Our City p1 15/3/12 17:38 Page 1

Stoke-on-Trent ISSUE 26: MARCH 2012 Our City

Mandate for Change Developing world-leading technology to give city’s ceramics industry an extra competitive edge in global marketplace SEE PAGE THREE “Smart” liquids tag intrudersSEE PAGE 15 and marked property Our City p2 15/3/12 17:47 Page 1

2 Our City MARCH 2012 Truck builder shows city is on road to more investment and job creation By City Council Leader Councillor MOHAMMED PERVEZ

IT is tremendous to hear news that the company behind the proudly-named Longton Avia Truck intends to create dozens of new jobs by manufacturing the vehicles at a base in our city (see page five). When we launched our Mandate for Council Change initiative last summer we set Leader Councillor out our stall to support and nurture Mohammed Pervez existing businesses while doing and North everything we can to attract new Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Sara investors to our city. Williams at the business Making Stoke-on-Trent a great place hotline desk in to do business and helping to create Commerce House, jobs were the pillars of the campaign. Festival Park. So it is heartening to hear companies like Longton Avia praising council teams for the help and support they have given to roll out the red carpet to business. Pottery manufacturer International and global industrial research specialist Ceram have also benefited from this support and have Call the business hotline for recognised that the council is doing its bit to drive forward business. The public sector is not in a position to create jobs.We have just seen the one-stop-shop advice second round of biting Government cuts, where we had to make savings USINESSES across service for existing businesses. We are kind of one-stop-shop advice and we will while protecting front line services and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire already taking all kinds of calls on subjects continue to evaluate its success and generating money to invest in the are already benefiting from a such as recruitment, gaining access to demand throughout the trial period.” city’s future. B financial grants and planning and One of the first companies to benefit is single number helpline set up to offer There are more cuts to come next environmental issues. specialist industrial manufacturer Euroslot year and the council will have to work the kind of support they need to “The people who take the calls can either KDSS Ltd. The Stone-based business, just as hard to achieve the same goals develop and prosper. answer the queries themselves or signpost which employs 18 people, was looking for of driving progress while balancing the The new number – 0300 111 8002 – acts the business to expert help. It is early days help and advice on the range of export books because of financial restrictions as one point of contact, making it easier for but we believe there is an appetite for this grants available to small and medium-sized businesses. which are not of our making. companies, big or small, to get access to vital expertise. Financial Controller Mike Sanders said: So while we are shedding jobs in the It has been launched as part of a drive by “We were looking for more guidance and public sector to meet Government the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local information about the various incentives spending cuts, we need to create the Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to roll out and grants set up by the Government to right conditions for the private sector the red carpet for organisations. It also With the business help manufacturers boost their export to invest in our city. keys into one of the main principles of “” sales. That means giving every assistance Mandate for Change, which is to support support line we “So we called the new business helpline to companies who are growing, moving existing businesses. and as a result were directed towards forward and recruiting by helping with The project, which has the backing of have one voice specialist advice and export assistance, planning issues, land acquisition, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire which is enabling us to take advantage of infrastructure and even supporting County Council and Staffordshire’s when helping the schemes most relevant to us.” bids for financial assistance. Chambers of Commerce, went live in The helpline was set up in direct It is good to hear industry chiefs like February for a six-month trial. businesses to response to what businesses said would Steelite International’s Kevin Oakes Council Leader Councillor Mohammed benefit them. North Staffordshire Pervez said: “This one point of contact will cut through Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive saying the council’s support was vital in make it easier for entrepreneurs, big or Sara Williams said: “In a survey conducted the company’s efforts to create 200 small, to get the information and advice they bureaucracy and by the county’s Chambers of Commerce much-needed jobs. We have started need with the minimum of fuss.With the on behalf of the Local Enterprise how we mean to go on and this business support line we have one voice simplify things Partnership, businesses were asked what approach will continue to create the when helping businesses to cut through would be of value to them. “The majority right conditions for businesses to bureaucracy and simplify things for them.” for them. of respondents asked for a single point of prosper in Stoke-on-Trent. Cabinet Member for Economic contact for business advice. So it is really Development Councillor Mark Meredith CLLR. MOHAMMED PERVEZ, exciting that the LEP is able to respond so COVER PICTURE: said: “This is about providing a seamless COUNCIL LEADER quickly to businesses needs.” Caught red-handed: Staffordshire Police’s Sergeant Paul Cook shows how a new forensic marking product can protect property and show up on the hands of anyone who comes into contact with it, Live webcast of full council meetings Give us your feedback watched by PC Peter Clarke. on this issue of MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online. To Our City is printed on Our City by emailing recycled paper.When see and hear the debates and decisions which affect life in you have finished with Stoke-on-Trent, visit stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting. [email protected] this publication please A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee help the environment or write to: by passing it on to a meetings can be found on our website at FREEPOST Our City. friend or recycling it. stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates Our City p3 16/3/12 10:29 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 3

400 musicians Technology to boost take to stage in recorder festival AROUND 400 young musicians will take ceramics industry to the stage of the Victoria Hall for the city’s annual Grand Recorder Festival. Stoke-on-Trent Students aged from five to 18 from based company is more than 20 schools in the city will Mandate for Change delight audiences with solo works as A developing a well as massed performances and world-leading technology individual school performances during which could save the city’s the two concerts that will be held on 27 ceramics manufacturers March at noon and 6.45pm. millions of pounds every year The programme is made up mainly of in energy costs. light classical music and works that have The three-year project is being a jazz influence. partly funded by a £1.9 million Also hitting the right notes will be the Regional Growth Fund grant to City Youth Recorder Ensemble and material technology specialists soloist Anna Bradburn, from Ceram Research Ltd – whose Stoke-on-Trent, who is in the Sixth Form successful bid was supported by the council’s Economic Development of the world-famous Chetham’s School Team. of Music in Manchester. It is hoped that another £1.9 Anna started to learn how to play the million grant will come from the recorder at the age of three and her European Regional Development mother Lynne will also be on stage as Fund with the remainder of the £5.7 the Festival’s piano accompanist. million cost of the programme being Harry Hitchen, Acting Leader of the met by Ceram itself and the ceramics City Music Service, said: “The acoustics industry. of the Victoria Hall help the recorders The research work will see the produce a fabulous sound. It’s important development of new kiln-firing to promote the recorder because it is technology which, if successful, could very accessible for young children, is a potentially cut energy consumption by up to 25 per cent. wonderful instrument in its own It involves the adaptation of right and one which often inspires “resistive field technology” used in the CERAM Chief Executive Tony Kinsella, left, shows Councillor Mark Meredith, students to explore other aerospace industry in the United Cabinet Member for Economic Development, a Hygrothermal Rig which is used to check instruments.” States. An electric current is passed construction cladding materials meet the standards required by European regulations. Admission to the Recorder through the ceramic products while in Festival is £3 at lunchtime and the kiln which accelerates the firing in the evening £6.50 for process and significantly reduces the to be the first to take up the technology and Prior to making its funding applications adults, £5 for children and temperature at which pottery needs to be gain a competitive advantage in the global for the project, Ceram carried out a £18 for a family ticket that fired. marketplace. feasibility study with the technology in its admits two adults and Competitive advantage “Reducing energy means not only cost research laboratories at – with very two children.Tickets can savings but also a reduction in factory promising findings. Mr Kinsella praised the be bought in advance Ceram will build two “semi scale” kilns at carbon emissions – which could lead to role of the council’s Economic at the Regent Theatre its Penkhull research laboratories – potential tax savings. The companies will Development Team in backing the bid for a a 30 metre pull through kiln and an also be able to sell their ware as greener grant from the Government’s Regional box office. intermittent kiln, both with the cutting edge products. Growth Fund. technology. “We want to be able to apply the “The attitude, enthusiasm and support of Tony Kinsella, Ceram Chief Executive, technology to existing kilns as well as the team has been inspiring and was a said: “By year three we will have the two purpose-built new kilns. The industry’s factor in the bid being successful,” he said. Views sought on kilns working at Ceram and local ceramic need for this energy saving technology is “In fact, the project was initially companies will be able to test their products immediate and they will quickly be able to prompted by council Chief Executive John possible change to show that this world-first technology embrace it if we can implement it on kilns van de Laarschot who invited local ceramics works for them. They will be in a position that are currently in use.” companies, Ceram and representatives of the British Ceramic Confederation and to school year the Ceramic Industry Forum to ask THE council is receiving a wide ranging how we could best help the industry. response to its consultation on “One clear message was that changing the traditional school year. reducing energy costs was an urgent priority.We went away and started Parents and teachers have been looking at how new technology could asked whether the established pattern help deliver savings.” should change, and even give their Councillor Mark Meredith, Cabinet ideas for a new pattern, by going on to Member for Economic Development, the council’s website.“So far we have said: “The work being done by Ceram had more than 650 responses, with a is extremely impressive and we were lot of people in favour of some sort of fully committed to helping them to change,” said Aileen Perry, Governor secure the funding needed to develop Support Officer, Children and Young this technology which could give our People’s Services. local pottery industry a further “Numerous parents and members of competitive edge and help its staff have responded, and also continued revival.” Ceram is an international materials employers.We are asking the Chamber technology company that focuses on of Commerce to help us encourage innovation, sustainability and quality more employers to take part. assurance. It operates in a wide range “The preferences are across a wide of industries including healthcare spectrum, including some people who where it is currently working on would like a return to the Potters’ developing new drug-release Holiday. I would urge all interested technologies. parties to take the opportunity of Besides its Stoke-on-Trent making their voices heard.” headquarters, the company – which ■ employs 190 people – has accredited To give your views visit research laboratories in the Far East stoke.gov.uk/termchanges TECHNICAL Consultant David Pearmain uses Ceram’s Scanning Electron and subsidiary companies in the The three-month consultation Microscope to investigate ceramic samples fired with the new energy-saving technology. United States. period ends on 30 April. Our City p4 16/3/12 08:49 Page 1

4 Our City MARCH 2012 A place with a great feeling of neighbourliness

ARBARA Andrew settle. “It’s like a village arrived in the city from with a strong sense of BCoventry 26 years ago history and community, to run a hostel in Shelton for good shops and restaurants and a great homeless young men – and is feeling of neighbourliness. still working hard on behalf of “I wouldn’t want to other people in her Barbara live anywhere else,” she Andrew chats said. community. with Hartshill Barbara also found Now Chair of Hartshill and shopkeeper Reg Harpfields Residents’ Association, personal happiness in Melathil while out Barbara looked back to the the city when she bitterly cold winter of 1985 when attended a meeting of North and about in her she came to the city to start her Staffordshire Homelessness community. new job on New Year’s Eve. Forum and met Joe who was became Chair in November 2009 Local Businesses. This year “On New Year’s Day I walked chairing the event. following the death of her the focus will be on Promoting out on to Snow Hill to find the Support predecessor Graham Simpson. Health and Wellbeing; Babies, local shops,” recalled Barbara. She is particularly proud of Children and Teenagers and extremely active in tackling the “Everywhere was still and from They have now been married how the people of Hartshill and Services for Older People. kind of bread and butter issues the top of Broad Street I looked for 23 years and Joe, who is Harpfields support their The Association’s newsletter is that can affect any neighbourhood over the city and remember Professor of Literature and Residents’ Association – it’s delivered by volunteers to 3,000 – such as litter, traffic problems, thinking how ugly it was and yet Culture at Keele University where normal for 80 people to attend homes on 80 streets and there is housing, planning, noise nuisance also how strangely beautiful it he has lectured for 40 years, meetings and as many as 120 no shortage of positive ideas from and, recently, controversial plans seemed in the wintry light with supports the Residents’ have turned up. residents. to erect a mobile phone mast. everything covered in snow.” Association in every way. For each meeting residents While the area can justly boast In each category the However it didn’t take long for Barbara worked in health and choose a theme reflecting their of being one of the most green, Association works closely with Barbara to fall in love with social care for 20 years. interests. pleasant and convenient within relevant agencies such as the city Stoke-on-Trent – and particularly She joined the Association in Last year these were Law and the city’s boundaries, the council, NHS, police and local with Hartshill where she chose to October 2007 as its Secretary and Order, Housing and Supporting Residents’ Association is councillors. Our City p5 16/3/12 08:54 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 5 A proud city Plan for ‘Longton trucks’to be that is taking control of its assembled in Longton own future Stoke-on-Trent based truck By City Council Acompany has Mandate for Change welcomed council Chief Executive support as it works John towards long term plans van de to assemble vehicles in Laarschot the city – which could create dozens of jobs for the area. WHEN we launched our Mandate for Change to Longton Avia (UK) Ltd has make Stoke-on-Trent a great working city and already appointed 40 service rolled out the red carpet to attract new dealers across the UK as it investment to create the jobs our city rolls out production of its new desperately needs, we meant it. “Longton” truck which is Our teams and partners are working tirelessly currently rolling off a to make new connections with employers production line at the Avia encouraging them to locate here and make the Ashok Leyland plant in most of our tremendous connectivity to the Prague. road and rail network, our hard-working people The firm has been set up by a number of Staffordshire and a forward-thinking council. businessmen in partnership But while doing all we can to bring in new with Avia Ashok Leyland, part businesses, we also made it clear we will make of the giant Hinduja the same efforts to nurture and support Automotive Group. They existing employers in the city. intend to assemble the vehicle As an example, the city council has at a plant in Stoke-on-Trent supported a locally-based consortium to as soon it has achieved a establish a new truck manufacturing facility in critical mass of sales. the city. We are delighted with the news that Several sites have already Hinduja Group, a large Indian company, wishes been identified in the city for Cabinet Member for Regeneration Ruth Rosenau to back the development and we will continue and Jonathan Dale, Commercial Director for assembly of the trucks. to give this our full support. News from Steelite Longton Avia (UK) Ltd, pictured at the company’s British engineering International, who are creating 200 new jobs, offices in the town. Jonathan Dale, the firm’s and companies like Midland Glass, shows just Commercial Director, said: how vital that support can be. “As local businessmen we and then bring assembly and The company is planning to Team’s red carpet service is In making Stoke-on-Trent a great place to do were keen to keep the product development to bring the assembly of the designed to help businesses business, we are creating an environment where company base here in Longton. We’re talking about Longton-Avia Truck to the looking to invest. It is pleasing existing businesses can prosper, where support Longton. dozens of jobs, initially. The City once sales reach an to see that the company from the council means they can expand “The area seems ideal for vehicle we’re selling has been appropriate level. recognises our city’s potential quicker and more efficiently and where bids to investment and we havebeen produced in the Czech In preparation they are and they are prepared to secure funding are backed whole-heartedly by pleased by the support and Republic for five or six years. working with the council, invest and bring jobs to our the local authority. direction provided by the “We chose to call our model Make It Stoke-on-Trent and area.” council’s team in helping to the Longton. We have carried Staffordshire Investment Councillor Ruth Rosenau, A great place to succeed make any move as easy as out worldwide research and Development Team to look at Cabinet Member for We have launched a free business advice possible.” reaction to the name and possible sites. Regeneration said: “Longton service, cutting through red tape and giving “We haven’t set this up with product has been very positive Councillor Mark Meredith, is a town which is undergoing employers and entrepreneurs starting up a big, shiny sales rooms at the indeed. Cabinet member for a number of changes. It is start. We’re coming at it from “Within the commercial Economic Development, said: pleasing to see that the business a single point of contact where they the other direction where vehicle industry, the key “It is crucial as part of the company has recognised that can find assistance on a range of subjects from quality and British components used in the Mandate for Change that we potential and is keen to bring funding and skills to premises and supply engineering speak for manufacture of the vehicle help support businesses to production here as well as chains – another important part of making our themselves. will be recognised as the gold grow and flourish in the city. naming the British designed city a great place to succeed (see page 2 for “We will build sales first standard.” “The Inward Investment trucks after the town.” more details). Our business support programme TEST (Transforming Enterprise in Stoke-on- Trent) has coaches and mentors ready to help businesses which want to grow. Theatre project helps pupils understand There is lots going on, and more stories of business success, job creation and transformation of the city will follow. the culture of the travelling community And there is more good news.The bus station development in the City Centre is the BRIDGES are being built between work of around 90 children from the travelling community, I’ve been key to unlocking the site of the huge City travellers and the wider community Hollywall Primary, St Joseph’s Catholic made to feel very welcome and we are Sentral shopping and leisure area – a combined thanks to a council-backed theatre Primary, St Margaret Ward Catholic very excited about ways of working development of £350m. project. College and The Co-operative Academy together to tell real travellers’ tales. As I write, the biggest exhibition so far of Up to 120 children at four schools at Brownhills. “Our gentle exploration of what artefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard is being took part in Travellers Tales, which The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust happened to their community during planned to be launched in the summer at The included a series of workshops staged and the Imperial War Museum the war allowed the children we worked Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in the city by New Vic Borderlines to highlight the supported the event, which featured with to find ways of speaking up and centre. Part of the Hoard has returned from genocide of up to half a million Gypsies poetry, movement and drama. speaking out against prejudice and Washington DC where over 55,000 people during World War ll. Sue Moffat, Director of the New Vic’s persecution. viewed it. We are also making final The project, commissioned by the award winning community programme “The kids have been amazing. Many preparations to host the Olympic Flame in May council’s Community Cohesion Team, Borderlines, said:“This project is about of them had never performed before so which will be a high profile event for our city. also involves the theatre collecting and building relationships. they were very brave. The eyes of the world will once again be on recording stories of travelling families “It’s to give the travelling community “When they get it, their sense of Stoke-on-Trent because of these achievements. in the city. It culminated in a special a voice and to tell their stories so moral outrage, their sense of what is We should all be proud that the world will see a performance at the theatre called everyone in Stoke-on-Trent appreciates right and wrong is very strong. city that is changing, taking control of its own Speak Up – Speak Out. they are part of the culture and I think this project is the start of future and committed to making things An audience of up to 400 enjoyed the heritage of the city.While meeting with something fabulous.” happen. Our City p6 16/3/12 08:56 Page 1

6 Our City MARCH 2012 Growth at City’s Titanic displays are a real the double voyage of discovery

IT may be 80 miles from the sea, but Stoke-on-Trent is the place to embark on a voyage of discovery to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic. After all, the city is the birthplace of the ill-fated ship’s captain Edward John Smith. Museum displays that evoke the Edwardian period and the fashions and music of those times will mark the disaster which cost 1,517 lives when the liner struck an iceberg on its Atlantic maiden voyage to New York and sank 375 miles south east of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the early hours of 15 April, 1912. Captain Smith, who was Window manufacturer to expand workforce raised in Well Street, Hanley, went on to become MBITIOUS window “We are also expanding fast and Workshops are also hosted on a the Commodore of the manufacturer Midlands I am looking at new premises or range of subjects, such as applying White Star Line. He was a experiments to discover how the A Glass is looking to more space at this current for tax credits to offset research celebrity of his day, in demand by unsinkable liner met her doom. double its workforce and location. The programme has and development costs, help with the rich and famous who vied for will expand its operations with the helped me to take the steps I need finance and how to get the most a place at his captain’s table. offer the opportunity to find out help of a business coaching and the advice and financial out of public relations, marketing programme aimed at high- support has been invaluable.” and social media. The city’s own commemoration about more local people on achievers with the potential Midlands Glass is one of 13 Councillor Mark Meredith, has already cast off at The board – like the ship’s engineer, to grow. small to medium-sized businesses Cabinet Member for Economic Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Leonard Hodgkinson, from Stoke, The company, based at taking part in the High Growth Development, said: “Midlands where the Titanic Trail – a series passenger William Angle, a Longport Enterprise Centre, was Programme. Glass is a prime example of a of displays – explores the area’s Minton’s tile fixer, and Father set up by owner – 23-year-old It is aimed at companies that manufacturing company that can links with the doomed ocean Thomas Byles, a priest who took Shakeel Asghar be successful in liner.The displays, on show until over 100 confessions before the – just 12 difficult economic 31 December, include Captain ship floundered. months ago and times. Shakeel has Smith’s loving cup.The same The Lord Mayor, Councillor currently Mandate for Change been able to take venue will be staging the sort of Terry Follows, said:“The sinking of employs six advantage of the music hall entertainment that the Titanic is a historic event as people. But with High Growth would have been enjoyed by momentous today as when it the help of the Stoke-on-Trent are rapidly expanding and a range Programme by using the financial City Council-funded High of experts work with them to assistance and expertise to develop passengers on the Titanic and a took place and I’m proud that the Growth Programme, which brings promote and enable sensible and his business and plan sensible and presentation charting the story of city is doing so much to mark the together the combined expertise of sustainable growth for the future. sustainable expansion. the ship from her conception in centenary in so many ways as the council, North Staffordshire The programme offers a free “We are now looking to take on 1907 to the discovery of the well as paying tribute to Captain Chamber of Commerce and Keele mentoring scheme – teaming up the next wave of companies in wreck in 1985. Smith who was a son of and Staffordshire Universities, the experienced business people with April. To qualify, businesses need On 1 April the Museum will Stoke-on-Trent.” company is flourishing and taking the high growth companies – and to be small or medium-sized and also stage a one-day presentation What is not always steps towards stable growth. in-depth marketing intelligence experiencing year on year growth of Edwardian society fashions – remembered is that before going “Orders are coming in for our and advice. over 10 per cent.” such as the one pictured above – down with his ship, Captain windows and frames from across It also provides grants of up to For details about the High that would have been seen on Smith organised an evacuation the region and we have the £1,500 to help buy new Growth Programme contact the liner and on the weekend of that saved 706 lives – a fact potential to grow,” said Shakeel. equipment and machinery and the project team at North the centenary of the sinking it perhaps worth toasting with a “We are on target to more than innovation vouchers, which fund Staffordshire Chamber of will stage the sort of Victorian glass of Centenary or 1912, two double our existing workforce by up to £3,000 of research this time next year. expertise. Commerce on 01782 202222. music hall that would have specially brewed by entertained the Titanic ’s to passengers. commemorate the watery In addition a Titanic demise of its famous namesake. Social media helps update residents Science event at The ● For more information visit Potteries Museum & Art the museums service website HUNDREDS of residents are keeping children in Stoke-on-Trent) and a short Gallery will explore the at www.stokemuseums.org.uk up to date with the council’s work clip about the council’s work with science of the sinking through its Facebook and Twitter Staffordshire Police, the UK Border twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil and give visitors a accounts. Agency and other organisations as chance to try their In the last month the sites have part of Operation Impact. hand at fascinating covered subjects as diverse as updates Members of the council’s trading to the gritting during the problems standards and fraud teams spoke on www.facebook.com/stoke caused by snow, live tweeting of the camera about the importance of ontrent.citycouncil budget council meeting, National Chip working together and sharing Week, adoption and fostering events information to protect residents and and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee ensure council homes and benefits are celebrations. being received by those who are New videos added to the council’s entitled to them. www.youtube.com/user/ StokeOnTrentCouncil YouTube channel, included an To view council videos, go to www. interview with Olympic gold youtube.com/StokeOnTrentCouncil medal-winning swimmer Duncan and subscribe to keep up with RMS Titanic. Goodhew (who was working with forthcoming videos. www.flickr.com/photos/ stoke-on-trent/ Our City p7 16/3/12 08:58 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 7 Councillors seek election for many different reasons. Some are motivated by a local issue, others by their social conscience and yet more because of their love of politics. Here, Our City asks another five councillors what makes them tick and what they hope their public service achieves.

Pictured at the Civic Centre reception are, left to right, Abi Brown, Kath Banks,Terry Follows, Paul Breeze and Joy Garner.

Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Abi Kath Terry Paul Joy Brown Banks Follows Breeze Garner aged 33: aged 62: aged 64: aged 59: aged 50: Conservative Labour Independent Unaffiliated Labour Meir Park Hollybush and Hanford and Trentham and Burslem Park Longton West Central Forest Park

THIS is my second FAMILY ties drew me I lived in Fenpark COMMUNITY is MY strong social year as a councillor, I back to my ward where Road when I was a kid really important to me conscience drives me was first elected in 2010 and I grew up and got married. and used to marvel when the and I’ve lived in the same on. That and the fact that then re-elected in 2011 when It’s where my two brothers, Lord Mayor went past in his multi-cultural terraced street politics is in my blood. My “I was heavily pregnant with “niece and four cousins still “Rolls Royce. I never thought “in Northwood, which is a large “mother is chairperson of a my second child. I'm currently live. it would happen to me. part of my ward, since 1982. residents’ association and the youngest female councillor I’ve had 21 years in public I’ve been a councillor off When antisocial behaviour she’s 80. My husband and and I know what it takes to service, starting as a county and on for about 16 years became a problem in the area sister are both city balance family with working councillor in 1985. I’ve lost and last year thought I might years ago, I co-founded a councillors too. hard to earn a living. My two my city council seat twice, not get another chance to be residents’ association and got I’ve represented people all kids sometimes come with me once in 2001 and again in Lord Mayor so I put myself involved in trying to sort it my life. I joined the USDAW to the less formal meetings 2006. The second time I forward. I was lucky enough out. Over the years I was trade union when I started and when they do the mood is decided I wouldn’t stand to be chosen and I’m really asked for help with all sorts of work at Tesco in Hanley and lighter and it’s less aggressive again but I came back in enjoying the role. things and first served as a over the years became branch which does help good decision 2011 and was re-elected. It It’s opened my eyes to councillor from 2003 to 2007. chair, health and safety rep, making to a degree. was like coming home. how many voluntary I lost my seat but was store rep and a regional rep. I My little boy entertains Everyone’s like an old sector groups are working re-elected in 2011 after I took first became a councillor in himself and my baby girl is neighbour or extended around the city for their time off to write a television 2002 and currently serve on fairly well behaved. People family. communities. Unpaid heroes screenplay based on a three committees and the seem to like it and they say it It was like a new lease of I call them. previously published novel Police Authority. shows my commitment. I life for me. I always try to be Local issues first got me while looking after my three I’d put so much time in, I could just as easily say I don’t available 24/7 and the only involved in politics and sons as a single parent. My gave up work in 2004 to have childcare and not come thing I promise is that I’ll do though I’d no ambitions to family is the most important dedicate myself to it but I don’t. my best. I can’t always be a councillor I thought I thing to me and I have great full-time. I really enjoy I’m proud of my city and guarantee the outcome but I could do better than the empathy with people serving the residents of the area and want to make them will listen and try to help. As councillors in my ward at the struggling on very low city plus visitors to Stoke-on- better. I know it’s tough for long as I’m making a time. So I stood. incomes while keeping their Trent too. We want to make everyone at the moment but I difference, I’ll keep going. If I like representing people. values of decency and respect. it safe and secure so they see it as a challenge. With I’m 70 and still going, that’s I don’t care about political It can be stressful and come back. We need jobs and good will in the community fine, unless the voters let me parties. If you ask people to frustrating trying to make my businesses in the city so we we can make things know different before vote for you, you community better but have to look after both better. ” then. ” should represent them. ” it’s very rewarding. ” or we’ll get neither. ” Our City p8-9 16/3/12 09:04 Page 1

