Keep Stoke Smiling programme wins divisional accolade
Scheme actioned by Community Trust on behalf of UHNM
Diet & dental health messaging delivered to 11,000 children

A project delivered by the Stoke City Community Trust and hailed by a senior healthcare leader as a ‘work of genius’ has been named as the EFL Championship’s Community Project of the Season.

The ‘Keep Stoke Smiling’ scheme, actioned by the Trust on behalf of the University Hospital of North Midlands (UHNM), utilised the power of football to deliver diet and dental health messaging to 11,000 primary school children in the local area.

Toothbrushes were provided to children that didn’t previously own one, together with advice on how to use them correctly.

Each of the 74 schools engaged in the project pledged to be fizzy drink free because of the initiative.

Consultant Orthodontist Dr Karen Juggins said: “This is a preventative measure – what we’re trying to do is stop these children getting dental decay.

“It means they don’t have to come into hospital further down the line to have their teeth extracted, because they’re now able to take much better care of them at home.

“It’s completely visionary from UHNM Charity and the Stoke City Community Trust to be doing this and I’m really grateful to them.”

Elaine Watson, a year four teacher at Burnwood Primary School, added: “The children were really engaged in the session, and left school buzzing.

“It offered us an easy way into difficult conversations, and now some of the parents have registered at a dentist for their children’s first visit. This is a brilliant outcome for us all!”

The achievements will be marked during an event hosted in Parliament on April 17, with one overall winner across the three divisions for each category to be revealed at the EFL Awards in London on April 23.

“We spend a lot of time working with disadvantaged communities and people who are less fortunate, helping them improve their life chances – this project is a perfect example of that,” explained the Club’s Head of Community Adrian Hurst.

“In late 2020, Dr Juggins approached us with the idea of educating Key Stage Two primary school aged pupils across the city, by providing important oral health messages in a one-hour workshop.

“As it was a key priority within the local area, the University Hospital of North Midlands was happy to provide an injection of funding, allowing a suitably trained member of Community Trust staff to deliver dental health workshops to thousands of young people over a 12-month period.

“To see that work come together as it has, and now be recognised by this prestigious award, is extremely gratifying for everybody involved.

“Our football club is part of the fabric of Stoke-on-Trent,” Hurst continued. “As a Community Trust, we go out and activate that by responding to need, working in collaboration with partners to assist people that require our help.

“It’s about putting on the right activities, at the right times and the right locations for people that need them.

“We’ve got one of the best teams in the country for delivering community projects. I’m proud of everything they do.”

'Work of genius' project earn Potters prestigious EFL Championship award