A Stoke-on-Trent arts organisation, backed and supported by Keele University, has received an £850,000 funding boost for cultural activities and events in the city.

The funding for Stoke Creates, from Arts Council England, using National Lottery money, will see "cultural action zones" created across the city, which will host arts-related activities particularly aimed at children and young people.

Co-ordinated by Stoke Creates, the Cascade initiative will be delivered and supported by partners across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, including Keele. The first cultural action zone is being formed in Longton, where partner organisation Urban Wilderness CIC is already planning a calendar of arts development activities and events.

David Amigoni, Professor of Victorian Literature at Keele, and Co-Chair of Stoke Creates, said: "We are hugely excited to launch Cascade. For Stoke Creates, our Cultural Compact, the project further realises the fact of our great city, Stoke-on-Trent, being a priority place of investment for Arts Council England. Working with all partners, Cascade will bring tangible and lasting opportunities for younger people as well as everyone through arts-led regeneration."

Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director, Arts Council England said: "We’re delighted to be investing £850,000, through our Place Partnership Fund, using money from the National Lottery, to support cultural activity and development in Stoke-on-Trent, so that more people can enjoy high quality creative and cultural experiences. The project will include the creation of four cultural action zones in Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall with many activities especially aimed at children and young people."

Cascade is one of several initiatives being led by Stoke Creates as part of its bid to secure resources for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire's culture sector.