8 Our City MARCH 2012

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: construction work is moving apace Initiative is on the futuristic Co-operative providing Academy at Burslem. more new apprentices

MORE apprenticeships are being created by companies working on Building Schools for the Future projects – thanks to a joint initiative between the major contractors, the council, and Stoke on Trent College Construction giants Balfour Beatty, Thomas Vale/Wates together with ICT training specialist RM Education are looking to take on 40-plus apprentices throughout the remaining duration of the BSF programme. They have formed a new forum with the college – which will provide vocational training – to oversee the Projects boost economy and recruitment of young people for the apprenticeships and work experience placements. Andy Greenhough, the college's create employment Director of Employer Engagement, is chairing the forum which includes BSF Project Director Tracy Penrose-Gould, STOKE-ON-TRENT’S biggest ever of the building and refurbishment St Thomas More Catholic College at council Economic Development Officer school building programme has pumped programme in January 2014 by which time Longton, the Discovery Academy at Steve Lovatt and representatives from tens of million of pounds into the local it will have amounted to approximately and St Peter's Academy at Fenton. the contractors. economy in its first year. £100 million worth of work. Not only is Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty have Training Since work started on the Building BSF transforming the city’s educational completed the new Reach Pupil Referral Schools for the Future (BSF) project, £61 infrastructure, it is also making a real Unit at which is now in use. He said:“The forum will enable us to million has been spent with the supply contribution to regeneration and job They are on site with The Co-operative work together to create opportunities for chain – of which £31 million has gone to creation.” Academy at Burslem, Ormiston Horizon young people that might not have local companies and contractors. New academies Academy and Middlehurst Special School happened.The college will help with Councillor Ruth Rosenau, Cabinet at Chell, Thistley Hough Community High recruitment and provide training to Member for Regeneration, said: “This Work is now underway on 16 of the 18 at Penkhull, St Margaret Ward Catholic prepare the apprentices for the represents 55 per cent of the supply chain building projects in the £250 million BSF College at Tunstall, and St Joseph's College workplace and the contractors will budget being spent locally – which is programme, which comprises a mix of new at Trent Vale. provide the jobs. significantly higher than the national build schools, major refurbishments and Work on their last two schemes is average figure for BSF projects of around extensions. planned to start later this year: Holden “It is an exciting initiative that will not 40 per cent. Works by Thomas Vale/Wates are Lane High and Specialist Sports College at only benefit the apprentices but also the “It shows we are delivering on our progressing well at Haywood Engineering will be substantially rebuilt companies who will gain from having promise to procure locally where possible College at Burslem, Trentham High, with the old 1960s block demolished, and quality employees for the future.The first to help sustain jobs and businesses. We Birches Head High, Aynsley Special Abbey Hill School & Performing Arts batch of 19 potential apprentices are intend to continue this commitment to School, Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews College is planned to move from Abbey already being prepared by undertaking a local spend right through to the completion Academy and Kemball School at , Hulton to a new building at Longton. pre-apprenticeship programme and recruitment will be ongoing. “Although initially the forum is specifically for BSF it is envisaged the apprenticeship scheme will be extended Plumber taps into to future major building projects such as the new city centre bus station and the retail and leisure complex.” Experience a great opportunity Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty and the PLUMBER Bruce Bagnall tapped into High School at the college have teamed up with The a great opportunity when he applied aged of 16 with nine GCSEs.“The Prince's Trust to give construction for the chance to become Balfour work is varied – as well as learning to industry experience to disadvantaged Beatty’s first Advanced Apprentice in supervise construction, I’m carrying young people.The work placements will Construction Management in out Health and Safety inductions.” last around two weeks and are designed Stoke-on-Trent. After leaving school Bruce had a to give the participants a taste of The 23-year-old was up against few different jobs before eventually construction industry work and, if they tough competition from more than becoming an apprentice plumber take to it, a possible route into 20 other applicants and, as part of and achieving NVQ Level 2. Now, he employment. the recruitment process, sat four is about to start another two-year Prior to the placements,The Prince’s exams in Birmingham, two exams, NVQ course in construction Trust volunteers are given a day’s two group exercises and an management at Stoke on Trent vocational training to prepare them for a interview in Manchester before a College – for which he is released by building site including a Health and final interview with two other Balfour Beatty one day a week to Safety induction. shortlisted candidates in The attend. Balfour Colin Harper, Balfour Beatty’s BSF Potteries. Colin Harper, Balfour Beatty BSF Beatty Advanced Project Director in Stoke-on-Trent, said: But it was all worthwhile when Project Director in Stoke-on-Trent, Apprentice Bruce “We have had 12 young people between Bruce landed the job and last said:“Bruce has settled in very well Bagnall at work on the the ages of 17 and 25 from The Prince’s September began a busy learning and we are extremely pleased with construction site of the Trust on work placements which give us curve supervising building site work his progress. He is a fine example of new Thistley Hough a chance to assess them and for them to on BSF projects in the city. the high quality people available in Community High assess the industry. One teenager who “I’m absolutely loving the job – I’m this area who, if given the right School. has taken part in the scheme has already gaining new skills and know how opportunities, provide a tremendous been taken on as a full-time apprentice.” every day,” said Bruce, who left resource for businesses.” Our City p8-9 16/3/12 09:05 Page 2

MARCH 2012 Our City 9 Making the most of

EACHERS are receiving specialist T training under the Building Schools for the Future programme so they can make the most of hi-tech equipment in new 21st Century classrooms. A raft of new technology is being introduced centred around interactive whiteboards – a large, touch sensitive board connected to a digital projector and computer – which some schools A classroom are using for the first time. voting pad. The projector displays the image from the computer screen on the board and the computer can then be controlled by can best be used to achieve their touching the board, either directly teaching and learning priorities. Students are “No two schools are the same “” or with a special pen. so the training is tailored to each Voting pads, mobile slates – much more engaged Pupils portable tablets which can be school. Some schools are having the whiteboards for the first time, at Haywood passed around the classroom – in the lesson and Engineering iPods with educational Apps, and while others have had them for years and are now introducing College using the visualisers, which can magnify Activ Slate that syncs and record written material and additional technologies. willing to contribute with the classroom demonstrations and project them “The training has two strands – SIAN HUGHES, HAYWOOD’S HEAD OF INCLUSION on the board, all feature in the essential training which raises the interactive exciting new learning spaces. abilities of teachers so they can whiteboard. The council's leads for ICT for make the most of the hi-tech schools and education, Steve equipment and the action expertise in applying the new She said: “Using the able to target Johnson and Shirley Robinson, research project which trials technologies and teachers have technologies such as the voting intervention more rapidly and have brought in a specialist technology in the classroom to reported excellent feedback from pads and the slate means that effectively. company, RM Education, to assess how it can improve students. students are much more engaged “I was surprised how even the deliver guidance and training on learning.” Sian Hughes, Haywood’s Head in the lesson and willing to most reluctant students were the innovative technology to Haywood Engineering College, of Inclusion, said the use of contribute. Being able to track willing to engage more fully with support learning and teaching – a Burslem – a leading innovator in voting pads and mobile slates was students’ responses means that I the lesson and to get actively crucial part of the overall BSF the use of technology to support further encouraging students’ have an even clearer idea of their involved through the medium of investment. learning – already has extensive participation in lessons. level of understanding and I am technology.” Katrina Hay, RM Education Development Manager, said: “The training is not led by the technology but by the educational vision of the school and how Specialist city firm wins contracts teachers believe the technology A Stoke-on-Trent company which specialises in manufacturing furniture for schools and colleges has already gained “significant” work from the BSF programme. Little Dreams has a 30-strong workforce at its factory, offices and showroom in Campbell Road, Stoke, and has customers throughout the UK.Winning two contracts through competitive tender to supply Little Dreams furniture for the new Co-operative Managing Academy at Brownhills and the Director Andrew refurbished Aynsley Special School, Leake in the Blythe Bridge has helped the company’s company to further invest in new showroom at manufacturing equipment and jobs. Stoke. At The Co-operative Academy, Little Dreams is designing, manufacturing and installing 31 “teaching media walls” – contemporary storage units for the 21st Century classroom, The commission from Thomas Vale/ listen very carefully to staff at the accommodating hi-tech equipment Wates at Aynsley Special School is to schools so we can create designs such as interactive whiteboards – and fit out a science laboratory, food which give the best solutions for ICT work stations for 180 computers. technology room and library – as well them.” Some of the work stations are as providing tables, chairs and other Mr Leake said the city’s BSF motorised so that at the touch of a furniture throughout the building. programme had provided the button the computer monitors Andrew Leake, Managing Director company with a business opportunity descend into the furniture to leave a of Little Dreams, which has been in on its doorstep. “It is a significant clear space for students to carry out business for 25 years, said:“We have a amount of work for us and has helped non-computer work or to hold range of state-of-the-art modern to secure existing jobs and to create discussions.The work stations vary in furniture products – the design of further new jobs.We hope to have the size for clusters of between three and which can be adapted to suit the opportunity to bid for more work in six students. specific requirements of a school.We other BSF projects in the city.” Our City p10 16/3/12 10:27 Page 1

10 Our City MARCH 2012 Budget shows city’s finances in good health AREFUL planning in the for a unitary authority. Now it has realistically be expected given the face of the worst ever weathered the storm of the first year of speed and severity of funding cuts. We cuts, and has more than a fighting have had to manage £36million worth Government cuts mean NEW SKILLS: C chance of meeting the challenges of of reductions in the last year, and a Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s the next year. The approved budget further £24million will be made in One of the priorities in the financial health is as good as deals with the Government cuts and the coming year. Although there council’s budget is to invest can be expected in the current creates an additional £5million to is still huge uncertainty about in developing a skilled climate. fund vital job creation in the city. the level of cuts we face in workforce across the city. It As well as balancing the books for Councillors set the budget for the coming years our will support facilities like an 2011-12 after achieving £36million of 2012-13 last month after a performance so far gives us Ecohouse, pictured here, spending reductions, councillors and comprehensive consultation exercise a solid foundation to plan where Stoke on Trent officers are trying to achieve an which gave members of the public the from.” College apprentices learn underspend which will help to ease the opportunity to have their say on the The council has also the latest energy-efficient pressures of the coming years. council’s spending priorities. defended its decision to construction skills. Our A year ago Stoke-on-Trent faced the Huge challenges increase Council Tax to picture shows Apprentice UK’s eighth worst financial settlement reduce the impact of cuts Domestic Gas Fitter Tom Councillor Sarah Hill, Cabinet on resources and help drive Smith with a photovoltaic Member for Finance, said: “We face forward its programme of solar panel as he learns to Tax success huge challenges but managed to set a investment in job creation wire the fuse box for the bold and ambitious budget package and regeneration. latest renewable energy STOKE-on-Trent City Council has after comprehensive and inclusive Councillor Hill said: “We technology. increased the amount of Council consultation. We made some appreciate these are hard Tax it collected in the last year by concessions after listening to the times for residents but the over one per cent... worth around public, including retaining the Lord rise, which equates to less £800,000 extra money collected. Mayor and withdrawing proposed cuts than 77p per week on a It means collection rates in the to Marrow House. Moving forward, Band D property, means city are better than they have we will continue to listen to families in we still have the third respect of all the sensitive and been for a number of years. lowest level of Council vulnerable areas.” Tax in Staffordshire. Assistant Director of Finance Assistant Director of Finance, Peter “We have to create the Peter Bates said: “We are Bates said the council had managed its right conditions to attract committed to continuing to finances effectively in the face of the jobs and private improve collection performance toughest of challenges and would investment in the city, which in turn reduces pressure deliver a balanced budget for 2011-12. and this budget is an elsewhere on the city’s finances.” He said: “The financial health of the important part of organisation is as strong as could that effort.”

Do you have a child who will be three or FREE early education for three and four years old by four year olds 31st March 2012?

If so, your child is entitled to receive up to 15 hours a week of FREE Early Education. Early Education is part of the foundation stage and helps children to develop a strong basis for future learning. Early Education can help your child to learn through hands-on activities and play, supported by staff who understand how children grow, learn and develop. Remember, all children who are aged three or four before 31st March 2012 are eligible to receive 15 hours free Early Education (if your child attends a nursery class attached to a school or a maintained nursery school, they are already receiving their entitlement). So, to find out more, including a list of local childcare settings who deliver Free Early Education, contact the

tel: 0800 015 1120 or 01782 232200

stoke.gov.uk/families Our City p11 16/3/12 09:13 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 11

Children’s Centre Tel: 01782 231096 UPDATE Tel: 01782 238989 News and information from Stoke-on-Trent’s Children’s Centres March 2012 Tel: 01782 231096

Tel: 01782 232977

Tel: 01782 236655

Tel: 01782 238352

Tel: 01782 236333 Stoke North Health Visitor Liz Elliott with local Resident Samantha Dale and Tel: 01782 234357 her nine-month-old baby Amelia Jones.

