stoke-on-trent issue 26: march 2012...

Stoke-on-Trent

OurCityStoke-on-Trent ISSUE 26: MARCH 2012

SEE PAGE 15“Smart” liquids tag intruders

and marked property

Mandate for Change

SEEPAGETHREE

Developing world-leading

technology to givecity’s ceramics

industry an extracompetitive edge inglobal marketplace

Our City p1 15/3/12 17:38

Our City is printed onrecycled paper. Whenyou have finished withthis publication pleasehelp the environmentby passing it on to afriend or recycling it.

Truck buildershows city is onroad to moreinvestment andjob creationBy City Council LeaderCouncillorMOHAMMED PERVEZ

2 Our City M A R C H 2 0 1 2

IT is tremendous to hear news that thecompany behind the proudly-namedLongton Avia Truck intends to createdozens of new jobs by manufacturingthe vehicles at a base in our city (seepage five).

When we launched our Mandate forChange initiative last summer we setout our stall to support and nurtureexisting businesses while doingeverything we can to attract newinvestors to our city.

Making Stoke-on-Trent a great placeto do business and helping to createjobs were the pillars of the campaign.

So it is heartening to hear companieslike Longton Avia praising councilteams for the help and support theyhave given to roll out the red carpet tobusiness.

Pottery manufacturer SteeliteInternational and global industrialresearch specialist Ceram have alsobenefited from this support and haverecognised that the council is doing itsbit to drive forward business.

The public sector is not in a positionto create jobs. We have just seen thesecond round of biting Governmentcuts, where we had to make savingswhile protecting front line services andgenerating money to invest in the city’s future.

There are more cuts to come nextyear and the council will have to workjust as hard to achieve the same goalsof driving progress while balancing thebooks because of financial restrictionswhich are not of our making.

So while we are shedding jobs in thepublic sector to meet Governmentspending cuts, we need to create theright conditions for the private sectorto invest in our city.

That means giving every assistanceto companies who are growing, movingforward and recruiting by helping withplanning issues, land acquisition,infrastructure and even supportingbids for financial assistance.

It is good to hear industry chiefs likeSteelite International’s Kevin Oakessaying the council’s support was vital inthe company’s efforts to create 200much-needed jobs. We have startedhow we mean to go on and thisapproach will continue to create theright conditions for businesses toprosper in Stoke-on-Trent.

MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online. Tosee and hear the debates and decisions which affect life inStoke-on-Trent, visit stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting.A list of dates and times of council meetings and committeemeetings can be found on our website atstoke.gov.uk/meetingdates

Live webcast of full council meetings Give us your feedbackon this issue of Our City by [email protected] or write to: FREEPOST Our City.

COVER PICTURE:Caught red-handed: Staffordshire Police’s SergeantPaul Cook shows how a new forensic markingproduct can protect property and show up on thehands of anyone who comes into contact with it,watched by PC Peter Clarke.

BUSINESSES acrossStoke-on-Trent and Staffordshireare already benefiting from a

single number helpline set up to offerthe kind of support they need todevelop and prosper.

The new number – 0300 111 8002 – actsas one point of contact, making it easier forcompanies, big or small, to get access tovital expertise.

It has been launched as part of a drive bythe Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LocalEnterprise Partnership (LEP) to roll outthe red carpet for organisations. It alsokeys into one of the main principles ofMandate for Change, which is to supportexisting businesses.

The project, which has the backing ofStoke-on-Trent City Council, StaffordshireCounty Council and Staffordshire’sChambers of Commerce, went live inFebruary for a six-month trial.

Council Leader Councillor MohammedPervez said: “This one point of contact willmake it easier for entrepreneurs, big orsmall, to get the information and advice theyneed with the minimum of fuss.With thebusiness support line we have one voicewhen helping businesses to cut throughbureaucracy and simplify things for them.”

Cabinet Member for EconomicDevelopment Councillor Mark Meredithsaid: “This is about providing a seamless

service for existing businesses. We arealready taking all kinds of calls on subjectssuch as recruitment, gaining access tofinancial grants and planning andenvironmental issues.

“The people who take the calls can eitheranswer the queries themselves or signpostthe business to expert help. It is early daysbut we believe there is an appetite for this

kind of one-stop-shop advice and we willcontinue to evaluate its success anddemand throughout the trial period.”

One of the first companies to benefit isspecialist industrial manufacturer EuroslotKDSS Ltd. The Stone-based business,which employs 18 people, was looking forhelp and advice on the range of exportgrants available to small and medium-sizedbusinesses.

Financial Controller Mike Sanders said:“We were looking for more guidance andinformation about the various incentivesand grants set up by the Government tohelp manufacturers boost their exportsales.

“So we called the new business helplineand as a result were directed towardsspecialist advice and export assistance,which is enabling us to take advantage ofthe schemes most relevant to us.”

The helpline was set up in directresponse to what businesses said wouldbenefit them. North StaffordshireChamber of Commerce Chief ExecutiveSara Williams said: “In a survey conductedby the county’s Chambers of Commerceon behalf of the Local EnterprisePartnership, businesses were asked whatwould be of value to them. “The majorityof respondents asked for a single point ofcontact for business advice. So it is reallyexciting that the LEP is able to respond soquickly to businesses needs.”

Council Leader Councillor

Mohammed Pervez and North StaffordshireChamber of Commerce

Chief Executive SaraWilliams at the business

hotline desk inCommerce House,

Festival Park.

Call the business hotline forone-stop-shop advice

With the businesssupport line wehave one voicewhen helpingbusinesses to cut throughbureaucracy andsimplify thingsfor them.CLLR. MOHAMMED PERVEZ,COUNCIL LEADER

“”

Our City p2 15/3/12 17:47 Page 1

M A R C H 2 0 1 2 Our City 3

AStoke-on-Trentbased company isdeveloping a

world-leading technologywhich could save the city’sceramics manufacturersmillions of pounds every yearin energy costs.

The three-year project is beingpartly funded by a £1.9 millionRegional Growth Fund grant tomaterial technology specialistsCeram Research Ltd – whosesuccessful bid was supported by thecouncil’s Economic DevelopmentTeam.

It is hoped that another £1.9million grant will come from theEuropean Regional DevelopmentFund with the remainder of the £5.7million cost of the programme beingmet by Ceram itself and the ceramicsindustry.

The research work will see thedevelopment of new kiln-firingtechnology which, if successful, couldpotentially cut energy consumptionby up to 25 per cent.

It involves the adaptation of“resistive field technology” used in theaerospace industry in the UnitedStates. An electric current is passedthrough the ceramic products while inthe kiln which accelerates the firingprocess and significantly reduces thetemperature at which pottery needs to befired.

Competitive advantage

Ceram will build two “semi scale” kilns atits Penkhull research laboratories – a 30 metre pull through kiln and anintermittent kiln, both with the cutting edgetechnology.

Tony Kinsella, Ceram Chief Executive,said: “By year three we will have the twokilns working at Ceram and local ceramiccompanies will be able to test their productsto show that this world-first technologyworks for them. They will be in a position

to be the first to take up the technology andgain a competitive advantage in the globalmarketplace.

“Reducing energy means not only costsavings but also a reduction in factorycarbon emissions – which could lead topotential tax savings. The companies willalso be able to sell their ware as greenerproducts.

“We want to be able to apply thetechnology to existing kilns as well aspurpose-built new kilns. The industry’sneed for this energy saving technology isimmediate and they will quickly be able toembrace it if we can implement it on kilnsthat are currently in use.”

Prior to making its funding applicationsfor the project, Ceram carried out afeasibility study with the technology in itsresearch laboratories at Penkhull – with verypromising findings. Mr Kinsella praised therole of the council’s EconomicDevelopment Team in backing the bid for agrant from the Government’s RegionalGrowth Fund.

“The attitude, enthusiasm and support ofthe team has been inspiring and was afactor in the bid being successful,” he said.

“In fact, the project was initiallyprompted by council Chief Executive Johnvan de Laarschot who invited local ceramicscompanies, Ceram and representatives of

the British Ceramic Confederation andthe Ceramic Industry Forum to askhow we could best help the industry.

“One clear message was thatreducing energy costs was an urgentpriority. We went away and startedlooking at how new technology couldhelp deliver savings.”

Councillor Mark Meredith, CabinetMember for Economic Development,said: “The work being done by Ceramis extremely impressive and we werefully committed to helping them tosecure the funding needed to developthis technology which could give ourlocal pottery industry a furthercompetitive edge and help itscontinued revival.”

Ceram is an international materialstechnology company that focuses oninnovation, sustainability and qualityassurance. It operates in a wide rangeof industries including healthcarewhere it is currently working ondeveloping new drug-releasetechnologies.

Besides its Stoke-on-Trentheadquarters, the company – whichemploys 190 people – has accreditedresearch laboratories in the Far Eastand subsidiary companies in theUnited States.

THE council is receiving a wide rangingresponse to its consultation onchanging the traditional school year.

Parents and teachers have beenasked whether the established patternshould change, and even give theirideas for a new pattern, by going on tothe council’s website.“So far we havehad more than 650 responses, with alot of people in favour of some sort ofchange,” said Aileen Perry, GovernorSupport Officer, Children and YoungPeople’s Services.

“Numerous parents and members ofstaff have responded, and alsoemployers. We are asking the Chamberof Commerce to help us encouragemore employers to take part.

“The preferences are across a widespectrum, including some people whowould like a return to the Potters’Holiday. I would urge all interestedparties to take the opportunity ofmaking their voices heard.”

■ To give your views visitstoke.gov.uk/termchanges

The three-month consultationperiod ends on 30 April.

AROUND 400 young musicians will taketo the stage of the Victoria Hall for thecity’s annual Grand Recorder Festival.

Students aged from five to 18 frommore than 20 schools in the city willdelight audiences with solo works aswell as massed performances andindividual school performances duringthe two concerts that will be held on 27March at noon and 6.45pm.

The programme is made up mainly oflight classical music and works that havea jazz influence.

Also hitting the right notes will be theCity Youth Recorder Ensemble andsoloist Anna Bradburn, fromStoke-on-Trent, who is in the Sixth Formof the world-famous Chetham’s Schoolof Music in Manchester.

Anna started to learn how to play therecorder at the age of three and hermother Lynne will also be on stage asthe Festival’s piano accompanist.

Harry Hitchen, Acting Leader of theCity Music Service, said: “The acousticsof the Victoria Hall help the recordersproduce a fabulous sound. It’s importantto promote the recorder because it isvery accessible for young children, is a

wonderful instrument in its ownright and one which often inspires

students to explore otherinstruments.”

Admission to the RecorderFestival is £3 at lunchtime andin the evening £6.50 for

adults, £5 for children and£18 for a family ticket that

admits two adults andtwo children. Tickets canbe bought in advanceat the Regent Theatrebox office.

Technology to boostceramics industry

TECHNICAL Consultant David Pearmain uses Ceram’s Scanning Electron Microscope to investigate ceramic samples fired with the new energy-saving technology.

400 musicianstake to stage inrecorder festival

Views sought onpossible changeto school year

Mandate for Change

CERAM Chief Executive Tony Kinsella, left, shows Councillor Mark Meredith,Cabinet Member for Economic Development, a Hygrothermal Rig which is used to check

construction cladding materials meet the standards required by European regulations.

Our City p3 16/3/12 10:29 Page 1

4 Our City MARCH 2012

BARBARA Andrewarrived in the city fromCoventry 26 years ago

to run a hostel in Shelton forhomeless young men – and isstill working hard on behalf ofother people in hercommunity.

Now Chair of Hartshill andHarpfields Residents’ Association,Barbara looked back to thebitterly cold winter of 1985 whenshe came to the city to start hernew job on New Year’s Eve.

“On New Year’s Day I walkedout on to Snow Hill to find thelocal shops,” recalled Barbara.

“Everywhere was still and fromthe top of Broad Street I lookedover the city and rememberthinking how ugly it was and yetalso how strangely beautiful itseemed in the wintry light witheverything covered in snow.”

However it didn’t take long forBarbara to fall in love with Stoke-on-Trent – and particularlywith Hartshill where she chose to

settle. “It’s like a villagewith a strong sense ofhistory and community,good shops andrestaurants and a greatfeeling of neighbourliness.

“I wouldn’t want tolive anywhere else,” shesaid.

Barbara also foundpersonal happiness inthe city when sheattended a meeting of NorthStaffordshire HomelessnessForum and met Joe who waschairing the event.

Support

They have now been marriedfor 23 years and Joe, who isProfessor of Literature andCulture at Keele University wherehe has lectured for 40 years,supports the Residents’Association in every way.

Barbara worked in health andsocial care for 20 years.

She joined the Association inOctober 2007 as its Secretary and

became Chair in November 2009following the death of herpredecessor Graham Simpson.

She is particularly proud ofhow the people of Hartshill andHarpfields support theirResidents’ Association – it’snormal for 80 people to attendmeetings and as many as 120have turned up.

For each meeting residentschoose a theme reflecting theirinterests.

Last year these were Law andOrder, Housing and Supporting

Local Businesses. This yearthe focus will be on PromotingHealth and Wellbeing; Babies,Children and Teenagers andServices for Older People.

The Association’s newsletter isdelivered by volunteers to 3,000homes on 80 streets and there isno shortage of positive ideas fromresidents.

While the area can justly boastof being one of the most green,pleasant and convenient withinthe city’s boundaries, theResidents’ Association is

extremely active in tackling thekind of bread and butter issuesthat can affect any neighbourhood– such as litter, traffic problems,housing, planning, noise nuisanceand, recently, controversial plansto erect a mobile phone mast.

In each category theAssociation works closely withrelevant agencies such as the citycouncil, NHS, police and localcouncillors.

A place with agreat feeling ofneighbourliness

BarbaraAndrew chatswith Hartshill

shopkeeper RegMelathil while outand about in her

community.

Our City p4 16/3/12 08:49 Page 1

A proud citythat is takingcontrol of itsown future

By City CouncilChief Executive

Johnvan deLaarschot


WHEN we launched our Mandate for Change tomake Stoke-on-Trent a great working city androlled out the red carpet to attract newinvestment to create the jobs our citydesperately needs, we meant it.

Our teams and partners are working tirelesslyto make new connections with employersencouraging them to locate here and make themost of our tremendous connectivity to theroad and rail network, our hard-working peopleand a forward-thinking council.

