Two new schemes starting this month are offering grants from £2,500 upwards to help small businesses, farmers and community groups in parts of Staffordshire Moorlands to develop and grow.

The Staffordshire LEADER Rural Grants Scheme, which has a total budget of £2.24 million, is managed by Staffordshire County Council and covers the rural south of the Moorlands.

A total of £1.7 million is available from the Peak LEADER Rural Grants Scheme, managed by Derbyshire County Council, which covers northern and western part of the Moorlands including all of Leek town centre, Froghall, Kingsley, Biddulph Moor, Oakamoor, Cotton and all sites within the National Park boundary.

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A team of 17 officers, from Staffordshire Police, has celebrated the successful completion of a 530 mile charity bicycle ride, from Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower, by announcing that they have smashed their fundraising target.

Riders from the ‘Tower to Tower 500’ team (TT500) told guests at their ‘Wrap Party’, held at the Victoria On The Square public house, in Hanley, on Wednesday 7th October 2015, that they had raised an incredible £30,688 from their 6-day challenge. And now the cash will be used to fund places on Caudwell Children’s annual ‘Destination Dreams’ holiday. The fully supported family trip to Disney World, in Florida, is arranged to give 25 children with life threatening illnesses a ‘Dream’ holiday. [Read more…]

A blueprint for Biddulph’s new £1.175 million joint fire, ambulance and community facility was showcased in the village on November 4.

Residents were invited to attend one of two drop-in sessions at the community fire station on Princess Street. The events were an opportunity for the community to have an informal chat to members of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service who are based in locally. An on-duty paramedic also called in throughout the day and the project team were available to answer visitors’ questions about the development. Community feedback will be used to help decide which services will operate from the new facility in the future. [Read more…]