Hitting the ground running in 2026!
Ay up Stokies!
Winter is over, the daffodils are out, the sun is shining and we’re off to a flying start in 2026 for the Made in Stoke team!
So far this year we have represented Made in Stoke at conferences in Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester and Sheffield, attended the House of Lords and had an incredible visit from The Neumark Foundation in Wales, all spreading the word about the power of place-based philanthropy, whether that is giving as time, talent or treasure.
We also saw an amazing member of our community deliver his inspiring story to Year 12s and 13s from four schools as part of our Speakers in Schools initiative.
As always, we wouldn’t be able to share these incredible impacts without you, our community, and we are excited to see what this year will bring.
2026 – let’s go!
Nicky, Deb, Kaye and Julie – your Made in Stoke Team!
Speakers in Schools - raising aspirations in our city's young people!
In February 2026, Made in Stoke’s ‘Speakers in Schools’ team proudly connected Martyn Irvine, a valued member of the Made in Stoke community, with St Thomas More Catholic Academy to speak at their annual Trinity Leadership Conference.
Held at the King’s Hall, the annual event - hosted in partnership with St John Fisher Catholic College and St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy - brings together Year 12 and 13 students for a programme of inspiring speakers from across the community.
Martyn, a football coach with over 20 years of experience, 12 years of service in the British Army, and a proud Stokie, spoke with honesty and passion. He shared powerful insights on how failure can be a driving force, why success is rarely a straight path, and the importance of looking after your mental health.
The impact of his talk was clear, with students eager to speak to him afterwards -queuing for photos and even autographs - demonstrating just how strongly his message resonated.
Thank you, Martyn, for sharing your story.
Do you think you could raise aspirations in young people in Stoke-on-Trent? We are constantly looking for new additions to our speaker directory – please contact kaye@madeinstoke.com
The Portland Inn Project – Made in Stoke philanthropic donations going further!
In December, we received a call from one of our Made in Stoke diaspora who had a pot of money they would like to go to a community group supporting young people in Stoke-on-Trent.
As always, Made in Stoke are the match-makers – we put forward a list of suitable matches to our donor’s requirements, and they choose which organisation they would like to donate to.
In this case, they chose The Portland Inn Project CIC, which is a community-led creative project in the Portland Street area of Hanley.
Founded in 2016, it supports residents in a disadvantaged area through creative workshops, education, and development, aiming for long-term social change.
Artist Lead and Co-Director Rebecca Davies said: ‘'We are delighted to receive this donation for our organisation and programme. This support enables The Portland Inn Project to continue to deliver our year-round street level programme of skills development, creative education and community decision making - all of which contribute to our mission towards social and environmental justice for our neighbourhood in Stoke-on-Trent. As we enter our tenth year of work, and prepare for our move into the building, donations such as this support our organisation in its development and readiness to open the doors of what will be the first cultural space of its kind in the city!’
If you feel like you would like to support an organisation in the area but you are not sure where to start, please contact a member of the Made in Stoke team for a chat!
Power of Place: Made in Stoke join a National Conversation on Cultural Philanthropy
On 10th March, the Made in Stoke team joined colleagues from Stoke Creates for an inspiring and thought-provoking day in Manchester at Figurative’s ‘The Power of Place - Cultural Philanthropy in 2026’ conference. Hosted at the stunning St Peter’s venue of the Hallé Concerts Society, the gathering brought together leaders, fundraisers, and cultural changemakers from across the UK to explore how philanthropy rooted in place can drive meaningful change.
The afternoon was packed with dynamic discussion, valuable networking, and the chance to exchange ideas with peers shaping the future of cultural philanthropy. Conversations ranged from the shared challenges of raising funds for ambitious cultural programmes to the creative and collaborative solutions emerging across the sector.
A highlight for the team was seeing Made in Stoke Chair Nicky Twemlow take to the stage as part of the expert panel ‘Lessons from the Front Line.’ Nicky spoke passionately about the role Made in Stoke plays in connecting people with a deep personal link to the area with grassroots cultural needs across the region.
By building these relationships, Made in Stoke acts as a strategic bridge, enabling philanthropic funding - and gifts of time, expertise and advocacy - to flow back into the communities that shaped them. It’s a model rooted firmly in the belief that when people invest in the places they care about, cultural ambition can flourish.
Arts for Impact - donate now and double the difference!
Once again, a handful of Stoke-on-Trent cultural charities are taking are participating in the Big Give’s annual Arts for Impact campaign, which runs from 17th – 24th March (midday).
Over 300 national charities have been chosen by the Big Give to receive a share of a match pot, meaning every £1 donated through the platform is matched 100% by the Big Give.
This years charities taking part are:
Stoke Creates - supporting disadvantaged young people to access creative careers in Stoke-on-Trent: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000BLDGrYAP
New Vic Theatre – offering free workshops for young children, to give them their first access to theatre: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000AQB6vYAH
British Ceramics Biennial – delivering ‘Clay Together’; a programme of creative experiences for young people, primarily those who are care-experienced: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000BKtDJYA1
Rideout – raising funds to support drama-based workshops for people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000B3fRiYAJ
The match campaign closes at midday on Tuesday 24th March – there has never been a better time to donate to these worthy local causes!
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.
Thank you for being part of this amazing community.
Big love,
