The ‘Black British Ballet Exhibition’ will be hosted at Lichfield Street Hub Library, open now until July 30, 2025. The exhibition will include 20 to 30 images taken over the past 60 years, archive posters, and audio and video clips of the dancer’s stories. The video clips will be sourced from interviews carried out by Oxygen Arts over the past 18 months with 20 black British ballet dancers. There will also be a range of events and activities including reading, photography, ballet and creative writing workshops, and a ballet show curated by Oxygen Arts. “ I am very excited we…

The New Art Gallery Walsall is getting a green makeover as part of a project to cut carbon emissions and reduce energy use, thanks to funding from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Work is currently underway to replace the Gallery’s old heating system with modern, eco-friendly air source heat pumps. Solar panels will also be installed on the building to help generate clean electricity, along with new double glazing, efficient hot water taps, and other upgrades to make the building use less energy overall. These improvements will make the 25-year-old…

Three new youth clubs have been launched in Smith’s Wood at a celebration event on Tuesday 17 June. The youth clubs provide new opportunities for young people in the area, and include the Solihull Youth Bus, part of a new mobile youth outreach programme. Jointly funded by Solihull Council and the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), the youth clubs aim to provide support and guidance to improve the lives of young people in the area aged 8-17. The youth clubs are run by three local organisations with experience in providing youth support across Solihull, led by Urban Heard and supported by…

City of Wolverhampton Council is putting plans in place to remove the chewing gum that blights local streets after receiving a £20,155 grant to tackle the issue. The council is one of 52 across the country that have successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its fourth year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again. Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to…

Walsall residents are being encouraged to play a role in creating cleaner, healthier air for all as Clean Air Day is marked on 19 June 2025. Clean Air Day is a national campaign which focuses on taking collective action to tackle air pollution, increasing public awareness of the health harms of air pollution, and demonstrating support for clean air. Air pollution remains a significant public health challenge and affects individuals from before birth through to old age. Although often invisible, air pollution is linked to a wide range of health issues throughout life, from premature births and effects on organ…

With temperatures rising this week, Walsall residents are being reminded to take steps to stay safe and well during the hot weather, as the UK Health Security Agency (in partnership with the Met Office) has issued an amber heat-health alert for the West Midlands. The alert is in place until 23 June 2025 at 9am. “ While many enjoy warm, sunny weather and time outdoors, it’s important to remember that high temperatures can be challenging for some, especially older adults, young children and those with long-term health conditions. Keep indoor spaces cool by closing curtains on sun-facing rooms and check…

People are being encouraged to put their best foot forward and help raise vital funds for local charities. The annual Best Foot Forward challenge, organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, takes place on Saturday 28 June, 2025, at WV Active Aldersley from 8am to 8pm, with all proceeds going to The Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, Central Youth Theatre and The Rotary Charitable Trust. The event is supported by around 40 community minded corporate Patrons who have created a fund which will be released by those taking part. During the course of the event, every completed lap of the stadium…

Where I Am was a year-long project delivered by The MindKind Projects with funding from Walsall Council Public Health. The Where I Am project was a year-long programme between May 2024 and April 2025, delivered by The MindKind Projects and funded by Walsall Council Public Health. The project delivered a variety of activities, including six borough-wide engagement events which attracted over 700 attendees, to raise awareness around men’s health and provide safe, informal spaces for open dialogue, making connections and gathering feedback. A strategic development group was formed to enhance men’s mental health and wellbeing across the borough. Collaborating with…

Computer generated image of the proposed fleet services depot at Hickman Avenue City of Wolverhampton Council has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of its Hickman Avenue site to accommodate a new fleet services depot. If approved, demolition of existing light industrial units, not fit for purpose, could start in winter 2025/26 with construction works beginning in early 2026. The scheme is designed to accommodate the council’s fleet services operation, which is due to relocate from its current Culwell Street depot in the city centre to pave the way for hundreds of new homes as part of the…

(L-R): Outside the new City Learning Quarter college campus as the cladding is exposed. Back row – Wolverhampton City Investment Board Chair, Ninder Johal, City of Wolverhampton College Director of Finance, Paul Davies, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, Cllr Chris Burden, McLaughlin & Harvey Site Manager, Sean Doyle, and Turner & Townsend Senior Project Manager, Neil James. Front row – City of Wolverhampton College students Adela Nwankou (computing), Thomas Ridley (health) and Hilary Temoh Check (computing) The wraps are coming off Wolverhampton’s new City Learning Quarter college campus as the transformative city…