The Big Thank You is your chance to recognise and celebrate community helpers and volunteers in North Staffordshire.   About this Event The Big Thank You is your chance to recognise and celebrate community helpers and volunteers in North Staffordshire (Stoke on Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Moorlands). Is there someone in your community who has been a lifeline to you or other people over the time of the COVID-19 pandemic? Who has gone ‘the extra mile’, been an inspiration and helped their community? We want to celebrate all that is positive about people in North Staffs. We would love to hear from YOU. To say thank you to someone, please fill in this Thank You form online. If you don’t have access to the internet, please phone Lynne on 0751 881 3131 Please fill in the form or phone us by Friday 28th May at 5pm – (Please use a new form for each person, organisation or group you want to nominate) All the people who we hear about and all the people who nominate someone are invited to Big Thank You Celebration in Volunteers Week on Friday 4th June from 10.30am – 12.30pm, on Zoom online. There will be entertainment on the day, we will hear from people willing… Continue Reading

A schedule of learning topics to develop new skills related to volunteers and people interested in taking social action.   In collaboration VOICES, 1000 lives, Expert Citizens CIC and All the small things will be holding a workshop day where we have a schedule of learning topics to develop new skills related to volunteering and people interested in taking social action. In addition to this we will also have a ‘Got it want it’ activity for people to offer skills, time, knowledge and to ask for things they may need.   If this is something that you would like to participate in or would simply like to find out more you can contact us via [email protected] or by phone on 0751 881 3131.… Continue Reading

This interactive, quality-assured community organising course will help to develop the skills and confidence to start listening to people. Listening to people is the foundation of community organising because it builds trust and relationships, uncovers issues and is an essential starting point for bringing people together to share stories, ideas and action. On this course, you will gain an understanding of why listening is important in community organising and you will develop practical listening skills and tactics and plan a listening campaign. During this course you will explore ‘relational’ listening and its importance in community organising how to plan a listening campaign to kick-start your organising work practical listening tools you can use to engage people, build relationships and find leaders how asking powerful questions helps people to tell their stories how community organisers reflect to improve their work The course also provides a reminder of the basics of community organising, which are covered in our Introduction to Community Organising course. The course lasts for 7 hours and is set over two half days. Like all of our training, it is inspiring and interactive. It is designed so that everybody can take part, share their ideas and experiences and practice their skills.… Continue Reading

A Community of Practice for people with lived experience and professionals supporting people with multiple disadvantage in Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent Community of Practice (@S-o-T CoP) is a safe and confidential space for professionals and community members who have a common interest in change to participate in a ‘hosted conversation’. @S-o-T CoP model encompasses A solution-focused approach Competence-based philosophy and practice A ‘no blame’, ‘no name’, ‘no shame’ culture Valuing and learning from lived experiences @S-o-T CoP is a monthly event where the topic of conversation is identified through lived experiences of community members and local professionals. The current theme of discussion is Prison Discharge. Due to current Covid-19 restrictions @S-o-T CoP is being facilitated online through ZOOM. When you have confirmed your registration you will receive a link to the access the Community of Practice prior to the event start.      … Continue Reading