ Would you read the magazine if it was only available online?

1. Yes 2. No 3. Don’t know 4. I don’t have access to the 6. internet at home 5. I would read it online 6. elsewhere (eg local library)

How informative do you find Our City magazine overall 1. Very informative 2. Informative 3. Not very informative After reading Our City do you feel more informed about council services, for example, the Council's new housing allocation policy?

1. Yes 2. No 3. Don’t know Which sections of our city do you find most useful (circle all that apply): 1. News 2. What’s on 3. Information about council 6. services 4. Competitions 5. Events information 6. Spotlight on resident 6. associations and community 6. groups

7. Information on becoming 6. healthier 8. Information about jobs and 6. growth in the city 9. Business information 10. Police information 11. Fire information 12. Other partner information What other sections would you like to see in Our City?

1. Community focus 2. More information about how 6. to access support 3. More residents’ news 4. More letters and community 6. content 5. Other Do you like the design of the magazine?

What do you think of the length of articles?

1. Too long 2. Too short 3. Just right 4. Don’t know What do you think of the language and tone used in the articles?

1. Very good 2. Good 3. Neither good nor bad 4. Bad 5. Very bad 6. Don’t know What other ideas or suggestions do you have to improve Our City? ...........................................

Would you recommend Our City to someone else to read?

1. Yes 2. No 3. Don’t know.

Would you be happy to be involved in a focus group looking at communications in the city?

1. Yes 2. No For a chance to win one of four £25 shopping vouchers please fill in your contact details below and send this form to the council at FREEPOST Our City.

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........................................

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email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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How much of the last two issues of Our City have you read?

1. The whole issue 2. A few pages 3. One page 4. One article 5. I didn’t read it 6. I don’t recall seeing previous 6. issues/it wasn’t delivered 7. I didn’t read it but someone else in my house did

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Spotlight on OUR CITY’S RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS

Funding bid for fencing at bungalows approved PENSIONERS living in five blocks of bungalows in Dresden will soon feel more secure after their local residents’ association won funding for fencing to be erected around their homes.

Dresden Residents’ Association submitted an application for £36,000 from the Neighbourhood Improvement Scheme fund to provide the new fencing.

With support from the Tenant Involvement Team their application was submitted to the Tenants Board for their consideration and approval. The tenant board consider each application against a set criteria set out within the application process.

Lilian Dodd, who has been Secretary of the Dresden Residents’ Association for the past 20 years, said:“We asked people living in the bungalows what would most improve their lives and they said fencing would make them feel safer and more secure in their own homes as well as giving them more peace and quiet.

“We are delighted our application for funding has been approved and that the scheme can now go ahead.”

Dresden Residents’ Association represents people living in a total of 682 properties in 22 streets in the area. Meetings are held at the Elim Church in Cobden Street, Dresden. The association has completely refurbished the local scout hut and holds keep fit and computer training sessions there.

Key community events are held throughout the year – often in tandem with the Queens Park Partnership – including a dog show, an easter egg hunt and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Work experience scheme wins prestigious award A community centre which provides work experience for unemployed young people has won a top award in recognition of its efforts.

Sneyd Green Community Hall in Ralph Drive is run entirely by volunteers. In addition to being a social centre for the community, it takes groups of 16-24 year-olds and offers them work experience in a wide range of activities including cleaning, bar work and gardening.

The young people – sent to the

community hall by Hanley Jobcentre Plus – also help keep local play areas and green spaces clean and tidy by cutting grass and litter-picking on a regular basis.

Now managers at Jobcentre Plus have chosen Sneyd Green Community Hall to receive its Work Experience Provider of the Year Award for 2014.

Community Hall Chairman John Reynolds, who accepted the award on behalf of the voluntary group, said everyone was surprised and honoured

by the recognition. He said:“We took on the management of the hall six years ago when, to be honest, it wasn’t open very often and there wasn’t very much happening.

“Since then we’ve turned it into a real community hub and it's used for all sorts of things including wedding receptions, birthday parties and christenings.

“We’ve done a lot of work in and around the area using the young people from Jobcentre Plus and it’s great that we have won this award.”

Anglers give pool new life neglected fishing pool has been rescued and given a new lease of life by volunteers. Angling enthusiasts set to work last year to clear overgrown shrubs and mountains of litter from the land surrounding Smithpool in Mount Pleasant, Fenton.

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After 12 months of hard work the group – now known as Smithpool Angling Society – have not only revitalised the lake for fishing, but have generated a new sense of community spirit in the area with more local people using the site for dog walking and other activities.

Society Secretary Gary Parsons said the lake had been restocked with hundreds of fish and anglers were now regularly catching good-sized specimens of roach, perch and tench.

He said: “We have regular working parties to keep on top of things and we have bought special pumps to help re-oxygenate the water.

The site was very overgrown when we took it over and by cutting back all the undergrowth we have opened it up for everybody to enjoy.

Smithpool Angling Society Secretary Gary Parsons at the rejunvenated pool.

“Local people seem to have appreciated the work we have put in and there is a real sense of community spirit in the area again.”

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend the club held a special charity fishing match to raise funds for Lenny Holmes, a 60-year-old grandfather who has been in a coma since

Volunteer Clark Williamson collects a breakfast from the kitchen to serve in the café.

Making a difference being found badly injured and unconscious near his Smallthorne home at the beginning of April.

His family and friends – some of whom are members of the Smithpool club – are raising cash to provide for the special care he is likely to need if and when he comes out of the coma.

Café looks to attract more local customers A café at a centre for adults with learning disabilities has been given a facelift with the aim of attracting more customers from the local community.

The Lunchbox Café at the St Johns Welcome Centre in Greasley Road, Abbey Hulton, has splashed out on colourful new tablecloths, bright new menus, and posters and fliers to advertise their tasty dishes.

The café, which is mainly used by the learning disability adults who come to the centre for life skills training, is also open to the public who can come in to buy meals including all day breakfasts, jacket potatoes, filled oatcakes, cheese pie, corned beef hash, salads, sandwiches and a whole lot more.

Day Service Officer Lawrence Taylor said the changes were intended to bring more people from

the Abbey Hulton community into the café.

He said: “We provide transferable skills training for adults with learning disabilities, including things like computer training, gardening, craft and community events, leisure activities and working with the local foodbank.

“But we also have trainees working in the Lunchbox Café and we are really keen to see more people coming in from the local community.

“At the moment we are putting out about 30 meals a day, but we have the capacity to do more and it would be great to see people coming in for a meal – or just for a cup of tea or coffee – and inter-acting with our trainees.”

The Lunchbox Café is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm.

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Junior school scoops top

eco status honour CO-FRIENDLY city children have been given a top honour as they fly the green flag for the environment.

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The exceptional work of pupils at Alexandra Juniors in promoting sustainability has been recognised with Eco-School Ambassador status until 2016.

Deputy Head Teacher, Julie Rowe, who shares the Normacot school’s Eco Co-ordinator role with Wendy Lambert-Eardley, said: “We’re delighted to get the recognition.

We’re one of just 12 schools awarded the status in England in 2014 so that makes it extra special.”

The inspirational school signed up to the worldwide Eco-Schools programme in 2004. Run by the Foundation for Environmental Education, it helps schools embed a green ethos at the heart of everything they do.

Alexandra Juniors quickly earned bronze, silver and green flag awards from the programme as it worked through a seven-step process to address environmental themes from litter to waste and energy to water.

As an Eco-Schools Ambassador, it is now supporting other schools to become more sustainable and specialises in encouraging other pupils to get involved in events.

Julie said: “The assessment process highlighted the high level of pupil involvement that the school encourages and now the pupils would like to make a difference to the wider community.”

Eco Committee member, Umaimah Munir, aged 11, said: “The Eco Committee are so proud to become an Ambassador School.

We really enjoy all the activities we take part in and would like to help other schools to help the environment.”

For a local Eco-Schools Support Service contact: Tracy Brennan, Sustainable Schools Officer, Stoke-on-Trent City Council – Tel: 01782-236937 or Email: tracy.brennan@stoke.gov.uk For more information go to www.ecoschools.org.uk

Pupil Kaine Rushton, aged ten, in the school’s greenhouse made from recycled bottles.

Noah Clarke-Evans, aged eight, shows his Eco Committee badge.

Willow Ward, aged ten, and Rayhaan Naheem, aged nine, celebrate the new status with the school eco flag.

A great place to live

Series of initiatives help pupils gain business skills SAVVY students at Grove Junior School in Northwood have been brushing up on their business skills with a series of events designed to promote independent thinking.

The pupils have been taking part in a range of problem solving tasks, including a ‘Bargain Hunt’ – based on the TV programme of the same name – which helped them to develop negotiation skills and an eye for detail.

The experience gained allowed Year Five pupils to take on an in-school business set-up

by the Year Five class of 2012 and use it to renovate second-hand furniture.

The idea behind ‘Shabby Chic’ as it is known at the school, was to take previously loved items of furniture and restore them to their former glory – work which the pupils carry out themselves.

Following the success of the spruced-up furniture business, teachers praised the entrepreneurial skills that pupils displayed, having been taught how to write business

Contact the council via social media on

plans, estimate the price of materials, set competitive rates and market goods.

Deputy Head Teacher Janet Blackhurst said: “It’s fantastic to see students carrying out ideas that they’ve come up with themselves.

We’re keen to encourage creative thinking, and initiatives of this kind definitely do that.”

To buy refurbished goods or to have furniture renovated to contact the school on 01782 234550.

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Competition prizes set to encourage businesses to locate in city BUSINESS bright sparks from across the world are being given the chance to follow their entrepreneurial dreams in Stoke-on-Trent in a competition offering a package of enterprise support.

Under the Stoke-Your-Growth competition up to ten entrepreneurs will be given the help and support they need to make their business ideas a reality.

Entries are being invited in the fields of information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital media, applied materials (including ceramics), energy, renewable technologies and medical technologies. The ten chosen winners will receive: ● A financial package including start-up grants and working capital loans. ● Quality business accommodation for their project in Stoke-on-Trent (free for up to 26 weeks). ● Mentoring from top entrepreneurs. ● Access to research facilities at Keele and Staffordshire Universities, Imperial College London and Lucideon. ● The chance to pitch to private financiers and venture capitalists once their business is up and running in the city.

Entrants will be asked to put together a business plan and be interviewed, either in person or on Skype, by a panel of top business experts.

Funded by the city council and the Regional Growth Fund, entry closes at the end of September. To qualify, the businesses have to be new start-ups or under 12 months old and be currently based outside of the Stoke-on-Trent area. Successful businesses could be in the city as early as the start of next year.

Sara Williams, Chief Executive at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Stoke-Your-Growth is all about showcasing the city’s rapidly-developing industrial resurgence. This city is a hub of creativity and energy and a business-friendly environment.

“Now is the time to seize the opportunity to do business in an area which is primed for fostering business growth.”

To enter Stoke Your Growth or for more details, email stokeyourgrowth@stokestaffs lep.org.uk

Facebook.com/sotcitycouncil or Twitter @SoTCityCouncil

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Public are urged to seek advice before cleaning war memorials

Litter bins are now for dog mess ORDINARY litter bins can now be used to dispose of dog mess, pet owners have been told.

The move follows a decision by the city council to stop replacing damaged “dog mess only” bins on cost-saving grounds.

Nick Bentley, Team Manager for Cleansing and Environmental Enforcement said it was important that dog

Our City

owners continued to clean-up after their pets and that as long as dog mess is properly bagged and tied it could be put in any litter bin, not just in the designated red bins.

He said:“Dog faeces not only spoils the look of our parks and other public spaces, it poses a significant health risk to young children and to other pets.”

The new credit partnership can help ease money worries.

A great place to live

Pulling up Balsam plants is Chair of Westport Lake Community Volunteers Bob Collins.

WITH all the events going on to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War it is little wonder that communities have been considering what they can do to spruce up their local war memorials.

But before anyone gets busy with a scrubbing brush and a bottle of bleach, experts from the city council’s Heritage Team have warned that such an approach could actually do more harm than good.

City Memorials Officer Jon Goodwin said many of Stoke-on-Trent's dozens of different memorials could suffer permanent damage if the wrong cleaning processes are used.

He said:“Materials like sandstone, limestone and bronze don't take kindly to the chemicals in domestic cleaning fluids and we would ask people not to go ahead with any cleaning of a war memorial without talking to the Heritage Team first.

“We commend those who seek to

Volunteer John Goldstraw of Leek helps council Countryside Team Leader Paul Shires loads up fallen tree branches at Park Hall Country Park.

actively care for the city’s memorials and do not wish to discourage their participation.

“All we ask is that members of the public contact us for advice before undertaking any work. We are currently drawing up a list of all memorials across the city and looking at priorities for cleaning.”

A number of memorials across the city – including those at Packmoor, Trentham and Bucknall – have already been spruced up by volunteers from the YMCA, under the supervision and guidance of the city council’s Heritage Team.

They spent five days removing surface grime from the structures, using methods and materials specifically tailored to such delicate work.

For advice on cleaning a war memorial or any other memorial structure contact the Heritage Team on heritage@stoke.gov.uk before carrying out any work.

Volunteers help to keep city

beauty spots pristine R

ETIRED he might be, but Bob Collins is as busy as ever grafting hard as a volunteer at Westport Lake where he helps to keep the city beauty spot looking pristine.

Supporting people

New source of credit is set to provide affordable loans ANYONE struggling to make ends meet and in need of short-term financial help now has a new – and affordable – source of credit.

The city council has forged a partnership with three other organisations – CAB/Potteries Moneywise, Staffordshire Credit Union and not-for-profit lender Moneyline – to offer an alternative to the usual non-standard forms of credit such as payday loans, pawnbrokers and doorstep lenders.

The “Need A Loan – Talk To Us First” initiative aims to provide a more affordable option for financially struggling families and individuals, helping them avoid high interest loans which may push them into a spiral of poverty and debt.

City Council Assistant Chief Executive Charles Stewart said:“One of the key problems that struggling families and individuals face is access to affordable credit and help in managing their finances.

“A one-off loan for some could be seen as convenient and cost effective – by, for example, avoiding

unauthorised overdraft and bank charges.

“But for many others, particularly those already in debt and having limited income, it puts them at risk and vulnerable to long term poverty as a result of the little choice in borrowing decisions.”

Charles said “Need A Loan – Talk To Us First” offered not only a more affordable source of short-term credit but also valuable support and advice to help people make the most of what money they do have.

He added:“This initiative responds to community needs by giving financial support, impartial advice and access to more affordable credit.”

Full details of how to access the “Need a Loan – Talk To Us First” scheme are available from Moneyline on 01782 206836, Staffordshire Credit Union on 0845 2241216 or CAB/Potteries Moneywise on 01782 408685.

The 62-year-old former IT company manager – a long time member of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust – always knew it would be the outdoor life for him when he had some spare time on his hands.

So he jumped at the chance to get involved when he heard that help was needed at the largest lake in the city and is founding Co-ordinator of the Westport Lake Community Volunteers.

A core group of a dozen people carry out a variety of tasks from litter picking to tackling the invasive Himalayan Balsam plant. Members spent two months this year working alongside the city council’s

countryside team to build a limestoneedged footpath through a previously boggy no-go area.

Bob said: “I got involved because I like walking around the countryside and I enjoy the environment. I wanted to give something back and help look after it. I like to be out in the fresh air and enjoy hands-on, physical work. It’s great fun and I’d encourage anyone to get involved.”

Opportunities exist at 26 sites across the city including Park Hall Country Park, Holden Lane Pool and Berryhill Fields where volunteers at other friends groups carry out everything from clean ups to conservation projects like coppicing and reedbed management.

To find out how and where you can get involved, call 01782 331889.

Westport lake community volunteers group co ordinator Bob Collins with volunteer Dave Wood from Tunstall.

Bob Collins with Volunteer John Whewall of Tunstall clearing Himalayan Balsam at Westport Lake which if left unchecked can spread rapidly and smother other vegetation.

People doing it for themselves

Litter picking is one of the duties for volunteer Colin Martin of Burslem.

Park Hall Country Park volunteer Martyn Lymer of Weston Coyney cuts up and clears fallen branches.

Volunteers from North Staffordshire YMCA Alice Hall of Stoke, left, and Jess Hickerman of Heron Cross – both aged 16 – clean the war memorial in Trentham cemetery.

New £14m housing development to be named in honour of war hero A new £14m housing development being built in Stoke-on-Trent is to be named after a war hero from the city.

Housing and care provider Sanctuary Group is working closely with the city council to build the new extra care accommodation in Slater Street, Middleport, alongside 28 family homes.

Baskeyfield House, which will comprise 80 extra care apartments for over 55s, will take its name from Lance Sergeant John Baskeyfield, a Burslem-born artillery gunner with the South Staffordshire Regiment, who died fighting off German tanks at the ill-fated Battle of Arnhem in 1944.

His bravery was later recognised with

a posthumous Victoria Cross.

The development, part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, is being built by Sanctuary’s construction partner Seddon on land provided by the city council and will play a key role in delivering the local authority’s affordable housing programme.

Local historian Fred Hughes said:“I am so pleased that the Sanctuary Group has chosen to honour the name of John Baskeyfield VC for their Middleport project. I am convinced that the new community will welcome this tribute to a great hero of Stoke-on-Trent.”

The Slater Street development is on track to be completed next March.

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Public are urged to seek advice before cleaning war memorials

Litter bins are now for dog mess ORDINARY litter bins can now be used to dispose of dog mess, pet owners have been told.

The move follows a decision by the city council to stop replacing damaged “dog mess only” bins on cost-saving grounds.

Nick Bentley, Team Manager for Cleansing and Environmental Enforcement said it was important that dog

Our City

owners continued to clean-up after their pets and that as long as dog mess is properly bagged and tied it could be put in any litter bin, not just in the designated red bins.

He said:“Dog faeces not only spoils the look of our parks and other public spaces, it poses a significant health risk to young children and to other pets.”

The new credit partnership can help ease money worries.

A great place to live

Pulling up Balsam plants is Chair of Westport Lake Community Volunteers Bob Collins.

WITH all the events going on to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War it is little wonder that communities have been considering what they can do to spruce up their local war memorials.

But before anyone gets busy with a scrubbing brush and a bottle of bleach, experts from the city council’s Heritage Team have warned that such an approach could actually do more harm than good.

City Memorials Officer Jon Goodwin said many of Stoke-on-Trent's dozens of different memorials could suffer permanent damage if the wrong cleaning processes are used.

He said:“Materials like sandstone, limestone and bronze don't take kindly to the chemicals in domestic cleaning fluids and we would ask people not to go ahead with any cleaning of a war memorial without talking to the Heritage Team first.

“We commend those who seek to

Volunteer John Goldstraw of Leek helps council Countryside Team Leader Paul Shires loads up fallen tree branches at Park Hall Country Park.

actively care for the city’s memorials and do not wish to discourage their participation.

“All we ask is that members of the public contact us for advice before undertaking any work. We are currently drawing up a list of all memorials across the city and looking at priorities for cleaning.”

A number of memorials across the city – including those at Packmoor, Trentham and Bucknall – have already been spruced up by volunteers from the YMCA, under the supervision and guidance of the city council’s Heritage Team.

They spent five days removing surface grime from the structures, using methods and materials specifically tailored to such delicate work.

For advice on cleaning a war memorial or any other memorial structure contact the Heritage Team on heritage@stoke.gov.uk before carrying out any work.

Volunteers help to keep city

beauty spots pristine R

ETIRED he might be, but Bob Collins is as busy as ever grafting hard as a volunteer at Westport Lake where he helps to keep the city beauty spot looking pristine.

Supporting people

New source of credit is set to provide affordable loans ANYONE struggling to make ends meet and in need of short-term financial help now has a new – and affordable – source of credit.

The city council has forged a partnership with three other organisations – CAB/Potteries Moneywise, Staffordshire Credit Union and not-for-profit lender Moneyline – to offer an alternative to the usual non-standard forms of credit such as payday loans, pawnbrokers and doorstep lenders.

The “Need A Loan – Talk To Us First” initiative aims to provide a more affordable option for financially struggling families and individuals, helping them avoid high interest loans which may push them into a spiral of poverty and debt.

City Council Assistant Chief Executive Charles Stewart said:“One of the key problems that struggling families and individuals face is access to affordable credit and help in managing their finances.

“A one-off loan for some could be seen as convenient and cost effective – by, for example, avoiding

unauthorised overdraft and bank charges.

“But for many others, particularly those already in debt and having limited income, it puts them at risk and vulnerable to long term poverty as a result of the little choice in borrowing decisions.”

Charles said “Need A Loan – Talk To Us First” offered not only a more affordable source of short-term credit but also valuable support and advice to help people make the most of what money they do have.

He added:“This initiative responds to community needs by giving financial support, impartial advice and access to more affordable credit.”

Full details of how to access the “Need a Loan – Talk To Us First” scheme are available from Moneyline on 01782 206836, Staffordshire Credit Union on 0845 2241216 or CAB/Potteries Moneywise on 01782 408685.

The 62-year-old former IT company manager – a long time member of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust – always knew it would be the outdoor life for him when he had some spare time on his hands.

So he jumped at the chance to get involved when he heard that help was needed at the largest lake in the city and is founding Co-ordinator of the Westport Lake Community Volunteers.

