The goal is to bring together community, heritage and cultural leaders to build a shared vision and long-term plan for how investing in heritage can improve the city.

Community and stakeholder engagement will take place across Stoke-on-Trent to find out about the heritage they value, current activities and future opportunities.

Our funding will also help smaller organisations run by volunteers to get involved. Fundraising advice sessions will help groups prepare funding bids and business cases for heritage projects.

The project will also integrate with other heritage initiatives, such as working with Re-Form Heritage (who have recently been awarded funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund) to create a Stoke-on-Trent Heritage Trust.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We want to create a city-wide vision which will see us secure investment in key historic sites to restore pride in our city and create activities and programmes to promote the positive impact our heritage will have on the city’s future.”

Stoke-on-Trent is one of the first places to benefit from a share of the Heritage Fund’s £200million Heritage Places initiative. Over 10 years Heritage Places will guide heritage regeneration in 20 places across the UK.