Spotlight on: Connections and Networking
A round up of last year saw us running events for Staffordshire borough Council and working in partnership with Keele University to help residents, community groups in the VCSE sector and businesses to access fun networking and training to encourage resilience, strength and the reduction of reliance on carbon.
This year is set to be fun filled and action packed for the Staffordshire Green Network. We search for funding to share with yourselves but also, we hunt for funding to develop, embed and build on existing best practice in and around Staffordshire.
Over the Christmas winter break we launched our Staffordshire Green Network questionnaire which was shared on social media to review how people are getting the best out of The Green Network and what more we can do across the county.
If you haven’t already filled it in, please do, without your voice and help we can’t continue to grow and support those in the county. We need you; it doesn’t matter if you are new to the Green Network or whether you have been there from the start. We appreciate your input. https://forms.office.com/e/neFCLgysbC
Funding:
Grow Wild Community Programme
For groups to work, or already working, with aged 12 to 25 year olds in deprived and low green space areas to grow items and improve the biodiversity of the urban space. Grants of £2000; with a possibility of a second year extension fund of £500.
To find out more go to Grow Wild Community Programme – Support Staffordshire on the Funding – Support Staffordshire page of the Support Staffordshire Website.
How To Apply
This is an annual grants programme.
Applications for the 2026 programme are now open with a deadline of 4 February 2026 (15:00).
Guidance notes and the application form can be found on Grow Wild’s website.
Events, information, reports:
Behaviour Change with Livvy Drake: Thursday 15th January and Thursday 22nd January, 12-1pm, online.
Join these two sessions to learn more about behaviour change science, and tools and frameworks to help you drive behaviour change in your community.
https://events.humanitix.com/new-date-make-a-change-behaviour-change-with-livvy-drake
Spaces still available. Professional CPD lunch and learn sessions.
Transforming the Trent Valley
Beginner’s guide to using i-Naturalist (Workshop)
· Date: Wed, 21 January 2026
· Time: 1pm – 3:30pm
· Location: Ford Green Hall. 375B Ford Green Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1NG, UK
A workshop and practice session for people who want to learn to use i-Naturalist app to identify and record wildlife and plants. Ford Green Hall are hosting our workshop in the parlour room, and we can use the lakeside to practice. Please bring your smart phone with enough charge for the session. Please dress warmly with footwear for uneven surfaces (we will be indoors and outdoors).
Refreshments and a toilet will be available. If you have any questions, please do email on: trentvalley@supportstaffordshire.org.uk
Celebration Of the Possible 2026
· Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
· Time: 10.00am–3.00pm
· Venue: King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
Across the day, there will be four broad themes running through the event:
· Energy
· Food & Growing
· Nature
· Circular Economy
The Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent COP Festival 2026 is a free, interactive, festival-style day delivered with the Staffordshire Green Network, bringing people together to explore and shape what comes next for our region. Join as a festivalgoer to connect, learn and take part, or book an interactive activity stand to showcase your community group, organisation or project. The day blends networking and hands-on exploration with participant-led discussions guided by four themes: Energy, Food & Growing, Nature and Circular Economy.
These themes are intended as a helpful framework rather than a strict requirement. If your stand activity does not neatly fit within one of these areas but supports positive change or sustainability more broadly, we would still very much welcome your involvement.
As in previous years, stands remain free for voluntary and charitable organisations.
For businesses, there will be a small contribution this year of £50, helping us to cover event costs while keeping the festival accessible and community-focused.
The stand booking form is now live: 👉 Book Here
If you have any questions ahead of booking, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We would love to see a strong mix of returning and new organisations at Celebration Of the Possible 2026 and hope you can join us. Please do feel free to forward on to any of your Staffordshire connections that you feel would be interested in having a stand too.
Join us as a festival goer and participant: