Solihull children, young people, and families with special educational needs and disabilities will soon have access to an even wider range of SEND specialist short break activities. This is thanks to continued funding from Solihull Council and new support from the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF)Programme. These include sessions after school, in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays. From Easter 2026 to August 2027, ten local organisations will be offering 18 different activity programmes. These will include everything from non-contact boxing and forest school, to arts and crafts, youth groups and more. The aim is to give…

Further focused care and attention is set to be given to city streets and communities thanks to the introduction of a second Love Your Community: Neighbourhood Team. City of Wolverhampton Council launched its Love Your Community: Neighbourhood Team initiative in January, a dedicated taskforce to improve the cleanliness, safety and appearance of local areas. The original team will now be boosted by a second which will start work over the coming weeks. This team will focus on the cleansing and improvement of the main arterial routes into Wolverhampton, making sure residents and visitors experience a sense of pride across…

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, cabinet member for City Transport at City of Wolverhampton Council City of Wolverhampton Council is continuing efforts to ensure roadworks carried out by utility companies are completed promptly and to a high standard. Water, gas and electricity providers are responsible for more than two thirds of all roadworks across Wolverhampton. The council works closely with these organisations to help plan their activity and improve how work is delivered. All works are shared publicly via the online Causeway One Network live map to help people plan their journeys. As part of its responsibility to keep the city…

There is plenty to do for families in Walsall this spring with a jam-packed schedule of fun, learning, and support sessions at Walsall’s Best Start in Life Family Hubs. Family Hubs sign with balloons There are four family hubs and nine community hubs across the borough welcome to families who want to enjoy free activities, meet other like-minded local families, or speak to professionals about support they may need. The Hubs deliver activities all year round and form part of the We Are Walsall 2040 vision to be a child-friendly borough and give children and young people the…

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Cabinet Member for City Transport at City of Wolverhampton Council next to Ring Road St George’s A fresh wave of full road resurfacing is set to begin across Wolverhampton as the council continues its investment in improving the city’s highways. City of Wolverhampton Council recognises potholes have been a source of frustration for many after prolonged wet and freezing weather this winter, which has accelerated damage on roads across the country. Alongside the ongoing 24/7 repairs programme, we are prioritising full road resurfacing schemes and other treatments that provide longer lasting improvements and better journeys for…

Walsall residents will notice some key changes at this year’s Local Elections taking place on Thursday 7 May 2026. “ Emma Bennett, Returning Officer at Walsall Council, said, “With important changes taking place at this year’s Local Elections, I want to encourage every eligible resident to make sure they are registered to vote. The introduction of new ward boundaries, changes to some polling station locations, and the ability to vote for up to three candidates mean that 2026 will look a little different for many voters. Registering only takes a few minutes, but it ensures you can have your…

Leader of the Council, Kerrie Carmichael was joined by Tunmi Agbona and Natalie Nyengerai from Sandwell College and representatives of Sandwell’s Culture Forum Sandwell Council is entering Smethwick into the first ever UK Town of Culture competition, celebrating the town’s vibrant and cohesive community, rich heritage and growing arts and culture scene. Made 50 years ago from six proud towns, the borough of Sandwell is a place built on making things happen. It’s where industry met innovation, and where strong, creative, diverse communities shape its future. Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Leader of the Council said: “If it can be made, it’s…

A new detached youth work programme, delivered as part of a wider package of support for young people at risk of exclusion or offending, is already making a positive impact in key areas of Wolverhampton. Commissioned by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, the programme is being delivered by Wolves Foundation and Inpower Academy and sees trained youth workers and mentors engage directly with young people in community locations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Over recent weeks, they have been spending time in the Bentley Bridge and Whitmore Reans areas, speaking with young people, offering help and advice, and identifying…

Sandwell Council has begun work on a series of 38 new priority road safety projects across the borough as part of its Community Road Safety Concern Programme this year. Six are already completed or nearing completion and more are on the way. Over the past 25 years, Sandwell has halved the number of casualties on its roads, including reducing child casualties by 60 per cent. This significant reduction follows a long-term programme of targeted engineering measures, road safety education, and support for police enforcement action. The council is continuing this work through its Community Road Safety Concern Programme, which focuses…

Residents who would like help and support on a range of money, health and safety matters can attend an open event in Bantock Park. Help at the Hub will see a wide variety of city organisations offer free advice and information. The event will take place on Friday, 17 April between 12pm (midday) and 3pm at The Coach House, Bantock Park, Finchfield Road, WV3 9LQ. The event has been organised by the council’s Public Protection Scams Team who will be handing out free scams awareness and prevention packs. Residents can speak with officers from Act on Energy, Admiral…