A core group of a dozen people carry out a variety of tasks from litter picking to tackling the invasive Himalayan Balsam plant. Members spent two months this year working alongside the city council’s

countryside team to build a limestoneedged footpath through a previously boggy no-go area.

Bob said: “I got involved because I like walking around the countryside and I enjoy the environment. I wanted to give something back and help look after it. I like to be out in the fresh air and enjoy hands-on, physical work. It’s great fun and I’d encourage anyone to get involved.”

Opportunities exist at 26 sites across the city including Park Hall Country Park, Holden Lane Pool and Berryhill Fields where volunteers at other friends groups carry out everything from clean ups to conservation projects like coppicing and reedbed management.

To find out how and where you can get involved, call 01782 331889.

Westport lake community volunteers group co ordinator Bob Collins with volunteer Dave Wood from Tunstall.

Bob Collins with Volunteer John Whewall of Tunstall clearing Himalayan Balsam at Westport Lake which if left unchecked can spread rapidly and smother other vegetation.

People doing it for themselves

Litter picking is one of the duties for volunteer Colin Martin of Burslem.

Park Hall Country Park volunteer Martyn Lymer of Weston Coyney cuts up and clears fallen branches.

Volunteers from North Staffordshire YMCA Alice Hall of Stoke, left, and Jess Hickerman of Heron Cross – both aged 16 – clean the war memorial in Trentham cemetery.

New £14m housing development to be named in honour of war hero A new £14m housing development being built in Stoke-on-Trent is to be named after a war hero from the city.

Housing and care provider Sanctuary Group is working closely with the city council to build the new extra care accommodation in Slater Street, Middleport, alongside 28 family homes.

Baskeyfield House, which will comprise 80 extra care apartments for over 55s, will take its name from Lance Sergeant John Baskeyfield, a Burslem-born artillery gunner with the South Staffordshire Regiment, who died fighting off German tanks at the ill-fated Battle of Arnhem in 1944.

His bravery was later recognised with

a posthumous Victoria Cross.

The development, part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, is being built by Sanctuary’s construction partner Seddon on land provided by the city council and will play a key role in delivering the local authority’s affordable housing programme.

Local historian Fred Hughes said:“I am so pleased that the Sanctuary Group has chosen to honour the name of John Baskeyfield VC for their Middleport project. I am convinced that the new community will welcome this tribute to a great hero of Stoke-on-Trent.”

The Slater Street development is on track to be completed next March.

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, My City My Say

People have their say on city’s future EOPLE young and old are having their say as part of the council’s on-going My City, My Say consultation on the future of Stoke-on-Trent.

P

Dozens of community engagement opportunities have taken place at schools, neighbourhood, community and children’s centres, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and the City Central Mosque.

Attended by city council cabinet members and high-ranking officials, representatives from partner organisations including Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Staffordshire Police and the NHS as well as community, voluntary and business

groups also came along. They listened to residents’ views on topics ranging from potholes to education, employment to social care, Council Tax to city regeneration and street cleaning to bus services.

For those who missed the community events but still want to share a point of view as the city council plans future services, email to mycity.mysay@ stoke.gov.uk or fill out a feedback form available online at stoke.gov.uk The conversation also continues through social media so tweet @SOTCityCouncil using the hashtag #mycitymysay, follow updates on Facebook at /SOTCityCouncil or call the council on 01782 234234.

Working with you for a better Stoke-on-Trent

Council Leader Councillor Mohammed Pervez chats with Normacot residents Barrie Harington, left, and Parviz Azimi at a My City, My Say consultation meeting at Sandon Business and Enterprise College. Below, other residents who attended the meeting have their say.

ALAN KAILL

LEILA LAGEVARDI

MIKE DAWSON

OF MEIR PARK

FROM STOKE-ON-TRENT

VICE CHAIR OF NORMACOT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

❛❛

I help to run an over 55s club and I’ve come along mainly to listen. The debate has been good and the lady taking notes on our table ended up with three pages. My bugbear is safety and security for elderly people, especially those travelling on their own. A lot won’t go to Hanley at night.

❜❜

❛❛

We came to England from Iran six months ago.

Iranian people are very good but the government is bad. My English is not very good but I want a better city. We are new to living in the area. My son is a student in a high school.

He is 12 years old and is in Year 8.

❜❜

❛❛

One of the blights on our area is the backs or alleyways behind terraced houses which attract fly tipping. No one seems to care about them. Normacot is not alone in suffering this problem and I’d like to see the council take a serious look at it.

❜❜

£1 home scheme gets Gavin on the property ladder Supporting people

KEY TO THE DOOR: Gavin Pierpoint outside his £1 home in Portland Street, Cobridge.

WHEN Gavin Pierpoint heard about the city’s £1 home scheme he seized the opportunity to own his own house. The 26-year-old civil servant had been renting but like many people was keen to take the first step onto the property ladder.

Unfortunately he was faced with a far too common scenario – his rent was eating into his monthly salary making it difficult to save for a substantial deposit. Fortunately, Gavin learned about the £1 home scheme through his sister who had heard about it on the radio.

He applied, was interviewed, passed the necessary financial requirements and a few months later was signing for his new property.

He is one of more than 30 people or families who have taken part in the scheme, funded by the city council and the Government’s Clusters Of Empty Homes programme.

The new owners have each

paid a pound for the properties and then pay up to £30,000 to cover the cost of the renovation work over 10 years.

And this fantastic housing scheme is proving such a hit in Stoke-on-Trent that local authorities all over the country are now copying it.

All the terraced houses are situated around the Portland Street area of Cobridge. Many had stood empty for years and their rejuvenation has significantly helped to regenerate the area.

With all the work completed, Gavin moved into his new house in August and is busy painting and decorating the rooms.

He said:“I was very keen to buy my home as I felt the rent I was paying was dead money. It also made it difficult to save for a deposit.

“The way I see it now is I have paid a £1 deposit and have a £30,000 mortgage. All the renovation works have been done – for instance new electrics

and central heating have been installed, re-plastering and damp proofing carried out and insulation added. I am now busy decorating each room.

“It’s great to have my own home and good to know I’m now investing money in my own property.”

Gavin, his fellow £1 homeowners and the existing community are also working with the city council to plan improvements to enhance the appearance of the surrounding area.

Two of the 33 £1 houses are still up for grabs and the city council is accepting applications until the end of October for these properties.

Contact the Clusters of Empty Homes team on 01782 234234, or via email on clustersofemptyhomes@ stoke.gov.uk

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Sculpture trail scoops top 10 spot TOKE-ON-TRENT has been judged one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit for arts and culture walks by international news and information website MSN.

S

The announcement comes after the launch of a city-wide Sculpture Trail featuring everything from a Potteries Pyramid and Another Gift, to a Zoomorphic Mount and Staffordshire Saxon and drawing together 40 individual sculptures into one, city-wide collection of art.

The Stoke-on-Trent Sculpture Trail has been designed to inspire, and includes statues of some of the great locals who have left their mark on the city – including Sir The 21ft high Tree Stanley Matthews, Josiah Stories sculpture, by Wedgwood, and the designer of Denis O’Conor, at the Spitfire Reginald Mitchell – Central Forest Park. as well as monuments and memorials linked to the history and heritage of The Potteries, Lidice which was destroyed by the Nazis and conceptual and true works of art. in 1942.

Amongst those falling into the final The massacre of hundreds of men, category is the statue of Perseus and women and children prompted Stoke-onMedusa which, in 2012, took a leading Trent city councillor Barnett Stross to role in the Royal Academy of the Arts’ raise funds, along with local miners, for exhibition, “Bronze”. the rebuilding of the village.

Transported all the way from the Miners’ tags cover the artwork – each award-winning Trentham Gardens to one stamped with a code identifying a Central London, Perseus made a hero’s member of the public who has promised return for the start of 2013, and now to share the story of Lidice with two lines-up in the new Sculpture Trail other people. alongside works previously seen at the Copies of the leaflet can be picked-up National Garden Festival in 1986 and from the Tourist Information Centre in more recent additions to the pieces of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, as public art which have been appearing well as from other information racks, throughout the city during the last hotels, and attractions throughout decade.

Stoke-on-Trent.

Among them is the latest sculpture unveiled in the City Centre, “Unearthed For full details of all of the sculptures (Lidice)”. This sculpture is dedicated to included in the new trail visit unearthing the story of Stoke-on-Trent’s www.stokesculpturetrail.co.uk relationship with the Czech village of

Library to host season of events POETRY, comedy, murder mystery and some forensic anlaysis will be on offer in a new series of Friday night events being staged at the City Central Library in Hanley over the next few months.

The season kicks-off on 3 October when poet/comedians Jonny Fluffypunk and Fergus McGonigal – two of the funniest poets in the West Midlands – present their hilarious show Funny Men. Next comes the highly acclaimed Victorian murder mystery Who Killed George Hargrave? on 7 November. This interactive production gives audience members the chance to play detective and help unmask the killer.

An insight into the work of a forensic scientist is on offer on 14 November when Margaret Murphy (aka A D

Garrett) unveils some of the facts behind the fiction. If you love CSI you’ll love this.

The season concludes on 5 December with Postcard Poets where poets who were commissioned to write postcards on the theme of Home-Made, Home-Grown will read some of their work.

Each of the four events will go ahead at the City Central Library at 7.30pm.

Tickets will cost £3 including refreshments and can be purchased at the library or reserved by phone or email.

To reserve tickets telephone 01782 238455 or email central.library@stoke.gov.uk

A great place to live

Project Co-ordinator Wendy Daw by the restored window.

Below a detailed section of the window.

Restored Minster window is rededicated in special service THE restored World War One stained-glass memorial window in the Peace Chapel at Stoke Minster has been rededicated in a special service attended by the Lord Mayor Councillor Majid Khan.

He laid a spray of poppies at the Requiem Eucharist led by the Bishop of Stafford, the Right Reverend Geoff Annas.

The window, created in the 1920s by students of the Stoke School of Art, was restored and releaded by expert Denis Holgate after the Friends of Stoke Minster successfully applied for a Heritage Lottery grant of £9,400.

Project Co-ordinator and Friends member Wendy Daw said:“The window is stunning. It will now last for at least another 50 years.”

School children from St Peter’s Academy, Burslem School of Art and the Potteries Heritage Society were all involved in the project as they helped research the history of the window.

Pupils gathered stories, memories and memorabilia as they carried out interviews with families affected by the war. The information collected forms a static display in the Minster until Remembrance Sunday and will make up a World War One trail on the Stoke Minister website.

Wendy said:“It was really important to involve children and young people as the stories they heard helped them understand World War One and its effects on everyone.”

Similar stories are being brought to the

stage in the coming months as part of theatre and musical productions based around WW1.

The internationally acclaimed National Theatre production of War Horse is being staged at the Regent Theatre until 11 October. For tickets, call 0844 871 7615.

