The Alpkit Foundation, a not-for-profit independent charity, was set up by the British outdoor retailer Alpkit in 2015. It makes small awards that support grass roots, direct action projects where a positive difference can be made to remove the barriers in getting outdoors and experience the benefits of time spent outdoors.Community groups, schools and organisations based and working within the UK can apply for grants of between £50 and £500 to support:Diversity and inclusion projects that engage individual and groups from a diverse range of backgrounds.Environmental projects that seek to support, conserve, or generate understanding of our environment and wild…

Choosing a new House Charity is an annual tradition we’ve proudly upheld ever since the Home of Rolls-Royce first opened in 2003. It’s an entirely staff-led endeavour, in which our team generously give their time, energy and money to support a local good cause they’ve nominated and voted for and is truly close to their hearts. We’re committed to being a good corporate neighbour, and the House Charity is a tangible, positive way for us to play our part in the local community, over and above our economic contribution. We look forward to supporting Sage House during 2025.”Andrew Ball, Head…

Research shows exercising more was the UK’s most common New Year’s resolution for 2024*, and the Government is helping hundreds of thousands more people across the UK keep their resolution and get active by delivering high-quality grassroots sport facilities. From Belfast to Bracknell, over 1,100 projects are receiving funding that will go towards facilities such as changing rooms, pavilions, state of the art 3G artificial grass pitches, goalposts and floodlights, improving access to sport and physical activity for local communities. Sports Minister Stuart Andrew announced the funding during a visit to Oaklands Park in Chichester, where over £700,000 from the…

A series of works are planned that will create a more attractive, greener and more open and inviting space around Gallery Square and Park Street, and the plans have now been revealed. “ The plans for Walsall Town Centre look great and are much needed. We’ve worked with consultants and architects to create a plan that will open up Park Street, introduce more greenery and create a more inviting and attractive space. We hope that a more accessible, attractive town centre will drive footfall and create more opportunities for leisure and business. “ Councillor Adrian Andrew, Associate Leader Walsall…

Councillor Garry Perry, Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Kerry Murphy, Portfolio Holder for Street Pride, Councillor Gaz Ali and Councillor Tina Jukes joined volunteers on Sunday 19 January 2025. Volunteers included members of the Pleck Picking Posse and Bloxwich Blox Busters. The team worked for three hours to remove 40 bags of rubbish from Old Birchills, Reedswood Lane, Reedswood Gardens, Bentley Lane Edward Street, Pargeter Street, Cairns Street and Dalkeith Street. The amount of rubbish removed reflects continuous issues faced in the area, which Walsall Council has committed significant resources to in recent years. “ This area…

Pre-registrations for tickets have already entered the thousands, as fans from across the world seek to get in on the action. Taking place in the West Midlands, this is the first time the championships have been hosted outside of Asia. Hosted as a joint venture between World Kabaddi, the British Kabaddi League, West Midlands Combined Authority and the four hosting local authorities of Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham and Walsall, the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will take place in venues across the region between 17th and 23rd March. The tournament is supported by £500,000 of funding support from the UK Government’s Commonwealth…

With new research suggesting people who stop smoking will save a whole day of their life within a week of quitting, smokers in Wolverhampton are being encouraged to get help and support to stub it out. The University College London study found that smoking is more harmful than previously thought – with each cigarette ‘stealing’ approximately 20 minutes of life from smokers, the equivalent of nearly 7 hours per average pack of 20 cigarettes. Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability and ill health in the UK. It causes around 80,000 deaths a year in the UK…

From left: City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Green City, Councillor Qaiser Azeem, with Councillor Adrian Andrew, Associate Leader of Walsall Council Work is set to begin next week on a £2.5 million scheme including cycle lanes, better crossings and other improvements on the A454 between Wolverhampton and Walsall. City of Wolverhampton Council and Walsall Council are working together to create a new cycle route from Noose Lane to Pinson Road, along the A454 Willenhall Road and Somerford Place. The 2 way cycle lane will be built on the central reservation of the A454 Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton,…

An award winning Wolverhampton social enterprise has welcomed support from the city council in the form of a new long term lease agreement on its headquarters. Aspiring Futures provides education, training and support to women and girls across a range of ethnic groups within the community from The Saplings in Parkfield Road. Following approval by the council’s Cabinet, a 25 year lease on the council owned facility – adjacent to Windsor Nursery School – will be put in place. The modern single storey building was previously part of the nursery school but was vacated in 2018 due to funding. The…

PM2.5-related exposure. Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan said: “Lighting fires in our homes is now the largest source of toxic fine particle air pollution in the UK, presenting a range of serious health risks including heart and lung disease, diabetes, and dementia. “Despite growing evidence of the UK’s burning problem – like this new research from the University of Birmingham – many people are still unaware that wood burning is harming our health and the planet. “While many work to communicate these harms through moments such as Clean Air Night, we need urgent action from…