Tel: 01782 237100 More NHS staff employed to give a healthy revamp Tel: 01782 231815 Tel: 01782 596421

P to eight more Trust. It safeguards wide-ranging children’s centres to better map clinics, drop-in sessions and health visitors are services already being delivered by the development of one, two and parenting programmes as well as being taken on in health visiting teams including the three-year olds so we can identify carry out home visits. They run U Healthy Child Programme and any issues earlier and offer the quit smoking groups and can refer Stoke-on-Trent by 2015 as covers support for teenage mums relevant support.” mums for support with postnatal Tel: 01782 237650 part of a Government boost and their babies through the A qualified general and depression and low mood. to services offered through Family Nurse Partnership. paediatric nurse for 20 years, Liz is They also signpost families to children’s centres. Liz Elliott, a Health Visitor and one of four health visitors based in children’s centre services like baby The city is one of first 20 areas Team Leader based at Chell Heath. Her team, including massage groups, which can help in the country to benefit from a Stoke-on-Trent North Children’s a staff nurse and a healthcare babies with colic, or “Stay and re-vamp as outlined in the new Centre, said: “It’ll make a huge support worker, operate alongside Play” sessions to help new mums Tel: 01782 233775 four-part Health Visiting Service difference to outcomes for family support and childcare staff feel supported and less isolated. Offer, which will be provided children and their families. from the children’s centre. Liz, who moved into health locally by the Staffordshire and “As part of it, we’re already Preventative care is central to visiting 11 years ago, said: “I’d Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS working in partnership with their work and they run baby worked with sick children in hospital, which was wonderful, but it’s also great to work with Tel: 01782 234024 children and their families in the Funding bids made to save vital service community. One of our roles is AWARD-winning support services delivered at has made a real difference to the lives of families. supporting and empowering Stoke-on-Trent Children’s Centres are at risk unless “But this valuable service could be lost if we don’t communities. It’s fantastic to build funding can be found. get funding.We currently have bids in for relationships and support families. When they recognise that they’ve Tel: 01782 233670 Start-Up Citywide helps more than 700 parents a Government, European and lottery funding to try made a change for the better, year into training and employment through a and secure its future.” that’s the best bit. When a mum is programme of courses delivered by Training and The service has helped more than 4,000 people able to feel that she is a good Employment Coaches working with the centres. since its launch in 2003, many of them left school mum and says thank-you, it’s David Williams, Business Development Manager with few or no qualifications. fantastic. It’s why I really don’t at YMCA North Staffordshire who run the service, Around 70 people a year are supported into jobs mind coming into work. I really Tel: 01782 237500 said:“This unique and award winning partnership and 800 employer-focused qualifications achieved. look forward to it.” Our City p12-13 16/3/12 09:39 Page 1 PULL OUT GUIDE TO CHILDREN’S CENTRES ACTIVITIES CHILDREN’S CENTRES IN THE NORTH OF THE CITY Families welcome to CHILDREN’S CENTRES IN THE SOUTH OF THE CITY 01782 01782 01782 238989 take part in packed 01782 231096 231815 596421 Ball Green Primary School,Whitfield Road,Ball Green ST6 8AJ ,Hamil Road,Burslem,Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1AW Pinewood Crescent,Meir,Stoke-on-Trent ST3 6HZ activity programme Oakwood Road,Blurton,Stoke-on-Trent ST3 3AR MONDAY OTHER SERVICES MONDAY FRIDAY MONDAY THURSDAY EVERY family in Stoke-on-Trent ● family support MONDAY THURSDAY ▲ ▲ Crèche Training,Parent Forum, Stay and Play Drop-In 9:30-11am Toy Library Maths Course and Crèche Lets Get Creative 9:30-11am ● Midwife Clinic 9-1pm Growing Together 9:30-11am Midwife Clinic 9-1pm can make the most of a great specialist support for children Volunteering and Respite 9-11:30am TUESDAY Volunteering Programme (Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am (Messy play Drop-In,please bring a Jo Jingles (1-5yrs,£2 per family,term (0-5yrs,book at reception) Crèche Training,Volunteering change of clothing) range of services and facilities at with additional needs Jo Jingles (£2,book) 10-10:45am Adult Learning and Crèche 1-3pm Jumping Beans Stay and Play Drop-In 1-2:30pm the city’s children’s centres. ● outreach workers time,book at reception) 11:15-Noon Start Up Literacy 12:30-2:30pm and Respite 9-11:30am & 12:30-3pm (Ask at reception) Tiny Talkers ● Growing Together 1-2:30pm Baby Massage 1:30-2:30pm Parent Forum 9:45-11:30am TUESDAY OTHER SERVICES The teams reach out into their information for Child Health Clinic 9-11am local communities to support parents (0-5yrs,book at reception) (Book at reception) Baby Jabadao (0-First steps) 1-2:30pm (Weston Heights Community Centre) FRIDAY English Course and Crèche Toy Library families and give children the very ● activities to TUESDAY FRIDAY Little Sprouts Stay and Play (Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am Volunteering Programme TUESDAY Numeracy 9:30-11:30am best start in life. help parents and carers Baby Clinic 9:30-10:30am Growing Together 9:30-11am ▲ Gardening Group (0-5yrs) 1:30-3pm Midwife Clinic 9-1pm Growing Together 1-2:30pm Jumping Beans But anyone is welcome to pop get back to work. (Hollybush Community Centre) (0-5yrs,book at reception) Literacy 12:30-2:30pm (Referral only) Tiny Talkers into their local centre and take Each children’s centre also Play Together Group 9:30-11:30am Baby Signing 1:30-2:30pm Child Health Clinic 9:15-11:30am part in one of the dozens of delivers additional services (Book at reception) (Book at reception) Busybodies 9:30-10:15am FRIDAY WEDNESDAY (Meir Park Playgroup) activities featured on this pull out tailored to meet local needs. Baby Club 10-11am Growing Together (Newstead Primary Crèche Training,Keep Fit, Stay and Play Drop-In 9:30-11am School,term time only) 1:30-3pm Play Together (0-5yrs) 9:30-10:45am and keep special feature. There are even opportunities WEDNESDAY Volunteering & Respite 9-11:30am Baby Massage Drop-In 9:30-10:30am 10:45-12:15pm Children’s centres provide a to volunteer and learn new skills Midwife Clinic 9-11am Birth Prep (book with Midwife,first range of services including: that could lead to qualifications, a Friday of the month) Baby Club 10-11:30am Fitness/Zumba 9:45-10:45am THURSDAY ● Job Club 9:30-Noon (Book at reception) childcare and children's learning job or career change. (Hollybush Community Centre) OTHER SERVICES Tiny Explorers Baby Group WEDNESDAY Growing Together 0-5yrs 1-2:30pm and development Contact details are included Baby Jabadao 9:30-11am Indoor and Outdoor Playspace ▲ (0-18mths) 9:30-11am ● Midwife Clinic 9-1pm health services with each centre’s calendar. Baby Clinic (open Monday to Friday) Adult Learning and Crèche Crèche Training,Volunteering Blurton Children’s Centre 11-Noon Baby Massage OTHER SERVICES (Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm Blurton Health Centre 1:30-3:30pm (one to one sessions) and Respite 9-11:30am Cook and Eat Start Up Numeracy 12:30-2:30pm Volunteering Programme Triple P 9:30-11:30am CHILDREN’S CENTRES IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY Parent Forum (fortnightly) 1-2:30pm Sensory Room Growing Together (0-5yrs) 1-2:30pm Volunteering Programme

01782 01782 01782 01782 01782 01782 236333 231096 01782 238352 237650 233775 234024 232977 Greatbatch Avenue,Penkhull,Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7JU Eaves Lane,Bucknall,Stoke-on-Trent ST2 9AS Travers Court,Temple Street,Fenton,Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4NR Normacot Grange Road,Meir,Stoke-on-Trent ST3 7AW Jubilee Road, Trentham ST4 8EF St Nicholas Avenue,Norton,Stoke-on-Trent ST6 8JW MONDAY THURSDAY Bishop Road,Chell Heath,Stoke-on-Trent ST6 6QW MONDAY FRIDAY MONDAY WEDNESDAY MONDAY FRIDAY MONDAY OTHER SERVICES Stay and Play (PICL,2-5yrs)9:30-11am Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11am MONDAY OTHER SERVICES Time 4 You* 12:30-2:30pm Breastfeeding Café 10:30-12:30pm Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11am Breastfeeding Café 10:30-Noon Play Together (0-5yrs) 9:15-11:15am Baby Jabadao Priory Playgroup 9:15-11:30am Outdoor Play Area MONDAY FRIDAY Growing Together 1:15-2:45pm (0-5yrs) ▲ English Course and Crèche 1-3pm Toy Library Messy Monsters Craft 1-2:30pm Cook & Eat (7wk course)9:30-11.30am First Aid Course (5wk course) 1-3pm Midwife Clinic 9:30-2pm 0-First steps 9:30-11am (Term time only) Volunteering Programme Stay and Play Drop-In 9:30-11am Growing Together 9:30-11:30am TUESDAY (Baby Stay and Play for 0-12mths) New Birth Registration Drop-In (Ask at reception) Volunteering Programme Zumba Fitness Class (£3.50) 10-11am (18 April) Cook & Eat 12:30-2:30pm (Referral only) Midwife Clinic (Booking) All Day Midwife Clinic (Booking) All Day (29 Mar,26 April) 9:30-11am Growing Together (0-5yrs) 1-2:30pm Baby Jabadao Jumping Beans Adult Learning and Crèche OTHER SERVICES (Term time only) (6wks,crèche available,limited places, TUESDAY Stay & Play (St John’s Centre,Trent Vale, THURSDAY 0-First steps 12:30-2pm Tiny Talkers (Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm Baby Weighing Clinic 9-10:30am Toy Library (By request) TUESDAY Fenton Book Buddies 11-12:30pm book 01782 596421) OTHER SERVICES Sweet Peas Baby Group 9:30-11am OTHER SERVICES 0-5yrs,term time only) 10-12pm Outreach Drop-In 9:15-11am Babbling Babes/Growing Together Sensory Room (Booking only) Triple P 9:30-11:30am (30 April) Crèche TUESDAY (0-18mths) TUESDAY Toy Library Midwife Clinic (Booking) All Day (Clarice Cliff Primary School, 0-5yrs) TUESDAY 10:30-11:30am (Appointment only) Growing Together (0-5yrs) 1-2:30pm ▲ Adult Learning and Crèche 1-3pm Health Visitor Drop-In 9-10:30am Volunteering Programme Speech and Language Support* Jabadao (0-Walking) 10-11:30am Midwife Clinic 9:30-1pm Baby Club Growing Together 9:30-11am Staying Connected* 12:30-2:30pm Breastfeeding Café 10:30-12pm (Ask at reception) (Ask at reception) Play and Learning in the Home* FRIDAY TUESDAY Coffee Morning Drop-In9:30-11:30am Busybodies 9:30-10:15am (0-5yrs) Jumping Beans (Limited crèche places) Stay & Play 1:15-2:45pm Singing Sunflowers 9:30-10am & (19 April) (Meir Park Playgroup) WEDNESDAY Messy Monkeys Baby Group Fathers Group Kingsland Kindergarten (Day Care) (PICL,1-2yrs) Play Together (0-5yrs) 9:30-11:30am WEDNESDAY (0-5yrs,Stoke Library) 10:15-10:45am Baby Massage 1-2:30pm WEDNESDAY Stay and Play Drop-In 9:30-11am (0-18mths) 9:30-11am Volunteering Programme Midwife Clinic (Booking) All Day Baby Massage 9:30-10.30am Play Together (0-5yrs) 12:30-2:30pm Stay and Play (PICL) 10-11:30am New Birth Registration Drop-In (17 April,5wk course,0-6mths) (0-12mths,5wks,book 01782 233775) Crèche for Training and Parent Forum English Course and Crèche WEDNESDAY FRIDAY THURSDAY (Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm (30 Mar,27 April) 11-1pm 9:30-11am Stay and Play (PICL) 1:15-2:45pm Parent Forum 9:30-11:30am Parent Forum (20 April) 9:30-11:30am WEDNESDAY Childminders Stay and Play Drop-In ( Primary) Tiny Talkers* 1-2pm Growing Together (0-5yrs) 9:30-11am Parent Forum 9:30-11am (Childminders only) 9:30-11:30am WEDNESDAY (28 Mar,25 April) SATURDAY Cook and Eat 9:30-11:30am OTHER SERVICES Pandas Group (0-5yrs) 12-2:30pm Growing Together 1-2:30pm Stay and Play Drop-In 9:30-11am THURSDAY Dads Morning (31 Mar,5 May)10-Noon THURSDAY (Referral only) Toy Library (Referral only) Midwife Clinic (Booking) All Day OTHER SERVICES Jo Jingles 10-10:45am THURSDAY THURSDAY New Birth Registration Drop-In Sensory Room (By request) Ready Steady Learn 9:30-11:30am Toy and Book Library (£2 per family,book call 01782 233775) Growing Together 1-3pm FRIDAY (28 Mar,25 April,Trent Vale Health Speech and Language Support* Maths Course and Crèche (Please enquire) Centre) 10-12pm Community Garden Baby Club 11-12:30pm (0-5yrs) Maths Course and Crèche (Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am (Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am Baby Massage (Booking) 10-11am Transition Group* 1-3pm Play and Learning in the Home* Play and Learning Home Visits Little Sunshine’s Group 1-2:30pm Tiny Talkers 1-2:30pm Baby Weighing Clinic 1:30-3:30pm Health Visitor Drop-In 3-4pm Family Support in the Home* Sensory Room (book at reception) (0-5yrs,Drop-In) FRIDAY (Ask at reception) (Abbey Hulton Clinic) (First Wed of every month,0-5yrs) Volunteering Programme Volunteering Programme Child Health Clinic 1:15-2:45pm Play Together 9:30-11am

