The communal lobby at the West End Village.
Arts, crafts and gifts traders are being given the chance to sell their wares at a Christmas market. Free stalls are on offer at the festive event to be held at the West End Village, Stoke, on Thursday, December 1.
The event is open to all, with staff and residents at the older people’s village extending an invitation to the local community.
And they will be joined by Stoke City legend Denis Smith and award winning radio presenter Pete Morgan who will officially open the event and switch on the Christmas lights at the Staffordshire Housing Association complex.
Denis Smith played over 400 times for his home town club between 1968 and 1982 and helped the Potters to win their only major trophy, the League Cup in 1972.
BBC Radio Stoke’s Pete Morgan recently won an award for the best BBC local radio breakfast show.
They will switch on the Christmas lights at 2pm.
Visitors to the event will also be joined by Father Christmas. Seasonal food and drink, including mulled wine and hot chestnuts, will be on offer in the village cafe.
The event is being organised by village staff and residents, who say they can accommodate up to 30 high quality arts, crafts and gifts stalls at the Staffordshire Housing Association owned facilities in London Road, Stoke.
There is no charge for stallholders but they will be asked to make a donation towards the West End residents’ activities and wellbeing fund.
The Christmas market will be held in the spacious indoor village centre which is open to the public on week days.
Jo Ingleston, Community Development Worker at the village, said: “This will be the West End Village’s first Christmas and both residents and staff want to celebrate it with the help of our local community.
“Stoke-on-Trent residents are welcome to come along, enjoy the market and see our Christmas lights being switched on.
“It is great that Denis Smith and Pete Morgan have agreed to be our guests and to switch on our festive lights.
“We also want local art and crafts people to join us and add to the occasion by taking stalls within the market.”
Anyone who is interested in having a stall should contact Jo Ingleston on 01782 848852.
The West End Village, developed at a cost of £18 million, was opened in 2011 and has 100 one and two bedroom apartments for older people from the North Staffordshire area.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Staffordshire Housing Group is a housing association committed to building a better future for local communities. Established in 1984, SHA provide a huge range of tenant services including maintenance, tenancy support, estate management and gardening, as well as essential guidance on income management, money advice and benefits assessments. They are committed to improving live in Staffordshire through regeneration, supported housing, older people’s villages, key worker homes and a rolling programme of home improvements. Their subsidiary company, Blue Mountain Housing Association, also work closely with refugee and local BME communities to provide essential support with healthcare, education, training and employment as well as access to quality housing.