Bentilee Volunteers announced as EPIC’s Charity Of The Year 2025-26!

EPIC is delighted to announce that in collaboration with tenants’ and staff, Bentilee Volunteers has been chosen as Charity of the Year for 2025-26. This partnership reflects EPIC’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and enhancing the lives of families in need throughout Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas.

Bentilee Volunteers offer invaluable services to the residents of Bentilee and Stoke-on-Trent. Their overarching aim is to be at the heart of the community by providing vital support and services that help to raise aspirations, enable and empower local people, support the disadvantaged and improve overall quality of life.

EPIC is dedicated to not only providing homes but also empowering tenants with the resources and support they need to thrive, while making a positive impact on the wider community. By partnering with Bentilee Volunteers, EPIC aims to make a positive impact on local families. Bentilee Volunteers’ clubs and services include the following:

• Charity Shop and The Shed which holds a range of furniture and large appliances. Both are open 10am to 3pm.
• Seniors Lunch Club – every Tuesday & Thursday from 10:30am to 2pm, offering a space to chat and socialise while having a nutritious and delicious home cooked meal.
• Rainbows Club – a social group for adults with learning disabilities, held on Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm.
• Youthlink for children aged 7 to 17, held Monday to Thursday from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, offering somewhere for young people to meet new people and try new skills such as indoor sports.
• Digital Support – IT suite is open Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10am for support with things like applying for jobs or filling in online forms.

EPIC CEO, Tracey Johnson said “We were keen to give EPIC tenants and our staff the opportunity to vote for our Charity of the Year 2025/26, and I’m delighted that a local organisation has been chosen. Bentilee Volunteers provide services which help local people thrive, a key part of our corporate vision at EPIC. We’re really looking forward to working closely with them over the next 12 months and raising funds to support as much as we can.”