Creating Inclusive Communities: New Dementia-Friendly Strategy for Stoke
Plus the UK's first giving marketplace launched in Stone, Popeyes and Five Guys for Festival Park, restoring the River Trent, and A50 upgrades slated to create jobs…
This month, we are supported by Steel Door Company, luxury steel doors to transform your home 🚪 🏠 🔨
Good News 🎉
👵 A Modern Dementia Strategy. In February 2025, 3,081 people were recorded as being diagnosed with dementia in Stoke-on-Trent, with more than 4,000 projected to be living with the condition by 2040. To provide better support, the council has developed the Dementia Strategy 2025-2029 with the NHS Integrated Care Board following consultations with voluntary and community organisations, health and social care professionals, and people affected by dementia. Are you affected by the disease? Shared Lives Stoke are now helping dementia sufferers – say what you think the service should offer here.
👏👏 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Kevin Turner 👏 👏
A Staffs-based entrepreneur has launched BuytoGive.co.uk, the UK’s first "giving marketplace." Based in Stone, Kevin has created a platform that turns everyday shopping into a force for good, enabling local charities, schools, and community groups to raise funds automatically at no extra cost. This initiative is already supporting familiar local names like AEDdonate, alongside national partners.BuytoGive provides charities, schools, and community groups with their own branded online shops. Stocked with millions of products – from tech and toys to homeware and fashion – the shopping experience feels familiar, but the impact is transformational. “It’s everything you’d expect from a major online retailer but with one big difference – we’re not lining the pockets of billionaires but funds for the causes that really matter,” says Turner. Love it, Kevin.
🧶 Stoke Minster Hosts The Longest Yarn Again. An 80 metre knotted and crocheted depiction of Britain At War is coming to Stoke Minster from 21/11-05/12 following the success of The Longest Yarn: D Day. A study in wool of Britain between the declaration of war of 3 September 1939 to VE Day on 8 May 1945, the exhibition, which has been on display around the country, comprises 80 one metre panels with the detail described as “absolutely staggering”. Scenes include key moments in the life of the nation, and the services that kept the home fires burning like D-Day, the Blitz, and the Women’s Land Army. More info here.
🍟 Popeyes and Five Guys for Festival Park. Stoke-on-Trent is set to get its first taste of fast food chicken joint Popeyes, home of the famous Louisiana Chicken Sandwich, which is set to open at the old Pizza Hut on Festival Park. More good news for fast food lovers: Five Guys, which is famous for using no frozen ingredients and offering unlimited drink refills, will replace the old Frankie & Benny’s restaurant (we love their chocolate milkshakes).
🏞️ Mapping the Trent. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, and RSA Insurance have announced a new project, Rivers 2040, to analyse the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of restoring nature along England’s longest river from source to sea. It will identify opportune land use changes and ideal locations for flood risk management; access to nature, recreation and tourism opportunities; and protecting wildlife habitats and restoring others, like helping salmon migrate, and bringing back beavers to manage the habitat.
🚧 A50 Upgrades Could Create Jobs. A new study by Midlands Connect suggests Staffs could gain more than 2,000 jobs and £116 million for the local economy if upgrades to the A50 at Uttoxeter, Blythe Bridge and Sudbury are delivered to enhance access to commercial and residential land, and properties. By 2031, improvements along the A50 corridor could create 2,192 jobs across Staffordshire, including 470 in Stoke-on-Trent, 520 in East Staffordshire, 194 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, 151 in Staffs Moorlands and 241 in Stafford.
🥨 Good Vibes Only: A word from Helen, writer at The Knot
Amid much fanfare (and a few fireworks), Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID unveiled the 100 Years, 100 Faces mural on Marsh Street last Saturday night in another centenary celebration. While the Knot wasn’t there to witness the unveiling (you can blame the traffic on the M6 for that), we did swing by yesterday to check it out (see our reel).
On the wall, which was created by local artists Rob Fenton and Alastair Barnett, you‘ll see Stokie icons like Sir Stanley Matthews and Robbie Williams to less obvious, but equally deserving, choices like Florence Jessie MacWilliams, one of the first mathematicians to contribute to coding theory (a school named after her opened in Meir last September) and singer/songwriter Jackie Trent, the daughter of a coal miner who co-wrote several hits for Petula Clark in the 60s and the Neighbours theme tune.
If you haven’t managed to do so already, go see it, take some pics, and find your faves… you can also tell us what you think of the mural in the comment section below!
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🏚️ Stoke’s Forgotten Buildings: What is going on with Twyford House?
🎹 Music-themed Cafe Opens in Longton: It’s the Sound of Coffee…
🥨 Willow Pattern Showcased: A new exhibition at Spode Museum…
The Knot Reels: We checked out the 100 Years, 100 Faces mural. Slash is my favourite, who is yours? Go swing by and let us know!
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ⛅️ 18° (9°) Tue 🌦️ 18° (11°) Wed 🌦️ 18° (11°) Thu 🌦️ 17° (9°) Fri 🌦️ 16° (9°)
Sat ⛅️ 16° (10°) Sun 🌦️ 16° (10°).
Sunrise 15/09 ☀️06:42 Sunset 15/09 🌅 19:25