But while doing all we can to bring in newbusinesses, we also made it clear we will makethe same efforts to nurture and supportexisting employers in the city.

As an example, the city council hassupported a locally-based consortium toestablish a new truck manufacturing facility inthe city. We are delighted with the news thatHinduja Group, a large Indian company, wishesto back the development and we will continueto give this our full support. News from SteeliteInternational, who are creating 200 new jobs,and companies like Midland Glass, shows justhow vital that support can be.

In making Stoke-on-Trent a great place to dobusiness, we are creating an environment whereexisting businesses can prosper, where supportfrom the council means they can expandquicker and more efficiently and where bids tosecure funding are backed whole-heartedly bythe local authority.

A great place to succeed

We have launched a free business adviceservice, cutting through red tape and givingemployers and entrepreneurs starting up abusiness a single point of contact where theycan find assistance on a range of subjects fromfunding and skills to premises and supplychains – another important part of making ourcity a great place to succeed (see page 2 formore details). Our business support programmeTEST (Transforming Enterprise in Stoke-on-Trent) has coaches and mentors ready to helpbusinesses which want to grow.

There is lots going on, and more stories ofbusiness success, job creation andtransformation of the city will follow.

And there is more good news. The busstation development in the City Centre is thekey to unlocking the site of the huge CitySentral shopping and leisure area – a combineddevelopment of £350m.

As I write, the biggest exhibition so far ofartefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard is beingplanned to be launched in the summer at ThePotteries Museum & Art Gallery in the citycentre. Part of the Hoard has returned fromWashington DC where over 55,000 peopleviewed it. We are also making finalpreparations to host the Olympic Flame in Maywhich will be a high profile event for our city.

The eyes of the world will once again be onStoke-on-Trent because of these achievements.We should all be proud that the world will see acity that is changing, taking control of its ownfuture and committed to making thingshappen.

AStoke-on-Trentbased truckcompany has

welcomed councilsupport as it workstowards long term plansto assemble vehicles inthe city – which couldcreate dozens of jobs forthe area.

Longton Avia (UK) Ltd hasalready appointed 40 servicedealers across the UK as itrolls out production of its new“Longton” truck which iscurrently rolling off aproduction line at the AviaAshok Leyland plant inPrague.

The firm has been set up bya number of Staffordshirebusinessmen in partnershipwith Avia Ashok Leyland, partof the giant HindujaAutomotive Group. Theyintend to assemble the vehicleat a plant in Stoke-on-Trentas soon it has achieved acritical mass of sales.

Several sites have alreadybeen identified in the city forassembly of the trucks.

British engineering

Jonathan Dale, the firm’sCommercial Director, said:“As local businessmen wewere keen to keep thecompany base here inLongton.

“The area seems ideal forinvestment and we havebeenpleased by the support anddirection provided by thecouncil’s team in helping tomake any move as easy aspossible.”

“We haven’t set this up withbig, shiny sales rooms at thestart. We’re coming at it fromthe other direction wherequality and Britishengineering speak forthemselves.

“We will build sales first

and then bring assembly andproduct development toLongton. We’re talking aboutdozens of jobs, initially. Thevehicle we’re selling has beenproduced in the CzechRepublic for five or six years.

“We chose to call our modelthe Longton. We have carriedout worldwide research andreaction to the name andproduct has been very positiveindeed.

“Within the commercialvehicle industry, the keycomponents used in themanufacture of the vehiclewill be recognised as the goldstandard.”

The company is planning tobring the assembly of theLongton-Avia Truck to theCity once sales reach anappropriate level.

In preparation they areworking with the council,Make It Stoke-on-Trent andStaffordshire InvestmentDevelopment Team to look atpossible sites.

Councillor Mark Meredith,Cabinet member forEconomic Development, said:“It is crucial as part of theMandate for Change that wehelp support businesses togrow and flourish in the city.

“The Inward Investment

Team’s red carpet service isdesigned to help businesseslooking to invest. It is pleasingto see that the companyrecognises our city’s potentialand they are prepared toinvest and bring jobs to ourarea.”

Councillor Ruth Rosenau,Cabinet Member forRegeneration said: “Longtonis a town which is undergoinga number of changes. It ispleasing to see that thecompany has recognised thatpotential and is keen to bringproduction here as well asnaming the British designedtrucks after the town.”

BRIDGES are being built betweentravellers and the wider communitythanks to a council-backed theatreproject.

Up to 120 children at four schoolstook part in Travellers Tales, whichincluded a series of workshops stagedby New Vic Borderlines to highlight thegenocide of up to half a million Gypsiesduring World War ll.

The project, commissioned by thecouncil’s Community Cohesion Team,also involves the theatre collecting andrecording stories of travelling familiesin the city. It culminated in a specialperformance at the theatre calledSpeak Up – Speak Out.

An audience of up to 400 enjoyed the

work of around 90 children fromHollywall Primary, St Joseph’s CatholicPrimary, St Margaret Ward CatholicCollege and The Co-operative Academyat Brownhills.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trustand the Imperial War Museumsupported the event, which featuredpoetry, movement and drama.

Sue Moffat, Director of the New Vic’saward winning community programmeBorderlines, said:“This project is aboutbuilding relationships.

“It’s to give the travelling communitya voice and to tell their stories soeveryone in Stoke-on-Trent appreciatesthey are part of the culture andheritage of the city. While meeting with

the travelling community, I’ve beenmade to feel very welcome and we arevery excited about ways of workingtogether to tell real travellers’ tales.

“Our gentle exploration of whathappened to their community duringthe war allowed the children we workedwith to find ways of speaking up andspeaking out against prejudice andpersecution.

“The kids have been amazing. Manyof them had never performed before sothey were very brave.

“When they get it, their sense ofmoral outrage, their sense of what isright and wrong is very strong.I think this project is the start ofsomething fabulous.”

Theatre project helps pupils understandthe culture of the travelling community

Plan for ‘Longton trucks’to be

assembled in Longton

Cabinet Member for Regeneration Ruth Rosenauand Jonathan Dale, Commercial Director for

Longton Avia (UK) Ltd, pictured at the company’soffices in the town.

Mandate for Change

Our City p5 16/3/12 08:54 Page 1


IT may be 80 miles from thesea, but Stoke-on-Trent is theplace to embark on a voyage ofdiscovery to commemorate thecentenary of the sinking of theTitanic. After all, the city is thebirthplace of the ill-fated ship’scaptain Edward John Smith.

Museum displays that evokethe Edwardian period and thefashions and music of thosetimes will mark the disasterwhich cost 1,517 lives when theliner struck an iceberg on itsAtlantic maiden voyage toNew York and sank 375 milessouth east of Halifax in NovaScotia, Canada, in the earlyhours of 15 April, 1912.

Captain Smith, who wasraised in Well Street,Hanley, went on to becomethe Commodore of theWhite Star Line. He was acelebrity of his day, in demand bythe rich and famous who vied fora place at his captain’s table.

The city’s own commemorationhas already cast off at ThePotteries Museum & Art Gallerywhere the Titanic Trail – a seriesof displays – explores the area’slinks with the doomed oceanliner. The displays, on show until31 December, include CaptainSmith’s loving cup. The samevenue will be staging the sort ofmusic hall entertainment thatwould have been enjoyed bypassengers on the Titanic and apresentation charting the story ofthe ship from her conception in1907 to the discovery of thewreck in 1985.

On 1 April the Museum willalso stage a one-day presentationof Edwardian society fashions –such as the one pictured above –that would have been seen onthe liner and on the weekend ofthe centenary of the sinking itwill stage the sort of Victorianmusic hall that would haveentertained the Titanicpassengers.

In addition a TitanicScience event at ThePotteries Museum & ArtGallery will explore thescience of the sinkingand give visitors achance to try theirhand at fascinating

experiments to discover how theunsinkable liner met her doom.Gladstone Pottery Museum willoffer the opportunity to find outabout more local people onboard – like the ship’s engineer,Leonard Hodgkinson, from Stoke,passenger William Angle, aMinton’s tile fixer, and FatherThomas Byles, a priest who tookover 100 confessions before theship floundered.

The Lord Mayor, CouncillorTerry Follows, said:“The sinking ofthe Titanic is a historic event asmomentous today as when ittook place and I’m proud that thecity is doing so much to mark thecentenary in so many ways aswell as paying tribute to CaptainSmith who was a son ofStoke-on-Trent.”

What is not alwaysremembered is that before goingdown with his ship, CaptainSmith organised an evacuationthat saved 706 lives – a factperhaps worth toasting with aglass of Centenary or 1912, twobeers specially brewed byBurslem’s Titanic Brewery tocommemorate the waterydemise of its famous namesake.

● For more information visitthe museums service websiteat www.stokemuseums.org.uk

City’s Titanic displays are a realvoyage of discovery

RMS Titanic.

AMBITIOUS window manufacturer Midlands Glass is looking to

double its workforce andexpand its operations with thehelp of a business coachingprogramme aimed at high-achievers with the potential to grow.

The company, based atLongport Enterprise Centre, wasset up by owner – 23-year-oldShakeel Asghar– just 12months ago andcurrentlyemploys sixpeople. But withthe help of the Stoke-on-TrentCity Council-funded HighGrowth Programme, which bringstogether the combined expertise ofthe council, North StaffordshireChamber of Commerce and Keeleand Staffordshire Universities, thecompany is flourishing and takingsteps towards stable growth.

“Orders are coming in for ourwindows and frames from acrossthe region and we have thepotential to grow,” said Shakeel.“We are on target to more thandouble our existing workforce bythis time next year.

“We are also expanding fast andI am looking at new premises ormore space at this currentlocation. The programme hashelped me to take the steps I needand the advice and financialsupport has been invaluable.”

Midlands Glass is one of 13small to medium-sized businessestaking part in the High GrowthProgramme.

It is aimed at companies that

are rapidly expanding and a rangeof experts work with them topromote and enable sensible andsustainable growth for the future.

The programme offers a freementoring scheme – teaming upexperienced business people withthe high growth companies – andin-depth marketing intelligenceand advice.

It also provides grants of up to£1,500 to help buy newequipment and machinery andinnovation vouchers, which fundup to £3,000 of researchexpertise.

Workshops are also hosted on arange of subjects, such as applyingfor tax credits to offset researchand development costs, help withfinance and how to get the mostout of public relations, marketingand social media.

Councillor Mark Meredith,Cabinet Member for EconomicDevelopment, said: “MidlandsGlass is a prime example of amanufacturing company that can

be successful indifficult economictimes. Shakeel hasbeen able to takeadvantage of theHigh Growth

Programme by using the financialassistance and expertise to develophis business and plan sensible andsustainable expansion.

“We are now looking to take onthe next wave of companies inApril. To qualify, businesses needto be small or medium-sized andexperiencing year on year growthover 10 per cent.”

For details about the HighGrowth Programme contactthe project team at NorthStaffordshire Chamber ofCommerce on 01782 202222.

Growth atthe double

Window manufacturer to expand workforce

HUNDREDS of residents are keepingup to date with the council’s workthrough its Facebook and Twitteraccounts.

In the last month the sites havecovered subjects as diverse as updatesto the gritting during the problemscaused by snow, live tweeting of thebudget council meeting, National ChipWeek, adoption and fostering eventsand the Queen’s Diamond Jubileecelebrations.

New videos added to the council’sYouTube channel, included aninterview with Olympic goldmedal-winning swimmer DuncanGoodhew (who was working with

children in Stoke-on-Trent) and a shortclip about the council’s work withStaffordshire Police, the UK BorderAgency and other organisations aspart of Operation Impact.

Members of the council’s tradingstandards and fraud teams spoke oncamera about the importance ofworking together and sharinginformation to protect residents andensure council homes and benefits arebeing received by those who areentitled to them.

To view council videos, go to www.youtube.com/StokeOnTrentCounciland subscribe to keep up withforthcoming videos.

Social media helps update residents

Mandate for Change

www.facebook.com/stokeontrent.citycouncil

www.youtube.com/user/StokeOnTrentCouncil

www.flickr.com/photos/stoke-on-trent/

twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil

Our City p6 16/3/12 08:56 Page 1


THIS is my secondyear as a councillor, I

was first elected in 2010 andthen re-elected in 2011 whenI was heavily pregnant withmy second child. I'm currentlythe youngest female councillorand I know what it takes tobalance family with workinghard to earn a living. My twokids sometimes come with meto the less formal meetingsand when they do the mood islighter and it’s less aggressivewhich does help good decisionmaking to a degree.

My little boy entertainshimself and my baby girl isfairly well behaved. Peopleseem to like it and they say itshows my commitment. Icould just as easily say I don’thave childcare and not comebut I don’t.

I’m proud of my city andarea and want to make thembetter. I know it’s tough foreveryone at the moment but Isee it as a challenge. Withgood will in the communitywe can make thingsbetter.

MY strong socialconscience drives me

on. That and the fact thatpolitics is in my blood. Mymother is chairperson of aresidents’ association andshe’s 80. My husband andsister are both citycouncillors too.

I’ve represented people allmy life. I joined the USDAWtrade union when I startedwork at Tesco in Hanley andover the years became branchchair, health and safety rep,store rep and a regional rep. Ifirst became a councillor in2002 and currently serve onthree committees and thePolice Authority.

I’d put so much time in, Igave up work in 2004 todedicate myself to itfull-time. I really enjoyserving the residents of thecity plus visitors to Stoke-on-Trent too. We want to makeit safe and secure so theycome back. We need jobs andbusinesses in the city so wehave to look after bothor we’ll get neither.

FAMILY ties drew meback to my ward where

I grew up and got married.It’s where my two brothers,niece and four cousins stilllive.

I’ve had 21 years in publicservice, starting as a countycouncillor in 1985. I’ve lostmy city council seat twice,once in 2001 and again in2006. The second time Idecided I wouldn’t standagain but I came back in2011 and was re-elected. Itwas like coming home.Everyone’s like an oldneighbour or extendedfamily.

It was like a new lease oflife for me. I always try to beavailable 24/7 and the onlything I promise is that I’ll domy best. I can’t alwaysguarantee the outcome but Iwill listen and try to help. Aslong as I’m making adifference, I’ll keep going. IfI’m 70 and still going, that’sfine, unless the voters let meknow different beforethen.

COMMUNITY isreally important to me

and I’ve lived in the samemulti-cultural terraced streetin Northwood, which is a largepart of my ward, since 1982.

