Monday 26 February

Location: Middleport Pottery

Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

As you may be aware, in December 2023 Re-Form Heritage was appointed a heritage development trust for Stoke-on-Trent under a new Architectural Heritage Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund UK-wide initiative. The AHF received over 122 expressions of interest to the programme, and we were delighted to be chosen as one of the 12 new trusts alongside Culture Trust Luton; Glasgow Building Preservation Trust; Haverfordwest Heritage Ltd; Heeley Trust in Sheffield; Fife Historic Buildings Trust; Galeri Caernarfon Cyf; Inner City Trust in Derry/Londonderry; Leicester City Council; Medway Council; North East Scotland Preservation Trust in Aberdeenshire; and Redruth Revival CIC in Cornwall.

Under this programme, we will benefit from a share of a new £5 million fund designed to 'empower communities to breathe new life into their disused and at-risk historic buildings'. The funding will see us work alongside numerous stakeholders throughout the Potteries, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to help preserve the city's internationally significant heritage. The aim of the new trust programme is to help kickstart the regeneration of key heritage sites within Stoke-on-Trent, with capacity funding and other support provided by the AHF and NLHF.

The 26 February open house will allow you to drop by Middleport Pottery and have an informal conversation with Re-Form Heritage Chief Executive Alasdair Brooks and Finance Director Dave Poulsom to ask any questions, or raise any concerns, you might have about the programme and our new heritage development trust status.

Stop by at any time over the day. For those of you familiar with Middleport Pottery, the drop-in session will take place in the Burgess Room (the upstairs room with all of the moulds); if you’re less familiar with the site, the main visitor desk will be able to direct you on the day. Light refreshments will be available.

We hope you’ll be able to stop by on the day.