Ay up duck!
As we reflect on the year gone by, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. From celebrating our city in remarkable ways to supporting local organisations and bringing people together, this year has shown the true power of community. It’s not just about financial support - the time, talent and skills so generously given have been just as vital in helping our city thrive.
Thank you for being part of this journey and for everything you contribute.
We wish you a peaceful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
We look forward to welcoming you as we continue to build an even stronger city together in the year ahead.
Dwain, Nicky, Deb, Kaye and Julie – your Made in Stoke Team!
What a year!
Recapping on 2025 – as a small team when we decided to make a list of all of the outcomes of Made in Stoke, we were all taken aback when we saw exactly how much was achieved by you - our incredible community - in the last 12 months!
- Group Chair Nicky Twemlow represented Made in Stoke at the Beacon Collaborative Impact Forum at the Guild Hall in London, diving deep into how place-based philanthropy is driving real change in our communities.
- The launch of the Future Ready Pledge! Working in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, YMCA, The Spark Group, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and led by the passion of our Executive Lead Dwain McDonald, we were able to sign up just under 40 local businesses to collaborate with existing local youth employment organisations helping to create more opportunities for young people from disadvantaged circumstances attain work experience, employment pathways, CV help and ‘preparation for work’ training.
- John Phillips, Partner in Charge at Jones Day and Made in Stoke community member, kindly hosted the team and guests from our diaspora at an evening of inspiration and hope at the Jones Day office in Blackfriars, London. With the three Stoke-on-Trent MP’s speaking, the evening allowed us to connect with new supporters of the Made in Stoke network.
- We achieved a Guinness World Record! As part of the Stoke 100 centenary celebrations, and inspired by the boundless ambition of our Group Chair, Nicky Twemlow, we helped deliver a city-wide tea party bringing together 15,000 participants from Stoke-on-Trent and beyond, from nursery schools and hospital wards to community projects - and even as far as London and Glastonbury. Countless offers of support poured in, from time given to scones and jam donated. It was a truly glorious moment that saw our city come together in celebration and togetherness.
- In 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. We are now putting ideas into action to rethink how Stoke tackles poverty, financial literacy, and the support systems around them.
- Lynne Sedgmore, one of our incredible Made in Stoke community members and Group Chair of the local Town Deal, hosted a group of young people in Glastonbury. They visited several local sites including Glastonbury Tor and Chalice Well and took part in a local festival (not that one!). This was an incredible opportunity to visit this famously magical town.
- Made in Stoke partner Nick Faunus took another group of young people on a fully funded trip to Canada creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people from our city.
- In September 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. Thanks to a generous anonymous donation from the Made in Stoke network, the evening was filled with prizes, goodie bags, and entertainment.
- Let’s Celebrate Fund! Thanks to a generous £20,000 donation, and with match funding secured, we grew the fund to £65,000. This was distributed to 26 local organisations, with grants ranging from £500 to £3,000.
- Nicky Twemlow was invited to represent Made in Stoke at both Your Voice, Your Rhyl, and The Royal Opera House’s Cultural Education event to showcase place-based change and the power of local networks.
- Through another generous donation from a Made in Stoke community member, £210,000 was distributed to local charities with a focus on supporting young people.
- We are also continuing to work with our registered community members and our local schools to provide aspirational speakers for our city’s young people.
- Sales of our Made in Stoke t-shirts raised an amazing £700 which will fund days out for young people from two local schools!
What an achievement – and it’s all thanks to our incredible community!
One of our donors said:
"We were really proud to get behind the Let’s Celebrate Fund! It was all about bringing people together and spreading some positivity in our community. Giving back means a lot to us - it’s our way of saying Stoke-on -Trent matters and helping make a difference where it matters most."
And it’s not just about money - our focus on time, talent and treasure continues to show that giving skills and time can be just as impactful as giving funds.
50 Years of MIND North Staffs – Think Tank Help Needed!
In 2026, North Staffs Mind will celebrate 50 years of transforming lives through mental wellbeing services. As we mark this milestone, we are embarking on our most ambitious project yet: creating a new, purpose-built Mental Wellbeing Hub of Excellence in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent where our current premises are based.
This new HQ will not only reflect the professionalism and compassion of our services - it will also set a new standard for accessible, inclusive, and welcoming mental health support in our region. Planning permission is secured, designs are in place, and we are ready to move forward.
But we can’t do it alone.
We’re assembling a think tank of passionate, skilled professionals to help us create an innovative, impactful fundraising strategy to raise the £2 million needed to bring this vision to life.
You don’t necessarily need experience in mental health services - just a belief in their importance, and expertise in areas like fundraising, marketing, business strategy, community engagement, law, placemaking, regeneration or project development.
This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a landmark project that will support the mental wellbeing of thousands in Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire for generations to come.
Will you join us?
To express your interest in being part of the think tank and joining the first meeting which will take place before the end of the year (dates to be confirmed), or to find out more, please contact deb@madeinstoke.com
Let’s create something extraordinary - together.
Get Involved!
There’s never been a better time to join the Made in Stoke movement. Whether it’s volunteering, mentoring, or supporting community projects, there’s a role for everyone. (Link to website as per last website)
Big love,