When antisocial behaviourbecame a problem in the areayears ago, I co-founded aresidents’ association and gotinvolved in trying to sort itout. Over the years I wasasked for help with all sorts ofthings and first served as acouncillor from 2003 to 2007.

I lost my seat but wasre-elected in 2011 after I tooktime off to write a televisionscreenplay based on apreviously published novelwhile looking after my threesons as a single parent. Myfamily is the most importantthing to me and I have greatempathy with peoplestruggling on very lowincomes while keeping theirvalues of decency and respect.It can be stressful andfrustrating trying to make mycommunity better butit’s very rewarding.

Councillor

TerryFollowsaged 64:IndependentHanford and Trentham

Councillor

AbiBrownaged 33:ConservativeMeir Park

Councillor

JoyGarneraged 50:LabourBurslem Park

Councillor

KathBanksaged 62:LabourHollybush andLongton West

Councillor

Paul Breezeaged 59:UnaffiliatedBirches Head andCentral Forest Park

Pictured at the Civic Centrereception are, left to right, AbiBrown, Kath Banks, Terry Follows,Paul Breeze and Joy Garner.

I lived in FenparkRoad when I was a kid

and used to marvel when theLord Mayor went past in hisRolls Royce. I never thoughtit would happen to me.

I’ve been a councillor offand on for about 16 yearsand last year thought I mightnot get another chance to beLord Mayor so I put myselfforward. I was lucky enoughto be chosen and I’m reallyenjoying the role.

It’s opened my eyes to how many voluntary sector groups are workingaround the city for theircommunities. Unpaid heroesI call them.

Local issues first got meinvolved in politics andthough I’d no ambitions tobe a councillor I thought Icould do better than thecouncillors in my ward at thetime. So I stood.

I like representing people.I don’t care about politicalparties. If you ask people tovote for you, youshould represent them.

“

”

“

”

“

”

“

”

“

”

Councillors seek election for many different reasons. Some are motivated by alocal issue, others by their social conscience and yet more because of their love ofpolitics. Here, Our City asks another five councillors what makes them tick and whatthey hope their public service achieves.

Our City p7 16/3/12 08:58 Page 1


STOKE-ON-TRENT’S biggest everschool building programme has pumpedtens of million of pounds into the localeconomy in its first year.

Since work started on the BuildingSchools for the Future (BSF) project, £61million has been spent with the supplychain – of which £31 million has gone tolocal companies and contractors.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, CabinetMember for Regeneration, said: “Thisrepresents 55 per cent of the supply chainbudget being spent locally – which issignificantly higher than the nationalaverage figure for BSF projects of around40 per cent.

“It shows we are delivering on ourpromise to procure locally where possibleto help sustain jobs and businesses. Weintend to continue this commitment tolocal spend right through to the completion

of the building and refurbishmentprogramme in January 2014 by which timeit will have amounted to approximately£100 million worth of work. Not only isBSF transforming the city’s educationalinfrastructure, it is also making a realcontribution to regeneration and jobcreation.”

New academies

Work is now underway on 16 of the 18building projects in the £250 million BSFprogramme, which comprises a mix of newbuild schools, major refurbishments andextensions.

Works by Thomas Vale/Wates areprogressing well at Haywood EngineeringCollege at Burslem, Trentham High,Birches Head High, Aynsley SpecialSchool, Ormiston Sir Stanley MatthewsAcademy and Kemball School at Blurton,

St Thomas More Catholic College atLongton, the Discovery Academy atBentilee and St Peter's Academy at Fenton.

Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty havecompleted the new Reach Pupil ReferralUnit at Trent Vale which is now in use.They are on site with The Co-operativeAcademy at Burslem, Ormiston HorizonAcademy and Middlehurst Special Schoolat Chell, Thistley Hough Community Highat Penkhull, St Margaret Ward CatholicCollege at Tunstall, and St Joseph's Collegeat Trent Vale.

Work on their last two schemes isplanned to start later this year: HoldenLane High and Specialist Sports College atSneyd Green will be substantially rebuiltwith the old 1960s block demolished, andAbbey Hill School & Performing ArtsCollege is planned to move from AbbeyHulton to a new building at Longton.

MORE apprenticeships are being createdby companies working on BuildingSchools for the Future projects – thanksto a joint initiative between the majorcontractors, the council, and Stoke onTrent College

Construction giants Balfour Beatty,Thomas Vale/Wates together with ICTtraining specialist RM Education arelooking to take on 40-plus apprenticesthroughout the remaining duration ofthe BSF programme.

They have formed a new forum withthe college – which will providevocational training – to oversee therecruitment of young people for theapprenticeships and work experienceplacements.

Andy Greenhough, the college'sDirector of Employer Engagement, ischairing the forum which includes BSFProject Director Tracy Penrose-Gould,council Economic Development OfficerSteve Lovatt and representatives fromthe contractors.

Training

He said:“The forum will enable us towork together to create opportunities foryoung people that might not havehappened. The college will help withrecruitment and provide training toprepare the apprentices for theworkplace and the contractors willprovide the jobs.

“It is an exciting initiative that will notonly benefit the apprentices but also thecompanies who will gain from havingquality employees for the future. The firstbatch of 19 potential apprentices arealready being prepared by undertaking apre-apprenticeship programme andrecruitment will be ongoing.

“Although initially the forum isspecifically for BSF it is envisaged theapprenticeship scheme will be extendedto future major building projects such asthe new city centre bus station and theCity Sentral retail and leisure complex.”

Experience

Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty and thecollege have teamed up with ThePrince's Trust to give constructionindustry experience to disadvantagedyoung people. The work placements willlast around two weeks and are designedto give the participants a taste ofconstruction industry work and, if theytake to it, a possible route intoemployment.

Prior to the placements, The Prince’sTrust volunteers are given a day’svocational training to prepare them for abuilding site including a Health andSafety induction.

Colin Harper, Balfour Beatty’s BSFProject Director in Stoke-on-Trent, said:“We have had 12 young people betweenthe ages of 17 and 25 from The Prince’sTrust on work placements which give usa chance to assess them and for them toassess the industry. One teenager whohas taken part in the scheme has alreadybeen taken on as a full-time apprentice.”

PLUMBER Bruce Bagnall tapped intoa great opportunity when he appliedfor the chance to become BalfourBeatty’s first Advanced Apprentice inConstruction Management inStoke-on-Trent.

The 23-year-old was up againsttough competition from more than20 other applicants and, as part ofthe recruitment process, sat fourexams in Birmingham, two exams,two group exercises and aninterview in Manchester before afinal interview with two othershortlisted candidates in ThePotteries.

But it was all worthwhile whenBruce landed the job and lastSeptember began a busy learningcurve supervising building site workon BSF projects in the city.

“I’m absolutely loving the job – I’mgaining new skills and know howevery day,” said Bruce, who left

Blythe Bridge High School at theaged of 16 with nine GCSEs.“Thework is varied – as well as learning tosupervise construction, I’m carryingout Health and Safety inductions.”

After leaving school Bruce had afew different jobs before eventuallybecoming an apprentice plumberand achieving NVQ Level 2. Now, heis about to start another two-yearNVQ course in constructionmanagement at Stoke on TrentCollege – for which he is released byBalfour Beatty one day a week toattend.

Colin Harper, Balfour Beatty BSFProject Director in Stoke-on-Trent,said:“Bruce has settled in very welland we are extremely pleased withhis progress. He is a fine example ofthe high quality people available inthis area who, if given the rightopportunities, provide a tremendousresource for businesses.”

Initiative isprovidingmore newapprentices

Plumber taps intoa great opportunity

Projects boost economy andcreate employment

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME:construction work is moving apaceon the futuristic Co-operativeAcademy at Burslem.

Balfour Beatty AdvancedApprentice Bruce

Bagnall at work on theconstruction site of the

new Thistley HoughCommunity High

School.

Our City p8-9 16/3/12 09:04 Page 1


TEACHERS arereceiving specialisttraining under the

Building Schools for theFuture programme so theycan make the most ofhi-tech equipment in new21st Century classrooms.

A raft of new technology isbeing introduced centred aroundinteractive whiteboards – a large,touch sensitive board connectedto a digital projector andcomputer – which some schoolsare using for the first time.

The projector displays theimage from the computer screenon the board and the computercan then be controlled bytouching the board, either directlyor with a special pen.

Voting pads, mobile slates –portable tablets which can bepassed around the classroom –iPods with educational Apps, andvisualisers, which can magnifyand record written material anddemonstrations and project themon the board, all feature in theexciting new learning spaces.

The council's leads for ICT forschools and education, SteveJohnson and Shirley Robinson,have brought in a specialistcompany, RM Education, todeliver guidance and training onthe innovative technology tosupport learning and teaching – acrucial part of the overall BSFinvestment.

Katrina Hay, RM EducationDevelopment Manager, said:“The training is not led by thetechnology but by the educationalvision of the school and howteachers believe the technology

can best be used to achieve theirteaching and learning priorities.

“No two schools are the sameso the training is tailored to eachschool. Some schools are havingthe whiteboards for the first time,while others have had them foryears and are now introducingadditional technologies.

“The training has two strands –essential training which raises theabilities of teachers so they canmake the most of the hi-techequipment and the actionresearch project which trialstechnology in the classroom toassess how it can improvelearning.”

Haywood Engineering College,Burslem – a leading innovator inthe use of technology to supportlearning – already has extensive

expertise in applying the newtechnologies and teachers havereported excellent feedback fromstudents.

Sian Hughes, Haywood’s Headof Inclusion, said the use ofvoting pads and mobile slates wasfurther encouraging students’participation in lessons.

She said: “Using thetechnologies such as the votingpads and the slate means thatstudents are much more engagedin the lesson and willing tocontribute. Being able to trackstudents’ responses means that Ihave an even clearer idea of theirlevel of understanding and I am

able to targetintervention more rapidly andeffectively.

“I was surprised how even themost reluctant students werewilling to engage more fully withthe lesson and to get activelyinvolved through the medium oftechnology.”

Making the most of

A Stoke-on-Trent company whichspecialises in manufacturing furniturefor schools and colleges has alreadygained “significant” work from the BSFprogramme.

Little Dreams has a 30-strongworkforce at its factory, offices andshowroom in Campbell Road, Stoke,and has customers throughout theUK. Winning two contracts throughcompetitive tender to supplyfurniture for the new Co-operativeAcademy at Brownhills and therefurbished Aynsley Special School,Blythe Bridge has helped thecompany to further invest in newmanufacturing equipment and jobs.

At The Co-operative Academy, LittleDreams is designing, manufacturingand installing 31 “teaching mediawalls” – contemporary storage unitsfor the 21st Century classroom,accommodating hi-tech equipmentsuch as interactive whiteboards – andICT work stations for 180 computers.

Some of the work stations aremotorised so that at the touch of abutton the computer monitorsdescend into the furniture to leave aclear space for students to carry outnon-computer work or to holddiscussions. The work stations vary insize for clusters of between three andsix students.

The commission from Thomas Vale/Wates at Aynsley Special School is tofit out a science laboratory, foodtechnology room and library – as wellas providing tables, chairs and otherfurniture throughout the building.

Andrew Leake, Managing Directorof Little Dreams, which has been inbusiness for 25 years, said:“We have arange of state-of-the-art modernfurniture products – the design ofwhich can be adapted to suit thespecific requirements of a school. We

listen very carefully to staff at theschools so we can create designswhich give the best solutions forthem.”

Mr Leake said the city’s BSFprogramme had provided thecompany with a business opportunityon its doorstep. “It is a significantamount of work for us and has helpedto secure existing jobs and to createfurther new jobs. We hope to have theopportunity to bid for more work inother BSF projects in the city.”

Specialist city firm wins contracts

Pupilsat HaywoodEngineering

College using theActiv Slate that syncs

with the classroominteractive

whiteboard.

A classroom voting pad.

Little DreamsManaging

Director AndrewLeake in thecompany’s

showroom atStoke.

Students are much more engagedin the lesson andwilling to contributeSIAN HUGHES, HAYWOOD’S HEAD OF INCLUSION

“”

Our City p8-9 16/3/12 09:05 Page 2


CAREFUL planning in theface of the worst everGovernment cuts mean

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’sfinancial health is as good ascan be expected in the currentclimate.

As well as balancing the books for2011-12 after achieving £36million ofspending reductions, councillors andofficers are trying to achieve anunderspend which will help to ease thepressures of the coming years.

A year ago Stoke-on-Trent faced theUK’s eighth worst financial settlement

for a unitary authority. Now it hasweathered the storm of the first year ofcuts, and has more than a fightingchance of meeting the challenges ofthe next year. The approved budgetdeals with the Government cuts andcreates an additional £5million tofund vital job creation in the city.

Councillors set the budget for 2012-13 last month after acomprehensive consultation exercisewhich gave members of the public theopportunity to have their say on thecouncil’s spending priorities.

Huge challenges

Councillor Sarah Hill, CabinetMember for Finance, said: “We facehuge challenges but managed to set abold and ambitious budget packageafter comprehensive and inclusiveconsultation. We made someconcessions after listening to thepublic, including retaining the LordMayor and withdrawing proposed cutsto Marrow House. Moving forward,we will continue to listen to families inrespect of all the sensitive andvulnerable areas.”

Assistant Director of Finance, PeterBates said the council had managed itsfinances effectively in the face of thetoughest of challenges and woulddeliver a balanced budget for 2011-12.

He said: “The financial health of theorganisation is as strong as could

realistically be expected given thespeed and severity of funding cuts. Wehave had to manage £36million worthof reductions in the last year, and afurther £24million will be made inthe coming year. Although thereis still huge uncertainty aboutthe level of cuts we face inthe coming years ourperformance so far gives usa solid foundation to planfrom.”

The council has alsodefended its decision toincrease Council Tax toreduce the impact of cutson resources and help driveforward its programme ofinvestment in job creationand regeneration.

Councillor Hill said: “Weappreciate these are hardtimes for residents but therise, which equates to lessthan 77p per week on aBand D property, meanswe still have the thirdlowest level of CouncilTax in Staffordshire.

“We have to create theright conditions to attractjobs and privateinvestment in the city,and this budget is animportant part of that effort.”

Tax successSTOKE-on-Trent City Council hasincreased the amount of CouncilTax it collected in the last year byover one per cent... worth around£800,000 extra money collected.

It means collection rates in thecity are better than they havebeen for a number of years.