01782 01782 01782 01782 234357 01782 233670 237500 236655 Garth Street,Hanley,Stoke-on-Trent ST1 2DA 237100 Dawlish Drive,Bentilee,Stoke-on-Trent ST2 0HW Buccleuch Road,Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4RF MONDAY FRIDAY MONDAY THURSDAY MONDAY FRIDAY Woodland Street,Tunstall,Stoke-on-Trent ST6 6AP Stay and Play 9:30-11am Parent Forum 1-2:30pm Playspace and Café 9:30-4pm Playspace and Café 9:30-4pm Play Together 9:30-11:30am ESOL 9:30-11:30am College Road,Shelton,Stoke on Trent ST4 2DQ ▲ ▲ MONDAY THURSDAY (PICL,18 mths plus) (2 Mar,6 April,all welcome) Midwife Clinic 9-3:30pm Midwife Clinic 9-3:30pm Job Club 10:30-12pm Parent Forum 9:30-11:30am ▲ Twins and More Siblings 10:30-12pm 20 April Stay and Play 9:30-11am Stay and Play 9:30-11am Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11:30am MONDAY THURSDAY Fitness Group 10-11am ▲ Baby Jabadao (0-First steps) 1-2:30pm Start-Up Course 12:45-2:45pm ▲ (Booking) (Booking) Chill & Chat* 1-3pm OTHER SERVICES ESOL 9:30-11:30am Dove Service* 9-11am Start-Up Drop-In Smile 10-Noon Baby Massage (0-12mths) 10-12pm TUESDAY (28 April) Growing Together 1-2:30pm Maths Course and Crèche Young Parents Group 10-12pm Speech and Language Support* (English Speaking for Other Languages) Health Visitor and Baby Weighing TUESDAY Baby Club 1-2:30pm ESOL 9:30-11:30am (Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm English Course and Crèche TUESDAY Play and Learning in the Home* EYFS Crèche* 12:30-2:30pm Group (Drop-in Session) 1:30-2:45pm Playspace and Café 9:30-4pm OTHER SERVICES (Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm Little Sunshine’s Group 1-2:30pm Post Natal/New Baby 10-11am Soft Play Area 8:30-5pm Connect Community Group Family Support in the Home* Ready Steady Learn 12:30-2:30pm Chill and Chat Drop-in 9:30-11:30am Growing Together 9:30-11am TUESDAY ▲ (The Grange Children’s Centre,0-5yrs) (0-9mths) Café (Mon,Thur,Fri) 11-3pm FRIDAY (Limited crèche places) 9:30-11:30am (Transition based group) (Limited Crèche places,must be booked) Speech and Language Therapy Childminders Stay and Play Drop-In Family Walking Group Growing Together 1-2:30pm Busybodies 11:30-12:15pm Asian Ladies Advice Group Drop-In Busy Babies Group 9:30-11am Post-Natal Group 1-2:30pm 9-4pm (£1 per family) (Childminders only) 9:30-11:30am Volunteering Programme TUESDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY (5,10,19,24 April) 11:30-1:30pm (0-18mths) Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11am Baby Clinic 4:30-6pm ▲ Baby Massage Drop-In 12-1pm Observation and Assessment Crèche Midwife Clinic WEDNESDAY Baby Massage (Booking) 10-11am Playspace and Café 9:30-4pm (First Tue of every month,please book) Well Baby Clinic 9:30-11:30am 12:30-2:30pm Play and Learning Home Visits Jumping Beans 1:30-2:30pm Baby Stay and Play – Growing Fun to Talk – Speech and Language WEDNESDAY Moss Green Growing Together (18mths plus,booking required) Growing Together 1:30-3pm Baby Stay and Play 1:15-2:45pm ▲ WEDNESDAY (Mon,Wed,Thur,Fri) (Referral only) Together (0-18 mths) 10:30-12pm (2yrs plus) 10-11:30am Speech and Language Therapy (Riverside Housing Office) 9:30-11am ▲ (PICL,0-2yrs) ▲ Speech & Language Therapy 9-5pm Crèche Training,Volunteering Mandarin Group 12:30-2pm 9-1pm Midwife Clinic 9-3:30pm WEDNESDAY Crèche/Behaviour Management ▲ Cook & Eat (book) 9:30-11:30pm and respite OTHER SERVICES Parent’s Forum 9:30-11:30am STAR Project 10-2pm ▲ Adult Learning and Crèche Babble and Speak* 1:30-2:30pm WEDNESDAY Crèche* 12:30-2:30pm Development Checks 9:30-1pm Toy Library PACT Drop-In Session (Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am Little Stars* 9:30-11:30am Job Centre Plus 9:30-2pm Play Together 1-2:30pm Play and Sing Together 1-2:30pm 12 April 2.30-3.30pm Volunteering Programme OTHER SERVICES ▲ Antenatal Group 1-2:30pm Mum 2 Mum Breastfeeding Café THURSDAY (Additional Needs Group) Midwife Clinic 9-3:30pm THURSDAY 19 April 2-3pm Tiny Talkers Speech and Language Support* Drop-In 9:30-11:30am Ready,Steady,Go (Transition crèche to Stay and Play (PICL) 1-3pm Baby Massage 1-2:30pm OTHER SERVICES ESOL 9:30-11:30am Updated Sensory Room Teenage Parents Group NEG/School) 9:30-11:30am (2-5yrs,held at The Shelton Centre) Play and Learning in the Home* (0-12mths,book at reception) Crèche (Mon,Wed,Thur) Breastfeeding Cafe 10:30-12pm Volunteering Programme (Coming soon) Hands from Around the World* Parent Time 9:30-11:30am Family Support in the Home* Walking Group 1:15-2:15pm Playspace (Open to the public) Baby Jabadao (0-First steps) 1-2:30pm Early Intervention Team 10:30-12pm (21 Mar,25 April) Volunteering Programme Volunteering Programme Baby Clinic 1-3pm Training and Employment Support

* Referral Only. PICL – Parents Involved in Children’s Learning. ▲ Appointments Only. Our City p14 16/3/12 10:01 Page 1

14 Our City MARCH 2012

Children’s Centres in Stoke-on-Trent are having a Children’s Centre massive impact on the lives of the families they engage with. Here, Our City talks to parents and UPDATE volunteers about their experiences. Free entitlement to nursery care helps two-year-olds into stimulating learning CONCERNED about his son to go to Kingsland who mentioned the Families eligible for two-year funding can Ryan’s delayed development, funding. access early learning designed to enhance Anthony Giorgino asked about “I thought Ryan needed a bit of help with later life chances.Three and four-year olds can free entitlement to early years his speech and language, potty training and also access funding which pays for 15 hours a learning when he first took his with his concentration so I asked about it. week at a suitable children’s centre or nursery. two-year-old along to Kingsland Ryan was shy at first but soon settled in and The three-year funding is universal and can Children’s Centre. he’s improving all the time. be accessed by all three year olds. Children’s Staff helped Anthony apply for “He stayed on two-year funding from Centres and the Family Information Service two year funding, which is August 2011 to January this year. He’s moved (FIS) support families to access suitable, quality designed to close the learning gaps on to three-year funding now so it’s slightly services best suited to their children’s needs. for disadvantaged families, and his more intensive learning. He’s progressing and ● For more information, contact your local son was soon enjoying stimulating using more words. Children’s Centre or call FIS on free phone sessions two and a half days a week. “It’s been brilliant and we couldn’t be 0800 015 1120, 01782 232200, email Dad-of-two Anthony, 27, who lives with happier. I’m 100 per cent thankful and very [email protected] or go to his partner, said:“I have a cousin who used pleased.” www.stokefis.co.uk Volunteers chip in to help community

OLUNTEERS at The Crescent much these days so I Children’s Centre in Meir are project lead and pass on my Supporters helping the community grow skills to other volunteers. It V keeps the brain ticking over. in more ways than one. “We have about 10 of charity Pensioner Fred Rushton is the driving force children and some teachers CHARITY events and initiatives behind the centre’s allotments and community from Sandon Business, at Stoke-on-Trent children’s garden while mum-of-one Kathie Powell Enterprise and Arts Phil spends at least three days a week supporting centres are helping parents, College down every Cartlidge, other parents through her work with groups couple of weeks to help main picture, supporters and children and in the Healthy Café. develop their social conscience. and we sell our produce. and, inset, Fred Former lorry driver Fred, 69, formed a Some of our volunteers Staff and parents in the committee four years ago to apply for funding Rushton, at work have gone on to get jobs in the Crescent North Locality are busy knitting so mums and dads could grow vegetables and and training because of allotment. and crocheting eight-inch flowers on the site. They now have a the work they’ve done, squares for the benefit of greenhouse and have built a poly-tunnel with which is very satisfying. orphans and abandoned support from NHS Stoke on Trent PCT’s My “We’re always on the look children in South Africa. The Health Matters project. out for more volunteers, so squares will be sent to charity Fred said: “My I’d encourage anyone to get KasCare who have volunteers osteoarthritis stops involved. It’s great fun and a on standby to turn hundreds of me doing as good way of keeping fit, a bit thousands of squares into like a green 5,000 blankets, 5,000 hats and gym.” 2,000 knitted garments. Kathie Powell, At The Crescent Children’s 45, first attended The Crescent Centre, over 200 people with her daughter attended the Celebrate Life Keirra, who is fundraiser in memory of foster now seven. With carer Jane Salmon who lost her several courses long battle with cancer last under her belt and year. More than £1,000 a little girl who was donated to the loved ‘Stay and University Hospital of Play’ sessions, North Staffordshire’s Kathie decided it cancer unit. was time to give something back. Children’s Centre She said: “That was about four Community years ago and I asked how I Development Officer could help. I’m now qualified to co-run Cook and Eat sessions, I Caz Gotham said:“The event help clear up in the café and was a massive success and we cook breakfast for the Dads2 were supported by several group once a month. I’ve also businesses, who were very contributed to the Parents generous. Forum and help out with “We are talking about other community events. It’s loads of fundraisers this year but fun and I love it. I wasn’t very work experience to those looking for jobs and haven’t decided what to do yet. talkative when I first started but can also help improve confidence. It would have to be something I’m much more confident now. Opportunities exist across a wide range of very close to the children’s It’s really satisfying helping disciplines from ‘Stay and Play’ groups and others.” the crèche to community development teams centres hearts.” Kathie Powell volunteering in the Crescent cafe. Volunteering provides valuable and toy libraries. Our City p15 16/3/12 10:03 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 15

Our City reports back on convictions secured to make Stoke-on-Trent safer for us all... This column keeps Stoke-on-Trent’s communities updated about criminals aged 18 or more who have been jailed for six months or more at crown court. The offenders featured may well YOU’RE NICKED; have had a direct impact on the The words are spelt out in quality of life where you or they live. the “smart” light liquid and The council, police, Crown revealed in UV light. Prosecution Service, courts and Youth Offending Services believe it is important the public are reassured that the criminal justice system is working effectively on their behalf throughout the city. CHRISTOPHER FLETCHER (AGED 34) SMART WORK: Sergeant Paul Cook, ADDRESS: right, and PC Peter Stoke-on-Trent. Clarke spray property OFFENCE: Possess with SHINE A LIGHT; with a forensic marking intent to supply Class A One of the UV light product which is only drug – heroin. tubes in the visible in ultraviolet SENTENCE: 3 years’ 3 special tunnels. light. months’ imprisonment. Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

PAUL WOODCOCK (AGED 37) ADDRESS: Special light exposes Stoke-on-Trent. OFFENCE: Assault and possess offensive weapon. SENTENCE: 12 months’ burglars and thieves imprisonment. Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. PECIALIST businesses to not only use the property, from jewellery and now taking it a step further by ultraviolet (UV) light forensic marking solutions to ornaments to laptops, TVs and installing the forensic marking HUU NGUYEN (AGED 31) Stunnels are being identify valuable property but even vehicles. tunnels.” installed by Staffordshire also to promote its use, through “Business owners can also One of the tunnels has been ADDRESS: posters and stickers, to deter use it on property – for instance installed at the Northern Area Stoke-on-Trent. Police to help identify burglaries and thefts. to deter metal theft – or install Custody Suite at Etruria. It stolen goods and clamp OFFENCE: Production Superintendent Juliet Prince, special sprinkler systems that means any suspects or property of Class B controlled down on burglars and Staffordshire Police's Lead on target intruders. that have been marked will be drug – Cannabis. Forensic Property Marking, “The products are not easily identified by simply passing thieves. SENTENCE: 14 months’ The walk-through tunnels are said: “This is a very effective removed and can be used to through its UV light. imprisonment. Sentenced at set up to detect forensic way for people to uniquely help connect suspects to a Superintendent Prince added: Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. property marking products – identify valuable items, and it is crime many months down the “The use of forensic property colourless “smart” liquids which acting as a powerful deterrent line. marking is a very useful tool are invisible to the naked eye against crime. “Our officers are issued with and complements the work the ANDREW COOPER (AGED 43) but glow brightly under UV “Forensic marking products UV torches, so they can make force is carrying out within the conditions. can be used to mark all sorts of on-the-spot checks – but we are community to combat theft and ADDRESS: And because each batch burglary. Stoke-on-Trent. contains a chemical code that is “So we are encouraging OFFENCE: Aggravated as unique as DNA, items Where to buy marking kits: people to promote the use of vehicle taking and these products by putting up production of Class B marked with them can be THERE are many forensic marking providers and Staffordshire quickly identified and reunited promotional posters or stickers, controlled drug, Police does not specifically endorse any particular product – with the rightful owner. while continuing to take normal Cannabis. Businesses can also install viewing them as equally effective. crime reduction measures such Forensic marking providers SelectaDNA, Smartwater and Red SENTENCE: 21 months’ forensic marking sprinkler as looking after their property imprisonment. Sentenced at Web are accredited by Secured by Design – the UK police systems that “tag” intruders and not keeping valuables on Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. with the invisible, forensic flagship initiative, aimed at preventing crime in homes and display.” liquid, helping to generate business premises. evidence connecting a suspect For more information visit: www.selectadna.co.uk or For more details about forensic PAUL PRICE (AGED 27) to a specific location. property marking log onto www.smartwater.com or www.redwebsecurity.com or ADDRESS: Stoke-on- Police officers are staffordshire.police.uk/forensic www.crimestopperspropertyprotector.com Trent. encouraging residents and marking OFFENCE: Robbery. SENTENCE: 8 years’ imprisonment. Chance to nominate unsung council heroes Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. AN appeal has been made to give the the WOW nominations from less high profile services to be council’s unsung heroes a chance to win Stoke-on-Trent. Now, however, it is hoped nominated. For instance, an Australian one of this year’s WOW Awards – the that people who provide other services – tourist who visited the Staffordshire GRAHAM PRICE (AGED 24) national scheme designed to raise like waste services staff, school crossing Hoard exhibition at The Potteries ADDRESS: standards of customer service. Only wardens, cleaners and school meals staff Museum & Art Gallery has already Stoke-on-Trent. members of the public are allowed to – will be put forward for one of the nominated one of the museum’s nominate a member of staff they prestigious honours. attendants for being so helpful.” OFFENCE: Robbery. consider has gone above and beyond Donna Hammersley, the council’s To make a nomination collect a form SENTENCE: 8 years’ their normal duties to help someone. co-ordinator for the scheme and a past from the reception area of any council imprisonment. In previous years frontline services like WOW award winner, said: “It would be office, email [email protected] Sentenced at benefits and social care have featured in nice for the unsung heroes who provide or visit stoke.gov.uk/wowawards Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Our City p16 16/3/12 10:45 Page 1

