Foster Care Fortnight is delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, and is one of the UK’s biggest campaigns to raise awareness of fostering, celebrate foster carers, and encourage more people to consider opening their homes to children and young people who need them. The theme for 2026, “This is Fostering”, shines a light on the everyday realities of fostering, the care, commitment and resilience shown by foster carers, and the life‑changing difference they make for children and young people in Walsall. The campaign also recognises the challenges foster carers can face, while celebrating the strength of…

Families across Sandwell are being invited to celebrate play, creativity and community this half term as Sandwell Council launches its Festival of Free Play, featuring more than 25 free activities. Running from 25 to 31 May, the festival brings together outdoor play sessions, library activities, creative workshops and family-friendly performances in parks, libraries and community spaces across the borough, including Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Rowley Regis. The festival is delivered by Sandwell Council’s GoPlay and Library services in partnership with local organisations and is designed with children at its heart, championing children’s right to play, feel safe,…

In Sandwell – and across the UK – hundreds of foster carers open their homes to provide love, stability and care to children and young people in need of safety, stability and love. But many more foster carers are urgently needed to ensure every child can be matched with the right home for their individual needs. That’s why, from this week until 24 May, Sandwell Children’s Trust is backing the nationwide Foster Care Fortnight campaign, as Emma Taylor, Chief Executive of Sandwell Children’s Trust, explains: “Foster Care Fortnight is really important because it shines a light on the…

Adult Education Wolverhampton is inviting prospective students, families, carers and professionals to its SEND Open Event taking place on Wednesday 13th May, 2026. Running from 10am to 3pm, it provides an opportunity to explore the wide range of support, courses and pathways available to people with learning disabilities or autism through Adult Education Wolverhampton. Deputy Head of Service Anna Place said: “At Adult Education Wolverhampton, we are committed to providing inclusive, supportive learning environments where every learner can build confidence, develop skills and achieve their potential. “Whether you are considering learning for yourself, supporting someone else, or working with students…

The City of Wolverhampton Council will be marking Mental Health Awareness Week, beginning on Monday (11 May, 2026) and is encouraging people to talk openly about mental health, challenge stigma, and take positive steps to look after their wellbeing. Led by the Mental Health Foundation, the theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Action’, recognising that, while awareness is important, real change happens when people take simple, practical steps – for themselves, for others, and for their communities. John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Around 1 in 5 adults in the UK experience mental health problems like anxiety or…

Frontline workers, community groups and volunteers across Walsall are encouraged to take up free online training to support everyday conversations with residents about food, nutrition and managing healthier choices. The sessions are aimed at people who regularly speak to individuals, families or communities about food, health, wellbeing or financial resilience. They are delivered by Food for Life, run by the Soil Association, in partnership with Walsall Council Public Health. The training provides practical, evidence‑based information to support discussions around healthier and more affordable food choices. It introduces simple nutrition messages that can be used in everyday interactions and includes…

The Beacon Centre for the Blind has teamed up with Wolverhampton City Archives for an exhibition exploring the history of sight loss in Wolverhampton over the last 150 years. It features personal stories of inspiring individuals and captures moments where Wolverhampton literally paved the way in terms of accessibility – becoming the first city in the UK to install tactile paving near its roads and railways. The exhibition also features artefacts provided by the Beacon Centre such as Braille machines, magnifiers and adapted equipment demonstrating the progression of accessibility throughout the 20th century, including adapted board games and a Rubik’s…

A planning application has been submitted by the council to develop a new and improved Bilston High Street Link for the community. The link sits between Pinfold Street and the High Street, connecting WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams Leisure Centre and the wider Urban Village development to Bilston town centre. The application comes following consultation with the local community and groups during the autumn on the designs for the re-imagined open space. The scheme forms part of the transformative Bilston Health & Regeneration Programme (HaRP), supported by funding secured from UK Government. Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton…

England’s largest community led festival of history and culture is set to return to Wolverhampton for the first time in over a decade. Heritage Open Days will return to the city in September, giving residents and visitors the chance to explore historic places, discover hidden stories and take part in new experiences – all free of charge. The Friends of Wolverhampton Archives and City of Wolverhampton Council are teaming up to deliver a programme of events across the city as part of the festival which will take place between 11 to 20 September. Heritage Open Days rely on thousands of…

City of Wolverhampton Council has boosted the total funding available through its Vibrant High Streets business grants programme. The new grant to support city and town centre ‘High Street’ businesses in the daytime and night-time economy was launched last month. An initial £400,000 was available and this has now been increased to £650,000 – aimed at supporting small and independent retailers and businesses in the city centre, Bilston, Wednesfield and other high street areas. The grants are designed to help them improve the visual appearance, safety and customer service experience at their premises to boost local spend and…