Assistant Director of FinancePeter Bates said: “We arecommitted to continuing toimprove collection performancewhich in turn reduces pressureelsewhere on the city’s finances.”

Budget shows city’s financesin good health

FREEearly education

for three andfour year olds

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

Do you have a child

who will be three or

four years old by

31st March 2012?

stoke.gov.uk/families

tel: 0800 015 1120 or 01782 232200

NEW SKILLS:One of the priorities in thecouncil’s budget is to investin developing a skilledworkforce across the city. Itwill support facilities like anEcohouse, pictured here,where Stoke on TrentCollege apprentices learnthe latest energy-efficientconstruction skills. Ourpicture shows ApprenticeDomestic Gas Fitter TomSmith with a photovoltaicsolar panel as he learns towire the fuse box for thelatest renewable energytechnology.

Our City p10 16/3/12 10:27 Page 1


Children’s CentreUPDATE

Tel: 01782 231096

Tel: 01782 238989

Tel: 01782 231096

Tel: 01782 232977

Tel: 01782 236655

Tel: 01782 238352

Tel: 01782 236333

Tel: 01782 234357

Tel: 01782 237100

Tel: 01782 231815

Tel: 01782 596421

Tel: 01782 237650

Tel: 01782 233775

Tel: 01782 234024

Tel: 01782 233670

Tel: 01782 237500

UP to eight morehealth visitors arebeing taken on in

Stoke-on-Trent by 2015 aspart of a Government boostto services offered throughchildren’s centres.

The city is one of first 20 areasin the country to benefit from are-vamp as outlined in the newfour-part Health Visiting ServiceOffer, which will be providedlocally by the Staffordshire andStoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS

Trust. It safeguards wide-rangingservices already being delivered byhealth visiting teams including theHealthy Child Programme andcovers support for teenage mumsand their babies through theFamily Nurse Partnership.

Liz Elliott, a Health Visitor andTeam Leader based at Stoke-on-Trent North Children’sCentre, said: “It’ll make a hugedifference to outcomes forchildren and their families.

“As part of it, we’re alreadyworking in partnership with

children’s centres to better mapthe development of one, two andthree-year olds so we can identifyany issues earlier and offer therelevant support.”

A qualified general andpaediatric nurse for 20 years, Liz isone of four health visitors based inChell Heath. Her team, includinga staff nurse and a healthcaresupport worker, operate alongsidefamily support and childcare stafffrom the children’s centre.

Preventative care is central totheir work and they run baby

clinics, drop-in sessions andparenting programmes as well ascarry out home visits. They runquit smoking groups and can refermums for support with postnataldepression and low mood.

They also signpost families tochildren’s centre services like babymassage groups, which can helpbabies with colic, or “Stay andPlay” sessions to help new mumsfeel supported and less isolated.

Liz, who moved into healthvisiting 11 years ago, said: “I’dworked with sick children inhospital, which was wonderful, butit’s also great to work withchildren and their families in thecommunity. One of our roles issupporting and empoweringcommunities. It’s fantastic to buildrelationships and support families.When they recognise that they’vemade a change for the better,that’s the best bit. When a mum isable to feel that she is a goodmum and says thank-you, it’sfantastic. It’s why I really don’tmind coming into work. I reallylook forward to it.”

More NHS staff employed to give

a healthy revamp

AWARD-winning support services delivered at Stoke-on-Trent Children’s Centres are at risk unlessfunding can be found.

Start-Up Citywide helps more than 700 parents ayear into training and employment through aprogramme of courses delivered by Training andEmployment Coaches working with the centres.

David Williams, Business Development Managerat YMCA North Staffordshire who run the service,said:“This unique and award winning partnership

has made a real difference to the lives of families.“But this valuable service could be lost if we don’t

get funding.We currently have bids in forGovernment, European and lottery funding to tryand secure its future.”

The service has helped more than 4,000 peoplesince its launch in 2003, many of them left schoolwith few or no qualifications.

Around 70 people a year are supported into jobsand 800 employer-focused qualifications achieved.

Funding bids made to save vital service

StokeNorth Health

Visitor Liz Elliottwith local ResidentSamantha Dale andher nine-month-old

baby AmeliaJones.

News and information from Stoke-on-Trent’s Children’s Centres March 2012

Our City p11 16/3/12 09:13 Page 1

* Referral Only. PICL – Parents Involved in Children’s Learning. ▲ Appointments Only.

College Road, Shelton, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DQ

MONDAY

ESOL 9:30-11:30am(English Speaking for Other Languages)

EYFS Crèche* 12:30-2:30pm

Ready Steady Learn 12:30-2:30pm(Transition based group)

TUESDAY

Observation and Assessment Crèche12:30-2:30pm

Baby Stay and Play 1:15-2:45pm(PICL,0-2yrs)

WEDNESDAY

Little Stars* 9:30-11:30am(Additional Needs Group)

Stay and Play (PICL) 1-3pm(2-5yrs,held at The Shelton Centre)

Parent Time 9:30-11:30am(21 Mar,25 April)

THURSDAY

Dove Service* 9-11am

Health Visitor and Baby WeighingGroup (Drop-in Session) 1:30-2:45pm

Chill and Chat Drop-in 9:30-11:30am(Limited Crèche places,must be booked)

FRIDAY

Baby Massage (Booking) 10-11am

Fun to Talk – Speech and Language(2yrs plus) 10-11:30am

Crèche/Behaviour ManagementCrèche* 12:30-2:30pm

OTHER SERVICES

Speech and Language Support*

Play and Learning in the Home*

Family Support in the Home*

Volunteering Programme

01782237100

MONDAY

Stay and Play 9:30-11am(PICL,18 mths plus)

Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11:30am

Chill & Chat* 1-3pm

TUESDAY

Connect Community Group(Limited crèche places) 9:30-11:30am

Post-Natal Group 1-2:30pm

WEDNESDAY

Baby Stay and Play – GrowingTogether (0-18 mths) 10:30-12pm

Mandarin Group 12:30-2pm

Babble and Speak* 1:30-2:30pm

THURSDAY

Ready, Steady, Go (Transition crèche toNEG/School) 9:30-11:30am

Hands from Around the World*10:30-12pm

FRIDAY

Parent Forum 1-2:30pm(2 Mar,6 April,all welcome)

OTHER SERVICES




Family Walking Group


MONDAY

Time 4 You* 12:30-2:30pm

TUESDAY

Midwife Clinic (Booking) All Day

Baby Weighing Clinic 9-10:30am

Babbling Babes/Growing Together10:30-11:30am

Staying Connected* 12:30-2:30pm(Limited crèche places)

WEDNESDAY

Stay and Play (PICL) 10-11:30am

Stay and Play (PICL) 1:15-2:45pm(Abbey Hulton Primary)

THURSDAY


Ready Steady Learn 9:30-11:30am(Please enquire)

Baby Massage (Booking) 10-11am

Baby Weighing Clinic 1:30-3:30pm(Abbey Hulton Clinic)

FRIDAY

Breastfeeding Café 10:30-12:30pm

Messy Monsters Craft 1-2:30pm

OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library (By request)

Sensory Room (Booking only)



Kingsland Kindergarten (Day Care)


01782234357

Greatbatch Avenue, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7JU

0178223633301782

238352

Eaves Lane, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 9AS

Garth Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 2DA

CHILDREN’S CENTRES IN THE SOUTH OF THE CITY

Jubilee Road, Trentham ST4 8EF

MONDAY

Play Together (0-5yrs) 9:15-11:15am

Midwife Clinic ▲ 9:30-2pm

Cook & Eat 12:30-2:30pm(6wks,crèche available, limited places,book 01782 596421)

TUESDAY

Midwife Clinic ▲ 9:30-1pm

Busybodies 9:30-10:15am(Meir Park Playgroup)

Baby Massage 1-2:30pm(0-12mths,5wks,book 01782 233775)

WEDNESDAY

Growing Together (0-5yrs) 9:30-11am

THURSDAY

Jo Jingles 10-10:45am(£2 per family,book call 01782 233775)

Baby Club 11-12:30pm

Little Sunshine’s Group 1-2:30pm(0-5yrs,Drop-In)

Child Health Clinic 1:15-2:45pm

FRIDAY

Baby Jabadao 0-First steps 9:30-11am

Growing Together (0-5yrs) 1-2:30pm

OTHER SERVICES

Crèche

Baby Club

01782233775

Pinewood Crescent, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 6HZ

01782596421

MONDAY

Playspace and Café 9:30-4pm

Midwife Clinic ▲ 9-3:30pm

Baby Jabadao (0-First steps) 1-2:30pm

TUESDAY


Growing Together 9:30-11am

Speech and Language Therapy ▲

9-4pm

Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11am

WEDNESDAY

Speech and Language Therapy ▲

9-1pm

Parent’s Forum 9:30-11:30am

Job Centre Plus 9:30-2pm


Baby Massage 1-2:30pm(0-12mths,book at reception)

Walking Group 1:15-2:15pm

THURSDAY



Fitness Group ▲ 10-11am

Start-Up Drop-In Smile 10-Noon(28 April)

Baby Club 1-2:30pm

Little Sunshine’s Group 1-2:30pm(The Grange Children’s Centre,0-5yrs)

Growing Together 1-2:30pm

FRIDAY


Moss Green Growing Together(Riverside Housing Office) 9:30-11am


STAR Project ▲ 10-2pm

Play Together 1-2:30pm

Antenatal Group 1-2:30pm

OTHER SERVICES

Crèche (Mon,Wed,Thur)

Playspace (Open to the public)


Travers Court, Temple Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4NR

01782237650

01782231815

Oakwood Road, Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 3AR

Normacot Grange Road, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 7AW

01782234024

01782233670

MONDAY

Stay and Play Drop-In 9:30-11am

TUESDAY

Adult Learning and Crèche 1-3pm(Ask at reception)

FRIDAY

Little Sprouts Stay and PlayGardening Group (0-5yrs) 1:30-3pm

OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library


Jumping Beans

Tiny Talkers

CHILDREN’S CENTRES IN THE NORTH OF THE CITY01782231096

MONDAY

Maths Course and Crèche(Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am

Stay and Play Drop-In 1-2:30pm

TUESDAY

English Course and Crèche(Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am

Growing Together 1-2:30pm(Referral only)

WEDNESDAY


Baby Massage Drop-In 9:30-10:30am

THURSDAY

Tiny Explorers Baby Group(0-18mths) 9:30-11am

Adult Learning and Crèche(Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm

FRIDAY

Lets Get Creative 9:30-11am(Messy play Drop-In,please bring achange of clothing)

OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library


Jumping Beans

Tiny Talkers

MONDAY

Stay and Play 9:30-11am(Booking)

Maths Course and Crèche(Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm

TUESDAY

Childminders Stay and Play Drop-In(Childminders only) 9:30-11:30am

Baby Massage Drop-In 12-1pm

Jumping Beans 1:30-2:30pm(18mths plus,booking required)

WEDNESDAY

Adult Learning and Crèche(Ask at reception) 9:30-11:30am

Mum 2 Mum Breastfeeding CaféDrop-In 9:30-11:30am

THURSDAY

Stay and Play 9:30-11am(Booking)

Young Parents Group 10-12pm

English Course and Crèche(Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm

FRIDAY

Busy Babies Group 9:30-11am(0-18mths)

Well Baby Clinic 9:30-11:30am

Growing Together 1:30-3pm(Referral only)

OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library


Tiny Talkers

Teenage Parents Group(Coming soon)

01782231096 01782

232977

01782238989

01782236655

MONDAY

Stay and Play (PICL,2-5yrs)9:30-11am

Growing Together 1:15-2:45pm(Baby Stay and Play for 0-12mths)


TUESDAY

Triple P 9:30-11:30am(Appointment only)

Breastfeeding Café 10:30-12pm

Stay & Play 1:15-2:45pm(PICL,1-2yrs)


WEDNESDAY

Parent Forum 9:30-11:30am(28 Mar,25 April)

Cook and Eat 9:30-11:30am(Referral only)

New Birth Registration Drop-In (28 Mar,25 April,Trent Vale HealthCentre) 10-12pm

Transition Group* 1-3pm

Health Visitor Drop-In 3-4pm(First Wed of every month,0-5yrs)

THURSDAY

Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11am(0-5yrs)

New Birth Registration Drop-In (29 Mar,26 April) 9:30-11am

Stay & Play (St John’s Centre,Trent Vale,0-5yrs,term time only) 10-12pm


FRIDAY

Singing Sunflowers 9:30-10am &(0-5yrs,Stoke Library) 10:15-10:45am

New Birth Registration Drop-In (30 Mar,27 April) 11-1pm

Tiny Talkers* 1-2pm

OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library

Sensory Room (By request)





MONDAY

Midwife Clinic ▲ 9-1pm

Jo Jingles (1-5yrs,£2 per family,termtime,book at reception) 11:15-Noon

Growing Together 1-2:30pm(0-5yrs,book at reception)

TUESDAY

Baby Clinic 9:30-10:30am(Hollybush Community Centre)

Play Together Group 9:30-11:30am(Book at reception)

Baby Club 10-11am

WEDNESDAY

Midwife Clinic 9-11am

Job Club 9:30-Noon(Hollybush Community Centre)

Baby Jabadao 9:30-11am

Baby ClinicBlurton Children’s Centre 11-NoonBlurton Health Centre 1:30-3:30pm

Start Up Numeracy 12:30-2:30pm

Parent Forum (fortnightly) 1-2:30pm

THURSDAY

Growing Together 9:30-11am(0-5yrs,book at reception)

Start Up Literacy 12:30-2:30pm

Baby Massage 1:30-2:30pm(Book at reception)

FRIDAY

Growing Together 9:30-11am(0-5yrs,book at reception)

Baby Signing 1:30-2:30pm(Book at reception)

Growing Together (Newstead PrimarySchool,term time only) 1:30-3pm

Birth Prep (book with Midwife, firstFriday of the month)

OTHER SERVICES

Indoor and Outdoor Playspace(open Monday to Friday)

Baby Massage (one to one sessions)


Sensory Room

MONDAY

Crèche Training, Parent Forum,Volunteering and Respite 9-11:30am

Jo Jingles (£2,book) 10-10:45am

Parent Forum 9:45-11:30am

Baby Jabadao (0-First steps) 1-2:30pm

TUESDAY


Child Health Clinic 9:15-11:30am

Busybodies 9:30-10:15am(Meir Park Playgroup)