16 Our City MARCH 2012

WELCOME TO THE NEW A&E: Consultant in Emergency Medicine Ann-Marie Morris, World-class facilities right, and Lead Nurse Mel Mountford for the Fit for Future project team outside the new unit on the former City at new A&E General site. ORLD-CLASS intensive care unit equipment. designed to improve the patients’ Accident and A 10-bay children’s emergency area experience and our ability to treat WEmergency facilities is reserved for the 30,000 under them better and quicker. 18s who arrive every year. “There will be no more queues have been opened at the For the first time, the centre has on trolleys or sitting on chairs in University Hospital of North its own imaging suite with three corridors waiting for an X-ray or a Staffordshire. rooms for X-ray, one for bone to be plastered. Patients being A new state-of-the-art ultrasound and a fifth for CT shuffled from place to place will be Emergency Centre, which will treat scans. a thing of the past. more than 100,000 patients each “We are trying to increase year, replaces the previous A & E Simply stunning consultant numbers up to 12, squeezed into a department built Magnus Harrison, Clinical Lead compared to the three when I 50 years ago. and Consultant in Emergency arrived, and we aim to have With 10 consultants and more Medicine, said: “The new consultants walking the floor than 200 staff, the centre now has Emergency Centre is quite simply 16 hours a day and one entrance for walk-in patients stunning. Plans were already being eventually 24 hours.” and a second for ambulance cases made for a new unit when I arrived Trust Chief Executive and those brought in by helicopter. here seven years ago but I never Julia Bridgewater said: The main treatment area has 31 dreamed we would have anything “This has been a cubicles, an increase of 12. anywhere near as good as this, dream for so many There is an eight-bed particularly with what we had people for so many resuscitation area previously at the Royal Infirmary. years and now we are surrounded by a “The whole specification puts in the most modern complete range of it with the best nationally and hospital in the life-saving and internationally. Everything is country.” Walk-in blood tests move out from hospital and nearer to people’s homes BLOOD tests are being carried out Manager at University Hospital, said: within the community.” Phlebotomist nearer people’s homes now the “The walk-in blood test service at our The new arrangements are part of the Maria Alison University Hospital of North pathology lab was very popular but it Fit for the Future programme of major takes a blood Staffordshire’s pathology lab has was difficult for people to attend as it changes designed to transform health sample from a closed to GP walk-in patients. was located next to our very busy services across Stoke-on-Trent and North walk-in patient Bradwell Hospital began operating outpatient department. Staffordshire and make sure patients at Bradwell its testing service last November and “At Bradwell, Meir and it is receive the right care, in the right place Hospital is joined by the newly opened Meir the same staff who provide the high and at the right time. Primary Care Centre and Cobridge quality service but it will be a better Blood testing services run by some GP Health Centre from 26 March. experience. It will also mean that people practices remain unchanged.The current Services, which are carried out by will be able to have their blood test arrangements for bookable blood test University Hospital staff, will be nearer to home. appointments in the community also available from Monday to Friday “All blood tests requested by GPs, remain unchanged.The telephone between 8am and 5pm. with the exception of children, will be number to call for appointments is Andrew Clarke, Blood Sciences delivered closer to people’s homes 01782 555506. Changes make it even easier to anonymously inform on criminals CHANGES to Crimestoppers young people aged between 11 and make a statement or appear in court Charity now make it even easier for 16 who have concerns or know of know they can pass information to people in Stoke-on-Trent to pass on criminal activity can visit us anonymously, and their identity anonymous information that may www.fearless.org which is a website cannot be found. help police bring criminals to justice. that introduces them to the concept “Even when we pay cash rewards From 1 April the independent of good citizenship. we use codes and banks so that charity is routing all 0800 555 111 Informants who use the website can callers cannot be identified. calls from landline phones to its 24/7 also be confident that they remain “The changes we are making to national call centre in Surrey, which anonymous because Crimestoppers is the service will make it even easier has the facility to respond in any one the only organisation in the world for people in Stoke-on-Trent to use of 170 languages within 30 seconds prevented from tracing an IP address. Crimestoppers and make their North Staffordshire is one of the families and communities safer by few areas of the UK where calls to Arrested and charged giving us the information police Crimestoppers from landlines are Last year Crimestoppers received need to fight crime.” currently dealt with locally – although over 90,000 calls and as a result more Crimestoppers are appealing for all mobile phone calls go through to than 8,000 criminals were arrested volunteers with experience such as the national centre – and local call and charged, illegal drugs worth more marketing, running projects, handlers are unable to offer a service than £25 million were seized and fundraising, organising events and in so many languages. £3 million worth of stolen goods working with the media to help Callers do not have to give their were recovered. promote the charity in their area. name or personal information and Pauline Hadley, Crimestoppers calls cannot be traced. Regional Manager, said: “We are an For details visit In addition information can be independent charity so callers who www.crimestoppers-uk.org passed to Crimestoppers online at prefer not to contact police because or email Pauline.Hadley@ www.crimestoppers-uk.org while they don’t want to get involved or crimestoppers-uk.org Our City p17 NEW 16/3/12 16:45 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 17 x in the CITY SHE Potteries eaMuseum & Art Gallery will host its New details revealed T largest-ever exhibition of the This fascinating Staffordshire Hoard this summer... as Staffordshire Hoard mystery artefact from the with some pieces going on display Staffordshire Hoard is for the first time cleaned and treasure goes on going on display for the fitted together. first time this summer. Members of the public will be able to view display in museum Experts believe it may be more than 100 eye-catching artefacts including the end of an elaborate the reconstructed hilt of a Seax – pronounced shield or an ornamental Sax – a single-edged short sword intricately Staffordshire Hoard. The items are now saddle mount. decorated with gold and jewels. back in the UK to be checked, The exhibition, funded by a £40,000 grant stabilised, photographed and studied from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will run for 13 prior to a new exhibition at The months from 21 July and will feature up-to-date Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, information on the latest research and findings. which will be the biggest ever staged at The 7th Century treasure – which is the the venue. Many new items will be on biggest and most valuable hoard of Anglo- display including the Seax handle Saxon gold ever found – has been wowing the which has been carefully reconstructed crowds at the National Geographic Museum in after being discovered in several pieces. Washington DC. More than 55,000 visitors “We will be updating the exhibition went to see the Staffordshire Hoard in with information displays explaining the Washington, including people ranging from the latest research, findings and theories former British Ambassador to the USA to the about who owned the Hoard and why it chart-topping singer-songwriter Kesha. was buried. For instance, one of the latest The pieces were returned to the UK earlier ideas that is being examined is that the this month. In April and May some of the Hoard may have been deliberately buried country’s top archaeologists, scientists and as part of an Anglo-Saxon ritual. This is an historians will carry out further tests on the intriguing idea particularly given it happened precious Dark Ages artefacts, which were at a time when Christianity and Paganism were unearthed in a farmer’s field near Lichfield in clashing over hearts and minds. 2009. Items on permanent display at the City “We may never know the exact reason for the Centre venue will be also be removed from the Hoard's burial but certainly the Staffordshire ground floor archaeology gallery during the Hoard will continue to shed light on our six-week run up to this summer’s exhibition. knowledge of the history, art, craft and culture Principal Collections Officer Deb Klemperer of the Dark Ages for many years to come.” said: “The response in the US has been ● For further information please visit phenomenal, proving the wide appeal of the stoke.gov.uk/museum

Ten-year-old Campaign to Christina Johnson, Pupils’ art a pupil at Forest Park Primary School, with stop deliberate her winning design brightens up on the construction grass fire starters site hoardings. STAFFORDSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service has launched its annual construction grass fires campaign – Flames Aren't Games – in preparation for the Easter holidays. hoardings Typically, the service sees a dramatic increase in SCHOOL pupils helped brighten up a deliberately started grass fires hoarding surrounding the construction site when children are on holiday of a multi-million pound bus station by from school. taking part in a poster competition with a Last year, almost half of all public transport theme. grass fires were started during Forty designs by youngsters have gone school holidays and 86 per cent on display at the City Centre site as of the fires were deliberately work continues on the £15million started. construction project. April 2011 saw the most grass Children from the winning schools were fires across the county, with a given a tour of the John Street station and the chance to see their work on display. staggering 233 blazes reported. The drawings, selected as part of a The fire and rescue service council competition, have been unveiled hopes to reduce that figure this along part of the 272-metre (892ft) year by educating children and hoarding on the John Street side of the parents about the dangers of development. starting fires deliberately. Councillor Ruth Rosenau, Cabinet Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Member for Regeneration, said: “The new Service’s Head of Risk bus station is creating a landmark design Reduction, Glynn Luznyj said: in the heart of the city centre. “Young people who start grass “It is important that young people have fires seem oblivious to the fact been involved in the process by not only stage of a multi-million pound refurbishment to improve the City Centre that they are endangering designing images to go on the hoarding, but transformation of public spaces in the City street scene, creating a more inspiring firefighters’ lives as well as their also by having a unique glimpse of what is Centre. Work will start in the Autumn to outlook for visitors to the city and a strong going on in the site behind the boards.” improve the Albion Street and Parliament link with the new bus station. own. The new bus station represents the first Square areas. It follows a public Work on the previously approved first “For every grass fire we attend phase of the £350 million City Sentral consultation period in which residents and phase of the project, which focuses on there could be a person trying shopping centre. Meanwhile, councillors visitors had their say on the latest proposals. Tontine Square and Percy Street, is due to to get out of a burning building have given the go ahead for the second The work is part of a multi-million pound start in April. or trapped in a car in need of our help.” Our City p18 16/3/12 10:06 Page 1

18 Our City MARCH 2012

SHOCKING cases of child sexual exploitation do occasionally hit the headlines but it remains a mostly hidden issue with victims so traumatised they never come forward. Here, Our City tells the story of a teenage girl who escaped the clutches of her abuser and looks at the support services that helped her do it. Bid to prevent child sex exploitation

ELP is at hand for and young women. We must all be aware vulnerable and defenceless and watch out for the signs so fewer Hgirls and boys in the children suffer the tragedy of abuse, Potteries who are being groomed which often leaves them deeply traumatised and scarred for life.” and put at risk of sexual Experienced workers at Base 58, run exploitation. by creative support, housing and It comes as a Government action plan employment provider Brighter Futures, highlights how local authorities must offer support and advice covering a improve their response and raise variety of potentially dangerous awareness so victims are identified and situations. supported earlier and abusers face court. If you think you are at risk and want Carole Preston, the city’s Safeguarding help, call Base 58 on 01782 286862 or Children Board Manager, said: “We email [email protected]. know that resources are under huge You can also call, text or leave a demand but our work to set children free message on 07879 423935. If you from sexual exploitation is a priority.We would prefer to talk to a woman, call know that child sexual exploitation is not 07899 923598 or you can reach a man just something that happens in the bigger on 07747 442726. Calls made after cities of the UK – it is happening right 5pm will be returned the next day so here in Stoke-on-Trent as Chrissie has leave a message. shown by bravely agreeing to tell her If you would like to know more story. about child sexual exploitation, the “The reality is that any child or young signs and find more contacts for person from any social or ethnic help and support, go to background can be exploited. Boys and www.safeguarding young men can be at risk as well as girls children.stoke.gov.uk

Are you aware that the people looking after your children should have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau?

This image is a library photograph posed by a model.

