Re-Form Heritage
A Stoke-on-Trent-based charity is transforming at-risk historic buildings for the benefit of the local and wider community.
Re-form Heritage, based at Middleport Pottery, was appointed as the Heritage Development Trust for Stoke-on-Trent in December 2023. This status is funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England to kick-start the regeneration of key heritage sites in Stoke-on-Trent.
Their past work helped save Middleport Pottery from closure, transforming it into a visitor attraction and creative centre. This was followed by the regeneration of Victorian workers’ cottages at Harper Street across the road.
Plans are now advancing to transform Hanley’s Bethesda Methodist Chapel into an educational and events centre by the end of 2026.
Re-form Heritage has around 25 full-time staff and up to 50 volunteers. It is one of 12 social enterprises and charities across the UK empowered to take over and transform at-risk high street buildings by being granted Heritage Development Status. This status will see Re-form Heritage work alongside stakeholders throughout the city to help preserve Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage.
Dr Alasdair Brooks, Re-form Heritage’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We want to link justifiable local pride in this city to a global interest and global significance in its heritage and buildings.
“Our flagship heritage building, Middleport Pottery, has become our blueprint for future restoration projects and we are proud in how it attracts people of all ages from all over the world.
“We are now starting to expand our activity across the city and we will continue to explore opportunities, be positive and get things done. It’s so important to regenerate and create spaces for local communities, places that inspire, educate and connect people with their past and with an eye on the future.”
Re-form Heritage has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Alice Charity
A North Staffordshire charity that supports vulnerable and disadvantaged families across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme had a positive impact on the lives of 9,247 children and provided almost 11,000 meals for children in 2024.
Since 2011 The Alice Charity has aimed to break the poverty cycle, improve lives and change communities. They see that each family’s needs and circumstances are different and so tailor the help that they give to each family accordingly.
The charity develops sustainable solutions, supports families and makes a difference with collaboration and a multi-agency approach.
The Alice Charity employs 12 staff and has the support of a number of volunteers. From running food banks to delivering educational resources and offering advocacy and mentoring, the charity empowers individuals to build brighter futures.
Last year the charity handed out 5,700 Christmas presents to 1,404 children, facilitated 4,450 hours of volunteering, distributed 146 essential items for babies and toddlers including prams, pushchairs and highchairs, and dispended cots, moses baskets and beds for babies and children who otherwise wouldn’t have anywhere to sleep safely.
Alice Charity CEO Heather Sheldon said: “We offer fantastic support to families and children. Moving forward, we will slightly reposition ourselves and increase our focus a little more on helping children thrive, especially the birth to five years age group.
“We think it’s really important that these children have as much fun and enjoyment as possible too, and we will look to bring youngsters and families together whenever we can. The Alice Charity will continue with determination on our quest to ensure that every child, young person and family have a safe and happy life, and the foundations they need to flourish.
“We also are looking to develop our corporate relationships further to enable us to all pull together for the common good and make people as happy and healthy as possible. Together we change lives.”
The Alice Charity has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
We Love Stoke
Whilst a couple were falling in love with each other they were falling for Stoke-on-Trent too – and this has resulted not only in a recent marriage but a hugely positive social media success story too.
Steven and Kim Levitt, who are both from the south of the country, met in The Potteries and then tied the knot in April 2025. Whilst dating, the 37 and 34-year-olds visited a number of attractions, events and eateries within the ST postcode and soon became smitten with the six towns.
The result was a huge social media sensation, We Love Stoke, founded in 2022, with many resident Stokies and city diaspora alike enjoying the Hanley-based couple’s hugely positive videos, photos and stories.
The couple champion everything Stoke-on-Trent. Their Instagram page @welovestoke has more than 11,300 followers with a website coming soon.
We Love Stoke isn’t their job and it wasn’t set up to make them money. Steven is a marketing manager and Kim is a community activator for a local charity.
Kim said: “We are massively passionate about this city, which has become our city. We met here and we love the place.
“All we wanted to do is to share that and create positivity. For us, the city has everything, including so many beautiful green spaces and parks.
“We have seen in the three years that we’ve been doing We Love Stoke that there are many, many likeminded people around. In fact, it’s the people that make this city so great – I’m not used to strangers saying hello to me in the morning.
“We didn’t expect it to take off like it has, but we get so many messages from people saying thank you for shining a light on this city – but it’s me and Steven who should be thanking the people of Stoke. It’s great to know that they can see and appreciate our love of the area.”
We Love Stoke has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Asha North Staffordshire
His own heartbreaking experiences as an asylum seeker led Godefroid Seminega to start a community group in Stoke-on-Trent which has grown into a charity that works with more than 400 asylum seekers and refugees a week.
Godefroid, now aged 59, had to leave his medical career when he fled from Rwanda in 2002. He eventually settled in Stoke-on-Trent where he founded Asha North Staffordshire, a group-based support service for asylum seekers and refugees.
He is now the CEO for the Hanley Business Park based organisation that has two full-time and seven part-time staff.
Since 2005 the charity has helped more than 900 people each year
from almost 50 different countries who were seeking refuge from persecution. It provides advice, clothing, food and education.
From legal advice to mental wellbeing, Asha North Staffordshire’s services provide the holistic support and guidance people need to leave crisis behind and begin to live safely.
They also host events and activities including a free lunch club, a mothers group, football get-togethers, a trip to Llandudno for 300 people and a Galaxy Club for 16 to 24-year-olds living in social care.
Godefroid said: “I found myself destitute on the streets of London, begging for money to get a bus pass to go and see my immigration associate.
“I experienced myself how difficult the process could be and so when I came to Stoke-on-Trent I really wanted to set up an organisation that could help others in the same situation.
“I’m really proud of what we do. We not only want to help asylum seekers and refugees but to change perceptions about them too.
“We are open Monday to Saturday every week and as well as our employed staff, we have more than 80 volunteers. Many of these are refugees and asylum seekers themselves and they do some fantastic work in the community such as litter picking and planting flowers.
“We are now looking to expand what we do into East Cheshire and South Staffordshire”
Asha North Staffordshire has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.