Music for All, the charity of the UK musical instrument industry, is currently accepting applications for its first funding round of 2025. Groups, schools, any form of educational establishment, community projects, charities, and organisations that are bringing music to their communities in the UK can apply. Priority will be given to applicants who are most in need of help. In the current round, grants of up to £2,000 are available in the following areas: Working with primary school-aged children –  community-based groups providing music-making opportunities to young-people aged between 4–11 can apply, including groups operating in caring as well as…

L-R Paul McCormick (Speller Metcalfe), Holly Winby (Speller Metcalfe), Cllr Adrian Andrew, Associate Leader Walsall Council, Kate Moore (Speller Metcalfe), Samuel Minett-Smith (Speller Metcalfe) and Matthew Bailey (Speller Metcalfe) Bloxwich Launchpad is a new and exciting digital skills hub in the heart of Bloxwich due to open in Spring 2025, it will be housed in the former Post Office on Market Place. The scheme is funded through the Bloxwich Town Deal and aims to improve access to digital skills support and training, as well as business support, for the people of Bloxwich. As part of the agreement with Walsall Council,…

Walsall Council has installed new equipment and scheduled a series of Community Workout sessions to help residents maximise the benefits of these new additions. The new equipment is now available at Aldridge Airport, Pelsall Common, Pleck Park, and Holland Park. An additional set of equipment is scheduled for installation at Walsall Arboretum, with the anticipated completion date set for Spring 2025. “ The new equipment encourages healthy physical activity and, most importantly, is free for everyone to use. We hope that having this new equipment will attract more people to try it out for the first time. Outdoor gym facilities…

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is offering grants of between 20,000 and £14.642 million to not-for-profit organisations for projects that take surplus food off farms and into the redistribution system with the aim of helping to fight hunger in communities in England. Proposals need to: Build stronger collaborations with farmers to access surplus food. Expand logistical capacity to transport and distribute rescued produce efficiently. Invest in critical infrastructure such as refrigeration, storage facilities, and transport vehicles to keep food fresh and safe for redistribution. Procure packaging and labelling equipment to streamline the handling of surplus goods.…

Image from www.sandwell.gov.uk The Restoration of the historic community buildings was completed by the people for the people. The award is sponsored by Hortons’ Estate Limited. The 2024 award recognises the restoration of the High Street’s striking Grade II Town Hall and Library. The Town Hall was designed by Alexander and Henman, opening in 1874 –5, with the Central Library by Weller and Proud, added in 1907. The Central Library was a gift to the people of West Bromwich from the astonishingly generous Scottish-American philanthropist and industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, who endowed 660 libraries in the United Kingdom alone. The Victorian…