Community Spotlight
Regular updates from Charities, Organisations and People working with the community and making our ward a better place to live
Bentilee Volunteers
40 Years of Supporting Bentilee
For four decades, Bentilee Volunteers has quietly been making a difference to people's lives. While many organisations come and go, this local charity has remained at the heart of our community, providing practical support, friendship and opportunities for thousands of residents across Bentilee and the surrounding area. Its mission has always been simple: to help people, strengthen the community and improve quality of life.
What makes Bentilee Volunteers special is that it supports people at every stage of life. Whether it's giving young people a safe place to go after school, providing social activities for adults with learning disabilities, helping older residents combat loneliness, offering affordable furniture and clothing to families, or supporting people to build digital skills and access online services, the organisation has become a trusted part of everyday life for many local people.
Behind every project is a team of dedicated staff and local volunteers who give their time because they genuinely care about their community. Their work often goes unnoticed, but its impact is felt every single day. They don't simply provide services—they create opportunities, build confidence, offer friendship and help people through some of life's most difficult moments.
As a councillor, I know how important organisations like Bentilee Volunteers are. Strong communities are not built by councils alone. They are built by local people who step forward to support one another, creating places where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to thrive.
Over the coming weeks, I'll be shining a spotlight on the incredible work carried out by Bentilee Volunteers, introducing some of the projects that have helped make the charity such an important part of our community over the past 40 years. I hope you'll enjoy learning more about the people, volunteers and services that continue to make a real difference to the lives of so many local residents.
If you'd like to find out more, access one of their services or explore volunteering opportunities, visit Bentilee Volunteers or call 01782 863192.
Growing Confidence, Building Futures
Every young person deserves somewhere they can feel safe, make friends and simply enjoy being young.
That's exactly what Bentilee Volunteers' Youthlink provides.
Running four evenings a week, Youthlink gives children and young people aged 7 to 17 a welcoming place to spend time after school. Whether it's football, boxing, table tennis, pool, arts and crafts or simply catching up with friends, there's something for everyone.
But Youthlink is about much more than activities.
It gives young people trusted adults they can talk to, encouragement to try new things and opportunities to build confidence, teamwork and resilience. These positive experiences help shape brighter futures and strengthen our community.
During school holidays, Bentilee Volunteers also provides free food and activities, ensuring young people have somewhere safe, active and supportive to spend their time.
I was honoured to be invited, alongside Gareth Snell MP, to celebrate Bentilee Volunteers securing a further five years of National Lottery Community Fund support. This long-term investment provides stability for the charity and means projects like Youthlink can continue giving local young people the opportunities, support and encouragement they deserve for years to come.
That funding is about much more than keeping a service running. It gives children and families confidence that the support they rely on will still be there in the future, allowing Bentilee Volunteers to continue planning ahead, investing in its staff and volunteers, and making a lasting difference to our community.
Every week, the dedicated Youthlink team helps young people build confidence, discover new interests and realise their potential. It's another example of why Bentilee Volunteers has remained at the heart of Bentilee for more than 40 years.
Youthlink meets Monday to Thursday from 3.30pm until 6.30pm (times may vary during school holidays) at The Pavilion, Bentilee.
Opening Doors to Opportunity
Over the past six weeks, I've had the privilege of shining a spotlight on the incredible work of Bentilee Volunteers.
We've seen how they tackle loneliness through the Seniors Lunch Club, help families get back on their feet through the Charity Shop and Furniture Shed, create opportunities for adults with learning disabilities through Rainbows, and invest in young people through Youthlink.
But there is another service that quietly changes lives every week.
In today's world, so much of everyday life happens online. Applying for jobs, managing benefits, paying bills, appealing decisions, sending emails or simply staying in touch with family all require digital skills. For many people, that can feel overwhelming.
Bentilee Volunteers' Digital Support service helps bridge that gap.