Play Together (0-5yrs) 9:30-10:45am10:45-12:15pm

Baby Club 10-11:30am

WEDNESDAY


Crèche Training,Volunteering and Respite 9-11:30am

Triple P 9:30-11:30am


THURSDAY


Crèche Training,Volunteering and Respite 9-11:30am & 12:30-3pm

Child Health Clinic 9-11am(Weston Heights Community Centre)

Numeracy 9:30-11:30am

Literacy 12:30-2:30pm

FRIDAY

Crèche Training, Keep Fit,Volunteering & Respite 9-11:30am

Fitness/Zumba 9:45-10:45am(Book at reception)

Growing Together 0-5yrs 1-2:30pm

OTHER SERVICES

Cook and Eat


MONDAY

Health Visitor Drop-In 9:30-11am

Cook & Eat (7wk course) 9:30-11.30am

Zumba Fitness Class (£3.50) 10-11am(Term time only)

Fenton Book Buddies 11-12:30pm(30 April)


TUESDAY

Play Together (0-5yrs) 9:30-11:30am

Baby Massage 9:30-10.30am(17 April,5wk course,0-6mths)

WEDNESDAY

Breastfeeding Café 10:30-Noon

First Aid Course (5wk course) 1-3pm(18 April)

THURSDAY

Outreach Drop-In 9:15-11am(Clarice Cliff Primary School, 0-5yrs)

Jabadao (0-Walking) 10-11:30am

Coffee Morning Drop-In 9:30-11:30am(19 April)

Play Together (0-5yrs) 12:30-2:30pm

FRIDAY

Parent Forum (20 April) 9:30-11:30am

SATURDAY

Dads Morning (31 Mar,5 May)10-Noon

OTHER SERVICES

Toy and Book Library

Community Garden

Play and Learning Home Visits

Sensory Room (book at reception)


Dawlish Drive, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 0HW

MONDAY


Adult Learning and Crèche(Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm

TUESDAY

Health Visitor Drop-In 9-10:30am(Ask at reception)

Messy Monkeys Baby Group(0-18mths) 9:30-11am

English Course and Crèche(Ask at reception) 12:45-2:45pm

WEDNESDAY


THURSDAY


Tiny Talkers 1-2:30pm(Ask at reception)

FRIDAY

Growing Together 9:30-11:30am(Referral only)

OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library


Jumping Beans

Fathers Group

MONDAY

English Course and Crèche 1-3pm(Ask at reception)

TUESDAY

Sweet Peas Baby Group 9:30-11am(0-18mths)Adult Learning and Crèche 1-3pm(Ask at reception)

WEDNESDAY


THURSDAY

Childminders Stay and Play Drop-In(Childminders only) 9:30-11:30amGrowing Together 1-2:30pm(Referral only)

FRIDAY


OTHER SERVICES

Toy Library


Jumping Beans

Tiny Talkers

Ball Green Primary School, Whitfield Road, Ball Green ST6 8AJ Vale Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1AW

St Nicholas Avenue, Norton, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 8JWBishop Road, Chell Heath, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 6QW

Woodland Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 6AP

Families welcome totake part in packedactivity programme EVERY family in Stoke-on-Trentcan make the most of a greatrange of services and facilities atthe city’s children’s centres.

The teams reach out into theirlocal communities to supportfamilies and give children the verybest start in life.

But anyone is welcome to popinto their local centre and takepart in one of the dozens ofactivities featured on this pull outand keep special feature.

Children’s centres provide arange of services including:● childcare and children's learningand development● health services

● family support● specialist support for childrenwith additional needs● outreach workers● information forparents● activities tohelp parents and carersget back to work.

Each children’s centre alsodelivers additional servicestailored to meet local needs.

There are even opportunitiesto volunteer and learn new skillsthat could lead to qualifications, ajob or career change.

Contact details are includedwith each centre’s calendar.

MONDAY

Priory Playgroup 9:15-11:30am

(Term time only)

Baby Jabadao

0-First steps 12:30-2pm

TUESDAY

Growing Together 9:30-11am

(0-5yrs)

WEDNESDAY

Crèche for Training and Parent Forum

9:30-11am

Parent Forum 9:30-11am

Pandas Group (0-5yrs) 12-2:30pm

THURSDAY

Growing Together 1-3pm

(0-5yrs)

FRIDAY

Play Together 9:30-11am

OTHER SERVICES

Outdoor Play Area


PULL OUT GUIDE TO CHILDREN’S CENTRES ACTIVITIES

CHILDREN’S CENTRES IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY

MONDAYPlay Together 9:30-11:30amJob Club 10:30-12pmTwins and More Siblings 10:30-12pmStart-Up Course ▲ 12:45-2:45pm

TUESDAYESOL 9:30-11:30amPost Natal/New Baby 10-11am(0-9mths)Busybodies 11:30-12:15pm(£1 per family)Baby Clinic 4:30-6pm(First Tue of every month,please book)

WEDNESDAYSpeech & Language Therapy ▲ 9-5pmCook & Eat (book) 9:30-11:30pmDevelopment Checks ▲ 9:30-1pmPlay and Sing Together 1-2:30pm

THURSDAYESOL 9:30-11:30amBreastfeeding Cafe 10:30-12pmBaby Jabadao (0-First steps) 1-2:30pmBaby Clinic 1-3pm

FRIDAY

ESOL 9:30-11:30amParent Forum 9:30-11:30am20 AprilBaby Massage (0-12mths) ▲ 10-12pmGrowing Together 1-2:30pm

OTHER SERVICESSoft Play Area 8:30-5pmCafé (Mon,Thur,Fri) 11-3pmAsian Ladies Advice Group Drop-In(5,10,19,24 April) 11:30-1:30pmMidwife Clinic ▲

Play and Learning Home Visits(Mon,Wed,Thur,Fri)Crèche Training,Volunteering and respitePACT Drop-In Session12 April 2.30-3.30pm19 April 2-3pmUpdated Sensory RoomVolunteering ProgrammeEarly Intervention TeamTraining and Employment Support

Buccleuch Road, Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4RF

01782237500

Our City p12-13 16/3/12 09:39 Page 1

CONCERNED about his sonRyan’s delayed development,Anthony Giorgino asked aboutfree entitlement to early yearslearning when he first took histwo-year-old along to Kingsland

Children’s Centre.Staff helped Anthony apply for

two year funding, which isdesigned to close the learning gaps

for disadvantaged families, and hisson was soon enjoying stimulating

sessions two and a half days a week.Dad-of-two Anthony, 27, who lives with

his partner, said:“I have a cousin who used

to go to Kingsland who mentioned thefunding.

“I thought Ryan needed a bit of help withhis speech and language, potty training andwith his concentration so I asked about it.Ryan was shy at first but soon settled in andhe’s improving all the time.

“He stayed on two-year funding fromAugust 2011 to January this year. He’s movedon to three-year funding now so it’s slightlymore intensive learning. He’s progressing andusing more words.

“It’s been brilliant and we couldn’t behappier. I’m 100 per cent thankful and verypleased.”

Families eligible for two-year funding canaccess early learning designed to enhancelater life chances. Three and four-year olds canalso access funding which pays for 15 hours aweek at a suitable children’s centre or nursery.

The three-year funding is universal and canbe accessed by all three year olds. Children’sCentres and the Family Information Service(FIS) support families to access suitable, qualityservices best suited to their children’s needs.● For more information, contact your localChildren’s Centre or call FIS on free phone0800 015 1120, 01782 232200, [email protected] or go towww.stokefis.co.uk

VOLUNTEERS at The CrescentChildren’s Centre in Meir arehelping the community grow

in more ways than one.Pensioner Fred Rushton is the driving force

behind the centre’s allotments and communitygarden while mum-of-one Kathie Powellspends at least three days a week supportingother parents through her work with groupsand in the Healthy Café.

Former lorry driver Fred, 69, formed acommittee four years ago to apply for fundingso mums and dads could grow vegetables andflowers on the site. They now have agreenhouse and have built a poly-tunnel withsupport from NHS Stoke on Trent PCT’s MyHealth Matters project.

Fred said: “Myosteoarthritis stopsme doing as

much these days so Iproject lead and pass on myskills to other volunteers. Itkeeps the brain ticking over.

“We have about 10children and some teachersfrom Sandon Business,Enterprise and ArtsCollege down everycouple of weeks to helpand we sell our produce.Some of our volunteershave gone on to get jobsand training because ofthe work they’ve done,which is very satisfying.

“We’re always on the lookout for more volunteers, soI’d encourage anyone to getinvolved. It’s great fun and agood way of keeping fit, a bit

like a greengym.”

Kathie Powell,45, first attendedThe Crescentwith her daughterKeirra, who isnow seven. Withseveral coursesunder her belt anda little girl wholoved ‘Stay andPlay’ sessions,Kathie decided itwas time to give something back.

She said: “That was about fouryears ago and I asked how Icould help. I’m now qualified toco-run Cook and Eat sessions, Ihelp clear up in the café andcook breakfast for the Dads2group once a month. I’ve alsocontributed to the Parents

Forum and help out withcommunity events. It’s loads offun and I love it. I wasn’t verytalkative when I first started butI’m much more confident now.It’s really satisfying helpingothers.”

Volunteering provides valuable

work experience to those looking for jobs andcan also help improve confidence.

Opportunities exist across a wide range ofdisciplines from ‘Stay and Play’ groups andthe crèche to community development teamsand toy libraries.

Free entitlement to nursery care helpstwo-year-olds into stimulating learning

CHARITY events and initiativesat Stoke-on-Trent children’scentres are helping parents,supporters and childrendevelop their social conscience.

Staff and parents in theNorth Locality are busy knittingand crocheting eight-inchsquares for the benefit oforphans and abandonedchildren in South Africa. Thesquares will be sent to charityKasCare who have volunteerson standby to turn hundreds ofthousands of squares into5,000 blankets, 5,000 hats and2,000 knitted garments.

At The Crescent Children’sCentre, over 200 peopleattended the Celebrate Lifefundraiser in memory of fostercarer Jane Salmon who lost herlong battle with cancer lastyear. More than £1,000was donated to theUniversity Hospital ofNorth Staffordshire’scancer unit.

Children’s CentreCommunityDevelopment OfficerCaz Gotham said:“The eventwas a massive success and wewere supported by severalbusinesses, who were verygenerous.

“We are talking about otherfundraisers this year buthaven’t decided what to do yet.It would have to be somethingvery close to the children’scentres hearts.”

Supportersof charity

PhilCartlidge,

main picture,and, inset, Fred

Rushton, at workin the Crescent

allotment.

Kathie Powell volunteering in the Crescent cafe.

Children’s Centre

UPDATEChildren’s Centres in Stoke-on-Trent are having a

massive impact on the lives of the families they

engage with. Here, Our City talks to parents and

volunteers about their experiences.

Volunteers chip in tohelp community


Our City p14 16/3/12 10:01 Page 1


This column keeps Stoke-on-Trent’scommunities updated aboutcriminals aged 18 or more who havebeen jailed for six months or moreat crown court.

The offenders featured may wellhave had a direct impact on thequality of life where you or they live.

The council, police, CrownProsecution Service, courts andYouth Offending Services believe itis important the public arereassured that the criminal justicesystem is working effectively ontheir behalf throughout the city.

Our City reports back onconvictions secured to make Stoke-on-Trent safer for us all...

ADDRESS:Stoke-on-Trent.

OFFENCE: Possess withintent to supply Class Adrug – heroin.

SENTENCE: 3 years’ 3months’ imprisonment. Sentencedat Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

CHRISTOPHER FLETCHER (AGED 34)

SPECIALISTultraviolet (UV) lighttunnels are being

installed by StaffordshirePolice to help identifystolen goods and clampdown on burglars andthieves.

The walk-through tunnels areset up to detect forensicproperty marking products –colourless “smart” liquids whichare invisible to the naked eyebut glow brightly under UVconditions.

And because each batchcontains a chemical code that isas unique as DNA, itemsmarked with them can bequickly identified and reunitedwith the rightful owner.

Businesses can also installforensic marking sprinklersystems that “tag” intruderswith the invisible, forensicliquid, helping to generateevidence connecting a suspectto a specific location.

Police officers areencouraging residents and

businesses to not only use theforensic marking solutions toidentify valuable property butalso to promote its use, throughposters and stickers, to deterburglaries and thefts.

Superintendent Juliet Prince,Staffordshire Police's Lead onForensic Property Marking,said: “This is a very effectiveway for people to uniquelyidentify valuable items, and it isacting as a powerful deterrentagainst crime.

“Forensic marking productscan be used to mark all sorts of

property, from jewellery andornaments to laptops, TVs andeven vehicles.

“Business owners can alsouse it on property – for instanceto deter metal theft – or installspecial sprinkler systems thattarget intruders.

“The products are not easilyremoved and can be used tohelp connect suspects to acrime many months down theline.

“Our officers are issued withUV torches, so they can makeon-the-spot checks – but we are

now taking it a step further byinstalling the forensic markingtunnels.”

One of the tunnels has beeninstalled at the Northern AreaCustody Suite at Etruria. Itmeans any suspects or propertythat have been marked will beidentified by simply passingthrough its UV light.

Superintendent Prince added:“The use of forensic propertymarking is a very useful tooland complements the work theforce is carrying out within thecommunity to combat theft andburglary.

“So we are encouragingpeople to promote the use ofthese products by putting uppromotional posters or stickers,while continuing to take normalcrime reduction measures suchas looking after their propertyand not keeping valuables ondisplay.”

For more details about forensicproperty marking log ontostaffordshire.police.uk/forensicmarking

AN appeal has been made to give thecouncil’s unsung heroes a chance to winone of this year’s WOW Awards – thenational scheme designed to raisestandards of customer service. Onlymembers of the public are allowed tonominate a member of staff theyconsider has gone above and beyondtheir normal duties to help someone.

In previous years frontline services likebenefits and social care have featured in

the WOW nominations fromStoke-on-Trent. Now, however, it is hopedthat people who provide other services –like waste services staff, school crossingwardens, cleaners and school meals staff– will be put forward for one of theprestigious honours.

Donna Hammersley, the council’s co-ordinator for the scheme and a pastWOW award winner, said: “It would benice for the unsung heroes who provide

less high profile services to benominated. For instance, an Australiantourist who visited the StaffordshireHoard exhibition at The PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery has alreadynominated one of the museum’sattendants for being so helpful.”