The Daleian Singers and Foden’s Band present an evening of music, song and readings called A Time to Remember at the Victoria Hall on 9 November. Phone 0844 871 7649 for tickets. Mow Cop Players stage Oh What A Lovely War at the Forum Theatre in The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery between 17 and 19 April next year.

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Risks in using wrong charger IREFIGHTERS are warning people about the risks of using chargers that are incompatible with their E-cigarette following a house fire in Trentham.

F

The family who suffered the incident contacted Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in the wake of a death in Merseyside, which has been linked to an E-cigarette ‘exploding’.

They wanted to highlight the potential risks residents can face if they use a charger not compatible with the electronic device.

A fire broke out in a first floor bedroom at the family’s property in Stone Road, after an E-cigarette was plugged into a travel adapter with a USB port.

The charger being used had not been purchased with the device and had come with an E-cigarette that one of the residents had previously owned.

Just 10 minutes after it had been plugged in, the upstairs smoke alarm activated and the residents went to investigate.

They were met by flames of up to 18 inches high, which were next to the socket. Clothes were hanging immediately above the fire but luckily they had not been set alight.

One of the occupants, Richard McGinley, was wearing work boots and managed to stamp out the fire before it was able to spread.

He said: “This was a really frightening experience and we were very lucky that it was not more serious.

Factfile: ■ There will be 40 whole-time firefighters and 15 retained firefighters based at Longton Community Fire Station.

■ Two pumps, one aerial ladder platform, one heavy rescue tender and one specialist vehicle which identifies hazardous substances, will be based at the station.

■ Construction of Longton Community Fire Station has taken a total of 21 months from preliminary works to post completion works.

■ The community used the facilities at Burslem, Hanley and Sandyford Community Fire Stations for more than 6,100 hours in 2013.

■ The service has invested approximately £17 million into its community fire stations in the city.

TAKING SHAPE: Construction work on the new station is progressing on schedule.

“The E-cigarette had been on charge for less than 10 minutes but the amount of damage that it caused when it exploded is quite shocking.

“If it hadn’t been for our first floor smoke alarm going off and alerting us to the fire, the consequences could have been far more severe and the damage might not have been limited to the floor boards and walls of the property.

“I would urge people to always make sure that they are using the correct charger for any device, whether it is an E-cigarette or a mobile phone.”

For more information on electrical safety visit www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk

Healthy lives

Richard McGinley with an E-cigarette similar to the one which caused a fire at his home because it was charged with an incompatible charger.

A computer generated image showing how the new Longton Community Fire Station will look.

State-of-the-art community fire station at Longton is set to open HERE is a sneek peek at Longton’s new £3.5million community fire station, which is due to be fully operational this autumn. The state-of-the-art facility has replaced the former station, which was built in 1976.

The building on Uttoxeter Road will not only provide crews with a base that is equipped to face 21st Century firefighting challenges, it will also be community-focussed with amenities and opportunities available to benefit local people.

Programme Director Steve Knight said: “We are 100 per

cent committed to providing a first class emergency response service to our communities as well as working closely with them to prevent incidents from happening in the first place.

“Longton Community Fire Station is located in the heart of the area it serves. This will enable us to interact with local people and groups who pop in to use the community facilities, to get to know them and gain a better understanding of their needs.

“This knowledge will put us in an excellent position to continue reducing the number of

emergencies, helping to make the town as safe as possible.”

Along with Longton, a further nine community fire stations have been built or are due to be built on their current sites as part of a £45 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI). A brand new station at Loggerheads will also be built to replace the 45-year-old station at Ashley.

The first phase of the PFI programme cost £46 million and saw three additional stations developed and seven stations replaced between October 2009 and September 2011.

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Army joins forces with council to provide workplace skills training LONG-TERM jobseekers are being offered further support through a pioneering Army project run in partnership with Jobs Enterprise & Training (JET) – the recruitment and training programmme managed by the city council.

Seven JET candidates are among 20 who have already taken part in courses at Army Reserve (TA) units, learning workplacerecognised skills in a military environment.

Now called Midland SPUR (Supporting People Out Of Unemployment With The Reserves), courses aim to promote awareness of the Army Reserve while boosting candidates’ confidence.

Skills learned range from teamwork,

health and safety, workplace first aid and the safe use of plant and power tools to IT skills, CV writing and interview techniques.

The programme is open to anyone aged 18 to 30 who is unemployed, has an interest in the Army and meets the Army joining criteria. Eight people who have taken part have gone on to full-time jobs and four are in the process of joining the regular and reserve Army. Community Engagement

Warrant Officer (WO2) Ray Miller said:“We can help motivate those struggling to find employment and have developed a really good working partnership with Jobcentre Plus, JET and Stoke on Trent College.”

For more information, telephone a JET advisor on 01782 232004 or contact Jobcentre Plus.

Course leads to full-time jobs for

unemployed T

HEY were both once long-term unemployed but Craig Taylor and Shaun Tabbinor now have full-time jobs thanks to the partnership scheme.

They spent two weeks improving their employability and building their confidence before going on a week’s work experience at composite door manufacturer Solidor.

Full-time job offers were not long in coming and both men in their early 20s are now employed as assembly operatives at the Fenton-based firm. Craig of Meir had unsuccessfully tried to join the RAF and Jobs his confidence took a dip.

The programme got him back on track and into a job. Still interested in the military, he has also been supported by JET to apply for a career in the Army Reserves.

Shaun of Sandyford had been out of work for a year and a half and was finding it difficult to stand out from other candidates at interview.

Told about the Army Reserves programme by JET, he was not at all

and growth convinced it would work for him.

He said: “I just wanted a job. I didn’t want to waste my time with these courses that never get you anywhere.

“I know I wasn’t that interested when the course was mentioned to me at the start but if I hadn’t done it I would still be on benefits and trying to find work.

I can’t thank you all enough.”

An Army course opened the door to employment for Craig Taylor, right, and Shaun Tabbinor who have both gained full-time jobs with Fenton door manufacturer Solidor.

City now has nearly 100 Safer Places for vulnerable people A SCHEME offering shelter and reassurance to vulnerable people while they are out and about across Stoke-on-Trent has been expanded to offer even more places of refuge.

Shops, businesses and organisations signed-up to the Safer Places scheme provide a safe temporary place to go if a person with a learning disability feels

distressed, vulnerable or scared whilst out in the community.

And Stoke-on-Trent can now boast nearly 100 Safer Places across the city, each clearly identified by the Safer Places logo displayed in its door or window.

Council Community Development Worker Kerry Summerfield said people with learning difficulties who

To contact the council by text

joined the scheme are issued with a Keep Safe card which includes the names and contact numbers of two relatives or friends who can be called on for help.

She said:“If they are upset, frightened, uncomfortable or feel threatened in any way they can go into one of the Safer Places across the city to get help.”

The city council is also looking at widening the Safer Places scheme to include other vulnerable groups of people other than those with learning disabilties.

More information is available at stoke.gov.uk/safer-places

simply send your message to 07786 200700

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Co-operative working to be rolled out after success of trial project A co-operative approach to dealing with people’s support needs has proved a real success in Stoke-on-Trent. The city council has trialled a new way of joint working with a host of partner agencies. It is delivering better outcomes for local neighbourhoods – and value for money for the taxpayer.

The pilot has been developed in the Little Chell and Stanfield ward over the last two years. It all focuses around one key worker co-ordinating services from a number of different agencies.

Partners working with the city council include Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, health and voluntary sector organisations.

Councillor Joy Garner, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities, said:“Since it began, there has been a 16.8 per cent reduction of current and former rent arrears in the ward.

“There has also been a drop of 23.11 per cent in police-reported antisocial behaviour incidents.

“As a result of its success, the pilot is now being rolled out across the city and will be called Co-operative Working.”

Roll-in of the new model will start early 2015. The approach has paid dividends for dad-of-four Joseph Burns, from Mill Hill.

Supermarket worker Joseph and his partner Julie have three boys aged 17, 15, and 10 as well as a 12-year-old daughter.

Joseph said:“We had a three-bedroom house, and the boys were sharing a small room. Our eldest has learning disabilities and had some serious anger management issues, and was violent with it. We had to call the police at times to calm the situation.”

The Burns family was assigned key worker Kieron Edridge, a Staffordshire Police officer. With support from city council officers, he was able to identify the family’s needs – a move to a bigger house.

PC Edridge said:“We quickly identified that their housing situation was causing a lot of the problems – the boys’ age ranges were quite wide and it was obvious they needed their own space. Following the move we noticed an immediate difference.

“There was less friction in the house and a marked change in the eldest son’s behaviour. But this wasn’t just our doing. This way of working is about helping people to help themselves, and the Burns family have done exactly that.”

Council house allocation rules are changing CHANGES in the rules over the way council houses are allocated will affect anyone with a current application for housing in Stoke-on-Trent.

The new rules, imposed by central government, mean the council has had to draw up a new housing allocations policy, restricting access to council housing to people who fall into one of just four specific bands: ● Urgent housing need, including homeless.

● High housing need. ● Low housing need with community contribution. ● Low housing need without community contribution.

Community contribution can, for example, include having worked in Stoke-on-Trent for at least six months, being an approved foster carer or being a member of the Armed Forces.

One immediate change is that the city council will no longer maintain an inactive housing

Painting the play area at Century Street Park, Hanley, are volunteers Sean Williams, left, Jack Taylor and Evie Shaw who are all aged 16.

register – a list of people who have applied to the city council but do not have a housing need which requires a move.

Everyone on the housing register – approximately 4,500 applicants – is being contacted in writing.

Acting Housing Needs Manager Dawn Cooke said: “Everyone on the housing register is being contacted.

“The letter they receive offers them the opportunity to get in touch with us and tell us if their

circumstances have changed since they first went on the housing register.”

Full details of the new criteria, which come into force on 29 September, are available at www.stoke.gov.uk/ allocationspolicy or from the council’s Housing Solutions Team on 01782 233696.

People doing it for themselves

Teenager volunteers work to

transform15 play areas RMED with paintbrushes and a pot full of community spirit and enthusiasm, 12 teenage volunteers have transformed 15 Stoke-on-Trent play areas.

A

The group, aged 16 and 17, were backed by YMCA North Staffordshire as part of the Government’s National Citizen Service social action plan and worked in partnership with the council. They were awarded a £300 grant by the 02 Think Big programme and spent nine days painting equipment like climbing frames, slides and swings to make play areas fresher, cleaner and more inviting.

Working between 10am and 3pm, they all banked volunteer hours to achieve a Be Inspired certificate in recognition of their contribution to the local community.

Evie Shaw, 16, was one of those who took part. She said: “I thought it was a really good idea and a great way of changing the reputation of teenagers. I think some have the reputation of vandalising parks so this was a chance to turn that around.”

