Stoke welcome new street ambassador

A street ambassador has been appointed to help improve the cleanliness of Stoke Town.

Dan Dick - on behalf of the Stoke Town High Street Accelerator (HSA) pilot - will fulfil the role of Environmental Ambassador under a new partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID.

The role will involve Dan working alongside and supporting services already in the town, plus building relationships with residents, businesses and community groups to identify areas which are in need of a tidying up and ridding of litter, as well as providing general maintenance and supporting with gardening tasks.

The project will also support improved outcomes for other projects brought forward through the Stoke Town Green Fund Scheme, alongside identifying and supporting new local community initiatives and responding quickly and proactively to any environmental issues experienced.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, regeneration and infrastructure at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dan to his new role and are pleased to have been able to support his appointment through the High Street Accelerator pilot scheme.

“I am sure he will soon become a familiar face around the town and will be a point of liaison for businesses, residents and community groups. We are committed to listening to residents, and working together to making our city a safer, cleaner and wealthier place to live.”

Richard Buxton, CEO of Stoke Bid who are based in Hanley, said: "Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID is delighted to be partnering with Stoke Town to provide an Environmental Ambassador - a role that has been fully funded by the town's High Street Accelerator Fund.

“We know that Dan will add to the amazing work others are doing to improve the environment of Stoke.”

The appointment of the Environmental Ambassador is the second role to been introduced via the Stoke HSA pilot.

Last year Simon Drakeford was appointed as Community Champion and has hugely increased activities and events at Stoke Minster linking with other partners and organisations - which was one of the venues which took part in the Guiness World Record breaking Big Tea Party on 8 July, which was part of the City of Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary celebrations.

Other projects supported by the Stoke HSA in recent months have also included artist workshops with ACAVA studios, B Arts, Festival Stoke and Spode Museum along with exhibitions, and day time festival events.

Plus a secret garden space at Stoke library has been brightened up following the installation of planters following work with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and partners, community organisation Letting in the Light has worked to install colourful lamppost banners throughout the town, and the ongoing creation of community garden spaces including a huge environmental project by Brilliant Bamboo.

The Stoke HSA is part of the £500,000 Greenspace Funding awarded to Stoke-on-Trent City Council to enable Accelerator partnerships to deliver projects to improve green spaces and parklets around Stoke Town Centres high street.

This was awarded by MHCLG and to date 14 projects have been approved through the Greenspace funding in Stoke Town.