Last week, we were invited to visit Wellspring in Cheadle to find out about their chair-based exercise group who meet there Cheadle Mayor Phil Routledge was keen to meet participants and have a go himself. Chair-based exercise is a form of physical activity performed while sitting on a chair or using it for support. It is designed for older adults, people with limited mobility, or anyone recovering from an injury, offering a safe way to build strength, flexibility, and balanc

Leek CSOB ACFC (Leek County School Old Boys, Ability Counts Football Club) gather players and friends from across North Staffordshire and have put out an appeal for new sponsors. CSOB began a football team based in Leek and surrounding moorlands area in 2024 aiming to promote and encourage the growth of people with disabilities and difficulties through sport and social interactions. These activities include training, tournaments, leagues, festivals, and social events. Their e

Funded by Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams, the Space summer programme brings together public, voluntary and private sector organisations to provide enjoyable, positive activities for young people. These activities aim to increase their skills, improve their health and wellbeing and create opportunities, while also aiming to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour during the school summer holidays. Space 2026 will run from Monday 27 July

Staffordshire Healthwatch received 14 applications for their Engagement Fund by the end of July 2026, and the Healthwatch Staffordshire People’s Panel approved funding for eight of those groups. They are looking forward to receiving and approving more applications soon. To get in touch, contact enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk and you could receive £500 from this year's engagement fund to help the group gather experiences on this year's health and care research topics

Equalbase Cheadle is a not-for-profit group, based on Leek Road, that helps people with additional needs achieve things that matter to them by providing day opportunities and additional support. It's a wonderful place, and in July the group opened their doors to their many friends and supporters to say thank you for the support they have received this past year. The Lively Open Day at Equalbase More than that, it was a day, one of many, where the group gives back to their loc

Sunday, 28th of June, saw supporters of the Moorlands LGBTQ+ community gather in Leek for a colourful and reasonably loud celebration called Pride in the Moorlands. It was the culmination of months of hard work and two previous days of activities across the Moorlands. The torch arrived in Leek - its final destination, having travelled from Flash via Cheadle and Endon. The torch is significant because not only does it symbolise a beacon of hope, but also a coming together of M

Last month, Cheadle welcomed another lovely business to the town, this time a creative arts space on Cross Street called Studio 15. The Mayor and Mayoress popped in to see owner Kerry Broad to welcome her to the town, and COGNEWS went along too on the official opening day (20th June 2026). L-R: Cllr & Mayoress Zenobia Routledge, Store Owner Kerry Broad, Mayor Phil Routledge Kerry told us, "In 2017, I was where Holly's boutique was as Bless Your Arts Boutique, so this has been

Cheadle club has successfully raised sufficient funds to purchase a defibrillator and bleed kit, which is to be located centrally in the town. Town Mayor and Mayoress Phil & Zenobia Routledge popped in to congratulate them on their community zeal to provide something much needed in the town. We'll publish a full report once the box is fitted, explaining what to do if you need that support. Cheadle Club Raises Funds for New Defibrillator - created 5th July 2026

If you've ever asked the question "What's for dinner?" or if just hearing the words makes you want to hide behind the sofa, this post is for you. I've been in charge of the cooking since I was fifteen, and with a modern household of constant activity, hybrid and shift working, allergies, and health considerations, something which used to be simple and organized is complete chaos. Batch cooking is brilliant if you can make the time to do it. But here's a quick win - a crib she

A NORTH Staffordshire mum is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her life-saving transplant surgery with a call for more donors to come forward. Janet Matthews (centre) is flanked by her daughter Jenny Lowe and grand-daughter Maisie Lowe Janet Matthews, 62, received the gift of a kidney from live donor daughter Jenny Lowe in a life-changing operation on June 14th, 2016. Now, as organ donation levels across the UK fall, Janet, a buyer at the JCB World Parts Centre in Uttoxeter

In April of this year, the Government released the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, pledging to prioritise women's voices in NHS decision-making, address gynaecology waiting times, and enhance pain relief and care for conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, and menopause. The strategy recognises what many women have been saying for years: that they feel dismissed, unheard, and left waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment. These national commitments strongly

by Staffordshire Library Service At Staffordshire Libraries our books come in all shapes and sizes. We know that not everybody can read standard print, so we try to make it easy for everyone to access books through eBooks and eAudio. All you need is a Library Card and PIN and then you can choose from hundreds of eAudio titles from our providers Borrowbox, just go to the App or our e-library where you’ll find lots of help. Borrowbox also provide our eBook service where we have

On Tuesday 28th April Cheadle Pensioners held their first meeting of the year. It was well attended and members welcomed councillor Paulette Upton and Ian Plant who had come to see the club in action. Members also booked the trip to Llandudno vintage festival for the 1st of May. The guest speaker was Stephen Williams who entertained the members with an enlightening presentation of Jack the Ripper its history and myths using records and photos taken from the period. During the

Bus Service Update

Last month we shared the story of how former Town Councillor Paul Keeling was successful in his first half marathon. Here Paul shares in his own words how running has changed his life for the better. Runners, including Paul gather with excitement at the starting line of a marathon in London, under clear skies and lush trees. A year ago, I could only run a couple of miles around Cheadle before I had to stop and rest. Even short runs felt tough, and I never imagined I’d end up

A COGNEWS reporter caught up with the local man who fell 50 ft down a well in his backyard last year. The local resident, John, told our reporter that he feels lucky to be alive after his fall, which resulted in a broken back, a broken leg, exposure, and a heart attack in the hospital. John is a fighter, and even though he has multiple pins in his leg, they’re not going to defeat him. He is a dedicated motorcyclist and has rebuilt the area around the well and made it safe. We

Tean Road Recreation Ground is to receive an update of the Toddler Play Space. Town Cllr Paulette Upton, the project lead, told COGNEWS what's happening. In eight weeks' time, the toddler area will feature a carousel with a bucket seat and net swings for toddlers—both of which are inclusive for those with reduced mobility—and a sensory board. Also new to the park will be trail apparatus consisting of a balance bar, wave stepper, and sway alley for balance practice, important

Wednesday, the 6th of May, saw local supporters of Cheadle and District Foodbank gather to hear more about the vital work of this local charity. The event was organized by Wellspring Methodist Church, which provided the venue and refreshments. Tony had a great deal of interesting facts to share. Firstly, he tackled the question of what a foodbank is, and opinions on this tend to vary from "It's a bit like supermarkets where everything is free" to "they provide short-term emer

This week is National Epilepsy Week, and we thought it was a good opportunity to take a look at this condition and how it affects the people who have it and the families that support them. This is a personal point of view from a local observer of the condition. Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes seizures. It can affect anyone at any time in their life. The causes are often unknown; it can strike or change at any time and does not follow any kind of stan

Rail Cards Passenger Assist Blue Badges Bus Passes CEA Card Support from Social Care Education Support Epilepsy Nursing Social Prescriptions Disabled Facilities Grant Disability News About this post - Some readers might find this difficult Understanding your symptoms, what works for you, and managing your condition can be a long process. The support of others who understand your viewpoint can be invaluable. This post exists to help point out some things that might make