OCTOBER 2007
Our City
Reasons to make most out of tourism service RESIDENTS in Stoke-on-Trent have been given 10 good reasons to make the most of their city tourism service. The advice, from the team at the Tourist Information Centre, has been issued under the banner ‘Don’t be a Stranger in your own City.’ Services offered by the TIC include: ● Information on local visitor attractions ● Passes and tickets to local attractions ● Museums passport ● Thrillhopper tickets ● UK holiday brochures ● Accommodation bookings – local and national ● Theatre ticket bookings including the Regent and New Vic Theatres. Tourism signs are in ● Information and position on the main tickets for events gateway in to Burslem. including Walsall Illuminations, Southport Flower Show and Staffordshire County Show. ● Local bus and rail information and tickets. The TIC is based at the Victoria Hall at the heart of the Cultural Quarter, tel. 01782 236000, or email stoke.tic@stoke.gov.uk More ideas on making the most of Stoke-on-Trent can be found online at www.visitstoke.co.uk
Project to help keep youngsters safer BUILDING BRIDGES IN THE COMMUNITY: At the launch of the “My Stoke” campaign at the Gillani Noor Mosque at Normacot are, left to right, Nila Ghafoor, Black and Minority Ethnic Forum Member; Mohammed Gulzar; Trish Rhead, Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Chief Superintendent Jane Sawyer; Keith Perrin, North Staffordshire Forum of Faiths; Councillor Mohammed Pervez, portfolio holder for Community Services and Equality; and Imam Manzoor Madrabban. A BBC radio journalist carries out interviews inside the Gillani Noor Mosque at the campaign launch.
By involving and consulting religious leaders, women and young people, we hope to reach out to a significant proportion of the city’s Muslim population. We do not have a history of violent extremism among the Muslims of Stoke-on-Trent, but it would be stupid of us in these troubled times to assume ‘it couldn’t happen here.’ – MOHAMMED PERVEZ, PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES & EQUALITY
A NEW scheme – believed to be the first of its kind in the UK – has been started to keep youngsters in Stoke-on-Trent safe. Children aged between five and eight years old who attend Rainbows or Beavers groups will learn lots of essential skills under the initiative which is being pioneered by the City Council. Things like food safety, toy safety, noise awareness and health and safety will be taught. The project has gained approval from the Scouting Association and Girl Guiding UK. Free activity packs are also available to all Rainbows and Beavers groups in the city. To apply or for more information contact Suzanne Rhodes by e-mailing suzanne.rhodes@stoke.gov.uk
Storyteller and the ‘bottle oven’ tent A BOTTLE oven shaped tent is helping youngsters across the Potteries learn about the working history of the area. Commissioned by the City Council’s museums service, kids learn from a storyteller dressed as a Victorian factory worker. The structure was designed by the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton – which is currently applying for a Heritage Lottery Grant to restore its bottle ovens. Children learn about their ovens and other fascinating insights into the pottery industry. It is available for use at community events, such as fun days and at venues like libraries, schools and community centres. Anyone who is interested in using it should contact the Museum Outreach Team on 01782 235522.
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