• Stafford-based organisation Baby Bank supports hundreds of families with essential items for babies and young children for free.
• The group relies on volunteers and donations from residents and businesses.
• Family Hubs provide one-stop-shop for a variety of services.

• Plan for improving and repairing Staffordshire schools over 2026/27 period approved by Cabinet.

• Capital Programme for Schools 2026/27 will see facility upgrades and building repairs at over 60 schools.

• Improvements also include sustainability upgrades to improve insulation and be better for the environment.

• Plan for improving and repairing Staffordshire schools over 2026/27 period to be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday 15 April.

• Capital Programme for Schools 2026/27 will see facility upgrades and building repairs at over 60 schools.

• Improvements also include sustainability upgrades to improve insulation and be better for the environment.

• Libraries across Staffordshire will have their own Helpful Bear cuddly toy for children as part of a county council school attendance campaign

• Helpful Bear helps children express their feelings and has a backpack where children can place worries that they have written down

• The cuddly toy and associated workbooks, also available in libraries, have been used in schools successfully in helping children overcome barriers to learning

• Sixteen adult social care workers and three teams have been recognised for their work in social work
• Over 300 were nominated by their colleagues this year
• The British Association of Social Workers, who run the awards event, has featured their accomplishments online as part of their World Social Work Day celebrations

Nominations for the 2026 Dignity in Care Awards will open on Wednesday 1 April celebrating the compassion, respect and dedication shown by professional carers of adults. Unpaid Carers will also be recognised at ceremony later this year

• More than 2,000 carers have accessed training through new social care learning platform
• The training launched as a pilot in 2025 and has proven to be successful
• The learning portal offers free or low-cost courses and includes e-learning and in-person training sessions

• The Ignite programme, teaching enterprise skills to young people, has returned for its sixth year.

• New to the programme is a Dragon's Den-style competition, where students will be invited to put together a business plan and pitch it to a panel of judges, with prizes up for grabs.

• Ignite has helped more than 30,000 young people across Staffordshire to develop business skills.

• Children can book their place for free Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme activities.

• Runs from Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April 2026.

• Teenagers also can take part in development and training opportunities.

• Nine out of ten Staffordshire parents (93.2%) have been allocated their first choice secondary school for September, with almost 99% securing one of their top three preferences.
• The results exceed last year’s national and regional average of around 83% and reflect close working between the council, schools and neighbouring authorities.
• Families are being informed from today (Monday)