Council Launches First Citizen's Assembly
Plus get fit with buy now pay later gym deals, Port Vale gears up for 150th season celebrations and applications now open for University of Staffordshire's TedEx event…
Good News 🎉 Want local business news? Visit Daily Focus
🗣️ Have Your Say on Stoke’s Future. In a bid to tap into local people’s creativity, knowledge and experiences, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is calling for volunteers to join a new focus group that will help to shape better approaches to issues facing the city. The council’s first-ever Citizens' Assembly will bring together residents of all backgrounds to discuss topics that most significantly impact their community and suggest new approaches, alongside solutions to ongoing problems. Want to take part? Email them.
🏋️♀️ Get Fit With Active Stoke’s Deals. Ready to make 2025 your healthiest year yet? Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Dimensions Leisure Centre and Wallace Sport and Education Centre are all offering a buy now pay nothing until March 2025 deal. Get access to the gym, exercise classes, swimming pools, racket sports courts and health spas. Click here to find your closest gym and get started.
⚽️ Season of Celebration for Port Vale. To mark its 150th season, the club will have a season of celebration from 2025/2026, including an anniversary fixture at Vale Park and its first-ever Hall of Fame dinner. Initiatives that reflect Port Vale’s history – such as becoming founding members of the Football League Second Division – are also planned, as are special kit and merchandise launches.
🎓 Could You Speak at a TedEx Event? Applications are now open for speakers to participate in TEDxUniversityofStaffordshire event on the theme 'Adventures into the Unknown'. Hosted at the Catalyst building on 15/05, speakers will be selected by a panel chaired by University of Staffordshire vice-chancellor and chief executive, Professor Martin Jones. Last year’s TEDx event featured boxing champion Nathan Heaney, playwright Deborah McAndrew, and sculptor Andy Edwards. Apply here and get ready to wow the panel…
🗄️ Plots up for Grabs at Staffs Business Park. Eleven new industrial units on the final plot at Redhill Business Park are now available. Named Scarlet Court, the units are available to rent as individually or combined, are sized between from 189 to 475 sqm, and offer parking. Ideal for industrial, warehousing or trade counter use, the units are located on the A34 north of Stafford. Redhill is already home to flagship Stafford business GE, Saint-Gobain, electronics company Omicron and SureStore Self Storage. Email Harris Lamb or visit the website for more info.
📚Libraries Provide NHS App Support. To support Health Information Week, which starts today, those that need help to download and register on the NHS App can do so at their local library. The support is currently available at eight Staffordshire libraries, with several more set to join in the coming months.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🚶♀️ Walk Stoke's Remaining 47 Bottle Kilns: There’s a great walk coming up – and many of you are keen to stroll among our mighty kilns on 01/02. PS: it’s free!
🕯️ Cool Candles Made in Stone Our James speaks with Beth Warren, founder of The Wandering Bee, to find out why she swapped London life for Staffs.
📅 The Knot Life: did you know you can list your events for free at The Knot Life? More and more readers are doing it - get yours on too!
Unsung Heroes ⬇️
🏃♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete can run a 5km in 21 minutes.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that built a fashion career here.
👨🎨 Ian Parker: Mouth painter Ian has illustrated a kid’s book and is a full-time artist.
👩⚕️ Ruth Chambers: The retired GP won an OBE for improving health outcomes.
🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot
Whether it’s cutting council tax bills or improving roads and local transport, we’ve all got opinions on how the the city could be better run. If you want to get your point across, the Citizen’s Assembly will give you the chance to speak out on issues that most matter to you.
Such assemblies are becoming an established part of political decision making in the UK and beyond. West Midlands Combined Authority, for instance, has commissioned a citizens’ panel to look at how to create a fairer, greener and healthier West Midlands. Ireland uses them to tackle big issues from abortion to drugs abuse while the Scottish Government has commissioned two on climate and the country’s future.
So, what might they do in Stoke? Council leader Jane Ashworth says the assemblies could be used to find problems to long-running issues, introduce new ideas, or offer suggestions that may build community spirit. Whatever direction the assembly takes, one thing’s for sure: we all deserve to have our say on Stoke’s future.
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
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Sunrise 20/01 ☀️08:09 Sunset 20/01 🌅 16:31