Council Volunteer Co-ordinator Anthony Meredith, who supervised the team, said: “The difference they have made is fantastic and the work they did is excellent. They have made a big

difference to local play areas across the city.”

The play areas to benefit from a makeover are in Century Street, Cobridge Park, Falcon Road, Mollison Road, Henderson Grove, Weston Coyney Recreation Ground, Waterdale Grove, Amelia Close, Malstone Avenue, Causeley Gardens, Bentilee Park, Beverley Drive, Brakespeare Street, Brookfield Road and Middleport Park.

To volunteer for future community projects, contact Anthony Meredith on 01782 232546 or email anthony.meredith@stoke.gov.uk

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Our City

23

Council’s top award for working with older people

TIME FOR TEA: business start-up competition winners Nick Serifin and Gemma Wright of The Tea Drop.

Backing business

Start-up tea traders brew up

winning business case T

HREE budding businesses are looking forward to bright futures after winning a share of £30,000 in a start-up competition.

A total of 52 entrepreneurs entered the competition, which was held across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire to help people grow their new and fledgling business ideas.

At a finale held at the King’s Hall in Stoke, the six shortlisted applicants had to pitch their business ideas to a packed venue and judging panel, which included North Staffordshire-born business entrepreneur Dominic List – who featured on Channel Four’s Secret Millionaire programme.

First prize went to The Tea Drop run by Gemma Wright and Nick Serifin of Trent Vale – a business which sells high quality loose leaf tea, tea ware and gifts, delivered to the door.

They scooped £15,000 grant funding, 12 months’ free mentoring from our judges, the offer of six months’ free accommodation in a business centre and a raft of free expert advice.

Runners up were Leek-based baker Live Love Loaf Ltd run by Matthew Booth and To The Nines, a bridal and evening wear boutique owned by Jo Clay.

The event was organised by the city council along with its Start-Up Loan partner Youth Enterprise. The judges said they were very impressed with the high quality of entries into

the competition, which proved Stoke-on-Trent was “alive with creativity, talent and industry”.

Staffordshire University graduate Gemma said: “We are delighted to win.

“We are looking to use the grant funding to generate a year-long marketing campaign and to purchase essentinal items that will help boost the business’ profile. We are also excited to be receiving the mentoring and expert advice.

“We want Stoke-on-Trent to be as renowned for its loose leaf tea as it is for its pottery and teapots.”

For more details about the support on offer and next year’s competition visit www.thestart-up.co.uk

Young people can stay in foster care up to age 21 YOUNG people in foster care have welcomed arrangements allowing them to stay within a family setting until the age of 21.

The city council’s new Staying Put policy means that youngsters can move on to independence at a time which suits them – instead of when they turn 18.

Money has been allocated by

Central Government to support the scheme for at least the next three years.

Currently there are 14 care leavers who are supported by the Staying Put arrangement, and feedback from the young people has been very positive.

Jason Pearce, Service User Involvement Worker with the city

council – who was formerly in foster care – said:“I wish the Staying Put arrangement had been in place when I left care as I would have liked to have stayed in care for longer, until I felt I was in a better position to make the decision that was best for me.”

He added:“A lot of the young people I’ve spoken to think the

Staying Put policy is a really good idea. We need to make sure that care leavers are supported for as long as they need to be and that they know there is another option for them once they reach 18.”

For more details about the scheme and fostering, visit stoke.gov.uk/fostering

STOKE-ON-TRENT City Council is celebrating after becoming the only UK local authority to win an international award in recognition of its commitment to supporting older people in the workplace.

The city council has won the 2014 AARP Best Employers International Award for its innovative human resource and workforce practices that benefit workers aged 50 and over.

Based in the US, AARP is a non-profit organisation which represents more than 37 million members aged 50 and over.

In partnership with the UK’s The Age and Employment Network (TAEN), it honours worldwide organisations that value the skills and talents of experienced workers.

The Best Employers International Award aims to promote innovative human resource and workforce practices that benefit workers aged 50 and over around the world.

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to innovative practices that help workers of all ages.

Assistant Chief Executive Charles Stewart was presented with the award by TAEN Chief Executive Chris Ball at a conference of over 100 representatives from Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), businesses and Jobcentre Plus.

The conference was held at the Moat House Hotel, Etruria, and speakers included Dr Ros Altmann CBE, the Government’s business champion for older workers.

Dr Altmann said:“I want to congratulate the authority on winning this prestigious award.

“It is so encouraging to see public and private sector organisations embracing older workers and facilitating later life employment.

“As our population is rapidly ageing, rethinking retirement and enabling fuller working lives can hold the key to future success for businesses, individuals and society as a whole.”

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Our City A U T U M N 2 0 1 4

Pupils learn about Fairtrade ethics CHOOL children have enjoyed a playground soccer kickabout with Lord Mayor Councillor Majid Khan using a Fairtrade football they won in a competition.

S

The youngsters of Forest Park Primary and Alexandra Junior School collected a total of 410 wrappers from Fairtrade products.

At the same time they learned about the global concept of decent prices, better working conditions and fair terms for workers.

An ideal close to the Lord Mayor’s heart, he is using a family

holiday to Kashmir to forge city links with the northern Punjab city of Sialkot where 40,000 people produce 80 per cent of the world’s hand stitched footballs.

Fairtrade Foundation certification involving several manufacturers at Sialkot ensures fair pay, conditions, medical treatment and education for the families involved.

The Lord Mayor said: “During my trip I’ll be making a special visit to friends in Sialkot to see footballs being made and the conditions in which they are being produced.

“A few years ago there was an issue with child labour but

Installer Daniel Forrester fixes a fire sprinkler system at a flat in Matthews Walk with resident David Mellings looking on.

producers have now signed up to Fairtrade. I want to create links between our cities and I’ll give feedback when I return.”

Stoke-on-Trent is a Fairtrade city and the city council works with the local Fairtrade group, Fairtrade Action in Stoke-on-Trent (FAST).

The group is mapping all of the retail and catering outlets, workplaces and community organisations in the city that use or sell Fairtrade products.

Our City readers can help by sending details to ourcity@stoke.gov.uk

Healthy lives

A great place to live

City council ‘ahead of game’ as fire sprinklers installed in council flats Lord Mayor Councillor Majid Khan has a playground kickabout with a Fairtrade footaball along with Forest Park Primary pupils Tommy Williams, aged eight, and eight-year-old Haris Maqbool.

Licensing scheme for private housing landlords introduced to more areas THE council scheme designed to raise the standard of private rented housing and reduce antisocial behaviour in some areas of Stoke-on-Trent has been extended to another 1,700 properties.

Selective licensing has been introduced to 21 streets in Cobridge and Hanley as well as 18 roads in Fenton.

It requires 516 landlords in the Portland Street and Oldfield Street areas to apply for licences and have their accommodation inspected by city council Environmental Health Officers.

Renting out a property in the designated areas without a licence is an offence and carries with it a fine of up to £20,000 on conviction. Landlords can also be fined up to £5,000 if they breach the conditions of a licence.

The scheme was first introduced in Tunstall in 2011 and covered 405 properties. Failure to comply in the pilot area has already led to three landlords being prosecuted and fined a total of £1,500. Almost £5 million of investment has been attracted to the area by British Gas as part of their Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), the city council and the Empty Homes Cluster Programme.

Landlord Naran Chauhan, who has a number of properties in both Tunstall and Cobridge, said:“If it improves the area and reduces antisocial behaviour, it’s definitely a good thing. The majority of landlords have taken out licences. If everyone sticks together and works with the city council, it will have a positive effect on the area. It’s early days but there has been improvement in Tunstall.”

CITY council tenants are benefiting from the latest in fire safety technology.

Flats in Matthews Walk in Northwood have been chosen as the first to be installed with the latest fire sprinklers as part of a major refurbishment scheme. The sprinklers are being fitted to 48 flats in the four blocks comprising Matthews Walk.

Meanwhile, plans are in place to expand the scheme to other city council housing sites.

Councillor Joy Garner, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said:“We already do a great deal to improve the lives of our tenants and ensure that their homes are safe, modern and comfortable, but this time we are really ahead of the game nationally in terms of fire safety and prevention.”

The sprinkler systems are widely used in hotels and businesses due to their effectiveness, as they do not just limit the fire, they can actually put it out.

Fire Engineer Andy Brown, of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:“We’re delighted that the city council has recognised the benefits that sprinkler systems can provide.

“The residents of these newly refurbished flats can be confident in the knowledge that they will be amongst the safest people from fire in the city.

“The city council is already demonstrating that it's ahead of the game on fire safety and we welcome this move as a big step in the right direction to ensuring a safer city. We look forward to working with the city council on further projects in the future.”

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Our City

25

Aids to give people

INDEPENDENCE P

EOPLE looking for help to lead independent lives can take advantage of a specialist centre which provides them with the equipment and support they need to adapt their homes.

The Mobility and Independent Living Centre, based in Trentham, is aimed at people with disabilities or those who struggle with everyday tasks. It sells and provides a range of items that will make home life easier, ranging from grab rails and stair lifts to bath hoists and tap turners.

Expert advice is on hand from a team of specialists, including a trained occupational therapist, who work with residents to tailor requirements depending on their condition. People can then try out the equipment in a series of realistic settings at the centre, including a mock bathroom, bedroom and kitchen.

Peter Ball, Telecare and Physical Disability Services, Manager said: “The aim of the centre is to provide equipment that matches the individual needs of people and help them live a quality independent life in their own home and in the community.

“People receive expert advice

People doing it for themselves Physical Disabilities Services Manager Peter Ball with a selection of equipment designed to help with independent living. on the kind of equipment they actually need depending on their condition and that will make a difference. They get the chance to try out the equipment before deciding to purchase it. We also loan out some items so people can try it in their own homes before making a final decision.”

Service user Paul McKenna

received help from the centre after his sight deteriorated. After being assessed he was trained in the use of a white cane and also received a liquid level indicator, so he can pour hot liquids safely.

He said: “Before, if I went anywhere I had to be accompanied. Now I have the confidence to go anywhere – even

Paul McKenna safely pours boiling water to make himself a cuppa with the help of liquid level indicator. up to town – with the white cane.

At home I can pour myself a cup of tea without being in danger of scalding my hand. It has been a liberating experience.”

The centre is run jointly by the city council and Ability Aware, a social enterprise with wide experience of running independent living centres.

Residents urged to make checks on paperwork

Kerry finds her role as school governor is very satisfying KERRY Madden is passionate about giving children the best start in life – so becoming a school governor was an obvious step for her.

With 18 years of professional experience of working in a range of strategic roles involving services for children and their families in the city, she is just settling into her voluntary role at Abbey Hulton Primary School.

