Council's second Civic Pride event of 2026 comes to Thistleberry
Litter picks, a community safety drop-in and improvements to a garden that enhances the lives of vulnerable people are on the agenda for the second Civic Pride event of 2026.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is bringing its multi-agency team to Thistleberry on Tuesday, 24 February and residents of all ages are encouraged to help make a difference in their local community.
Civic Pride is a long-term scheme aiming to boost pride across Newcastle-under-Lyme while strengthening its reputation as a place which is clean, safe and friendly for everyone. Council staff, partner organisations and volunteers work collaboratively – under a unified #PrideInNUL badge – to improve neighbourhoods and encourage community involvement.
A community safety drop-in session is taking place at the Paris Avenue shops, from 10am to 1pm, where visitors can get information and advice from the council, Aspire Housing and Staffordshire Police about a wide range of subjects.
A litter pick is happening around the estate, supported by Aspire Housing, starting from the shops at 10am – everyone is welcome to join in as equipment will be provided.
Members of the council’s Green Team are supporting further general maintenance works at a new wellness garden – a once tired and overgrown area which has been transformed into a functional space for vulnerable people who benefit from one-to-one/group counselling sessions, nature therapy and outdoor exercise. They are also helping students from The Coppice Academy to remove litter from Thistleberry Parkway.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said:
Civic pride is the shared belief that our borough matters – and that we all have a role in shaping it. It’s seen in neighbours looking out for one another, in safe and welcoming streets and in the care residents take for their neighbourhoods. It’s about belonging, confidence in where we live and the collective effort to make Newcastle-under-Lyme a place where everyone can feel safe, supported and proud to call it home.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone come together in Thistleberry to help make this great place feel even cleaner, safer and more welcoming.”
The council has organised a full Civic Pride calendar for 2026: the next events take place in Chesterton and Holditch on Wednesday, 4 March followed by Crackley and Red Street on Thursday, 5 March. More information about the full programme, and how to get involved, is available on the council’s website.
The scheme is part of a broader community engagement strategy that reflects feedback from residents about what matters to them – such as safety, cleanliness and community connection. It aims to create stronger relationships with the council, and partners, putting them at the centre of shaping local services.
Cllr. Gill Heesom, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Wellbeing, added:
Civic pride in Newcastle-under-Lyme is about people coming together to care for their places and each other – creating communities that are safe, welcoming and full of pride.”
The council’s complementary Civic Pride Investment Fund – which awards small grants to help community groups to carry out their own community-focused projects – is continuing for a second year following the approval of the council’s 2026/27 budget.