The signs that indicated Chrissie, 13, was in a relationship with a man CHRISSIE was just 13 when fears grew that A Base 58 worker helped her through a a 34-year-old friend of her dad was six-week sexual exploitation workshop grooming her for sex. designed to help her stay safe and have applied to be a foster carer, She was seen at his flat at all times of improve her self-esteem. She was also You, as a parent or carer, cannot the night and day and always seemed to given advice about sexual health, alcohol just assume that the person adoptive parent or child minder. have money and gifts like make up, and drugs. clothes and a mobile phone. She was often She denied contact with the 34-year-old working with your child has It will cost you or your employer £44. reported missing as she stayed away from man but admitted he visited a family passed a CRB check! Volunteers will get theirs free. home for days at a time without talking to friend at the same time she was there with anyone from her family. her father. As she moved into temporary You will need one if you are employed in You and your employer will see the Her school attendance was poor foster care, police took action against the because she was being bullied and she man when more information surfaced. an establishment wholly or mainly for results of your check. Your employer had no friends her own age. She denied Now 15 and back home, Chrissie is fully children, in healthcare, in after school will use them to decide whether they can being in a relationship with the man but aware of the risks and legalities of being the alarm bells were ringing. in a relationship with an older man. Her clubs and other children’s activities or employ you. Children and Young People’s Services at school attendance is now almost 100 per Stoke-on-Trent City Council intervened cent. She will soon be ready to leave the To apply, contact the CRB helpline on 0870 9090 811 or and referred Chrissie, not her real name, to Base 58 programme but will receive follow Base 58 – a specialised support service run up support from school-based mentors go to www.direct.gov.uk and follow the employment links. by local charity Brighter Futures for at-risk and continued social care support for the boys, girls and young people. foreseeable future. Our City p19 16/3/12 10:13 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 19 Look when you cook! Why care in the kitchen is a recipe to prevent blazes A “Look When You Cook” clutching a bottle of people had to be rescued. campaign has been while a pan burns in the Head of Risk Reduction launched by Staffordshire background and the other Glynn Luznyj said:“ Taking Fire and Rescue Service to showing a busy mum on the simplest precautions encourage safety in the the phone being can prevent a cooking fire. kitchen- where over half of distracted by her daughter “For instance if you all house fires start. whilst a pan is on fire in need to leave the room, Two hard-hitting posters the kitchen - have been turn off the appliance - one showing a man distributed to Sainsbury’s until you return or wait asleep on his sofa supermarkets. until you’ve finished The posters bear the cooking before leaving message:“Look when you the room.The few Community cook! Watch your pan!” minutes you’re gone Safety Officer Pete Last year Staffordshire could result in a Hall shows Cobridge Fire and Rescue Service destroyed home.” resident Olwyn dealt with 376 kitchen ● To arrange a free Douglas how to keep fires - 92 of them in Stoke- home fire safety check appliances safe in on-Trent - which resulted call freephone the kitchen. in 46 casualties and seven 0800 0241 999.

New services Charter accolade for city’s for visitors to the Crem NEW facilities have been councillor training opened to look after visitors to Carmountside Cemetery and OUNCILLOR training and Support Manager, said: “Councillors are given tools to do their job. This enables them to Crematorium. support services at the council a wide range of learning opportunities within inspire their constituents and ultimately A cafe and waiting room have won a prestigious regional tight financial constraints. It is paramount that deliver services for the public. were officially opened by Lord C Mayor Councillor Terry Follows. award. the council provides effective training, “It is another step on our journey to development and support. becoming an effective and confident council The Member Development Light snacks, drinks, Charter Full Award recognises the council’s Testament to hard work and making Stoke-on-Trent a great place to breakfast and afternoon tea approach to helping elected members achieve live and work as outlined in our Mandate for are now served seven days a high standards while representing the “The Member Services Division encourage Change.” week in the refurbished electorate. all councillors to take full advantage of the Councillor Randolph Conteh, ward member community building. The council’s Councillor and Civic Support assistance on offer to help them increase their for Penkhull and Stoke and Chair of the Improvements also include a Team provide a universal service of learning knowledge, capacity and expertise when Member Services Working Group, said: “The quiet room, community police and development opportunities, which can making decisions, representing their area and members’ working group has worked post, conservatory and decking lead to formal qualifications. Personal being the city’s representative on outside collectively and non-politically with officers area.The waiting room offers development plans are worked out with organisations.” and councillors to improve member live video streaming of funeral councillors who are supported to visit outside Council Leader Councillor Mohammed development. services taking place in the Pervez said: “This member-led award is a “This is not about trophy hunting. Quite organisations and can shadow council officers. chapel.There is also the facility testament to the hard work I know goes on by simply, the purpose of the West Midlands The team gives assistance, advice and operates for families and friends who a new casework system to help councillors our city’s elected members, ensuring that the Charter is to improve performance of local better answer ward queries. lives of people in the city are made better. authorities, through the development of its cannot attend the Michaleen Hilton, the Councillor and Civic “It is important to give councillors the right elected members.” crematorium to watch services over the internet either live or at a later date. For further details please contact Aileen Harvey at the Bereavement Care Office on Bilingual 01782 235050 or email bereavement.care@ pre-school stoke.gov.uk sessions are a hit with Spring clean recycling call Polish mums RESIDENTS planning a RHYMETIME Sessions at Bentilee spring clear out are being Library are hitting the right note urged to recycle as much of with Polish mums and their young their rubbish as possible. children.The weekly sessions for Reading a They can use their blue or pre-school youngsters and their Polish/English brown bins and green boxes parents or carers have been held storybook at one of or visit the recycling centres for some time, but numbers swelled the bilingual at Burslem or Hanford which as word about the fun and Rhymetime Sessions are open every day. educational activities spread at Bentilee Library are This could help reduce among the area’s Polish Lidia Inglot, left, and around 95 complaints community. her son Oscar, aged received by the council each The half-hour sessions use songs, two, and Daria Dziuba month about untidy yards musical instruments, movement and her two-year-old and gardens. and other group activities to help daughter Julia. Small electrical items like children develop their confidence, kettles and irons are classed creativity, co-ordination and social as hazardous waste and skills. Bentilee Library Manager saw quite a few others. Now there “ The mums and children chatter sessions because they help to should not be placed in bins. Vicky Embrey said: “At first just a are around 15 Polish ladies who to each other in Polish but they improve their English as well as the A bulky collection service handful of Polish ladies and their come to the Rhymetime Sessions, enjoy joining in the activities which development of their children.” for larger items can be young ones started to come to the although they don’t all attend on are conducted in English, and some Rhymetime Sessions are held at booked by calling sessions, but over the months we the same weeks. have told me they enjoy the Bentilee Library on Fridays at 11am. 01782 234234. Our City p20-21 16/3/12 10:14 Page 1

20 Our City MARCH 2012

Top team prove small is beautiful THE efforts of a small group of workers who help young people to overcome drug and alcohol misuse have been recognised with an award. The T3-Stoke Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team received the Small is Beautiful accolade at the annual conference of CRI, the national charity which manages the project in the city as well as young people’s services across and Wales. The prestigious award was given for the best performing small team in the North and Midlands. As a team of four case workers and a manager with access to an additional psychiatrist and administration New alcohol support, the T3-Stoke team is indeed small. However, it has proved effective in working with the causes and effects of substance misuse restriction on young people under the age of 19 living in Stoke-on-Trent. zones in force T3 is commissioned by the Safer City Partnership to meet goals agreed by young Agencies refer a young person by using the A WINNING LINE-UP: at Tunstall people with regard to controlling their drug and young people’s drug and alcohol screening tool The T3-Stoke Young People’s alcohol problems, reducing harm and engaging available by emailing [email protected] Drug and Alcohol Team, back A Designated Public Place in a more positive lifestyle. which also provides access to evaluation and row left to right,Vicky Gould, Order (DPPO), sometimes known The service is financed on a payment by feedback forms. Team Manager Rosie Greaves, as an Alcohol Restriction Zone, was results basis and is required to produce data The service also offers a peer mentoring Ben Richardson,Team granted on 28 February 2012 by the and audited evidence of its achievements. programme, providing young people with Administrator Becky Welsh council’s Licensing and General Young people referred to T3 meet an opportunities to develop and involve themselves and, front row left to right, Purposes Committee for parts of the outreach worker at a time and venue of their within the service. Tunstall, and Sandyford choice so they can talk comfortably and Rosie Greaves, CRI Team Manager for Diane Harper and Debbie Jones, who is also pictured, and Little Chell and Stanfield Wards. confidentially. Referrals can be made directly by T3-Stoke, said: “The service aims to work with The Safer City Partnership, other agencies and professionals across the city inset left, counselling. young people and their carers by texting 07507 Stoke-on-Trent City Council and 411 733 or phoning 01782 221090. for the benefit of the young person.” Staffordshire Police worked closely with the Tunstall Chamber of Trade after concerns were raised that people consuming alcohol in public Workshops to educate parents places was affecting the trade in the town. The consultation with the local A series of workshops are being held in community included a notice in the the city to educate parents and provide local paper, letters to each address them with information about drugs and and licensed premises within the alcohol. proposed zone and the opportunity The aim is to provide parents and to attend three different consultation carers with the latest and most accurate events held in Tunstall.The Safer City information about substance misuse, local drug and alcohol services and how Partnership received 101 responses to discuss the subject with their to the consultation, the majority in children. support. Launched 12 months ago, the Drug The DPPO gives police officers and Alcohol Parenting Workshops have additional powers to confiscate been designed to cater for all parents. alcohol or ask people to stop They are usually held in local primary drinking in public open spaces; if and secondary schools and are delivered they refuse they may be arrested.The by the city’s Integrated Young People’s new zone is bordered by and Drug Project in connection with Drug, including: High Street, Furlong Road, Alcohol and Tobacco Education Advisors Victoria Park Road, Little Chell Lane, who are all funded by Stoke-on-Trent’s EDUCATING PARENTS: Family Worker Natalie Harp, left, Sunnyside Avenue, Green Bank Road, Safer City Partnership. Hidden Harm Team Leader Gemma Newitt and Drugs, Thornley Road, Sherwin Road, Scotia Each of the one-off workshop sessions Alcohol and Tobacco Education Advisor Mike Coll with Road, Pinnox Street, Hand Street, lasts around two hours and are free of some of the literature at their workshops. charge. Parents who attend can be sure Railway Street, Gibson Street, of complete confidentiality as well as a Brownhills Road, Connaught Street, relaxed and informal setting. children and open up channels of help to dispel popular myths about Harewood Street,Watergate Street, Parents are advised on the risks and communication and equip mums and drugs and alcohol, and since it was Chatterley Road, Reginald Mitchell effects of substance misuse, how to spot dads with the skills and knowledge started the project has received a lot of Way.The Order includes areas such as signs that their children may have used needed to assist their children. positive feedback from families who Tower Square, the Memorial Gardens, drugs and/or alcohol and how to cope “This is a useful service for parents have attended.” Tunstall Greenway,Tunstall Park and with young people who are under the whose children have not experienced Tunstall Cemetery. For information about the Drug and influence. problems but who may be concerned The zone will be identified by Alcohol Parenting Workshop contact Project Leader Gemma Newitt said: about how they would cope if confronted warning notices displayed on street Gemma Newitt or Family Worker “The workshops help parents to talk with this situation.” signs throughout the affected area. about drug and alcohol issues with their Gemma added: “The workshops also Natalie Harp on 01782 234195. Our City p20-21 16/3/12 10:15 Page 2

MARCH 2012 Our City 21 Invaluable support The comfortable lounge at Chepstow House where informal classes are held as well transforms lives as being a place where the customers can go to relax.

REE, invaluable support is helping to Ftransform the lives of hundreds of women who have been affected by crime. Chepstow House provides confidence, abuse and domestic expert help to women living in violence. Stoke-on-Trent or North As well as the dedicated Staffordshire who are at risk of support, one of the aims of offending or re-offending. Chepstow House is to reduce the The service, which is delivered cost to the tax payer by cutting the by the Brighter Futures charity, number of women in prisons and and is funded by the Safer City the associated costs of this. to receive a range of rehabilitative supported including women Partnership and the National According to last year’s support is on average £184 per coming out of prison and those Offender Management Service, is Counting Cost Report compiled month. in contact with the police or based in the city centre. for the Revolving Doors charity, Chepstow House Operational probation service.We work The therapy room where It provides support in a range of the cost of one female prison Manager Emma Stazaker said: with a number of organisations alternative therapies take areas including accommodation, space for one month is £3,423 “Women are helped to draw up such as the Citizens Advice place and one-to-one finance, drug and alcohol misuse, and when children go into social personal action plans, tailored to Bureau, Gingerbread and the counselling on a range of health, families and education. care it costs £2,929 per child. their needs and circumstances and CRI drug treatment subjects from domestic There is also help with training By comparison the cost for aspirations. programme, to provide the abuse to parenting issues. and employment, self-esteem, women to attend Chepstow House “A wide variety of people are expertise that is needed.”