Whether someone needs help writing a CV, searching for work, setting up an email account, completing online forms or simply learning how to use a computer with confidence, friendly volunteers are there to help.
It's not just about technology.
It's about opening doors.
A new skill can lead to employment. An online application can unlock financial support. Learning to use a smartphone or laptop can reconnect someone with family and friends.
Sometimes, all it takes is someone sitting beside you, showing you where to click and giving you the confidence to have another go.
As this Community Spotlight series comes to an end, one thing has become clear.
Bentilee Volunteers isn't defined by one project or one building. It's a charity that supports people at every stage of life—young people finding their confidence, adults building friendships, older residents overcoming loneliness and families rebuilding after difficult times.
For more than 40 years, they have been quietly changing lives across Bentilee, one person at a time.
Thank you to Alex, the staff, the volunteers and everyone who gives their time to make Bentilee a stronger, kinder and more connected community.
A Place to Belong
When we think about building strong communities, it's easy to focus on buildings, parks or services. But communities are really built through friendships, shared experiences and making sure everyone feels included.
That's exactly what Bentilee Volunteers' Rainbows Club has been doing for years.
Designed for adults aged 18 and over with learning disabilities, Rainbows offers a safe, welcoming and supportive environment where members can enjoy activities, build confidence and, most importantly, make lasting friendships.
From arts and crafts to table tennis, snooker, music and regular outings, every session is filled with opportunities to learn new skills, try something different and spend time with friends who genuinely care for one another.
For many members, Rainbows is much more than a weekly club. It's somewhere they are known, valued and encouraged to be themselves. Families know their loved ones are spending time in a safe, supportive environment where they can have fun, grow in confidence and enjoy new experiences.
The smiles in these photographs say far more than words ever could.
Bentilee Volunteers continues to show that inclusion isn't just about providing a service—it's about creating opportunities for everyone to be part of community life.
The Rainbows Club meets every Monday and Wednesday from 10am until 2pm and welcomes adults with learning disabilities from across the area.
Helping People Get Back on Their Feet
Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference.
Imagine moving into an empty property with little more than the clothes you're wearing. No bed to sleep on, no kettle to make a cup of tea and no table to sit around with your family. For many people facing homelessness, escaping domestic abuse or simply going through difficult times, this is the reality.
For years, Bentilee Volunteers has been helping local people take those first important steps towards rebuilding their lives.
Their Community Charity Shop and Furniture Shed provide affordable clothing, bedding, furniture and household essentials, making everyday items accessible to families across Bentilee and the surrounding area. But their work goes much further than offering low-cost goods.
Working alongside social workers, homelessness services and other partner organisations, Bentilee Volunteers also provides essential items free of charge to people who have nowhere else to turn. Whether it's helping someone move into their first home, replacing belongings after a crisis or supporting a family facing financial hardship, every donation can become a fresh start.
The Furniture Shed collects and delivers donated furniture and white goods, ensuring good-quality items stay in use while helping local residents furnish their homes at affordable prices. It's a service that not only supports people in need but also helps reduce waste by giving unwanted furniture a second life.
This is community at its best—people helping people.
Behind every wardrobe, dining table, winter coat or kettle is something far more valuable than the item itself. It's dignity. Independence. Hope.
More Than a Meal: A Lifeline for Older Residents
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Bentilee Volunteers opens its doors to older residents for its much-loved Seniors Lunch Club.
Members can enjoy a freshly prepared two-course meal, including a homemade pudding, alongside bingo, raffles, karaoke, crafts, games and plenty of conversation. At £10, with the meal and activities included, the club offers an affordable and welcoming way for people to spend time together.
But the Lunch Club is about much more than food.
For some members, it may be the only time that week they leave their home, enjoy a freshly cooked meal or sit and talk with other people. That regular contact can make an enormous difference, particularly for residents who live alone or have become isolated.
The club provides something many of us can easily take for granted: somewhere to go, people who know your name and a reason to look forward to the week.
