Published: Tuesday, 1st April 2025
An innovative community partnership that has helped more than 4,000 people access vital support and a council service leading a blitz on fly-tipping are up for awards that recognise local government.
Environmental Services is nominated for ‘Best Council Services Team’ at the MJ Achievement Awards 2025, while the Communities Together scheme is up for the ‘Community Engagement Award’.
The first relates to the IDIOT (Illegal Dumping in Our Towns) campaign, which was launched in 2023 after fly tipping emerged as a major concern during that year’s local elections. It pledged rapid responses to clearing dumped waste, tougher enforcement and educating the community.
The initial aim was to clear 1,000 fly tipping incidents in the first 100 days and this was achieved in half the time. This initial crackdown resulted in 2,395 clearances of illegal waste, as well as 523 fixed penalty notices.
By the end of 2024, 7,661 reported fly tipping incidents were cleared and the average time when responding to these fell to just 3.3 days on average (previously 13.1 days).
This was an 84 per cent increase in reports on the previous 16 months – with the much-improved visual appearance of the city and the upsurge of civil pride amounts to a resounding success.
In addition, Communities Together has evolved from the community and city council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming a local partnership programme to set up locations where people can easily access help, advice and support.
There are now 18 community lounges across Stoke-on-Trent, with each one tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of their location – effectively helping reduce health inequalities.
Through this more focused and preventative approach, Communities Together has helped reduce the stigma around seeking help, promoted independence and reduced pressure on other services.
Since April 2024, the community lounges have helped 4,019 residents in a wide range of areas:
- 1,273 people received emergency food provision
- 783 people had help with financial matters
- 737 people has help with housing
- 196 people received mental health support
- 159 people received help with homelessness
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Having two projects receiving national recognition at the MJ Awards is an amazing achievement and a reflection of the hard work so many of the city council and our partners have put in to accomplish this.
“By promoting community cohesion, we have been able to help and support residents in a variety of ways, whilst also helping communities look and feel healthier through the crackdown on fly tipping.
“Congratulations to all involved on their hard work and dedication and wishing you the best of luck at the upcoming MJ Awards ceremony.”
The winners of the MJ Awards will be announced at a ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Friday 20th June 2025.
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