She said: “I’d heard about the need for school governors in the city and felt with my experience that I had something to offer. I’m passionate about improving outcomes for the children of the city by giving them the very best education. My focus is making sure every child is enabled to succeed – so that they can go on and reach their potential.

“I bring my previous career history and experience to the role but I know that school governors come from a broad range of different backgrounds and experiences.

“I attend meetings every six weeks but keep in touch with school life in between meetings. I’m still learning in the role so I will have some training to help me develop my knowledge. I’d encourage anyone like me to consider giving it a go. It’s very satisfying

For more information call Ability Aware on 0845 33 011 44 or email Stoke@abilityaware.com To view some of the equipment available visit www.abilityaware.com

A great place to live and I’m hugely proud of the school. I already feel that I’ve been able to make a difference.”

School governors have a range of responsibilities which include monitoring progress, managing school finances, making sure the curriculum is broadly based,

School Governor Kerry Madden with Abbey Hulton Primary School pupils Clayton Harrison-Green and Megan Banks, both aged 10. appointing staff and reviewing their performance and pay.

Visit becomeagovernor.com, contact the School Governor Support unit at the council on 01782 236889 or email gsu@stoke.gov.uk

RESIDENTS in Stoke-on-Trent are being reminded that simply paying someone else to get rid of rubbish does not leave them in the clear if that rubbish is subsequently fly-tipped. Nick Bentley, Team Manager for Cleansing and Environmental Enforcement, said anyone offering to dispose of waste – whether for payment or not – must have a carrier’s licence authorising them to do so.

He said:“People need to check that the person they are dealing with has the correct paperwork. If they don’t and the waste is later found fly-tipped, we will seek to trace the original source of the waste and consider prosecution not only of the person who was supposed to have disposed of it properly, but also whoever paid them to take it away.”

Checks on carrier's licences can be made by contacting the Environmental Agency on 0370 850 6506.

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Our City A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 READY TO TAKE YOUR CALL: the councils Corporate Fraud Team are waiting for residents to contact them.

Call for public to back fraud

clampdown HANGES in the way benefit fraudsters are tracked down and dealt will come into force as a result of a national programme being rolled out between now and March 2016.

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The new arrangements mean that the Department for Work and Pensions will be taking responsibility for dealing with all forms of benefit fraud through its Single Fraud Investigation Service.

Through a relaunch of the city council’s award-winning Spot the Cheater campaign, the Corporate Fraud Team plans to focus its resources on tackling fraudsters who look to take advantage of the Housing and Right To Buy schemes, Council Tax cheats, Blue Badge and social care fraud.

They will also be targeting insurance fraud – including cases of people seeking compensation after falsely claiming to have suffered personal injuries from slips and trips on uneven pavements.

Corporate Fraud Manager Paul

Bicknell, said: “The cost of benefit fraud falls mainly on central government while most other things, such as Council Tax and insurance fraud, impact directly on the city council – and on the pockets of everyone living in Stoke-on-Trent.

“Through the Spot the Cheater campaign we will be targeting resources on the types of fraud that hit us locally, with the aim of saving money which can then be used to help people who are genuinely in need.

“To do that we need everyone’s help to identify the fraudsters and bring them to account.

“If you know someone who is defrauding the city council don’t let them get away with it – Spot the Cheater and tell us about them.”

Reporting fraudsters could not be easier – just call 01782 236800 or do it online at stoke.gov.uk/reportfraud and the city council’s Corporate Fraud Team will take it from there.

Supporting people

S P O T T H E C H E AT E R 2 0 1 3 / 1 4 FR AUD C ASE REFERR ALS

1,457 Total referrals

390 People claiming to

408

be single but living with a partner

Tenancy Fraud

19

58

Blue Badge

8

£1,918

Council Tax

R E S U LT I N G I N

£714,392

Identified in fraudulent benefit overpayments

£12,312

In ongoing benefits payments stopped

75

Properties recovered with an estimated saving of £450,000

Blue Badges cancelled

Single person discounts cancelled

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Youngsters shakeitupin

Our City

Healthy lives

exercise activities Y

OUNG children got all shook up as part of a city-wide event to promote healthy living. Hundreds took part in Change4Life’s Shake Up Day, held in nurseries across Stoke-on-Trent.

It was organised by the city council’s Public Health Department as part of its drive to combat childhood obesity. The campaign was based on an initiative devised between Change4Life and Disney to inspire children across England. Initially, it urged them to pack in extra 10-minute bursts of activity – and collectively aim for 100,000,000 minutes – during the school summer holidays.

Going forward, nurseries were asked to introduce an extra 10 minutes of physical activity into their daily schedule in addition to the current 60 minutes they already do.

Each nursery that signed up is being provided with £100 of exercise equipment.

The initiative aims to combat figures that show that within the city, 369 reception age

children (11.4 per cent), and 522 of those in year six (22.5 per cent), are considered obese. One of the organisations taking part in the initiative was the Early Days Nursery in Weston Coyney, which caters for two to four-year-olds.

Manager Jeanette Brickley said: “This is a brilliant initiative and it’s something that we will continue with – it was not just for the summer holidays. The children are already very active, and are really knowledgeable about healthy ways of living and eating.

“We have a ‘busy tots’ class, where children are able to do fun exercises such as pretending to wash animals and be aeroplanes, exercises that involve lots of movements. We also have healthy meals and encourage children to brush their teeth.

“We work closely with parents and

children, and it is really good to instill these values at an early age. It creates a good basis for staying healthy in later life.”

JUMP TO IT: Maddison Goldan and Mason Collis, both aged four, take part in a Shake Up Day exercise session at Early Days Nursery,Weston Coyney.

To get involved in the healthy lifestyle campaigns visit www.nhs.uk/change4life

Children find way around reading maze CHILDREN were encouraged to get their noses into a good book over the summer holidays.

Stoke-on-Trent Libraries held their annual summer reading challenge which was called Mythical Maze.

It challenged them to visit their local library three times during the summer holidays and to read six books.

Children who signed up for the challenge received prizes and incentives to help them along the way. There was also a mini maze game and certificate to collect – with those who completed the challenge receiving a medal.

And city-based theatre group Take A Hint performed a Mythical Maze play at Longton and Bentilee libraries.

By the end of August 1,700 young people had taken up the challenge and ignited their passion for reading.

Get involved at your local library by visiting stoke.gov.uk/libraries ● Pictured at Bentilee Library are Take A Hint cast members, back row left to right, Holly Reynolds, Dan Jones and Sally Smithson with Lucie Rice, who played Anansi the Spider, and schoolchildren, sisters Isabelle, left, and Bethany Boote.

Safety cars to monitor more schools

People doing it for themselves

THE crackdown on parents who put children’s safety at danger by parking illegally on the school-run is being rolled out to six new schools across the city.

Seven Schools have already had the camera safety car monitoring parents dropping off and collecting children.

The schools have seen a change in parking behaviour which has led to safer roads.The new schools, Grove Junior School, Birches Head, St Gregory’s Catholic Academy, Longton; Forest Park Primary School, Cobridge; St Joseph’s Preparatory School, Oakhill; Oakhill Primary School, Oakhill and Ormiston Horizon Academy, Tunstall will now have the camera car visiting regularly to educate motorists about the risk of dangerous parking.

Oakhill Primary School Headteacher Lyn Paxton said:“I think it is a good idea as it will raise the awareness of parents.

As most schools in the area, we have problems concerning picking up and dropping off – so we welcome this initiative.”

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Our City A U T U M N 2 0 1 4

Paul is glad he

gave it a go N

ERVES were completely understandable for adult learner Paul Banks as he returned to the classroom a full 45 years after leaving school.

But he was determined to give it a go and, with the support of his Functional Skills tutors, the 61-year-old has enjoyed two council-run courses so far and is now considering a third.

Paul, from Etruria, had found himself out of work after 30 years in the retail sector when courses were suggested to him as he attended a job club at Jobcentre Plus.

His re-introduction to learning came in the form of a ten week Functional English course, overlapping into ten weeks of basic computing – both delivered at the Adult and Community Learning team’s Trinity Street base in the City Centre. He passed his Level One English with flying colours.

Paul said: “When the courses were

mentioned to me, I thought why not.

I’m a bit of a loner so it was scary when I first went along and I was quite nervous on the first day.

“But I soon settled down and it’s been great. I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and the atmosphere is really relaxed. The tutors really take time to explain everything – they’re very patient.

“It’s brought me out of myself so now I’m mixing more and I’ve learned lots of new skills as I look for the job that’s right for me.

“I’m now thinking about doing a Functional Maths course and would say to anyone thinking about an adult learning course to give it a go.”

To sign up to an Adult and Community Learning Course call 01782 234775 or email adult.learning@stoke.gov.uk

Adult learner Paul Banks with Tutor Yvonne Dale at the Adult and Community Learning team’s City Centre base.

People doing it for themselves

Adult and Community Learning offer a range of accredited and non-accredited courses at its base at 15 Trinity Street in Hanley and various venues around the city ranging from two-hour workshops to 45 hour courses. Subjects include English, Maths, Computers, Flower Arranging, Sewing and Indian Cookery. People paying Council Tax in the city are entitled to a £5 discount and those claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance get a 20 per cent discount on most courses with others being free of charge. To contact the Adult and Community Learning Team, call 01782 234775 or email adult.learning@stoke.gov.uk. More courses are added everyday – visit stoke.gov.uk/adultlearning for details.

