Councillors are being recommended to approve an above inflation increase in the amount the City of Wolverhampton Council pays to adult social care providers of 6.6% for the next financial year. A report will go before Cabinet on Wednesday (19 February) with councillors recommended to approve the proposed increase to help sustain the adult social care market. The hourly rate paid to home care providers, for reablement and home based respite, nursing and residential care providers supporting under 65s, older people and older people with dementia, supported living services, Shared Lives and providers of day care services will rise by…

Ferrari North Europe is celebrating another successful National Apprenticeship Week after more than 200 young people visited Official Ferrari Dealerships across the UK to gain insight into careers with the Prancing Horse. Throughout the week, Ferrari Dealers opened their doors to showcase the opportunities available through the Ferrari Apprenticeship Programme, now in its 15th year. Attendees were given exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Ferrari workshops and showrooms, where they discovered what it takes to work with one of the world’s most prestigious automotive brands. Guests had the chance to meet both current apprentices and graduates of the programme, who shared their…

Veolia, in partnership with Solihull Council, is launching a third round of funding through the Solihull Community Environment Fund on 17 February with £20,000 available to support local eco-projects, clubs and communities. The Solihull Community Environment Fund, previously known as the Community Improvement Fund, has supported 13 projects since 2023, and is now back with its largest pot yet. The fund is open to community groups, parks groups and clubs that are looking to improve their local areas. Constituted groups and clubs in Solihull can apply for up to £2,000 to support projects that benefit the local community and the…

The Safer Walsall Partnership (SWP) has launched a five-week consultation from Monday 17 February, which will remain open until midnight on Sunday 23 March 2025. Respondents of the survey are asked to share their thoughts on key topics such as anti-social behaviour, crime, serious violence and environmental crimes in Walsall. Findings of the survey will be an integral part of the partnerships next three-year community safety strategy and will help shape the priorities of the partnership. Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby, Chair of Safer Walsall Partnership, said: “Working closely alongside our partners, we have been concentrating on our local priorities to…

The biggest annual celebration of Indian culture in the Caribbean returns for a special 30th anniversary event on March 1 in Trinidad and Tobago. The Chutney Soca Monarch competition, which sees top singers compete for a huge cash prize recently had a star-studded launch event at the Queen’s Park Savannah, in the countries capital Port of Spain. This year’s competition commences with a semi-final on February 8 ahead of the main event on March 1 at Skinner Park, San Fernando. The biggest event in the calendar for popular music genre chutney, which combines strong South Asian influences with soca, African…

Interactive water feature at Darlaston swimming and fitness centre Various sessions are being held between Monday 17 February and Sunday 23 February, including public swimming sessions at Bloxwich and Oak Park Active Living Centres and Walsall Gala and Darlaston Swimming and Fitness Centres. Ever-popular Big Bounce events will be held on Tuesday 18 February at Bloxwich Active Living and Friday 21 February at Oak Park, pre-booking online for these sessions is recommended. There will even be roller-skating sessions on offer, firstly at Oak Park on Wednesday 19 February from 1.30pm to 3:00pm, Followed by session at Bloxwich Active Living on…

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.…