During Ramadan, Muslims engage in charity as a means of purifying their wealth, helping those in need, and earning spiritual rewards. There are various ways they give charity: 1. Zakat (Obligatory Charity): Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it a mandatory form of charity for eligible Muslims. It involves giving a fixed percentage (typically 2.5%) of one’s savings and assets to those in need, including the poor, orphans, and those in debt. Many Muslims choose to pay their Zakat during Ramadan as the rewards for acts of charity are believed to be multiplied during this holy…

A pool in Bloxwich has been rejuvenated thanks to more than two years of partnership work.    Walsall Council, in collaboration with the Canal & River Trust, Enovert Community Trust and volunteers, has brought Baileys Pool back into community use. The work was made possible thanks to a £40,000 grant from Enovert Community Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). This funding was supported by £8,000 from the Canal and River Trust and £7,000 through Walsall Council’s Healthy Spaces Team. A key result of the work, which started back in 2022, is the improved accessibility of the site. This is…

In the past year, Birmingham City Council’s Empty Homes Team has brought 369 empty homes back into use. Birmingham City Council is encouraging residents to report empty properties to them so they can be brought back into use for National Empty Homes Week, which is taking place from 3 March to 9 March. Mr Nasir Whaind lived next door to an empty home, which was affecting his family’s life, so he reported it to the council. The empty home near Kings Heath had become neglected and dilapidated over time. It had also become a haven for rats due to the…

Origin, the UK focused industrial and logistics platform formed by HBD, part of Henry Boot, and Feldberg Capital, has started on site with the first phase of SPARK, a £100 million scheme in Walsall. Contractor Bowmer and Kirkland have been appointed to deliver the first two units of 255,000sq ft and 18,000sq ft which will both be ready for occupation by Q4 2025. SPARK is a 44 acre regeneration project which, once complete, will deliver a total of 620,000sq ft of high spec, net zero carbon enabled space within the region’s manufacturing and logistics heartland. Just minutes from J9 and…

A planning application for City Centre West, Wolverhampton’s largest regeneration opportunity, has been approved by the local planning authority A planning application for City Centre West, Wolverhampton’s largest regeneration opportunity, has been approved by the local planning authority. ECF – a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse – working in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, submitted proposals in Autumn 2024. This included detailed plans for the first phase, as well as on outline application for the wider masterplan. Following the decision, the new neighbourhood will be re-named Smithgate in a nod to the city’s historic…

Walsall Council and contractor Tarmac have completed works to widen the footpath on Rayboulds Bridge Road, to better connect the A34 Green Lane to the canal and nearby houses. The previous footpath was not wide enough for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Funded through Walsall Town Deal, the improvements are a small part of a wider scheme to improve sustainable transport across the borough, making it easier for people to walk and cycle. “ It’s great to see another active travel scheme completed successfully. With funding through the Town Deal we are working hard as a council to improve active travel across…

Fasting during Ramadan offers various spiritual, physical, and psychological benefits: 1. Spiritual Benefits: Increased God-consciousness (Taqwa): Fasting encourages self-discipline and strengthens a person’s relationship with God, promoting a higher level of devotion and mindfulness. Purification of the Soul: Ramadan is seen as a time for spiritual cleansing. By abstaining from food, drink, and bad habits, a person can purify their heart and mind, focusing more on good deeds and prayers. Gratitude and Humility: Experiencing hunger and thirst fosters gratitude for what one has and promotes humility by understanding the struggles of the less fortunate. Increased Charity and Good Deeds: Fasting…

Whether it’s a childhood favourite or a recent discovery, books transport us to different worlds and broaden our perspectives. Families and children are invited to a special event at The New Art Gallery Walsall on Saturday 8 March 2025 to celebrate the day, featuring vibrant performances, stories, art, and poetry inspired by peacocks. The Mayor of Walsall will join children of St Thomas of the Canterbury Walsall for their World Book Day Assembly on Thursday 6 March 2025. “ World Book Day is a day to celebrate the joy of reading and the incredible power of books. Reading opens doors…

From Cash flow to marketing, getting a new business up and running can be a difficult task, but new entrepreneurs will benefit from these 10 start-up tips which ensure you have all the boxes ticked before you start your business. 1 Seek Help There are many issues that you will face while starting up a business so why not seek advice from others who faced the same problems. The business growth service is just one of many organisations which have rich information about problems that start-ups may face. 2. The Structure The ownership options differ from a limited company, a…

Samsara, the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, has joined forces with Driving for Better Business, a free-to-access business engagement programme from National Highways, to improve road safety and help organisations better manage fleet risk. Driving for Better Business aims to improve work related road safety by promoting good risk management practices and demonstrating the business benefits of managing drivers and vehicles in line with current industry good practice. Samsara works with some of the world’s largest organisations that depend on physical operations to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of their operations. Samsara’s customers operate across a wide range of industries including,…