Birmingham City Council is backing a national campaign to reduce knife crime by encouraging residents to surrender dangerous weapons anonymously and safely. As part of the national knife surrender scheme running from 1 to 31 July 2025, residents are urged to dispose of knives and other dangerous weapons using dedicated surrender bins across Birmingham, designated police stations, and a mobile van unit – all without fear of prosecution. In Birmingham, a mobile weapons surrender van will be stationed at Handsworth Park car park on Wednesday 2 July from 9am to 12pm. Residents can surrender knives and any other dangerous weapons…

As part of nation-wide campaign to tackle knife crime, Walsall Council is hosting a Knife Surrender Van in King Georges Playing Fields today 1 July from 2pm to 6pm. Funded by the Home Office, the surrender van provides a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives and other weapons, ahead of new legislation banning ninja swords, which comes into effect on 1 August 2025. The van’s visit is being undertaken in partnership with the police to ensure overall safety on the day. In addition to its visit to Walsall, the van will also tour Wolverhampton, Birmingham and…

The City of Wolverhampton Council is joining a national campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and keep residents safe. ASB Awareness Week 2025, which begins today (Monday 30 June, 2025), aims to encourage communities to make a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it. Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events all across the UK, involving councils, police, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs. The council and its partners, including West Midlands Police and the Wolverhampton ASB Team, will…

Sandwell Council is starting work on a ‘Tiger Crossing’ and new canal access at Heath Street Smethwick on Monday 16 June. A “tiger crossing” is an informal name for a parallel crossing, a type of pedestrian and cycle crossing that gives priority to both of them. They are designed to allow cyclists to cross a road without dismounting and with priority, alongside pedestrians. They are marked with a zebra crossing for pedestrians and a parallel strip for cyclists. The work, which is scheduled to be complete in August and should cause little or no traffic disruption is part of the…

Mel Chevannes and Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE shaking hands in front of Mel’s bust at Wolverhampton Art Gallery Dignitaries and members of the public joined together as the City of Wolverhampton Council celebrated Windrush Day with a flag raising and the unveiling of a bronze bust in honour of the city’s first African-Caribbean councillor, Mel Chevannes, on Sunday (22 June). Windrush Day is celebrated annually and honours the contributions made by the Windrush generation and their descendants to British society. Dignitaries and residents gathered outside the Civic Centre for the flag raising ceremony as speeches were made by…

The former Clive Marks school uniform shop in the Saddlers Shopping Centre is being transformed into a place where young people can chill out and have fun in a safe space. Funded by UK Government, the hub is one of fifteen projects planned for Walsall following a successful, £20 million funding bid aimed to regenerate the local area. The hub is being developed following calls from young people in Walsall for more welcoming and safe spaces to spend time and connect with each other. Planned to open in the next few weeks, the hub will offer free Wi-Fi, gaming consoles,…

Vulnerable families in Birmingham in need of temporary accommodation will benefit from the acquisition of a property in the city. Birmingham City Council has purchased Washington Court, which it intends to use to provide suitable temporary accommodation for several families in need of a home. The council expects to complete the necessary work to prepare the building for use in the latter half of 2026. Once ready, the building will feature dedicated one-on-one support to help families find permanent homes. Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “Providing warm, safe, suitable accommodation for everyone who needs it…

Over 200 young care leavers from across England gathered at Molineux Stadium for the highly anticipated National Championship Cup 25 recently – with the event receiving praise in the House of Commons. Organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Reach Leaving Care Team in collaboration with Wolves Foundation, the inspiring six-a-side football tournament offered care experienced young people aged 16-24 the opportunity to compete, connect, and showcase their skills on Molineux’s hallowed turf. Following a series of knock out matches involving 20 teams from as far afield as Yorkshire and Milton Keynes, Warwickshire County beat Redcar and Cleveland in…

Access to more affordable homes, increased funding for schools and their pupils, and investment in Birmingham’s transport networks are among the Chancellor’s spending priorities. These headlines come from the Government’s Spending Review, which unveiled on 11 June, outlining their spending plans for the next three years. Finance officers are assessing what the Chancellor’s announcement means for the council’s own finances and services and the picture will become clearer later in the year. Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I welcome this Spending Review, and I’m encouraged the Chancellor has included funding for projects like the extension of…

On Saturday 21st June was the opening of a new institute in Birmingham Green Lane. Madrasah Ameer Hamzah is named in honor of the uncle of our Noble Prophet ﷺ – Sayyiduna Ameer Hamzah and my late twin brother Hamzah, whose life and legacy continue to inspire our mission. This new institute is rooted in over a decade of hands-on work with young people, through youth clubs, one-to-one mentoring, and residential retreats that have helped many build discipline, confidence, and connection to faith. Our goal is to get young people off the streets and into positive, faith-led environments where they…