We are pleased to announce our new charity of the year, following a vote from staff and tenants. For the next 12 months, we will be supporting Stoke Thrive at Five.
Stoke Thrive at Five works with families during the early years, helping parents and carers to identify and access the support they need. Their approach focuses on meeting people where they are at, offering practical, personalised support within local communities.
A key part of their work is the Parent Connector role. These are community-based team members who act as a familiar face and a listening ear, helping families to navigate services, build confidence and access the right support at the right time. Parent Connectors are peer supporters, trained in early years support and motivational interviewing, and play a vital role in connecting families into wider systems.
They currently support families in areas including Abbey Hulton and Bentilee, with plans to extend their work into Meir and Burslem, reaching even more parents and carers across the city.
Today, our Chief Executive, Tracey Johnson, met with Karla Capstick, Director of Programme, and Cathy Wilson, Parent and Community Outreach Lead at Thrive, to mark the start of our partnership and explore how we can work together to support our communities.
Tracey Johnson, CEO of EPIC said:
“We are delighted to be supporting Stoke Thrive at Five as our Charity of the Year. We know that having the right support at the right time can make a real difference to families, and the work Thrive does to help parents and carers in our communities is truly inspiring. As a housing provider, we see how important strong support networks are for tenants and their families, and we’re proud to partner with an organisation that shares our commitment to helping people thrive.”
Cathy Wilson, Parent and Community Outreach Lead at Thrive, added:
“We are excited at the opportunity to continue to work collaboratively together for the children and families of Bentilee. The news of being the chosen Charity has been a lovely surprise and we are looking forward to joining together for the local events over the coming year.”We believe the Parent Connector role aligns closely with the needs of our tenants, offering approachable, community-led support that many may benefit from. Over the coming year, we will be supporting Stoke Thrive at Five through fundraising, awareness raising and referrals into their services.
We are looking forward to working together and making a positive difference for families across our communities.
