Sandwell Council is inviting residents to a series of roadshows across the borough to talk about health and wellbeing. These events are part of a five-year project called Better Research for Better Health, creating a Health Determinants Research Collaboration in Sandwell, which is funded by the National Institute for Health Research. The aim is to improve how the council gathers and uses information to make decisions about local services. By listening to residents, the council can make sure that services truly meet the needs of the community and provide good value for money. The council wants to hear from people…

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continued its commitment to fostering the next generation of STEAM talent with a series of workshops at the local Davison CE High School for Girls. The sessions were developed to inspire young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), while also showcasing real-world applications of maths in the workplace. The lessons, developed in collaboration with Mathematics Education Innovation (MEI), a charity which aims to improve maths education, were carefully mapped to the school curriculum and made relevant to luxury manufacturing. The workshops were led by ex-Davison student and current Rolls-Royce apprentice, Fleur…

Free support and guidance on a range of money, health and safety matters is available to residents at an open event in Blakenhall next month, organised by City of Wolverhampton Council. Help at the Hub will see a wide variety of city organisations offer advice and information. The event will take place on Thursday 10 April between 11am and 2pm at The Bob Jones Community Hub, Bromley Street, Blakenhall, WV2 3AS. The event has been organised by officers at the council’s Public Protection Scams Team who will be handing out free scams awareness and prevention packs. Residents with concerns can…

Social care practitioners demonstrate Magic Notes to Cllr Dicicco Solihull Council is set to introduce artificial intelligence software to help adult social care teams spend more time supporting people and reduce admin hours by as much as 65% per week. The software, called Magic Notes, avoids the need for staff to write or type notes by recording information from assessments, reviews and other discussions they have with adults receiving care and support from the Council. Cllr Tony Dicicco, the Council’s cabinet member for adult social care and health, is enthusiastic about the difference it will make for Solihull residents.…

On World TB Day (March 24th), Birmingham City Council is urging communities in the city to understand their risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) and how to protect themselves and their loved ones. An awareness campaign, launched in February, has been focusing on males aged between 25 to 34 years old, who were either born in or have lived in Pakistan, encouraging them to get tested and, if needed, treated for TB. This group has been identified by research as one of a number of communities at particularly high risk for contracting TB. Despite this increased risk, many within this demographic…

To some extend the habit of smoking is a product of socialization. Socialization is simply the tendency to repeat patterns of behaviour one sees other persons in the society exhibit. Socialisation is one major way children and young people learn social skills. Children and teenagers learn skills necessary to live and work in the society by a socialisation process. Unfortunately also bad habits and bad ways of thinking are learned the same way. If one lives or works together with other smoking individuals, one will more or less automatic adopt these individuals’ smoking habits. If one then tries to break…

The Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster is calling on small businesses in Birmingham to help tackle domestic and sexual abuse. PCC Simon Foster is working with companies to make sure they know how to signpost potential victims to support services and how to respond if they suspect a member of their staff is being harmed at home. The PCC also wants businesses to ensure they provide the right physical or online spaces in which to have confidential conversations with staff they might be concerned are at risk of harm. Tackling violence against women and girls is one of the…

Public spaces across Birmingham are being given a new lease of life thanks to a collaboration between the National Trust, Birmingham City Council and local communities. During March, four new ‘Pocket Parks’ are being created from underused spaces in Nechells, Balsall Heath, Tyseley and Hay Mills to provide places for residents to play, meet, cultivate plants or simply sit to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the initiative which began in 2023 has already transformed several underused outdoor areas into vibrant “Pocket Parks” – small but impactful green spaces designed and planted with the…

The introduction of an additional 48 hours per week of community patrols has been welcomed by those working and shopping in Walsall town centre. Walsall Council has funded additional patrols during peak times, following feedback from residents and traders about community safety in the town centre. Community support officers from RG8 are on hand to help reassure members of the public and help deter anti-social behaviour in and around the town centre. The increase in patrols has already been well-received by local traders and residents. Solomon and Jade are regularly patrolling the town centre and shared their insights of how…

Walsall Council has secured a grant of £249,020 to create a digital archive celebrating the borough’s rich history and diverse communities. The funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will be used to deliver the ‘Walsall Archive for All’ (WAFA) project, which will preserve Walsall’s heritage and ensure it is accessible to all. Inspired by the work of local transport photographer and historian Jack Haddock, the WAFA project will include thousands of historic images, audio recordings, and personal accounts, bringing untold heritage stories to life. Volunteers and community members will play a vital role in curating these materials, ensuring that…