To make a nomination collect a formfrom the reception area of any counciloffice, email [email protected] visit stoke.gov.uk/wowawards

Chance to nominate unsung council heroes

YOU’RE NICKED;The words are spelt out in

the “smart” light liquid and revealed in UV light.

SHINE A LIGHT;One of the UV light

tubes in the special tunnels.

THERE are many forensic marking providers and StaffordshirePolice does not specifically endorse any particular product –viewing them as equally effective.

Forensic marking providers SelectaDNA, Smartwater and RedWeb are accredited by Secured by Design – the UK policeflagship initiative, aimed at preventing crime in homes andbusiness premises.

For more information visit: www.selectadna.co.uk orwww.smartwater.com or www.redwebsecurity.com or www.crimestopperspropertyprotector.com

Where to buy marking kits:

SMART WORK:Sergeant Paul Cook,right, and PC Peter

Clarke spray propertywith a forensic marking

product which is onlyvisible in ultraviolet

light.

Special light exposesburglars and thieves


OFFENCE: Assault andpossess offensiveweapon.

SENTENCE: 12 months’imprisonment. Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

PAUL WOODCOCK (AGED 37)


OFFENCE: Productionof Class B controlleddrug – Cannabis.


HUU NGUYEN (AGED 31)


OFFENCE: Aggravatedvehicle taking andproduction of Class Bcontrolled drug,Cannabis.


ANDREW COOPER (AGED 43)

ADDRESS: Stoke-on-Trent.

OFFENCE: Robbery.

SENTENCE: 8 years’imprisonment.Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

PAUL PRICE (AGED 27)


OFFENCE: Robbery.

SENTENCE: 8 years’imprisonment.Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

GRAHAM PRICE (AGED 24)

Our City p15 16/3/12 10:03 Page 1


CHANGES to CrimestoppersCharity now make it even easier forpeople in Stoke-on-Trent to pass onanonymous information that mayhelp police bring criminals to justice.

From 1 April the independentcharity is routing all 0800 555 111calls from landline phones to its 24/7national call centre in Surrey, whichhas the facility to respond in any oneof 170 languages within 30 seconds

North Staffordshire is one of thefew areas of the UK where calls toCrimestoppers from landlines arecurrently dealt with locally – althoughall mobile phone calls go through tothe national centre – and local callhandlers are unable to offer a servicein so many languages.

Callers do not have to give theirname or personal information andcalls cannot be traced.

In addition information can bepassed to Crimestoppers online atwww.crimestoppers-uk.org while

young people aged between 11 and16 who have concerns or know ofcriminal activity can visitwww.fearless.org which is a websitethat introduces them to the conceptof good citizenship.

Informants who use the website canalso be confident that they remainanonymous because Crimestoppers isthe only organisation in the worldprevented from tracing an IP address.

Arrested and charged

Last year Crimestoppers receivedover 90,000 calls and as a result morethan 8,000 criminals were arrestedand charged, illegal drugs worth morethan £25 million were seized and £3 million worth of stolen goods were recovered.

Pauline Hadley, CrimestoppersRegional Manager, said: “We are anindependent charity so callers whoprefer not to contact police becausethey don’t want to get involved or

make a statement or appear in courtknow they can pass information tous anonymously, and their identitycannot be found.

“Even when we pay cash rewardswe use codes and banks so thatcallers cannot be identified.

“The changes we are making tothe service will make it even easierfor people in Stoke-on-Trent to useCrimestoppers and make theirfamilies and communities safer bygiving us the information policeneed to fight crime.”

Crimestoppers are appealing forvolunteers with experience such asmarketing, running projects,fundraising, organising events andworking with the media to helppromote the charity in their area.

For details visitwww.crimestoppers-uk.orgor email [email protected]

WORLD-CLASSAccident andEmergency facilities

have been opened at theUniversity Hospital of NorthStaffordshire.

A new state-of-the-art Emergency Centre, which will treatmore than 100,000 patients eachyear, replaces the previous A & Esqueezed into a department built50 years ago.

With 10 consultants and morethan 200 staff, the centre now hasone entrance for walk-in patientsand a second for ambulance casesand those brought in by helicopter.

The main treatment area has 31cubicles, an increase of 12.

There is an eight-bedresuscitation areasurrounded by acomplete range of life-saving and

intensive care unit equipment.A 10-bay children’s emergency areais reserved for the 30,000 under18s who arrive every year.

For the first time, the centre hasits own imaging suite with threerooms for X-ray, one forultrasound and a fifth for CTscans.

Simply stunning

Magnus Harrison, Clinical Leadand Consultant in EmergencyMedicine, said: “The newEmergency Centre is quite simplystunning. Plans were already beingmade for a new unit when I arrivedhere seven years ago but I neverdreamed we would have anythinganywhere near as good as this,particularly with what we had

previously at the Royal Infirmary.“The whole specification puts

it with the best nationally andinternationally. Everything is

designed to improve the patients’experience and our ability to treatthem better and quicker.

“There will be no more queueson trolleys or sitting on chairs incorridors waiting for an X-ray or abone to be plastered. Patients beingshuffled from place to place will bea thing of the past.

“We are trying to increaseconsultant numbers up to 12,compared to the three when Iarrived, and we aim to haveconsultants walking the floor16 hours a day andeventually 24 hours.”

Trust Chief ExecutiveJulia Bridgewater said:“This has been adream for so manypeople for so manyyears and now we arein the most modernhospital in thecountry.”

World-class facilitiesat new A&E

Changes make it even easier toanonymously inform on criminals

WELCOME TO THE NEW A&E:Consultant in EmergencyMedicine Ann-Marie Morris,right, and Lead Nurse MelMountford for the Fit forFuture project teamoutside the newunit on theformer CityGeneral site.

BLOOD tests are being carried outnearer people’s homes now theUniversity Hospital of NorthStaffordshire’s pathology lab hasclosed to GP walk-in patients.

Bradwell Hospital began operatingits testing service last November andis joined by the newly opened Meir

Primary Care Centre and CobridgeHealth Centre from 26 March.

Services, which are carried out byUniversity Hospital staff, will be available from Monday to Fridaybetween 8am and 5pm.

Andrew Clarke, Blood Sciences

Manager at University Hospital, said:“The walk-in blood test service at ourpathology lab was very popular but itwas difficult for people to attend as itwas located next to our very busyoutpatient department.

“At Bradwell, Meir and Cobridge it isthe same staff who provide the highquality service but it will be a betterexperience. It will also mean that peoplewill be able to have their blood testnearer to home.

“All blood tests requested by GPs,with the exception of children, will bedelivered closer to people’s homes

within the community.”The new arrangements are part of the

Fit for the Future programme of majorchanges designed to transform healthservices across Stoke-on-Trent and NorthStaffordshire and make sure patientsreceive the right care, in the right placeand at the right time.

Blood testing services run by some GPpractices remain unchanged.The currentarrangements for bookable blood testappointments in the community alsoremain unchanged.The telephonenumber to call for appointments is 01782 555506.

Walk-in blood tests move out fromhospital and nearer to people’s homes

PhlebotomistMaria Alisontakes a bloodsample from awalk-in patientat BradwellHospital

Our City p16 16/3/12 10:45 Page 1

SCHOOL pupils helped brighten up ahoarding surrounding the construction siteof a multi-million pound bus station bytaking part in a poster competition with apublic transport theme.

Forty designs by youngsters have goneon display at the City Centre site as work continues on the £15millionconstruction project.

Children from the winning schools weregiven a tour of the John Street station andthe chance to see their work on display.

The drawings, selected as part of acouncil competition, have been unveiledalong part of the 272-metre (892ft)hoarding on the John Street side of thedevelopment.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, CabinetMember for Regeneration, said: “The newbus station is creating a landmark designin the heart of the city centre.

“It is important that young people havebeen involved in the process by not onlydesigning images to go on the hoarding, butalso by having a unique glimpse of what isgoing on in the site behind the boards.”

The new bus station represents the firstphase of the £350 million City Sentralshopping centre. Meanwhile, councillorshave given the go ahead for the second

stage of a multi-million poundtransformation of public spaces in the CityCentre. Work will start in the Autumn toimprove the Albion Street and ParliamentSquare areas. It follows a publicconsultation period in which residents andvisitors had their say on the latest proposals.

The work is part of a multi-million pound

refurbishment to improve the City Centrestreet scene, creating a more inspiringoutlook for visitors to the city and a stronglink with the new bus station.

Work on the previously approved firstphase of the project, which focuses onTontine Square and Percy Street, is due tostart in April.

STAFFORDSHIRE Fire and RescueService has launched its annualgrass fires campaign – FlamesAren't Games – in preparationfor the Easter holidays.

Typically, the service sees adramatic increase indeliberately started grass fireswhen children are on holidayfrom school.

Last year, almost half of allgrass fires were started duringschool holidays and 86 per centof the fires were deliberatelystarted.

April 2011 saw the most grassfires across the county, with astaggering 233 blazes reported.The fire and rescue servicehopes to reduce that figure thisyear by educating children andparents about the dangers ofstarting fires deliberately.

Staffordshire Fire and RescueService’s Head of RiskReduction, Glynn Luznyj said:“Young people who start grassfires seem oblivious to the factthat they are endangeringfirefighters’ lives as well as theirown.

“For every grass fire we attendthere could be a person tryingto get out of a burning buildingor trapped in a car in need ofour help.”

THE Potteries Museum & Art Gallery will host its largest-ever exhibition of the

Staffordshire Hoard this summer...with some pieces going on display for the first time cleaned and fitted together.

Members of the public will be able to viewmore than 100 eye-catching artefacts includingthe reconstructed hilt of a Seax – pronouncedSax – a single-edged short sword intricatelydecorated with gold and jewels.

The exhibition, funded by a £40,000 grantfrom the Heritage Lottery Fund, will run for 13months from 21 July and will feature up-to-dateinformation on the latest research and findings.

The 7th Century treasure – which is thebiggest and most valuable hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found – has been wowing thecrowds at the National Geographic Museum inWashington DC. More than 55,000 visitorswent to see the Staffordshire Hoard inWashington, including people ranging from theformer British Ambassador to the USA to thechart-topping singer-songwriter Kesha.

The pieces were returned to the UK earlierthis month. In April and May some of thecountry’s top archaeologists, scientists andhistorians will carry out further tests on theprecious Dark Ages artefacts, which wereunearthed in a farmer’s field near Lichfield in2009. Items on permanent display at the CityCentre venue will be also be removed from theground floor archaeology gallery during the six-week run up to this summer’s exhibition.

Principal Collections Officer Deb Klemperersaid: “The response in the US has beenphenomenal, proving the wide appeal of the

Staffordshire Hoard. The items are nowback in the UK to be checked,stabilised, photographed and studiedprior to a new exhibition at ThePotteries Museum & Art Gallery,which will be the biggest ever staged atthe venue. Many new items will be ondisplay including the Seax handlewhich has been carefully reconstructedafter being discovered in several pieces.

“We will be updating the exhibitionwith information displays explaining thelatest research, findings and theoriesabout who owned the Hoard and why itwas buried. For instance, one of the latestideas that is being examined is that theHoard may have been deliberately buriedas part of an Anglo-Saxon ritual. This is anintriguing idea particularly given it happenedat a time when Christianity and Paganism wereclashing over hearts and minds.

“We may never know the exact reason for theHoard's burial but certainly the StaffordshireHoard will continue to shed light on ourknowledge of the history, art, craft and cultureof the Dark Ages for many years to come.”● For further information please visitstoke.gov.uk/museum

This fascinatingmystery artefact from the

Staffordshire Hoard isgoing on display for thefirst time this summer.

Experts believe it may bethe end of an elaborateshield or an ornamental

saddle mount.

Pupils’ artbrightens upconstructionhoardings

in the CITYM A R C H 2 0 1 2 Our City 17

New details revealedas Staffordshire Hoardtreasure goes ondisplay in museum

Campaign tostop deliberategrass fire starters

Seax

Ten-year-oldChristina Johnson,

a pupil at Forest ParkPrimary School, withher winning designon the construction

site hoardings.

Our City p17 NEW 16/3/12 16:45 Page 1


CHRISSIE was just 13 when fears grew thata 34-year-old friend of her dad wasgrooming her for sex.

She was seen at his flat at all times ofthe night and day and always seemed tohave money and gifts like make up,clothes and a mobile phone. She was oftenreported missing as she stayed away fromhome for days at a time without talking toanyone from her family.

Her school attendance was poorbecause she was being bullied and shehad no friends her own age. She deniedbeing in a relationship with the man butthe alarm bells were ringing.

Children and Young People’s Services atStoke-on-Trent City Council intervenedand referred Chrissie, not her real name, toBase 58 – a specialised support service runby local charity Brighter Futures for at-riskboys, girls and young people.

A Base 58 worker helped her through asix-week sexual exploitation workshopdesigned to help her stay safe andimprove her self-esteem. She was alsogiven advice about sexual health, alcoholand drugs.

She denied contact with the 34-year-oldman but admitted he visited a familyfriend at the same time she was there withher father. As she moved into temporaryfoster care, police took action against theman when more information surfaced.

Now 15 and back home, Chrissie is fullyaware of the risks and legalities of beingin a relationship with an older man. Herschool attendance is now almost 100 percent. She will soon be ready to leave theBase 58 programme but will receive followup support from school-based mentorsand continued social care support for theforeseeable future.

HELP is at hand forvulnerable and defencelessgirls and boys in the

Potteries who are being groomedand put at risk of sexualexploitation.

It comes as a Government action planhighlights how local authorities mustimprove their response and raiseawareness so victims are identified andsupported earlier and abusers face court.

Carole Preston, the city’s SafeguardingChildren Board Manager, said: “Weknow that resources are under hugedemand but our work to set children freefrom sexual exploitation is a priority. Weknow that child sexual exploitation is notjust something that happens in the biggercities of the UK – it is happening righthere in Stoke-on-Trent as Chrissie hasshown by bravely agreeing to tell herstory.

“The reality is that any child or youngperson from any social or ethnicbackground can be exploited. Boys andyoung men can be at risk as well as girls

and young women. We must all be awareand watch out for the signs so fewerchildren suffer the tragedy of abuse,which often leaves them deeplytraumatised and scarred for life.”

Experienced workers at Base 58, run by creative support, housing andemployment provider Brighter Futures,offer support and advice covering avariety of potentially dangeroussituations.

