Solihull Family Hubs are launching a new outreach hub located in Meriden. Whilst not a dedicated Family Hub building, the outreach hub based at Meriden Church of England Primary School will provide yet another support and activity site for children and families in Solihull. Meriden CofE Primary School is the second Family Hub outreach location in Solihull, with the first outreach hub being situated at Shirley Heath Junior School since November 2024. Leader of Solihull Council, Councillor Karen Grinsell, welcomed the news: “I’m delighted to see the Family Hubs continuing to grow and expand their presence to help more and…

Birmingham City Council is backing a national campaign to reduce knife crime by encouraging residents to surrender dangerous weapons anonymously and safely. As part of the national knife surrender scheme running from 1 to 31 July 2025, residents are urged to dispose of knives and other dangerous weapons using dedicated surrender bins across Birmingham, designated police stations, and a mobile van unit – all without fear of prosecution. In Birmingham, a mobile weapons surrender van will be stationed at Handsworth Park car park on Wednesday 2 July from 9am to 12pm. Residents can surrender knives and any other dangerous weapons…

As part of nation-wide campaign to tackle knife crime, Walsall Council is hosting a Knife Surrender Van in King Georges Playing Fields today 1 July from 2pm to 6pm. Funded by the Home Office, the surrender van provides a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives and other weapons, ahead of new legislation banning ninja swords, which comes into effect on 1 August 2025. The van’s visit is being undertaken in partnership with the police to ensure overall safety on the day. In addition to its visit to Walsall, the van will also tour Wolverhampton, Birmingham and…

The City of Wolverhampton Council is joining a national campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and keep residents safe. ASB Awareness Week 2025, which begins today (Monday 30 June, 2025), aims to encourage communities to make a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it. Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events all across the UK, involving councils, police, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs. The council and its partners, including West Midlands Police and the Wolverhampton ASB Team, will…

Adults living with obesity who wish to manage their weight can access free support through a new service provided by the City of Wolverhampton Council. Lifestyles service Live Well Wolverhampton offers a free weight management programme for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30+, or 27.5+ for those of Black African, African Caribbean and Asian origin. To check your BMI, visit NHS. The service provides confidential information, advice, guidance, self-help tools and lifestyle interventions including face-to-face sessions with Slimming World or Gro Health over a period of 12 weeks to enable and maintain positive lifestyle choices. Gro Health…

Sandwell Council is starting work on a ‘Tiger Crossing’ and new canal access at Heath Street Smethwick on Monday 16 June. A “tiger crossing” is an informal name for a parallel crossing, a type of pedestrian and cycle crossing that gives priority to both of them. They are designed to allow cyclists to cross a road without dismounting and with priority, alongside pedestrians. They are marked with a zebra crossing for pedestrians and a parallel strip for cyclists. The work, which is scheduled to be complete in August and should cause little or no traffic disruption is part of the…

Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, a bold vision setting out the shared ambitions of the city, its partners and citizens, and the Corporate Plan setting out the council’s priorities, were approved. Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together (SBFT) approved at full council (17 June 2025) – which is a partnership plan for the next decade – aims to address challenges, grasp opportunities and tackle inequalities Birmingham and its residents face. This vision – produced through consulting and engaging partners and communities across Birmingham and which will be delivered by working closely with city partners – is for Birmingham to be a city that…

Mel Chevannes and Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE shaking hands in front of Mel’s bust at Wolverhampton Art Gallery Dignitaries and members of the public joined together as the City of Wolverhampton Council celebrated Windrush Day with a flag raising and the unveiling of a bronze bust in honour of the city’s first African-Caribbean councillor, Mel Chevannes, on Sunday (22 June). Windrush Day is celebrated annually and honours the contributions made by the Windrush generation and their descendants to British society. Dignitaries and residents gathered outside the Civic Centre for the flag raising ceremony as speeches were made by…

The former Clive Marks school uniform shop in the Saddlers Shopping Centre is being transformed into a place where young people can chill out and have fun in a safe space. Funded by UK Government, the hub is one of fifteen projects planned for Walsall following a successful, £20 million funding bid aimed to regenerate the local area. The hub is being developed following calls from young people in Walsall for more welcoming and safe spaces to spend time and connect with each other. Planned to open in the next few weeks, the hub will offer free Wi-Fi, gaming consoles,…

Vulnerable families in Birmingham in need of temporary accommodation will benefit from the acquisition of a property in the city. Birmingham City Council has purchased Washington Court, which it intends to use to provide suitable temporary accommodation for several families in need of a home. The council expects to complete the necessary work to prepare the building for use in the latter half of 2026. Once ready, the building will feature dedicated one-on-one support to help families find permanent homes. Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “Providing warm, safe, suitable accommodation for everyone who needs it…