If you’ve started the new year with a technology upgrade, don’t forget you can donate any old and unused devices to Wolves Tech Aid. The initiative, led by City of Wolverhampton Council, accepts laptops, tablets, mobile phones and desktop computers and puts them back into use for school pupils and others in the community. Donating is easy – just drop devices off with staff at any library in the city. All personal data is wiped before donated kit is redistributed. More than 1,600 devices have been recycled by Wolves Tech Aid since the not for profit project began…

Sandwell pensioners who received a letter from the council before Christmas with a £200 payment are being reminded to make sure they cash it in by the middle of March. Older people who didn’t receive a Winter Fuel Payment but who qualify for Council Tax Reduction (and not Pension Credit) were written to in December along with a voucher that needs to be cashed in at the Post Office. These payments are aimed at supporting households with people of pension age who aren’t eligible for Pension Credit, but who are on a lower income than most. More than 75% of…

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…

Sandwell residents are being asked to share their opinions about local pharmacy services. This feedback will help Sandwell Council to update the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). This report looks at what pharmacy services people in Sandwell need, where pharmacies are located, what they offer, and if anything is missing. It also suggests ways to improve pharmacy services. Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jackie Taylor, said: “The feedback from this survey helps us to make sure there are enough pharmacies in Sandwell offering the services people need. Residents may not know what provision is available…

Animal keepers at West Midlands Safari Park have had a busy start to the year by completing the annual animal count. At the start of each year, every animal must be counted, from the tower of tall giraffes to the colonies of tiny fruit beetles. This year, over a thousand individuals were counted, with some new additions increasing the numbers, including several baby animals, born in 2024 and some new arrivals from other wildlife parks. Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “Our dedicated keepers count and check the animals in their care daily, but the annual count is required as…

These packs will include essential items to help vulnerable residents stay safe and warm. The aim is to include blankets, thermos flasks, hot water bottles, winter duvets, hats, gloves and scarves. The campaign is being spearheaded by Council Leader Councillor Garry Perry. We understand the challenges facing our residents on low incomes during the winter and we are committed to providing support where it is most needed. We are determined to do everything we can to support those in need and I am appealing to the generosity of our local communities. Anyone who feels able to donate, please consider doing…

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,…

A Wolverhampton Councillor and former Mayor of the City has been appointed as an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours list. Park ward Councillor Claire Darke has been awarded the prestigious honour for services to Local Government, to Disability and to Suicide Prevention. When Mayor of the city between 2019 and 2021, Councillor Darke raised money for the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum as one of her nominated charities. Speaking about receiving the honour from the King, Councillor Darke said: “It is such an honour to be nominated for an MBE. To know someone would have taken the time…

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) for all regions of England from midday on Thursday 02 January until midday on Wednesday 08 January. All regions had previously been under a yellow CHA. Expected low temperatures are likely to result in increased use of health care services by vulnerable people and an increase in risk to health for individuals aged 65 years and over, those with pre-existing health conditions (including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) and some other vulnerable groups, such as those sleeping rough. UKHSA has published guidance for professionals protecting vulnerable people and for the public on staying…

As a new year approaches, automotive data experts at HPI recommend that drivers make a set of resolutions that will keep them safe on the road throughout 2025 and beyond. HPI is urging motorists to double-check that they are not putting themselves, passengers or other road users at risk by driving a vehicle which has a hidden history. Over 250 cars are flagged daily for security concerns, and 1 in every 28 cars on HPI’s register has been written off. Furthermore, over 50,000 vehicles were flagged as stolen in 2024 and over 662,297 cars have already been caught this year with altered…