If you think you are at risk and wanthelp, call Base 58 on 01782 286862 oremail [email protected].

You can also call, text or leave amessage on 07879 423935. If youwould prefer to talk to a woman, call07899 923598 or you can reach a manon 07747 442726. Calls made after5pm will be returned the next day soleave a message.

If you would like to know moreabout child sexual exploitation, thesigns and find more contacts for help and support, go towww.safeguardingchildren.stoke.gov.uk

Are you aware that the people looking afteryour children should have been checked bythe Criminal Records Bureau?

To apply, contact the CRB helpline on 0870 9090 811 orgo to www.direct.gov.uk and follow the employment links.

You, as a parent or carer, cannotjust assume that the personworking with your child haspassed a CRB check!

You will need one if you are employed inan establishment wholly or mainly forchildren, in healthcare, in after schoolclubs and other children’s activities or

have applied to be a foster carer,adoptive parent or child minder.

It will cost you or your employer £44.Volunteers will get theirs free.

You and your employer will see theresults of your check. Your employerwill use them to decide whether they canemploy you.

Bid to prevent childsex exploitation

SHOCKING cases of child sexual exploitation do occasionally hit the headlines butit remains a mostly hidden issue with victims so traumatised they never comeforward. Here, Our City tells the story of a teenage girl who escaped the clutchesof her abuser and looks at the support services that helped her do it.

The signs that indicatedChrissie,13,was in arelationship with a man

This image is a libraryphotograph posed by a model.

Our City p18 16/3/12 10:06 Page 1


RHYMETIME Sessions at BentileeLibrary are hitting the right notewith Polish mums and their youngchildren. The weekly sessions forpre-school youngsters and theirparents or carers have been heldfor some time, but numbers swelledas word about the fun andeducational activities spreadamong the area’s Polishcommunity.

The half-hour sessions use songs,musical instruments, movementand other group activities to helpchildren develop their confidence,creativity, co-ordination and socialskills. Bentilee Library ManagerVicky Embrey said: “At first just ahandful of Polish ladies and theiryoung ones started to come to thesessions, but over the months we

saw quite a few others. Now thereare around 15 Polish ladies whocome to the Rhymetime Sessions,although they don’t all attend onthe same weeks.

“ The mums and children chatterto each other in Polish but theyenjoy joining in the activities whichare conducted in English, and somehave told me they enjoy the

sessions because they help toimprove their English as well as thedevelopment of their children.”

Rhymetime Sessions are held atBentilee Library on Fridays at 11am.

A “Look When You Cook”campaign has beenlaunched by StaffordshireFire and Rescue Service toencourage safety in thekitchen- where over half ofall house fires start.

Two hard-hitting posters- one showing a manasleep on his sofa

clutching a bottle of beerwhile a pan burns in thebackground and the othershowing a busy mum onthe phone beingdistracted by her daughterwhilst a pan is on fire inthe kitchen - have beendistributed to Sainsbury’ssupermarkets.

The posters bear themessage:“Look when youcook! Watch your pan!”

Last year StaffordshireFire and Rescue Servicedealt with 376 kitchenfires - 92 of them in Stoke-on-Trent - which resultedin 46 casualties and seven

people had to be rescued.Head of Risk Reduction

Glynn Luznyj said:“ Takingthe simplest precautionscan prevent a cooking fire.

“For instance if youneed to leave the room,turn off the applianceuntil you return or waituntil you’ve finishedcooking before leavingthe room. The fewminutes you’re gonecould result in adestroyed home.”● To arrange a freehome fire safety checkcall freephone 0800 0241 999.

Look when you cook! Why care in thekitchen is a recipe to prevent blazes

Bilingualpre-schoolsessions area hit withPolish mums

Reading aPolish/English

storybook at one ofthe bilingual

Rhymetime Sessionsat Bentilee Library are

Lidia Inglot, left, andher son Oscar, aged

two, and Daria Dziubaand her two-year-old

daughter Julia.

NEW facilities have beenopened to look after visitors toCarmountside Cemetery andCrematorium.

A cafe and waiting roomwere officially opened by LordMayor Councillor Terry Follows.

Light snacks, drinks,breakfast and afternoon teaare now served seven days aweek in the refurbishedcommunity building.

Improvements also include aquiet room, community policepost, conservatory and deckingarea. The waiting room offerslive video streaming of funeralservices taking place in thechapel. There is also the facilityfor families and friends whocannot attend thecrematorium to watch servicesover the internet either live orat a later date.

For further details pleasecontact Aileen Harvey at theBereavement Care Office on01782 235050 or [email protected]

RESIDENTS planning aspring clear out are beingurged to recycle as much oftheir rubbish as possible.

They can use their blue orbrown bins and green boxesor visit the recycling centresat Burslem or Hanford whichare open every day.

This could help reducearound 95 complaintsreceived by the council eachmonth about untidy yardsand gardens.

Small electrical items likekettles and irons are classedas hazardous waste andshould not be placed in bins.

A bulky collection servicefor larger items can bebooked by calling01782 234234.

New servicesfor visitorsto the Crem

Spring cleanrecycling call

COUNCILLOR training andsupport services at the councilhave won a prestigious regional

award.The West Midlands Member Development

Charter Full Award recognises the council’sapproach to helping elected members achievehigh standards while representing theelectorate.

The council’s Councillor and Civic SupportTeam provide a universal service of learningand development opportunities, which canlead to formal qualifications. Personaldevelopment plans are worked out withcouncillors who are supported to visit outsideorganisations and can shadow council officers.The team gives assistance, advice and operatesa new casework system to help councillorsbetter answer ward queries.

Michaleen Hilton, the Councillor and Civic

Support Manager, said: “Councillors are givena wide range of learning opportunities withintight financial constraints. It is paramount thatthe council provides effective training,development and support.

Testament to hard work

“The Member Services Division encourageall councillors to take full advantage of theassistance on offer to help them increase theirknowledge, capacity and expertise whenmaking decisions, representing their area andbeing the city’s representative on outsideorganisations.”

Council Leader Councillor MohammedPervez said: “This member-led award is atestament to the hard work I know goes on byour city’s elected members, ensuring that thelives of people in the city are made better.

“It is important to give councillors the right

tools to do their job. This enables them toinspire their constituents and ultimatelydeliver services for the public.

“It is another step on our journey tobecoming an effective and confident counciland making Stoke-on-Trent a great place tolive and work as outlined in our Mandate forChange.”

Councillor Randolph Conteh, ward memberfor Penkhull and Stoke and Chair of theMember Services Working Group, said: “Themembers’ working group has workedcollectively and non-politically with officersand councillors to improve memberdevelopment.

“This is not about trophy hunting. Quitesimply, the purpose of the West MidlandsCharter is to improve performance of localauthorities, through the development of itselected members.”

Charter accolade for city’scouncillor training

CommunitySafety Officer Pete

Hall shows Cobridgeresident Olwyn

Douglas how to keepappliances safe in

the kitchen.

Our City p19 16/3/12 10:13 Page 1


A series of workshops are being held inthe city to educate parents and providethem with information about drugs andalcohol.

The aim is to provide parents andcarers with the latest and most accurateinformation about substance misuse,local drug and alcohol services and howto discuss the subject with theirchildren.

Launched 12 months ago, the Drugand Alcohol Parenting Workshops havebeen designed to cater for all parents.

They are usually held in local primaryand secondary schools and are deliveredby the city’s Integrated Young People’sDrug Project in connection with Drug,Alcohol and Tobacco Education Advisorswho are all funded by Stoke-on-Trent’sSafer City Partnership.

Each of the one-off workshop sessionslasts around two hours and are free ofcharge. Parents who attend can be sureof complete confidentiality as well as arelaxed and informal setting.

Parents are advised on the risks andeffects of substance misuse, how to spotsigns that their children may have useddrugs and/or alcohol and how to copewith young people who are under theinfluence.

Project Leader Gemma Newitt said:“The workshops help parents to talkabout drug and alcohol issues with their

children and open up channels ofcommunication and equip mums anddads with the skills and knowledgeneeded to assist their children.

“This is a useful service for parentswhose children have not experiencedproblems but who may be concernedabout how they would cope if confrontedwith this situation.”

Gemma added: “The workshops also

help to dispel popular myths aboutdrugs and alcohol, and since it wasstarted the project has received a lot ofpositive feedback from families whohave attended.”

For information about the Drug andAlcohol Parenting Workshop contactGemma Newitt or Family WorkerNatalie Harp on 01782 234195.

THE efforts of a small group ofworkers who help young people toovercome drug and alcohol misusehave been recognised with an award.

The T3-Stoke Young People’s Drug andAlcohol Team received the Small isBeautiful accolade at the annualconference of CRI, the national charitywhich manages the project in the city aswell as young people’s services acrossEngland and Wales.

The prestigious award was given for thebest performing small team in the Northand Midlands. As a team of four caseworkers and a manager with access to anadditional psychiatrist and administrationsupport, the T3-Stoke team is indeed small.

However, it has proved effective in workingwith the causes and effects of substance misuseon young people under the age of 19 living inStoke-on-Trent.

T3 is commissioned by the Safer CityPartnership to meet goals agreed by youngpeople with regard to controlling their drug andalcohol problems, reducing harm and engagingin a more positive lifestyle.

The service is financed on a payment byresults basis and is required to produce dataand audited evidence of its achievements.

Young people referred to T3 meet anoutreach worker at a time and venue of theirchoice so they can talk comfortably andconfidentially. Referrals can be made directly byyoung people and their carers by texting 07507411 733 or phoning 01782 221090.

Agencies refer a young person by using theyoung people’s drug and alcohol screening toolavailable by emailing [email protected] also provides access to evaluation andfeedback forms.

The service also offers a peer mentoringprogramme, providing young people withopportunities to develop and involve themselveswithin the service.

Rosie Greaves, CRI Team Manager for T3-Stoke, said: “The service aims to work withother agencies and professionals across the cityfor the benefit of the young person.”

Workshops to educate parents

A WINNING LINE-UP:The T3-Stoke Young People’sDrug and Alcohol Team, backrow left to right, Vicky Gould,Team Manager Rosie Greaves,Ben Richardson, TeamAdministrator Becky Welshand, front row left to right,Diane Harper and DebbieJones, who is also pictured,inset left, counselling.

EDUCATING PARENTS: Family Worker Natalie Harp, left,Hidden Harm Team Leader Gemma Newitt and Drugs,Alcohol and Tobacco Education Advisor Mike Coll withsome of the literature at their workshops.

Top team provesmall is beautiful

A Designated Public PlaceOrder (DPPO), sometimes knownas an Alcohol Restriction Zone, wasgranted on 28 February 2012 by thecouncil’s Licensing and GeneralPurposes Committee for parts of theTunstall, Goldenhill and Sandyfordand Little Chell and Stanfield Wards.

The Safer City Partnership,Stoke-on-Trent City Council andStaffordshire Police worked closelywith the Tunstall Chamber of Tradeafter concerns were raised thatpeople consuming alcohol in publicplaces was affecting the trade in the town.

The consultation with the localcommunity included a notice in thelocal paper, letters to each addressand licensed premises within theproposed zone and the opportunityto attend three different consultationevents held in Tunstall.The Safer CityPartnership received 101 responsesto the consultation, the majority insupport.

The DPPO gives police officersadditional powers to confiscatealcohol or ask people to stopdrinking in public open spaces; ifthey refuse they may be arrested.Thenew zone is bordered by andincluding: High Street, Furlong Road,Victoria Park Road, Little Chell Lane,Sunnyside Avenue, Green Bank Road,Thornley Road, Sherwin Road, ScotiaRoad, Pinnox Street, Hand Street,Railway Street, Gibson Street,Brownhills Road, Connaught Street,Harewood Street, Watergate Street,Chatterley Road, Reginald MitchellWay.The Order includes areas such asTower Square, the Memorial Gardens,Tunstall Greenway,Tunstall Park andTunstall Cemetery.

The zone will be identified bywarning notices displayed on streetsigns throughout the affected area.

New alcoholrestrictionzones in forceat Tunstall

Our City p20-21 16/3/12 10:14 Page 1


FREE, invaluablesupport is helping totransform the lives

of hundreds of women who have been affected by crime.

Chepstow House providesexpert help to women living inStoke-on-Trent or NorthStaffordshire who are at risk ofoffending or re-offending.

The service, which is deliveredby the Brighter Futures charity,and is funded by the Safer CityPartnership and the NationalOffender Management Service, isbased in the city centre.

It provides support in a range ofareas including accommodation,finance, drug and alcohol misuse,health, families and education.

There is also help with trainingand employment, self-esteem,

confidence, abuse and domesticviolence.

As well as the dedicatedsupport, one of the aims ofChepstow House is to reduce thecost to the tax payer by cutting thenumber of women in prisons andthe associated costs of this.

According to last year’sCounting Cost Report compiledfor the Revolving Doors charity,the cost of one female prisonspace for one month is £3,423and when children go into socialcare it costs £2,929 per child.

By comparison the cost forwomen to attend Chepstow House

to receive a range of rehabilitativesupport is on average £184 permonth.

Chepstow House OperationalManager Emma Stazaker said:“Women are helped to draw uppersonal action plans, tailored totheir needs and circumstances andaspirations.

“A wide variety of people are

supported including womencoming out of prison and thosein contact with the police orprobation service.We workwith a number of organisationssuch as the Citizens AdviceBureau, Gingerbread and theCRI drug treatmentprogramme, to provide theexpertise that is needed.”

LOUISE first came into contactwith support from ChepstowHouse while serving acustodial sentence for assault.She suffered from drug andalcohol addiction and wasreceiving treatment for it inprison.

After she was released ontag we supported her tocontinue her treatmentprogrammes, to register witha GP and to keep herappointments with herProbation Officer.

Through the service, theCitizens Advice Bureauhelped her to establish herbenefit claim and put apayment plan in place to

tackle her debts. Meanwhile,Adsis and CRI continued heralcohol and drug treatment.She also joined our arts andcrafts group, which helpedher to meet new people whilelearning new skills.

She met a new partner andsoon after, when shediscovered she was pregnant,Chepstow House continued tosupport her.

She also stopped drinkingand continued to stick to herdrug treatment programme.

After giving birth to herdaughter, Louise attendedparenting classes atChepstow House to learnpractical skills and support

regarding being a new mum.Our Gingerbread FamilySupport Worker workedclosely with her to supporther while she developed andpractised her new parentingskills.

