Sandwell residents are invited to access free confidential advice and support through the new Smethwick Advice Centre, launching at Smethwick Library. The Advice Centre brings together experienced advisers from Sandwell Council and local voluntary and community sector organisations to help residents resolve a wide range of financial, housing and welfare issues. The service is open to all Sandwell residents on a walk-in basis every Wednesday from 9.30am to 2.00pm at Smethwick Library, with no appointment required. Residents can access support with: Benefits Debt Immigration Housing Education & Employment Consumer Rights Energy Debt and Utility Bills Rent…

‘Bilston Live – Britpop Reunion’ comes to the new Bilston Market event space on Friday 11 September, promising an unforgettable evening celebrating the iconic sounds of the 1990s. Featuring Britpop Reunion, the UK’s leading professional Britpop tribute band, the event will take audiences on a nostalgic journey through the era when bands such as Oasis, Blur, Pulp and The Verve dominated the charts and defined a generation of British music. The band will take to the stage from 7.30pm with a high energy performance packed full of recognisable hits from the super bands of the 90s including Oasis, Blur,…

Tammy Takkar, entrepreneur, CEO of Active Clinic and wellbeing expert A group of Birmingham and Sandwell women came together this week to attend a unique wellbeing evening dedicated to women who spend their lives looking after everyone else while often forgetting to care for themselves. Hosted by Boujie Mom Entrepreneur and longevity enthusiast alongside Tammy Takkar, entrepreneur, CEO of Active Clinic and wellbeing expert, the event was created for “exhausted ladies” — women juggling family, careers, businesses and everyday responsibilities who rarely take time to pause and recharge. The evening focused entirely on self-care, encouraging attendees to switch off from…

Council leader meets team behind the newly opened community kitchen at Pendeford, LTR; Prince, Community Chef; Tian Currie, Residential Engagement Officer; Kylie Potts, Community Chef; Councillor Stephen Simkins Leader, City of Wolverhampton Council A new community kitchen has opened in Dovecotes in the city, giving residents the chance to learn new skills, eat well and healthily while they enjoy being together with their friends and loved ones. The Dovecotes community kitchen is the latest initiative from the council and its partners to support residents when they need it most, especially by being able to eat well by having…

An initial scoping consultation to inform a new blueprint on how land in Wolverhampton could be regenerated in future years has today (Monday) been launched. Recent changes to national planning rules made by the government mean the council must begin work this year on a new local plan, which will protect the environment and shape where development takes place up to 2045. The consultation, which runs until 8 September, 2026, invites feedback on what the plan should contain and how the community should be involved. It seeks views on the proposed scope of the plan and what it will replace,…

Wolverhampton is building on strong progress in youth justice with a new two-year plan designed to help more children and young people make positive choices, stay safe and achieve brighter futures. The city’s Youth Justice Plan 2026-2028, which was presented to Full Council yesterday (Wednesday), outlines the achievements of the Youth Justice Service over the last year and sets out key priorities for the next two years – with a focus on preventing offending, reducing reoffending, supporting victims and ensuring children and young people receive the right help at the right time. Wolverhampton’s Youth Justice Service works with children aged…

Care leavers and members of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s REACH Leaving Care team have raised hundreds of pounds after pulling on their hiking boots to complete a sponsored walk up The Wrekin. 8 care experienced young people and 7 members of staff from the REACH Team took on the challenge, setting off just before midday on Thursday (23 July, 2026) under cool and cloudy skies. However, it was not long before the sunshine appeared, making for a much warmer and more demanding hike than anticipated. Despite the conditions, the walkers were rewarded with breath taking views across Shropshire and…

Children, young people and families are being encouraged to sign up now for a packed programme of free activities taking place across Wolverhampton throughout the summer holidays. Leading the way is Yo! Active, the city’s biggest ever summer activity offer, delivered by WV Active and Wolves Foundation. Running throughout the school holidays, it provides a wide range of free activities each week for children and young people aged up to 18, or up to 25 for care leavers and young adults with a disability whose families pay Council Tax to the City of Wolverhampton Council. Activities include free swimming,…

The City of Wolverhampton Council has worked with councils across the wider West Midlands region to secure extra central government funding to help improve support for children in care. The Department for Education has awarded up to £680,000 in 2026/27 and £1.026million in 2027/28 to create a new West Midlands Regional Care Cooperative. The new partnership will bring together 14 councils across the West Midlands, as well as health services, police and youth justice partners. They will work together to make sure children and young people get the support they need, when they need it. The Regional Care Cooperative is…

Wolverhampton’s HY5! Youth Forum recently welcomed members of the city’s SEND & Inclusion Partnership Board to a special celebration event, reflecting on another successful year of partnership working and the positive difference young people’s voices are making. With the theme Better Together, the event showcased how co-production is helping to shape services and support for children, young people and families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). HY5! also used the event to launch their annual report in a new video format and hosted a range of fun and engaging activities, to demonstrate how ‘things are better when we work…