Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough
Bentilee, Ubberley & Townsend
Too often communities are judged by what they lack. Bentilee, Ubberley and Townsend should also be recognised for what it already has.
Our ward is home to a remarkable range of services and community facilities, including schools, health services, family support, sports centres, parks, community organisations and places of worship. Together they provide support, opportunities and connections for thousands of local people every week.
My focus is not simply attracting new investment, but making the most of the assets we already have — bringing organisations together, strengthening community links and ensuring residents can access the services they need as close to home as possible.
Why it matters
This isn't just the ward I represent – it's the community that helped shape who I am. My family live here, many of my closest connections are here, and I care deeply about the future of the area. Like many residents, I've seen services disappear, opportunities become harder to access and community spaces come under pressure. That's why I'm committed to helping make Bentilee, Ubberley and Townsend an even better place to live, work and raise a family.
I am also passionate about building on the strengths that already exist in Bentilee, Ubberley and Townsend. We have talented residents, dedicated volunteers, strong community organisations and a wealth of local knowledge. By recognising and developing these assets, we can create more opportunities for local people to lead positive change.
My Priorities
My priority is ensuring local people have a genuine voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Too often, people from communities like ours are underrepresented in local government. I believe residents should help shape local policies, services and investment priorities because the best decisions are made with communities, not for them.
I see my role as helping to bring people together, building relationships and connecting people, organisations and services around a shared goal of improving life for local residents. By working together and reducing duplication, we can create a stronger, more joined-up community that works for everyone.
Education is changing in
Stoke on Trent
“What’s different this time isn’t the ambition—it’s that we’re treating Stoke-on-Trent as a single education system, not a collection of schools, and we’re prepared to challenge, intervene and reshape that system where it isn’t delivering for our children.”
This is about more than a curriculum—it’s about giving the next generation the skills, confidence, and connections to thrive right here in our community from day one.
So what will feel different?
- Earlier support
- Schools working together
- Better support for those who need it most
- Focus on futures
- Fewer exclusions
NEW Education Strategy
“What’s different this time isn’t the ambition—it’s that we’re treating Stoke-on-Trent as a single education system, not a collection of schools, and we’re prepared to challenge, intervene and reshape that system where it isn’t delivering for our children.”
SEND Improvement
We aim to ensure that all children and young people in Stoke-on-Trent feel valued, understood and that they belong in our city. We want our children and young people to feel that they belong in their education settings, that they have access to and can attend health services and that they have access to social care support that meets their needs.
Additional Investment
£29.6 million is being invested in schools and education facilities, combining £18.4 million of ongoing projects with £11.2 million of new investment, prioritising SEN provision, safety, and long-term capacity.
This funding will create up to 300 additional specialist places for children and young people, including new and expanded SEN provision in both special schools and mainstream settings
..and it starts in Bentilee
Alpha Academies Trust & Potteries Educational Trust are teaming up to create a stronger, more cohesive educational community across Stoke & Staffordshire!
Together, we aim to create a partnership that supports young people and strengthens local networks!
MyFuture video below
NHS Neighbourhood Health Plan
Bentilee
Bentilee is being used to help shape a new neighbourhood approach to health and family support. The aim is to bring services closer together around the needs of local children, young people and families, making it easier to access help earlier and closer to home. By joining up health services, schools, family support and community organisations, we want to improve wellbeing, reduce inequalities and ensure children get the support they need before problems become more serious.
By testing new ways of working in Bentilee, we can learn what works best and use that learning to improve services across the city in the future.
This is about putting children, young people and families at the centre of service design, making support easier to access and helping every child have the best possible start in life.
Health care is changing to make it easier for people to get the help they need, closer to home.
Instead of expecting people to travel to hospitals for everything, more services will be available in local communities. Health professionals will work together in one place.
New technology will allow people to manage more of their healthcare online if they choose, while ensuring those who need face-to-fac support can still get it.
The overall aim is to bring healthcare closer to people, reduce waiting times, improve access to services and help residents live healthier lives for longer.
Join the Community
Get Involved with Local Governance
Your participation is vital in shaping our community's future. Join Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough in making a difference by attending local meetings, voicing your concerns, and participating in initiatives.