Bentilee Volunteers can also provide reduced-cost minibus transport, depending on availability and distance, helping residents who might otherwise struggle to attend.
This is community support at its most practical and personal. A hot meal matters, but so do the laughter, friendship and sense of belonging that come with it.
The Seniors Lunch Club runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 10.30am until 2pm.
To ask about places or transport, contact Bentilee Volunteers on 01782 863192, Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm.
Transform Communities Staffordshire CIC
Creating Opportunities that Change Lives
Transform Communities Staffordshire CIC is a not-for-profit organisation working to improve the lives of children, young people and families through positive activities, mentoring and community projects.
At the heart of its work is a simple belief: every young person deserves to feel safe, valued and inspired, whatever their background or circumstances.
The organisation provides a wide range of free opportunities, including youth clubs, Holiday Activities and Food sessions, the Staffordshire SPACE programme, one-to-one mentoring, sports, arts and crafts, residential experiences and community engagement projects.
These activities are about much more than keeping young people busy. They help children and teenagers build confidence, develop new skills, form positive relationships and access experiences they may not otherwise have.
Transform Communities also works closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, The Hubb Foundation, schools, Youth Offending Services, Staffordshire Police, local councillors and other community partners. By bringing organisations together, it helps create a stronger network of support around young people and their families.
Its vision is to help build stronger and safer communities where young people can thrive, feel supported and believe in their own potential.
“We don’t just talk about change — we deliver it.”
That message runs through everything the organisation does: practical support, real opportunities and visible action for children, young people and families across the community.
Why this work matters
When young people have trusted adults, safe places to go and positive activities to take part in, they are more likely to feel connected to their community and confident about their future.
Transform Communities Staffordshire is helping make that happen by creating opportunities that are free, local and accessible to the young people who need them most.
Every Friday 7 - 14 year olds
16:30 - 18:00
Youthclub Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre
Extra sessions during the school holidays - see link below
JERICHO come as you are
More than a drop-in
Craig and Louise never set out to create an organisation. As members of St Stephen's Church in Bentilee and St John's Church in Abbey Hulton, they simply recognised a growing need. More people were facing homelessness, poverty and isolation, and they wanted to respond.
After sharing their vision with their vicar, Malc, Jericho Come As You Are was launched just two weeks later. What began as a conversation has grown into a community that offers practical help, friendship and hope to people across Bentilee and Stoke-on-Trent.
Today, Jericho runs a weekly drop-in in Bentilee where anyone can find a warm welcome, food, hot drinks, clothing, toiletries, practical advice and, perhaps most importantly, someone willing to listen without judgement.
Alongside the drop-in, the team also carries out weekly outreach in Hanley, taking sandwiches, drinks and essential supplies directly to people sleeping rough, while helping them reconnect with support services.
Small acts. Big changes.
The impact of Jericho is measured less by statistics than by the lives it has helped change.
Ben was supported into secure accommodation after experiencing homelessness. Anna, after being granted asylum, moved into an empty flat with almost nothing. Jericho was able to furnish her home with furniture and household essentials, helping turn four bare walls into somewhere she could begin again.
But not every success story is measured by housing or possessions.
Sometimes it begins with something much simpler: a conversation, a hot meal, a listening ear or a reminder that someone still cares.
"I was broken when I first came in this morning, and your love, support, strength and prayer got me through and put me back together again."
For Craig and Louise, moments like this are exactly why Jericho exists.
A place where everyone is welcome
At the heart of Jericho is a simple belief: every person deserves dignity, compassion and hope.
Their mission is to meet people where they are, respond to immediate need with kindness and remind every person that they are valued, loved and never forgotten.
If you know someone who is struggling, feeling isolated, or simply needs somewhere warm and welcoming, Jericho's doors are open.
Every Friday
9.30am – 11.30am
St Stephen's Church, Bentilee