Hello Stokies!

Welcome to this month’s edition of the Made in Stoke newsletter - where we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary, the urgent, and the hopeful across our city.
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In this issue, we celebrate the return of the Cared for Children Awards, a moving tribute to the resilience and achievements of Stoke-on-Trent’s young people in care. We also confront the growing personal debt crisis with bold ideas and collaborative action, and highlight how local businesses and individuals are stepping up to shape brighter futures through the Future Ready Pledge and our Speakers in Schools Programme.
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Whether you’re a changemaker, a supporter, or simply someone who cares deeply about Stoke’s future, we're proud to have you in the Made in Stoke community. So let's keep the momentum going and build the kind of city we all believe in.

‍Celebrating Brilliance: Cared for Children Awards Return to Stoke-on-Trent

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‍Friday 19th September 2025 marked a heartwarming and inspiring evening in Stoke-on-Trent, as the City Council proudly hosted the annual Cared for Children Awards - a cherished event that shines a light on the remarkable achievements of vulnerable children and young people from across the city.
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Held at the historic King’s Hall, this special celebration brought together children, carers, staff, and supporters to recognise stories of resilience, talent, and success. With more than 1,000 children currently in care, the awards typically receive between 150–200 nominations, showcasing a wide spectrum of accomplishments - both big and small - that deserve the spotlight.

This year’s event was made even more special thanks to the generous anonymous donation from a member of the Made in Stoke network. Their support helped provide prizes, goodie bags, and entertainment, ensuring that the evening was as memorable, joyful, and uplifting as the children it honoured.
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‍Sara Banks, Head of Corporate Parenting, Cared for Children’s Service, expressed her heartfelt gratitude:

“We are incredibly grateful for the anonymous donation from a member of the Made in Stoke network to support our annual Cared for Children Awards. It is a truly lovely event, but we couldn’t do it without the generosity of our staff and the wider community.”

The Cared for Children Awards serve not only as a celebration, but also as a reminder of the power of community support - and the incredible potential that lies within every young person, no matter their background.
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Tackling Stoke-on-Trent’s Personal Debt Crisis: Uniting Unconventional Thinkers for Change

On the 5th August, we brought together a roundtable of innovators, disruptors, and systems-thinkers from our Made in Stoke network to take on one of our city’s most pressing challenges: the spiralling crisis of personal debt.
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Last year alone, over 27,000 people in our area turned to Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent (CASNS), carrying a staggering £110 million in personal debt - almost four times more than the year before. While CASNS helped write off £17 million through vital interventions like Debt Relief Orders, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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This crisis is being driven by deep, systemic issues:

• 17 million adults in England lack basic numeracy skills
  
• In Stoke-on-Trent, the average numeracy age is just nine
  
• Over a quarter of our students leave school without a GCSE in maths
  
  

Despite this, tailored financial guidance has proven powerful - where CASNS could deliver it, return rates for crisis support dropped from 19% to just 4%.
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Our roundtable didn’t just talk - we’re now putting ideas into action. We're rethinking how Stoke tackles poverty, financial literacy, and the support systems around them.
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We’ll continue to host these conversations. If you're passionate about making a difference in this space - or want to be part of our next discussion on another urgent local issue, mental health - please reach out to deb@madeinstoke.com
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Your Business Can Change a Life

Join the many local businesses who’ve already signed the Future Ready Pledge - and help prepare young people in our community who have experienced disadvantage for the world of work.
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From family-run shops to major employers - no matter your size or sector - your business can spark confidence, purpose, and opportunity in a young person’s life.
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Whether it's offering work experience, mentoring, apprenticeships, your involvement sends a clear message: we believe in our young people. And when local businesses stand behind them, the whole community benefits.
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To find out more and sign up to the Future Ready Pledge click here: https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk/the-future-ready-pledge/

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Speakers in Schools Programme

Can you spare some time to ignite young minds? We’re calling on the Stoke diaspora to sign up for our Speakers in Schools Programme where we connect inspirational role models from all career paths and backgrounds to schools across Staffordshire by sharing their fascinating journeys - the highs and hurdles!  

You can find out more by following the link below or contact kaye@madeinstoke.com 
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https://www.madeinstoke.com/speakers-in-schools

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