Alice Charity

Alice Charity offers support to children and families within the communities of Stoke-On-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme, in times of crisis.

The goal of the charity is to support vulnerable families over a period of time, to develop both independence and resilience, in periods of difficulty and Alice is actively breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring the impacts hardship can bring has minimal effect on the children.

The support provided directly targets the areas of concern and services include skills improvement work, such as parenting techniques and finical budgeting, regular emotional and well-being services, expert and external agency signposting, emergency food parcels, as well as essential equipment distribution.

Peoples Pantry opening. Pictured Co-Founders Stephanie Talbot and Emily Petts

“We are proud to support families with items such as beds and cots, soft furnishing, safety gates, cookers, baby equipment, and school items – products that may be basic to some, but a life-line to others,” said fundraising manager Catherine Crockett.

“Ethics drive Alice Charity into the heart of our community and so we are delighted to have our very own food bank, People’s Pantry, located in Bridge Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

“We also have our ever-growing free parent and toddler play group, Big Cup, which has proven to reduce isolation and stress within the family unit. Our early 2017 initiative, Breakfast Club, has been a huge success for young school children, feeding 894 kids alone, in the spring terms.”

Catherine says the rate of adolescents living in poverty is expected to rise to 3.4 million by 2020 and as demands for the Alice Charity grow services are already planned to reach more areas of Stoke-on-Trent within the next couple of years.

“Alice Charity has been inspirational for many, and we often encourage families we’ve supported to volunteer for our organisation,” added Catherine.

“Helping to build their confidence, increasing their skill sets, aiding them to successfully return to work, or further education.

“In our findings, investing precious time has effectively demonstrated a fundamental return in advancement of community, a progressive and viable source to our six towns. Statistically, Stoke-on-Trent is the sixth most deprived city in the UK when it concerns employment, and fourth when it comes to education, skills and training.”