Course

Location

Day

Dates

Times

Cost

SoT Resident Cost

JSA/ESA Cost

Course

Location

Day

Dates

Times

Cost

SoT Resident Cost

JSA/ESA Cost

Building on your Basic Computer Skills Number of weeks 5 Flair for Fashion Number of weeks 5 Frames, Filters and Funky FX Number of weeks 6 Criminal Psychology Number of weeks 7 Sociology for Beginners Number of weeks 4 Tip to Toe Number of weeks 5 Counselling Applied Skills Number of weeks 5 Building on Sewing Basics Number of weeks 4 Health and Social Care Basics Number of weeks 5 Sports Massage Number of weeks 5 Excel for Beginners Number of weeks 6 Functional Skills English Level 1

Meir Community Education Centre Dudson Centre

Mon

03/11/2014 01/12/2014

12:30 14:30

£20.00

£15.00

£0.00

English in the Community Beginners Number of weeks 10

Hope Community Church

Wed

05/11/2014 21/01/2015

10:00 12:00

£10.00

£5.00

£4.00

Mon

03/11/2014 01/12/2014 03/11/2014 08/12/2014

18:00 20:00 18:00 20:00

25.00

£20.00

£16.00

Hope Community Church

Wed

05/11/2014 26/11/2014

12:30 14:30

£21.00

£16.00

£12.50

£29.00

£24.00

£19.00

Raw Food for a Healthy Lifestyle Number of weeks 4 Word Processing Basics Number of weeks 6

Meir Community Education Centre

Thurs

06/11/2014 11/12/2014

12:30 14:30

£29.00

£24.00

£0.00

03/11/2014 15/12/2014 03/11/2014 24/11/2014

18:30 20:30 18:00 20:00

£33.00

£28.00

£22.00

St Peter's Academy

Thurs

06/11/2014 04/12/2014

18:00 20:00

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

£21.00

£16.00

£12.50

Everyday British Sign Language Number of weeks 5 Functional Skills Maths Level 1

Thurs

06/11/2014 26/03/2015

9:30 12:00

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

03/11/2014 01/12/2014 04/11/2014 02/12/2014

18:00 20:00 18:00 20:00

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre

10.00

£5.00

£0.00

Hand and Nail Treatments Number of weeks 5

Meir Community Education Centre

Thurs

06/11/2014 11/12/2014

18:00 20:00

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

Indian Cookery Introduction Number of weeks 3 Computers for the Workplace Health and Social Care Basics Number of weeks 5 Computers for Absolute Beginners Number of weeks 5 Counselling Applied Skills Number of weeks 5 Cake Making for Beginners Number of weeks 3 Yoga for Health and Wellbeing Number of weeks 6 Building on Sewing Basics Number of weeks 4 Hand and Nail Treatments Number of weeks 5

St Peter's Academy

Mon

St Peter's Academy St Peter's Academy

Mon

St Peter's Academy St Peter's Academy

Mon

St Peter's Academy

Tues

04/11/2014 25/11/2014

16:00 18:30

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

Computers for Absolute Beginners Number of weeks 5

Blurton Community Hub

Fri

07/11/2014 05/12/2014

12:30 14:30

£20.00

£15.00

£0.00

15 Trinity Street

Tues

04/11/2014 02/12/2014

18:00 20:00

£10.00

£5.00

£0.00

Functional Skills Maths Level 1

15 Trinity Street

Mon

10/11/2014 16/12/2014

9:30 14:30

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

9:30 11:30

£0.00

Tunstall Library

Tues

£29.00

£24.00

£0.00

Look Good New You Number of weeks 5

Fenton Hub

Mon

10/11/2014 01/12/2014

10:00 12:00

£10.00

£5.00

£0.00

Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre Meir Community Education Centre

Tues

18:00 20:00 10:00 12:00 9:30 12:00

10/11/2014 08/12/2014

£15.00

04/11/2014 02/12/2014 04/11/2014 09/12/2014 04/11/2014 24/02/2015

Burnwood Community School

20.00

Tues

Building on your Basic Computer Skills Number of weeks 5

Mon

Dudson Centre

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

Functional Skills English Level 1

15 Trinity Street

Wed

12/11/2014 18/12/2014

9:30 14:30

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

Wed

£12.50

£23.00

£18.00

£14.50

18:00 20:00

£16.00

18:00 21:00

12/11/2014 03/12/2014

£21.00

04/11/2014 18/11/2014

Raw Food for a Healthy Lifestyle Number of weeks 4

St Peter's Academy

Tues

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

12:30 14:30

£0.00

13:00 15:30 12:30 14:30

18/11/2014 16/12/2014

£15.00

04/11/2014 09/12/2014 04/11/2014 02/12/2014

Blurton Community Hub

£20.00

Tues

Building on your Basic Computer Skills Number of weeks 5

Tues

Blurton Community Hub Stoke North Childrens Centre

£10.00

£5.00

£0.00

Indian Cookery Introduction Number of weeks 3

St Peter's Academy

Thurs

20/11/2014 04/12/2014

18:00 21:00

£23.00

£18.00

£14.50

15 Trinity Street

Tues

04/11/2014 02/12/2014

18:00 20:00

£20.00

£15.00

£0.00

Shabby Chic Number of weeks 3

St Peter's Academy

Tues

02/12/2014 16/12/2014

18:00 20:00

£17.00

£12.00

£9.50

Mon

£0.00

12:30 14:30

£10.00

£5.00

£0.00

9:30 14:30

£0.00

05/11/2014 03/12/2014

05/01/2015 09/02/2015

£0.00

Wed

Functional Skills Maths Entry Level

15 Trinity Street

Meir Community Education Centre

15 Trinity Street

Wed

07/01/2015 12/02/2015

9:30 14:30

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

St Peter's Academy

Wed

05/11/2014 26/11/2014

18:00 21:00

£23.00

£14.00

Functional Skills English Entry Level Number of weeks

Tunstall Library

Tues

£0.00

05/11/2014 10/12/2014

10:00 12:00

£23.00

£18.00

£14.00

10:00 12:00

£15.00

Wed

13/01/2015 10/02/2015

£20.00

Mitchell Arts Centre

Computers for Absolute Beginners Number of weeks 5

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

13:00 15:00

£16.00

17:45 20:15

14/01/2015 11/02/2015

£20.00

05/11/2014 26/11/2014

Burnwood Community School

£25.00

Wed

Nail Art Number of weeks 5

Wed

Burslem School of Art

St Peter's Academy

Thurs

05/02/2015 19/03/2015

18:00 20:00

£37.00

£32.00

£25.50

Burnwood Community School

Wed

05/11/2014 10/12/2014

9:15 11:15

£25.00

£20.00

£16.00

Create your own Website Number of weeks 8 Functional Skills Maths Level 1

15 Trinity Street

Mon

23/02/2015 31/03/2015

9:30 14:30

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

Mon

Tues

Tues

£18.00

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AUTUMN 2014

Our City

29

A council team carry out a larger patch repair at the Park Road and Minster Street junction in Burslem.

Below, the junction after the work was completed.

Stepping up the battle to improve city roads C

ITY council highways maintenance teams are now carrying out much larger patch repairs as the battle to improve city roads is stepped up.

It comes after residents listed roads as a top priority during consultations.

The authority, keen to invest in highways as part of its Mandate for Change to improve the city as a place to live and do business, invested £600,000 last year.

An additional £594,401 was awarded by the Department of Transport this year to ramp up the on-going repair programme.

A recruitment drive for eight more

staff is now underway with three already hired to join a multi-skilled team, which includes full timers who were once unemployed and started work with the city council on part-time or rolling contracts.

More than 57,700 highways repairs have been carried out across the city’s 570 miles of roads since 2009/10 with 16,150 defects fixed in the 2013/14 financial year alone – an increase of 84 per cent on the year before.

Kevin Cooper, Team Manager Highway Maintenance, said: “Reported defects have gone up year-on-year over the past five years but despite that we’ve reduced our backlog by 50 per cent and where

possible, permanent repairs are being carried out.”

Winter maintenance programmes are now being planned and the city council is looking at introducing a new automatic email newsletter alert system that people can sign up to and receive information and updates on city council services.

Winter road maintenance information is available at stoke.gov.uk/gritting while stoke.gov.uk/roadworks carries latest roadwork and pothole information.

For further updates follow the council on social media at twitter.com/stokehighways

A great place to live

CITY ROAD NETWORK Compared to 2012, road repairs carried out in 2013 increased by

84% In 2011/12 the average cost to fill one pothole in England (ALARM Survey 2013) was

£52

57,700 repairs have been carried out since 2009/10

Over the last two years the city council has resurfaced and renewed over 16 miles of road.We have surface dressed (to prolong the life of a road) over 9 miles of roads and have spent

£3m

Over the last two years the city council has resurfaced over 7 miles of footpaths across the city spending approx

£1m

Our City p30

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Community welcomes traffic calming work outside Penkhull academy TRAFFIC calming measures have been installed to make the roads safer outside a Stoke-on-Trent school.

The improvements have been carried out around Thistley Hough Academy, Penkhull, and will improve the journey for children walking to and from the campus.

Work focused on the junctions of Newcastle Lane with Lodge Road and Thistley Hough. Double yellow lines have been extended, as have kerb lines. Resurfacing has also taken place to make the road surface skid resistant.

Road markings have been renewed and new bollards, guard rails and signage installed.

The city council has carried out the work after

listening to requests from the school, residents and local ward Councillor Randy Conteh to improve safety at the location. The safety improvements have been welcomed by the local community.

Ian Picken, Facilities Manager at Thistley Hough Academy, said:“As a school, we’re very keen to promote sustainable travel which is good not only from a health and wellbeing point of view, but also for the environment.

“A big part of that is making sure the route to school is as safe as possible, and this work will certainly enhance the safety of our children, parents and visitors

as they make their way to and from the site. We’re also looking at the issue of parents dropping off and picking up their children at the academy in the morning and afternoon, and have introduced a collection point to try and make such actions safer.”

Charles Pantin, Chairman of Penkhull Residents’ Association, said:“We do get some people who tend to drive across the junction very quickly so by changing the road layout, it should force them to reduce their speed. It’s an area which can get very busy, particularly around school drop-off and pick-up times, so any safety work is to be welcomed.”

Crossing boosts safety at junction EDESTRIAN safety has been improved on a road which is popular with schoolchildren and users of a nearby park.

P

A puffin crossing has been installed on Victoria Park Road, Tunstall, near to its junction with Little Chell Lane.

The electronic crossing replaces an existing pedestrian refuge on the road and can detect the presence of people waiting on the pavement and as they are crossing the road.

It will improve road safety for children and adults walking to and from two nearby schools – St Margaret Ward High School and Mill Hill Primary School – and for those heading to Grade II listed Tunstall Park.

The pavements and road surface approaching the crossing have also be resurfaced as part of the works.

Linda Tweats, Secretary of Tunstall Victoria Park Trust, welcomed the crossing. She said: “As a group we applaud this

because we know it can be quite a busy road to have to cross. The park is very well used, especially the children’s play area, and many of them have to cross the road to get there. This is really good news.”

Work on the crossing started during the summer holiday period and was finished before the new school year commenced in September.

A great place to live

Events and activities promote this year’s NEARLY a quarter of a million people in England and Wales – including 1,145 in Stoke-on-Trent – turned their backs on tobacco during October last year.

Now more smokers are being urged to kick the habit during the 2014 Stoptober campaign which aims to support and encourage smokers to reap the financial, social and health benefits of giving up cigarettes for good.

The city council is backing this year’s campaign with a series of events and activities including various displays. On Thursday 25 September the city’s bid to

persuade more smokers to quit during October will be boosted by a visit from the National Stoptober road show.

The roadshow – featuring music, dancing and loads of madcap humour – will be in the Tontine Street area of Hanley throughout the day.There will also be displays at various locations throughout the city where people can talk to stop smoking advisors.

Alistair Fisher, Principal Health Improvement Manager, Long-Term Conditions, said:“Smoking is still the biggest cause of premature death, taking more than 100,000 lives in the UK every year.

“If we can persuade people to give it up for just one month during October the hope is that many of them will then choose not to start smoking again.

“Stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do for your own health, as well as those you love and live with. About two thirds of smokers say they want to quit, so Stoptober provides a great opportunity to join thousands of people in the same situation and ditch the cigarettes for good.”

Taking part in Stoptober offers not just health benefits but also major financial

Tunstall Victoria Park Trust Vice Chair Megan Ryan, left, and Tunstall Floral Hall Centre Supervisor Julie Woodward use the new Puffin crossing.

campaign savings.The average smoker puffs 13 cigarettes a day.This adds up to 364 cigarettes every four weeks. Stoptober would have saved them £141 each over four weeks.

Public Health England reported there were 1,145 sign ups to Stoptober in Stoke-on-Trent in 2013, putting the city in the top 50 per cent in terms of sign ups when compared to the rest of the UK. For free information on the range of local stop smoking services in Stokeon-Trent contact Living Well on 0800 085 0928 or text StokeQuit to 60777.

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AUTUMN 2014

Your

Abbey Hulton and Townsend GWEN HASSALL (Labour) 07557 848765 gwen.hassall@ stoke.gov.uk

Councillors Baddeley Green, Milton and Norton

Blurton East

PAUL BREEZE (City Independents) (01782) 279684 paul.breeze@ stoke.gov.uk

MARK MEREDITH (Labour) 07717 714020 mark.meredith@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @markmeredith01

Broadway and Longton East

GURMEET SINGH KALLAR (Labour) 07900 604232 gurmeetsingh.kallar@ stoke.gov.uk

Etruria and Hanley

Hanley Park and Shelton

Hartshill and Basford

Tunstall

RANDOLPH CONTEH (City Independents) (01782) 256869 07920 835902 randolph.conteh@ stoke.gov.uk

SHAZAD HUSSAIN (Labour) 07899 771815 shazad.hussain@ stoke.gov.uk

Ford Green and Smallthorne

KAREN CLARKE (Labour) 07917 270594 karen.clarke@ stoke.gov.uk

MATT WILCOX (Labour) 07810 825600 matt.wilcox@ stoke.gov.uk

TERENCE FOLLOWS (City Independents) (01782) 318127 07944 055379 terence.follows@ stoke.gov.uk

Joiner’s Square

KATH BANKS (Labour) (01782) 399759 07790 699379 kath.banks@ stoke.gov.uk

RUTH ROSENAU (Labour) (01782) 501940 07870 503575 ruth.rosenau@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @CllrRuthRosenau

Sandford Hill

Lightwood North and Normacot ALASTAIR WATSON (Labour) 07736 837822 alastair.watson@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @CllrActional22

Meir Park

BAGH ALI (Labour) (01782) 343246 07973 848428 bagh.ali@stoke.gov.uk

Meir South ABI BROWN (Conservative) 07793 844169 abi.brown@ stoke.gov.uk

Sneyd Green OLWEN HAMER (Labour) 07717 714207 olwen.hamer@ stoke.gov.uk

PETER HAYWARD (City Independents) (01782) 644986 07920 835839 peter.hayward@ stoke.gov.uk

DEBBIE WHEELDON (Labour) (01782) 595043 07870 777807 debbie.wheeldon@ stoke.gov.uk

Springfields and Trent Vale DEBRA GRATTON (Labour) 07917 854981 debra.gratton@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @debra_gratton

JACKIE BARNES (City Independents) (01782) 845619 / 07813 539410 jackie.barnes@stoke. gov.uk

FORTHCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, STOKE:

Weston Coyney LEE WANGER (City Independents) (01782) 856712 07971 303729 lee.wanger@ stoke.gov.uk

Dresden and Florence

Fenton West and Mount Pleasant

Hollybush and Longton West

Meir North

Penkhull and Stoke

ANDY PLATT (Labour) 07919 660221 andy.platt@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @CllrAndyST4

Hanford and Trentham

MUHAMMAD AUMIR (Labour) 07886 581082 muhammad.aumir@ stoke.gov.uk

MOHAMMED PERVEZ (Labour) (01782) 232468 mohammed.pervez@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @pervezstoke

Boothen and Oakhill

JOY GARNER (Labour) (01782) 768846 07986 442770 joy.garner@stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @button1001

ANN JAMES (City Independents) (01782) 836766 ann.james@ stoke.gov.uk

SHAUN PENDER (Labour) (01782) 632104 07825 142327 shaun.pender@ stoke.gov.uk

Meir Hay

Burslem Park

PAUL SHOTTON (Labour) (01782) 434445 paul.shotton@ stoke.gov.uk

JANINE BRIDGES (Non-aligned) (01782) 851842 07771 331893/ 07717 714205 janine.bridges@ stoke.gov.uk

DAVID CONWAY (City Independents) (01782) 790922 david.conway@ stoke.gov.uk

Moorcroft

Fenton East

ALISON WEDGWOOD (Labour) 07968 477901 alison.wedgwood@ stoke.gov.uk

NEIL DAY (Labour) (01782) 746210 07796 040002 neil.day@stoke.gov.uk

ALAN DUTTON (Labour) (01782) 824051 07982 231567 alan.dutton@ stoke.gov.uk

Great Chell and Packmoor

AMJID WAZIR (Labour) 07747 830461 amjid.wazir@ stoke.gov.uk

Little Chell and Stanfield

Blurton West and Newstead

Burslem Central

MAJID KHAN (Labour) 07989 441707 majid.khan@ stoke.gov.uk

MARTIN GARNER (Labour) (01782) 768846 martin.garner@ stoke.gov.uk

SHEILA PITT (Labour) 07957 948896 sheila.pitt@ stoke.gov.uk

GLENYS WARD (City Independents) (01782) 312670 07922 909545 glenys.ward@ stoke.gov.uk

TOM REYNOLDS (Labour) 07850 828717 tom.reynolds@ stoke.gov.uk Twitter: @longtontom.

TERRY CROWE (Labour) (01782) 269422 07818 044755 terry.crowe@ stoke.gov.uk

Goldenhill and Sandyford

DUNCAN WALKER (Labour) (01782) 912422 duncan.walker@ stoke.gov.uk

ANTHONY MUNDAY (City Independents) (01782) 239737 07743 876421 anthony.munday@ stoke.gov.uk

Birches Head and Central Forest Park

Eaton Park

ADRIAN KNAPPER (Labour) 07714 334453 adrian.knapper@ stoke.gov.uk

Bentilee and Ubberley

JACK BRERETON (Conservative) 07855 916134 jack.brereton@ stoke.gov.uk

Bradeley and Chell Heath

Our City

MATTHEW FRY (Non-aligned) 07826 891801 matthew.fry@ stoke.gov.uk

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press.

The next full City Council meeting during this The next meeting of the Cabinet between the period will be on 16 October at 5.30pm.

29 September 2014 and 24 November 2014 is as follows: 30 October 2014.

For more information on your Councillors go to stoke.gov.uk/councillors Councillors can also be contacted through the Councillor and Civic Support Team who can take messages and forward them on. They can be contacted on (01782) 231922 or 231924.

31

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Our City A U T U M N 2 0 1 4

New pitches are in the top league thank all our partners for their support on this project.

“There’s no doubt this will become one of the top venues for footballers in the city for years to come and a home for the next generation of Stoke City and Port Vale stars to nurture their skills.”

A similar pitch, opened at Northwood Stadium at the end of 2013, is already proving a big hit with 1,500 bookings so far. A total of £1.56 million has been spent on both projects. Pitches are available for casual, regular or league bookings.

For further details, call Dimensions Leisure Centre on 01782 233500 or Northwood Stadium on 01782 234400.

S

TATE-OF-THE-ART pitches unveiled by World Cup legend Gordon Banks at Dimensions Leisure Centre in Burslem are already going down a storm with footballers young and old.

Mick Bourne of Middleport, left, takes on Anthony Collis of Tunstall in five-a-side game on one of the stunning new artificial grass pitches at Dimension Leisure Centre.

A great place to live

The former Stoke City stopper cut the ribbon on a full-sized third generation artificial grass pitch on 12 July – which was also exactly 21 years after Dimensions opened its doors.

Two smaller pitches were also refurbished to the same standard as part of a £705,000 project paid for by the city council, the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund and Sport England. The pitches cater for five, seven, nine and 11-a-side games and are being used extensively by community groups, local leagues, Staffordshire University and the city council’s StreetGames programme.

Gordon said: “Having top class facilities like this can only encourage more people to play football and sport and enjoy all the associated health benefits that come with it. I am sure this pitch will be very well used for years to come.”

Councillor Adrian Knapper, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The pitches look fantastic and I’d like to

Gordon Banks with Oliver HepburnTaylor, aged eight, of Sneyd Green at the pitches’opening ceremony.

Apprentice Dom’s Glasgow Games experience was trip of a lifetime

h a table tennis session wit Dom Corcoran oversees the at eve l and Samuel Re sister and brother Isabe Leisure Centre at Chell. and ort Sp ns rizo New Ho

SPORTS-MAD teenager Dom Corcoran enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to volunteer at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – where he was responsible for looking after 3,000 other volunteers.

The 18-year-old is an apprentice with the city council’s Sport and Leisure Services team and spent 10 days north of the border after applying through the countrywide StreetGames initiative.

Lucky enough to be selected by the charity, he bunked down in a dormitory at the Auchengillan

Outdoor Centre while Games volunteers slept under canvas in a giant tented village.

He spent his time in Glasgow laying on games and activities for the other volunteers including para jumping, rafting and mountain biking.

He said:“It was an unbelievable experience – a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget. I made so many new friends, people I will stay in touch with.

“I’ve also brought back plenty of new games I’m hoping we can incorporate into the activity sessions I

help to lay on for eight to 18-year-olds across the city.” Dom is now 10 months into his apprenticeship and hopes his Commonwealth Games’ experience stands him in good stead as he aims to become a PE teacher.

The city’s StreetGames programme delivers activities for young people where they want them, at times they need them and in a style they can relate to.

For more details of the programme, call 01782 234957 or visit stoke.gov.uk/streetgames

Our City is published by a partnership of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Web: stoke.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/ stokeontrent.citycouncil Twitter: @SoTCityCouncil twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil Tel: 01782 234234

New non-emergency number: 101 In an emergency always call: 999 Web: www.staffordshire.police.uk Facebook: facebook/staffordshirepolice Twitter: @staffspolice YouTube: YouTube/staffordshirepolice

Contact us by mail at FREEPOST Our City or by email at ourcity@stoke.gov.uk or telephone 01782 236703

Free Home Fire Risk Check: 0800 0241 999 For all other enquiries: 08451 221155 In an emergency always call: 999 Web: www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk Twitter: twitter.com/staffsfire Facebook: facebook.com/ staffordshirefireandrescueservice Information in Our City correct at the time of going to press.