The arts and Chepstow House Operational Manager EMMA STAZAKER looks at the crafts group at all-encompassing support given to one woman leaving prison and trying Chepstow House helps the customers to start a new life while battling addiction and other issues… learn new skills while meeting new people. After leaving prison Louise was able to beat her drug and alcohol addictions LOUISE first came into contact tackle her debts. Meanwhile, regarding being a new mum. with support from Chepstow Adsis and CRI continued her Our Gingerbread Family House while serving a alcohol and drug treatment. Support Worker worked custodial sentence for assault. She also joined our arts and closely with her to support She suffered from drug and crafts group, which helped her while she developed and alcohol addiction and was her to meet new people while practised her new parenting receiving treatment for it in learning new skills. skills. prison. She met a new partner and Unfortunately, soon after After she was released on soon after, when she the birth of her daughter, tag we supported her to discovered she was pregnant, Louise’s partner became continue her treatment Chepstow House continued to violent towards her. So, we programmes, to register with support her. helped Louise to find and a GP and to keep her She also stopped drinking move into a new home where appointments with her and continued to stick to her we arranged for extra security Probation Officer. drug treatment programme. devices to be fitted for their Through the service, the After giving birth to her protection. Citizens Advice Bureau daughter, Louise attended Louise and her daughter helped her to establish her parenting classes at are both doing well and we benefit claim and put a Chepstow House to learn will continue to help and payment plan in place to practical skills and support support them. Our City p22 16/3/12 10:18 Page 1

22 Our City MARCH 2012

Feeling the Difference Dealing with what matters to you in Stoke-on-Trent

E conduct our ‘Feeling the that you tell us through ‘Feeling the I hope you find this information WDifference’ survey twice a year Difference’ would reassure you that useful. I would like to thank you for to get your feedback on local we are dealing with what matters in taking part in ‘Feeling the Chief Superintendent policing and other services. Many your area. Difference’. hundreds of people have already We have also included some Your feedback will help us in our Bernie O’Reilly been surveyed in your area. examples of what we have been work to keep our communities safe Telephone number:101 Below are the top three things doing so far. and reassured. bernard.o’[email protected]

Your SOT North SOT Central SOT South Local Police Superintendent Laurie Whitby-Smith Chief Inspector Chief Inspector Chief Inspector Commanders Adrian Roberts Jeff Moore Peter Hall and Police Tel: 101 Email: Tel: 101 Tel: 101 Tel: 101 Authority laurence.whitby_smith@ Email: Email: Email: staffordshire.pnn.police.uk adrian.roberts@staffor jr.moore@staffordshire peter.hall846@staffords Members: dshire.pnn.police.uk .pnn.police.uk hire.pnn.police.uk

Joy Hifsa Peter Peter Garner Haroon- Vigurs Hayward You said, we did... Police Authority Iqbal Police Authority Police Authority Member for Police Authority Member for Member for These are the top three things you want us to Stoke-on-Trent Member for Stoke- Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent North on-Trent Central South South focus on, and what we’re doing about them. Tel: 01782 Tel: 01785 Tel: 01782 Tel: 01782 You’ve told us you want us to: 768846 663424 658716 644052 UNDERSTAND WHAT MATTERS TO YOUR COMMUNITY Putting you at the USEFUL ● We have engaged 2,506 citizens in your area CONTACTS: in one-to-one discussions about what matters POLICING MATTERS: to them. heart of what we do CrimeStoppers (call anonymously) ● We have held 785 public meetings in FEEDBACK from members of the In return we’ll keep you updated 0800 555 111 Stoke-on-Trent to seek your views. public about how we’re doing is with personal newsletters, detailing CrimeStoppers is an independent charity ● vital to help us keep our how we’ve responded to what Neighbourhood Watch Since June 2010, we have involved 1,000 communities safe and reassured – you’ve told us, and keep you people in your area in our ‘Feeling the Stephen Morris: which is why we’d like to invite informed about major 01782 233838 Difference’ survey. you to join our Citizens’ Panel developments throughout the year. and/or one of our associated panels To join, visit our website at CONTACT YOUR COUNCIL: DEAL WITH MINOR CRIME for specific community groups (see www.staffordshire.police. Stoke-on-Trent City Council ● We have achieved a 18.8% (2,720 reports) our website for more details on uk/information_zone/citizen/ 01782 234234 these). or contact Natalie Wilford, Citizens’ reduction in anti-social behaviour compared with Parking problems By giving us your valuable time Panel Co-ordinator, via the contact the same period last year and completing several short options below: 01782 232091 ● We have achieved a reduction in overall crime questionnaires in a year, you could Tel: 01785 232284. Environmental, refuse, recycling of 5% (1,180 crimes) in Stoke-on-Trent compared help to shape how your Email: natalie.wilford@ 01782 234000 with the same period last year neighbourhood is policed. staffordshire.pnn.police.uk ● We have achieved overall service satisfaction rates of 89.9% for victims of crime, and 87.3% Follow us on Twitter and be a fan on Facebook for victims of anti-social behaviour. YOU can now receive frequent • become a fan on Facebook and operations – the site already has updates about policing in your As well as our main Facebook and 35 videos on subjects including road BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED US community, and in Staffordshire as a Twitter sites, you can view our local safety, tackling drugs and domestic ● whole, through social networking pages, which allow beat officers and violence. We have attended 89% of incidents requiring an sites Twitter and Facebook. PCSOs to provide information REMEMBER: The force’s social immediate response in your area within our As well as getting updates about relevant to specific neighbourhoods networking sites should NOT be target time of 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 police events and initiatives, you can or groups. used to report an emergency, minutes in rural areas. comment and leave feedback on a You can also visit our YouTube details of a crime or any other * Figures are for 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012 discussion board. Simply: site, at www.youtube.com/ urgent matter. They are not inclusive, unless otherwise stated. • follow us on Twitter@ staffordshirepolice, where you can monitored 24-hours-a-day. StaffsPolice see videos about force campaigns Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Are we dealing what matters to you? Please visit www.staffordshire.police.uk/whatmatters to tell us what matters to you. Our City p23 16/3/12 10:20 Page 1

MARCH 2012 Our City 23

Abbey Hulton and Townsend

GWEN HASSALL ADRIAN KNAPPER Your (Labour) (Labour) (01782) 263166 07714 334453 07557 848765 adrian.knapper@ gwen.hassall@ stoke.gov.uk Councillors stoke.gov.uk Baddeley,Milton and Norton Bentilee and Ubberley

JACK BRERETON ANDREW LILLEY DUNCAN WALKER SHEILA PITT ALISON (Conservative) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) 07855 916134 07717 714010 (01782) 912422 07957 948896 07968 477901 jack.brereton@ andy.lilley@ 07748 504149 sheila.pitt@ alison.wedgwood@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk duncan.walker@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Birches Head and Central Forest Park Blurton East Blurton West and Newstead Boothen and Oakhill

PAUL BREEZE MARK MEREDITH GLENYS WARD NEIL DAY ANDY PLATT (Unaffiliated) (Labour) (City Independents) (Labour) Labour (01782) 279684 07717 714020 (01782) 312670 (01782) 598844 07919 660221 paul.breeze@ mark.meredith@ 07922 909545 07796 040002 andy.platt@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk glenys.ward@ [email protected] stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Bradeley and Chell Heath Broadway and Longton East Burslem Central Burslem Park Dresden and Florence

GURMEET SINGH TOM REYNOLDS ALAN DUTTON JOY GARNER SHAZAD HUSSAIN KALLAR (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) 07850 828717 (01782) 824051 (01782) 768846 07899 771815 07900 604232 tom.reynolds@ 07982 231567 07986 442770 shazad.hussain@ gurmeetsingh.kallar@ stoke.gov.uk alan.dutton@ [email protected] stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Eaton Park Etruria and Hanley Fenton East Fenton West and Mount Pleasant Ford Green and

TERRY CROWE MAJID KHAN PAUL SHOTTON KAREN CLARKE MATT WILCOX (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (01782) 269422 07989 441707 (01782) 434445 07917 270594 07810 825600 07818 044755 majid.khan@ paul.shotton@ karen.clarke@ matt.wilcox@ terry.crowe@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Goldenhill and Sandyford Great Chell and Packmoor Hanford and Trentham JANINE BRIDGES MARTIN GARNER (Labour) ANN JAMES TERENCE FOLLOWS PETER HAYWARD (Labour) (01782) 851842 (City Independents) (City Independents) (City Independents) (01782) 768846 07989 385631/ (01782) 836766 (01782) 318127 (01782) 644052 07759 863615 07717 714205 ann.james@ 07944 055379 07920 835839 martin.garner@ janine.bridges@ stoke.gov.uk terence.follows@ peter.hayward@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Hanley Park and Shelton Hartshill and Basford Hollybush and Longton West Joiner’s Square North and Normacot

AMJID WAZIR SHAUN PENDER KATH BANKS ALASTAIR WATSON BAGH ALI (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) 07747 830461 (01782) 632104 (01782) 399759 07736 837822 (01782) 343246 amjid.wazir@ 07920 835836 07790 699379 alastair.watson@ 07973 848428 stoke.gov.uk shaun.pender@ kath.banks@ stoke.gov.uk [email protected] stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Little Chell and Stanfield Meir Hay Meir North Meir Park Meir South

DAVID CONWAY MUHAMMAD AUMIR RUTH ROSENAU ABI BROWN DEBBIE WHEELDON (City Independents) (Labour) (Labour) (Conservative) (Labour) (01782) 790922 07413 205979 (01782) 501940 07793 844169 (01782) 595043 david.conway@ muhammad.aumir@ 07870 503575 abi.brown@ 07870 777807 stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk ruth.rosenau@ stoke.gov.uk debbie.wheeldon@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Moorcroft Penkhull and Stoke Sandford Hill Sneyd Green Springfields and Trent Vale MOHAMMED PERVEZ RANDOLPH CONTEH OLWEN HAMER DEBRA GRATTON SARAH HILL (Labour) (City Independents) (Labour) (Labour) (Labour) (01782) 232468 (01782) 256869 07717 714207 07748 251695 (01782) 845044 07919 917632 or 07920 835902 olwen.hamer@ debra.gratton@ 07584 607624 mohammed.pervez@ randolph.conteh@ stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk [email protected] stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk

Tunstall FORTHCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, STOKE: Cabinet meetings are scheduled at 5.30pm: Full City Council meetings are at 5.30pm: LEE WANGER MATTHEW FRY 26 April 2012, 31 May 2012, 28 June 2012 and 29 March 2012 and 5 July 2012.The Annual (City Independents) (Labour) 26 July 2012. Council meeting is at 11.00am on 24 May 2012. 07971 303729 07826 891801 lee.wanger@ matthew.fry@ For more information on your councillors go to stoke.gov.uk/councillors stoke.gov.uk stoke.gov.uk 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.

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press. Our City p24 16/3/12 10:21 Page 1

24 Our City MARCH 2012 Does your gran Proud salute to sporting look like HRH? GRANNIES in the city could scoop a Royal Jubilee prize... if they resemble Her Majesty The Queen.Tourism officers in Stoke-on-Trent have stars and heroes launched the hunt for a royal lookalike grandma as part of a HE cream of the city’s sporting campaign to stars and heroes has been promote the T honoured at The City of city in the run up to Diamond Stoke-on-Trent Sports Personality Jubilee of the Year Awards. celebrations. The glittering ceremony hosted by double To enter the Olympic gold medal rower James Cracknell saw local cricketer Ben Johnson and Olympic competition just running hopeful Emma Jackson named Male email a photo of and Female Sports Personality of the Year. somebody you Inspirational Ben from Checkley Cricket Club know (it doesn’t returned to the cricket field less than a year after have to be your a road accident left him in a coma. His gran!) – with achievement earned a standing ovation from the their permission 400-strong audience at the King’s Hall in Stoke. – to images@ Emma, who also collected the Senior stoke.gov.uk Individual title on the night, is only the 18th Some of Stoke-on-Trent’s most British woman to run 800 metres in under two famous pottery manufacturers have minutes. She is now preparing in her bid to joined the council to put together a represent Team GB at the London Olympics. royal itinerary to follow in the A total of 34 awards were handed out at the gala night attended by triple jump world record footsteps of The Queen and her holder Jonathan Edwards and World Cup winner family. It can be seen at Gordon Banks, nine-time Paralympic gold medal www.visitstoke.co.uk/royal.aspx winning equestrian Lee Pearson and reigning It includes opportunities to visit world darts champion Adrian Lewis. the Wedgwood Visitor Centre and Imran Sherwani, the Olympic gold medal Museum, Moorcroft Heritage Visitor winning hockey player, was inducted into the City Centre, , Aynsley of Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame China, Portmeirion and The Potteries alongside Hanley-born cycling legend Les West. Museum & Art Gallery. Details of Inspirational Achiever went to three times these venues and a link to money Potteries marathon winner Julia Matheson, who saving vouchers can be found at overcame a crippling back injury to compete again, www.visitstoke.co.uk while former Paratrooper Dan Hopwood who is paralysed from the chest down scooped the Sports Personalities of the Disability Award for winning a World Sprints Year – international runner canoeing medal. Emma Jackson and local Junior award winners included hurdler James cricketer Ben Johnson. Civic celebration Taylor who is top of the UK under-17s rankings and the Staffordshire under-13s cricket team. of Fairtrade OVER 100 people attended a civic reception hosted by Former Paratrooper Dan Hopwood receives the Disability Award from Lord Mayor Councillor Terry television presenter Nick Hancock. Follows to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. The event showcased achievements of the city council and Fairtrade Action in Stoke-on-Trent (FAST). Fairtrade aims to achieve better deals for producers of food and other commodities in developing countries. Stoke-on-Trent is a Fairtrade city and the reception celebrated St Margaret Footballers of Ward High School achieving Fairtrade the Year – Stoke status. City’s Jonathan To find out more please visit Walters, left, stoke.gov.uk/fairtrade and Port Vale’s Doug Loft. Fuel bills survey Inspirational Achiever A citywide survey is seeking Julia Matheson is residents’ views on priorities for presented with the reducing household fuel bills and award by World carbon emissions. Main winners at a glance: Cup winner A strategy is being developed in Gordon Banks. partnership with public and private SENIOR INDIVIDUAL: JUNIOR TEAM: EDITOR’S AWARD: sector organisations to help save Emma Jackson Staffordshire Peter Coates householders and businesses money JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL: Under-13s cricket and create a cleaner environment. James Taylor FOOTBALLERS OF COACH: THE YEAR: The council recognises that a SENIOR TEAM: Darren Barton Stoke City FC: changing climate, rising bills and Stoke Rugby Club poor health from living in cold SPORT IN Jonathan Walters INSPIRATIONAL Port Vale FC: Doug Loft homes have a detrimental impact on ACHIEVER: COMMUNITY: Bradwell Belles the city. Julia Matheson OVERALL WINNERS: Please visit stoke.gov. DISABILITY: SERVICE TO SPORT: Male: Ben Johnson uk/consultations to find out more. Dan Hopwood Neil Gilson Female: Emma Jackson

Pictures courtesy of The Sentinel