People in Wolverhampton are being encouraged to have their say in a national Government consultation on proposed reforms to the Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) system. The consultation sets out plans to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND from birth to age 25, with a focus on earlier help, fairer access to support, and shared accountability between local partners. The Government is seeking views from anyone with an interest in the SEND system, including children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, school leaders, multi‑academy trusts, and professionals working across education, health and social care. The…

Wolverhampton city centre Wolverhampton is a step closer to getting an exciting new destination for food, drink and socialising, after the council confirmed it was set to start the search for an operator to deliver a major new ‘box space’ venue in the heart of the city. The move brings forward a long held ambition to create a bold, modern space where residents, students and visitors can eat, drink, meet friends and enjoy a buzzing atmosphere – adding something completely new to what the city already offers. City of Wolverhampton Council has set aside up to £5.5 million from…

Solihull Council has entered an agreement with the award-winning Heartwood Inns to transform the former Missoula and Luna unit on Solihull High Street. The development – which is part of a wider strategy to invest in Solihull – will provide a contemporary ‘pub with rooms’, breathing a new lease of life into the prominent listed building. In a nod to the area’s natural heritage, Heartwood has announced that the site will be renamed The Muddy Fox. With the name ‘Solihull’ said to derive from the ‘soily hill’ on which St Alphege church stands, the name pays tribute to the pub’s…

Further focused care and attention is set to be given to city streets and communities thanks to the introduction of a second Love Your Community: Neighbourhood Team. City of Wolverhampton Council launched its Love Your Community: Neighbourhood Team initiative in January, a dedicated taskforce to improve the cleanliness, safety and appearance of local areas. The original team will now be boosted by a second which will start work over the coming weeks. This team will focus on the cleansing and improvement of the main arterial routes into Wolverhampton, making sure residents and visitors experience a sense of pride across…

WV Active Aldersley is celebrating this year’s World Cup with an indoor 5 a side football tournament, and teams are invited to sign up now. Taking place on Saturday 30 May, the tournament is open to everyone aged 16 or over. The first game will kick off at 9.30am, with the final taking place at 3.45pm. Teams will be guaranteed 75 minutes of indoor football, and even more if they qualify for the knockouts. The winning team will also receive 3, free indoor 5 a side sessions. Entry is £30 per team; to sign up, please visit Indoor…

Pictured at the launch of SEND Wolves Forum on Monday are Sue Brunton, Admin Secretary; Tessina Fernandes, Member; Stacey Wooldridge, Co-Chair; Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education; Natalie Brewer, Membership Secretary; Janet Grant, Member; and Emma Tweddle, Vice Chair SEND Wolves Forum has officially launched following a well attended event at Life Springs Church this week. The new parent carer forum will give parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) in Wolverhampton a stronger voice in shaping local services. Run…

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Cabinet Member for City Transport at City of Wolverhampton Council next to Ring Road St George’s A fresh wave of full road resurfacing is set to begin across Wolverhampton as the council continues its investment in improving the city’s highways. City of Wolverhampton Council recognises potholes have been a source of frustration for many after prolonged wet and freezing weather this winter, which has accelerated damage on roads across the country. Alongside the ongoing 24/7 repairs programme, we are prioritising full road resurfacing schemes and other treatments that provide longer lasting improvements and better journeys for…

A new detached youth work programme, delivered as part of a wider package of support for young people at risk of exclusion or offending, is already making a positive impact in key areas of Wolverhampton. Commissioned by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, the programme is being delivered by Wolves Foundation and Inpower Academy and sees trained youth workers and mentors engage directly with young people in community locations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Over recent weeks, they have been spending time in the Bentley Bridge and Whitmore Reans areas, speaking with young people, offering help and advice, and identifying…

Sandwell Council’s Cabinet has agreed to invest an extra £1.5million to help maintain roads and footpaths, building on the authority’s top national Green rating for highway maintenance. This boost means the council will invest more than £14million in total over the next year on keeping Sandwell’s roads, footpaths and street lights well maintained. The additional £1.5million – approved by the council’s Cabinet last month – will specifically support maintaining local residential roads as well as footpaths in neighbourhoods and town centre shopping areas. Sandwell has recently celebrated a Green rating under the government’s new national traffic light system for…

City of Wolverhampton Council has worked with an 11-year-old girl and her family to turn her heartfelt messages of positivity into lasting feature for the city. Neriyah-Faith Spencer created handwritten posters with uplifting messages such as ‘you are amazing’ and ‘you are stronger than you think’ in a bid to help cheer up people across the city. After becoming aware of the positive messages, City of Wolverhampton Council contacted the family to propose a more permanent location for the artwork and help spread Neriyah’s messages. Working together, Neriyah’s cheerful messages were selected, designed and enlarged then displayed on…