The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, writes a message for the memory tree at Willenhall CHART Centre’s COVID-19 memorial event. Nine events were held to enable residents honour loved ones lost to COVID-19, share memories and thank key workers and volunteers. The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, joined Willenhall CHART Centre to light a candle and write a message on a leaf for the memory tree. Rev. Rosanne Wilshire from St Stephen’s Church gave a blessing. At Moxley Peoples Centre, a group that formed about a year into the pandemic to help people navigate grief, social isolation…

Held at St Michael and All Angels Church and attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Dr Derrick Anderson CBE and the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, the service offered time and space for remembrance, reflection and gratitude. Reverend Alison Morris, Vicar at St Michael’s, led the service which featured readings by Nasar Iqbal (Black Country Innovate) and Pastor Monica Anderson (Walsall Faith Forum), performances from Trudia Ward, Huntley Mitchel and Pelsall Ladies Choir, as well as reflections from several faith and community leaders and representatives, creating an inclusive environment of reflection for all. Dr A Kuravi, Clinical…

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing (centre) with, left to right, Emma Thornberry, Principal Educational Psychologist Amanda Evans, PSHE advisory Coordinator, Elaine Perry, Senior Educational Psychologist, Louise Sharrod, Principal Public Health Specialist, Omowonuola Alunko, Health Improvement Officer, and Sunita Pallan-Jhalli, Specialist Public Health Officer, at the launch of the new toolkit Two new initiatives have been launched by the City of Wolverhampton Council to help support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people. A new Emotional Health and Wellbeing Toolkit will provide valuable resources for teachers and education…

To celebrate the milestone of reaching 1.5 million active Kia Connect users, Kia Europe reflects on the recent evolution of its connected vehicle ecosystem. “Since its launch in 2019, Kia Connect has been demonstrating the company’s commitment to innovative, customer-centric solutions,” said Pablo Martínez Masip, Vice President Product & Marketing at Kia Europe and COO at Kia Connect. “By offering seamless connectivity, high-tech features, and personalised services, it has transformed the driving experience for millions of customers across Europe.” A closer look at Kia Connect users The Kia Connect user base reflects a broad spectrum of drivers who are…

Whoever decided February should have only 28 days clearly underestimated just how much can be crammed into such a short month! It was a whirlwind of events, community spirit, and—of course—some rather unexpected adventures. At the start of the month, I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful ladies of the Olton Crochet Group—a delightful, talented bunch! Among them was a very young participant who might just be the next big thing in crochet (watch this space!). Then came the Apprenticeship Show, where I met future industry leaders and attempted to build a straw bridge with Balfour Beatty VINCI. If…

An ambitious national plan to reinvent work experience for schoolchildren is to be tested in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). New pilot guarantees 10 days’ worth of modern work experience starting earlier in secondary school and building skills for every child the workplace West Midlands Combined Authority chosen as one of four national pilots The pilot is targeting disadvantaged young people in the region to break down barriers with high-quality provision for all as part of efforts to prevent young people becoming NEET WMCA Careers Hub are working in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council to identify and…

Richard Parker (left), Mayor of the West Midlands with Abdikadir and Ruqia Ali, their two-month-old son Zakariya and Cllr Jayne Francis, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for housing and homelessness Thousands of families faced with a potential health hazard from living in mouldy homes are breathing easier following a £15m programme to upgrade some of the region’s dampest social housing. The money, given to local councils by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has been used to install damp busting measures in more than 4,400 homes across the region. Around 8,000 individual improvements have been carried out with some homes…

Infant at the Centre photograph – members of the event planning team are l-r: Jackie Alexander, The Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Natalie Colclough, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Denise Williams, Children’s Services Manager, City of Wolverhampton Council, and Natasha Stubbs, The Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust A group of early years practitioners recently came together to share learning and best practice emphasising the importance of infant mental health and good parent-infant relationships during a child’s first 1,001 days. The first 1,001 days, from conception until the age of two, are a critical time in a baby’s development.…

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…

Nearly every business has to go to the bank for funding assistance at some point, so I thought it would be helpful to outline some of the key ways to help yourself in getting the bank manager to say “yes”. Banks are the major source of finance for small business in the UK. When applying for finance from you bank it helps if you follow procedures. Firstly, always have a business plan. The main areas to be covered in a business plan are the management team background with details of qualifications and experience, the type of business and previous trading…