033: Good News for Stoke & Staffordshire

Hey Knotters! There's Lotto funding for Middleport, British Empire Medals for seven Staffs residents, John Rudge statue unveiled plus affordable homes on the horizon…

Good News 🎉

💰National Lottery Cash for Middleport Pottery. Re-Form Heritage has received £249,954 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support Middleport Pottery, the UK’s last working Victorian potbank: watch out for a new Visitor Welcome Centre and Learning Centre next year. PS: Spooky Hallowe’en Trail here from 26/10-04/11.

From lottery to pottery: Middleport has received National Lottery funding

🎖️Seven Staffs Residents Awarded British Empire Medals. Jacqueline Mary Gange got an MBE for services to the community in Cannock while six others received British Empire Medals: Hilary Dowson (work in Ellastone); Linda Mary Forrister (services to UK Gymnastics); Thomas Edward Noblett (services to local government); Elizabeth Ruth Timmis (work in Wetwood); Antony Michael Ward (services to swimming and para Swimming); and Dr Mary Francis Bradshaw (services to further education).

🍺Titanic Brewery Issues Call Out for Grants. The Titanic Brewery Foundation has already awarded nearly £10,000 in grants to local groups and is now accepting applications for a second wave of funding. Community groups and causes can apply for grants between £250 and £2,500 to help fund equipment, activities or projects that will have a positive impact for local residents. More info here.

⚽️ John Rudge Statue for Vale Park. Volunteers from the Port Vale Supporters Club have spent three years fundraising £100,000 for a bronze statue of the Vale president, and it’s set to be unveiled at the stadium today (21/10). Widely regarded as the club’s greatest coach, Rudge managed the Vale from 1983-1999.

🏡 Affordable Homes on the Horizon. More than 150 new homes are set to be built on redundant brownfield land in the city with the council awarded £2.2 million from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund. The old Brookhouse Green Primary School site in Bentilee will be transformed into a new estate for 117 new affordable homes. Likewise, the former Olympus Engineering site on College Road in Shelton will be cleared to make way for new apartments.

🚍 New Bus Service for Norton. The number 42 goes from Ball Green to Hanley via Norton Lane, Milton Crossroads and Abbotts Square in Abbey Hulton. Operated by Stantons of Stoke, it will run on a temporary basis ahead of a formal tender process.

🌳 Keele Students Support Local Businesses. SMEs, community groups, and not-for-profits in Newcastle have received support from Keele students and graduates through a Keele University initiative, Flourish. Supporting 50 projects in the first 12 months of a Government-backed initiative, there’s still scope to support 10 more eligible businesses in the Newcastle borough area. More info here.

Divinity Fitness and Wellbeing Studio is supported by Keele Flourish

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☀️ 15°(9°) Tue ⛅️ 15°(8°) Wed ⛅️ 15° (9°) Thu ⛅️ 15° (8°) Fri ⛅️ 14°(7°)
Sat ⛅️ 13°(9°) Sun ☁️ 14°(7°)

Sunrise 21/10 ☀️ 07:47 Sunset 21/10 🌅 17:59

Dog walkin’, Larks style. Cartoon by Chris Altham

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Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

🇩🇪 Why Stoke-on-Trent is Renewing its Links With Twin Town Erlangen: Hannah Hiles examines how we’re forging closer collaboration with the German town and reminisces about her year there as a modern languages student.
🏗️ New History Centre for Stafford: you were keen to hear all about the Staffordshire History Centre on Eastgate Street, which is set to open on 06/11.
🏞️ North Staffs Landscapes On Show: Our story about a new exhibition by local painter Maurice Wade at the Potteries Museum created clicks-a-plenty.

Unsung Heroes ⬇️

🏃‍♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete who can run a 5km in 21 minutes. A real running inspiration.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that defied the odds and built a career in fashion in Fulford.

🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot

So, you didn’t win the lottery again this weekend but at least some of your cash will go towards supporting good causes. We’re chuffed to bits to hear that Middleport Pottery received nearly a quarter of a million quid from the National Lottery Heritage Fund last week. This means one of our top visitor attractions can open a new Visitor Welcome Centre and Learning Centre next year and improve its energy efficiency.

If you’re a community group keen to get funding for something that always seems out of reach, why not apply for a grant from the Titanic Brewery Foundation? Some of its recent beneficiaries include St Vincent Explorer Sea Scouts, which received a grant for £2,500 to purchase new tents and outdoor campaign equipment, and Newport Cottage Care, which was awarded £1,000 to create a quiet room to support dementia day care services. Get applying now – and if you’re successful, tell us!