Councils across the Black Country are encouraging older drivers to sign up to free road safety courses being held across the region in 2025. The next course for drivers aged 60 and over in Walsall will take place at Walsall Arena and Arts Centre, Bloxwich, on Tuesday 11 March 2025. An additional course will be held at The Wheelhouse, Wolverhampton Cricket Club, on Wednesday 14 May 2025, for drivers who cannot attend the first date. “ For many mature drivers, being able to drive provides real independence. These sessions are offered in partnership with our neighbouring Black Country authorities, West…
During Ramadan, Muslims engage in charity as a means of purifying their wealth, helping those in need, and earning spiritual rewards. There are various ways they give charity: 1. Zakat (Obligatory Charity): Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it a mandatory form of charity for eligible Muslims. It involves giving a fixed percentage (typically 2.5%) of one’s savings and assets to those in need, including the poor, orphans, and those in debt. Many Muslims choose to pay their Zakat during Ramadan as the rewards for acts of charity are believed to be multiplied during this holy…
A pool in Bloxwich has been rejuvenated thanks to more than two years of partnership work. Walsall Council, in collaboration with the Canal & River Trust, Enovert Community Trust and volunteers, has brought Baileys Pool back into community use. The work was made possible thanks to a £40,000 grant from Enovert Community Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). This funding was supported by £8,000 from the Canal and River Trust and £7,000 through Walsall Council’s Healthy Spaces Team. A key result of the work, which started back in 2022, is the improved accessibility of the site. This is…
Origin, the UK focused industrial and logistics platform formed by HBD, part of Henry Boot, and Feldberg Capital, has started on site with the first phase of SPARK, a £100 million scheme in Walsall. Contractor Bowmer and Kirkland have been appointed to deliver the first two units of 255,000sq ft and 18,000sq ft which will both be ready for occupation by Q4 2025. SPARK is a 44 acre regeneration project which, once complete, will deliver a total of 620,000sq ft of high spec, net zero carbon enabled space within the region’s manufacturing and logistics heartland. Just minutes from J9 and…
A planning application for City Centre West, Wolverhampton’s largest regeneration opportunity, has been approved by the local planning authority A planning application for City Centre West, Wolverhampton’s largest regeneration opportunity, has been approved by the local planning authority. ECF – a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse – working in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, submitted proposals in Autumn 2024. This included detailed plans for the first phase, as well as on outline application for the wider masterplan. Following the decision, the new neighbourhood will be re-named Smithgate in a nod to the city’s historic…
The City of Wolverhampton Council has launched new online tools which will enable adults, or their family or carers, to self assess their care and support needs, their eligibility and any financial contribution they might need to make. It has been working with Looking Local to introduce 2 new platforms, BetterCare Support and BetterCare Finance. BetterCare Support, features over 40 easy to understand, relatable animations that lead users through the 10 areas of the Care Act, putting people in control of assessing the areas where they feel they need support. They will be pointed towards relevant local and national information…
Walsall Council and contractor Tarmac have completed works to widen the footpath on Rayboulds Bridge Road, to better connect the A34 Green Lane to the canal and nearby houses. The previous footpath was not wide enough for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Funded through Walsall Town Deal, the improvements are a small part of a wider scheme to improve sustainable transport across the borough, making it easier for people to walk and cycle. “ It’s great to see another active travel scheme completed successfully. With funding through the Town Deal we are working hard as a council to improve active travel across…
Today marks the start of Safer Sleep Week – an annual campaign raising awareness about the importance of safer sleep practices to reduce the risk of sleep related infant deaths. Safer Sleep Week is The Lullaby Trust’s national awareness campaign to share knowledge of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and simple advice that reduces the risk of it occurring. Sadly, around 4 babies a week in the UK die from SIDS, also known as cot death. In Wolverhampton, we want all parents and caregivers to be aware of safer sleep advice. This year, the week long campaign runs from Monday…
Food for Life’s Nourishing Communities Award celebrates groups and organisations who advocate for good food in Walsall based on the principles of cooking, growing, sharing skills and pledging. A new award has been introduced that will highlight the work of Walsall groups and organisations in providing accessible, good food. The Nourishing Communities Award, delivered by Food for Life and Walsall Council’s Public Health team, will celebrate organisations and groups who advocate for good food and support growing activities, teach people cooking skills and improve the local food system. It comes just over a year on from Walsall’s first ever food…
Litter busting volunteers have been thanked for their dedicated work to help keep a city beauty spot clean and tidy. Members of the Friends of Smestow Valley in partnership with the Severn Rivers Trust and other local community volunteers met on Saturday (1 March) to clear along the banks of Smestow Brook and surrounding areas of the nature reserve. Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, joined in the clean up and council officers helped litter pick and arranged to collect and remove the bags of rubbish. Also joining the event on Saturday was Tracey…