Unfortunately, soon afterthe birth of her daughter,Louise’s partner becameviolent towards her. So, wehelped Louise to find andmove into a new home wherewe arranged for extra securitydevices to be fitted for theirprotection.

Louise and her daughterare both doing well and wewill continue to help andsupport them.

Chepstow House Operational Manager EMMA STAZAKER looks at theall-encompassing support given to one woman leaving prison and tryingto start a new life while battling addiction and other issues…

Invaluable supporttransforms lives

After leaving prison Louisewas able to beat her drugand alcohol addictions

Thecomfortable

lounge at ChepstowHouse where informalclasses are held as wellas being a place where

the customers can go to relax.

The arts and crafts group at

Chepstow Househelps the customers

learn new skillswhile meeting

new people.

The therapy room wherealternative therapies takeplace and one-to-onecounselling on a range ofsubjects from domesticabuse to parenting issues.

Our City p20-21 16/3/12 10:15 Page 2


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

WE conduct our ‘Feeling theDifference’ survey twice a year

to get your feedback on localpolicing and other services. Manyhundreds of people have alreadybeen surveyed in your area.

Below are the top three things

that you tell us through ‘Feeling theDifference’ would reassure you thatwe are dealing with what matters inyour area.

We have also included someexamples of what we have beendoing so far.

I hope you find this informationuseful. I would like to thank you fortaking part in ‘Feeling theDifference’.

Your feedback will help us in ourwork to keep our communities safeand reassured.

Chief Superintendent Bernie O’ReillyTelephone number:101bernard.o’[email protected]

UNDERSTAND WHAT MATTERS TO YOUR COMMUNITY● We have engaged 2,506 citizens in your area

in one-to-one discussions about what matters to them.

● We have held 785 public meetings in Stoke-on-Trent to seek your views.

● Since June 2010, we have involved 1,000 people in your area in our ‘Feeling theDifference’ survey.

DEAL WITH MINOR CRIME● We have achieved a 18.8% (2,720 reports)

reduction in anti-social behaviour compared withthe same period last year

● We have achieved a reduction in overall crime of 5% (1,180 crimes) in Stoke-on-Trent comparedwith the same period last year

● We have achieved overall service satisfactionrates of 89.9% for victims of crime, and 87.3%for victims of anti-social behaviour.

BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED US● We have attended 89% of incidents requiring an

immediate response in your area within ourtarget time of 15 minutes in urban areas and 20

minutes in rural areas.* Figures are for 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012inclusive, unless otherwise stated.

You said, we did...These are the top three things you want us tofocus on, and what we’re doing about them.You’ve told us you want us to:

Your Local PoliceCommandersand PoliceAuthorityMembers:

Superintendent Laurie Whitby-SmithTel: 101Email:[email protected]

Joy GarnerPolice AuthorityMember for Stoke-on-TrentNorth

Tel: 01782768846

HifsaHaroon-IqbalPolice AuthorityMember for Stoke-on-Trent Central

Tel: 01785663424

PeterVigursPolice AuthorityMember forStoke-on-TrentSouth

Tel: 01782658716

PeterHaywardPolice AuthorityMember forStoke-on-TrentSouth

Tel: 01782644052

Chief InspectorAdrian RobertsTel: 101Email:[email protected]

Chief InspectorJeff MooreTel: 101Email:[email protected]

Chief InspectorPeter HallTel: 101Email:[email protected]

USEFULCONTACTS:POLICING MATTERS:CrimeStoppers (call anonymously)

0800 555 111CrimeStoppers is an independent charity

Neighbourhood WatchStephen Morris:01782 233838CONTACT YOUR COUNCIL:Stoke-on-Trent City Council01782 234234Parking problems01782 232091Environmental, refuse, recycling01782 234000

SOT North SOT Central SOT South

FEEDBACK from members of thepublic about how we’re doing isvital to help us keep ourcommunities safe and reassured –which is why we’d like to inviteyou to join our Citizens’ Paneland/or one of our associated panelsfor specific community groups (seeour website for more details onthese).

By giving us your valuable timeand completing several shortquestionnaires in a year, you couldhelp to shape how yourneighbourhood is policed.

In return we’ll keep you updatedwith personal newsletters, detailinghow we’ve responded to whatyou’ve told us, and keep youinformed about majordevelopments throughout the year.

To join, visit our website atwww.staffordshire.police.uk/information_zone/citizen/or contact Natalie Wilford, Citizens’Panel Co-ordinator, via the contactoptions below:Tel: 01785 232284.Email: [email protected]

YOU can now receive frequentupdates about policing in yourcommunity, and in Staffordshire as awhole, through social networkingsites Twitter and Facebook.

As well as getting updates aboutpolice events and initiatives, you cancomment and leave feedback on adiscussion board. Simply: • follow us on Twitter@StaffsPolice

• become a fan on FacebookAs well as our main Facebook and

Twitter sites, you can view our localpages, which allow beat officers andPCSOs to provide informationrelevant to specific neighbourhoodsor groups.

You can also visit our YouTubesite, at www.youtube.com/staffordshirepolice, where you cansee videos about force campaigns

and operations – the site already has35 videos on subjects including roadsafety, tackling drugs and domesticviolence.REMEMBER: The force’s socialnetworking sites should NOT beused to report an emergency,details of a crime or any otherurgent matter. They are notmonitored 24-hours-a-day. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Putting you at theheart of what we do

Follow us on Twitter and be a fan on Facebook

Are we dealing what matters to you? Please visitwww.staffordshire.police.uk/whatmattersto tell us what matters to you.

Our City p22 16/3/12 10:18 Page 1


YourCouncillors

Abbey Hulton and Townsend

GWEN HASSALL(Labour)(01782) 26316607557 [email protected]

ADRIAN KNAPPER(Labour) 07714 [email protected]

Bentilee and Ubberley

SHEILA PITT(Labour)07957 [email protected]

ALISON WEDGWOOD(Labour)07968 [email protected]

Hanford and Trentham

TERENCE FOLLOWS(City Independents) (01782) 31812707944 [email protected]

PETER HAYWARD(City Independents) (01782) 64405207920 [email protected]

Great Chell and Packmoor

JANINE BRIDGES(Labour)(01782) 85184207989 385631/07717 [email protected]

ANN JAMES(City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

Baddeley, Milton and Norton

JACK BRERETON(Conservative)07855 [email protected]

ANDREW LILLEY(Labour)07717 [email protected]

DUNCAN WALKER(Labour)(01782) 91242207748 [email protected]

Birches Head and Central Forest Park

PAUL BREEZE(Unaffiliated)(01782) [email protected]

MARK MEREDITH(Labour)07717 [email protected]

Blurton East

GLENYS WARD(City Independents) (01782) 31267007922 [email protected]

Blurton West and Newstead

NEIL DAY(Labour)(01782) 59884407796 [email protected]

Bradeley and Chell Heath

GURMEET SINGHKALLAR(Labour)07900 [email protected]

Burslem Park

JOY GARNER (Labour)(01782) 768846 07986 [email protected]

Dresden and Florence

SHAZAD HUSSAIN(Labour)07899 [email protected]

Broadway and Longton East

TOM REYNOLDS(Labour)07850 [email protected]

Burslem Central

ALAN DUTTON(Labour)(01782) 82405107982 [email protected]

Boothen and Oakhill

ANDY PLATTLabour07919 [email protected]

Fenton West and Mount Pleasant

KAREN CLARKE(Labour)07917 [email protected]

Ford Green and Smallthorne

MATT WILCOX(Labour)07810 [email protected]

Etruria and Hanley

MAJID KHAN(Labour)07989 [email protected]

Fenton East

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

Eaton Park

TERRY CROWE(Labour)(01782) 26942207818 [email protected]

Joiner’s Square

ALASTAIR WATSON(Labour)07736 [email protected]

Lightwood North and Normacot

BAGH ALI(Labour)(01782) 34324607973 [email protected]

Hartshill and Basford

SHAUN PENDER(Labour)(01782) 63210407920 [email protected]

Hollybush and Longton West

KATH BANKS(Labour)(01782) 39975907790 [email protected]

Hanley Park and Shelton

AMJID WAZIR(Labour)07747 [email protected]

Meir Park

ABI BROWN(Conservative)07793 [email protected]

Meir South

DEBBIE WHEELDON(Labour)(01782) 59504307870 [email protected]

Meir Hay

MUHAMMAD AUMIR(Labour)07413 [email protected]

Meir North

RUTH ROSENAU(Labour)(01782) 50194007870 [email protected]

Little Chell and Stanfield

DAVID CONWAY (City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

Sneyd Green

DEBRA GRATTON (Labour)07748 [email protected]

Springfields and Trent Vale

SARAH HILL(Labour)(01782) 84504407584 [email protected]

Penkhull and Stoke

RANDOLPH CONTEH(City Independents) (01782) 256869 or 07920 [email protected]

Sandford Hill

OLWEN HAMER(Labour)07717 [email protected]

Moorcroft

MOHAMMEDPERVEZ(Labour)(01782) 23246807919 [email protected]

Weston Coyney

MATTHEW FRY(Labour)07826 [email protected]

Tunstall

LEE WANGER(City Independents) 07971 [email protected]

Goldenhill and Sandyford

MARTIN GARNER(Labour)(01782) 76884607759 [email protected]

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press.

For more information on your councillors go to stoke.gov.uk/councillorsCouncillors can also be contacted through the Councillor and Civic Support Team who can takemessages and forward them on. They can be contacted on 01782 231922 or 231924.

Cabinet meetings are scheduled at 5.30pm:26 April 2012, 31 May 2012, 28 June 2012 and26 July 2012.

Full City Council meetings are at 5.30pm:29 March 2012 and 5 July 2012. The AnnualCouncil meeting is at 11.00am on 24 May 2012.

FORTHCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, STOKE:

Our City p23 16/3/12 10:20 Page 1


Fuel bills survey

Civic celebrationof Fairtrade

A citywide survey is seekingresidents’ views on priorities forreducing household fuel bills andcarbon emissions.

A strategy is being developed inpartnership with public and privatesector organisations to help savehouseholders and businesses moneyand create a cleaner environment.

The council recognises that achanging climate, rising bills andpoor health from living in coldhomes have a detrimental impact onthe city.

Please visit stoke.gov.uk/consultations to find out more.

Does your granlook like HRH?GRANNIES in the city could scoop aRoyal Jubilee prize... if they resembleHer Majesty The Queen. Tourismofficers in Stoke-on-Trent havelaunched the hunt for a royallookalike grandma as part of acampaign topromote thecity in the runup to DiamondJubileecelebrations.To enter thecompetition justemail a photo ofsomebody youknow (it doesn’thave to be yourgran!) – withtheir permission– to [email protected]

Some of Stoke-on-Trent’s mostfamous pottery manufacturers havejoined the council to put together aroyal itinerary to follow in thefootsteps of The Queen and herfamily. It can be seen atwww.visitstoke.co.uk/royal.aspx

It includes opportunities to visitthe Wedgwood Visitor Centre andMuseum, Moorcroft Heritage VisitorCentre, Emma Bridgewater, AynsleyChina, Portmeirion and The PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery. Details ofthese venues and a link to moneysaving vouchers can be found atwww.visitstoke.co.uk

THE cream of the city’s sportingstars and heroes has beenhonoured at The City of

Stoke-on-Trent Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

The glittering ceremony hosted by doubleOlympic gold medal rower James Cracknell sawlocal cricketer Ben Johnson and Olympicrunning hopeful Emma Jackson named Maleand Female Sports Personality of the Year.

Inspirational Ben from Checkley Cricket Clubreturned to the cricket field less than a year aftera road accident left him in a coma. Hisachievement earned a standing ovation from the400-strong audience at the King’s Hall in Stoke.

Emma, who also collected the SeniorIndividual title on the night, is only the 18thBritish woman to run 800 metres in under twominutes. She is now preparing in her bid torepresent Team GB at the London Olympics.

A total of 34 awards were handed out at thegala night attended by triple jump world recordholder Jonathan Edwards and World Cup winnerGordon Banks, nine-time Paralympic gold medalwinning equestrian Lee Pearson and reigningworld darts champion Adrian Lewis.

Imran Sherwani, the Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, was inducted into the Cityof Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Famealongside Hanley-born cycling legend Les West.

Inspirational Achiever went to three timesPotteries marathon winner Julia Matheson, whoovercame a crippling back injury to compete again,while former Paratrooper Dan Hopwood who isparalysed from the chest down scooped theDisability Award for winning a World Sprintscanoeing medal.

Junior award winners included hurdler JamesTaylor who is top of the UK under-17s rankingsand the Staffordshire under-13s cricket team.

SENIOR INDIVIDUAL:Emma Jackson

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL:James Taylor

SENIOR TEAM:Stoke Rugby Club

INSPIRATIONALACHIEVER:Julia Matheson

DISABILITY:Dan Hopwood

JUNIOR TEAM:Staffordshire Under-13s cricket

COACH:Darren Barton

SPORT INCOMMUNITY:Bradwell Belles

SERVICE TO SPORT:Neil Gilson

EDITOR’S AWARD:Peter Coates

FOOTBALLERS OFTHE YEAR:Stoke City FC:Jonathan WaltersPort Vale FC: Doug Loft

OVERALL WINNERS:Male: Ben JohnsonFemale: Emma Jackson

OVER 100 people attendeda civic reception hosted byLord Mayor Councillor TerryFollows to celebrateFairtrade Fortnight.

The event showcasedachievements of the city council andFairtrade Action in Stoke-on-Trent(FAST).

Fairtrade aims to achieve betterdeals for producers of food and othercommodities in developing countries.Stoke-on-Trent is a Fairtrade city andthe reception celebrated St MargaretWard High School achieving Fairtradestatus.

To find out more please visitstoke.gov.uk/fairtrade

Proud salute to sportingstars and heroes

Sports Personalities of the

Year – international runner

Emma Jackson and local

cricketer Ben Johnson.

Footballers ofthe Year – StokeCity’s Jonathan

Walters, left,and Port Vale’s

Doug Loft.

Former Paratrooper Dan Hopwood

receives the Disability Award from

television presenter Nick Hancock.

Inspirational Achiever

Julia Matheson is

presented with the

award by World

Cup winner

Gordon Banks.Main winners at a glance:

Pictures courtesy of The Sentinel

Our City p24 16/3/12 10:21 Page 1

stoke-on-trent issue 26: march 2012...

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