Sandwell Council and Sandwell Children’s Trust are celebrating the launch of Foster Care Fortnight in Sandwell This is when we join a national campaign to raise awareness of the need for foster carers to help us to improve the lives of Sandwell’s most vulnerable children. Over the next two weeks the FosterSandwell team at Sandwell Children’s Trust will be sharing stories from our foster carers, care experienced young people and members of staff about the relationships we have built through fostering. As Councillor Jalal Uddin, Cabinet Member for Children and Families for Sandwell Council reflects; “The theme of this year’s…

Artists impression of the play area at Leamore Park Both Leamore Park and Bloxwich Park, Memorial and Prominade Gardens will soon be transformed thanks to funding from the Bloxwich Town Deal. Contractors were on site last week for a pre-start site visit and work has started in Leamore Park today (Monday 12 May). The work will be phased so that both parks aren’t closed to the public at the same time. The work will see both parks given a new lease of life, with new play areas designed by local schools, and various other improvements and repairs. “ Improving Bloxwich’s…

OMODA&JAECOO UK is proud to announce its latest accolade, having been named the winner of the Fleet Rising Star category at this year’s prestigious Great British Fleet Awards, organised by Fleet World magazine. The award – presented during a black-tie networking dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Milton Keynes – recognises emerging brands that are making a significant and positive impact in the UK fleet sector. It follows a day of industry engagement at the Great British Fleet Event, which brings together the most influential figures and innovations shaping the future of fleet mobility. The judges praised OMODA&JAECOO for its…

The campaign is delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, and aims to celebrate the role of foster carers, and the positive contributions they make to society. The theme of this year’s campaign is “The Power of Relationships,” highlighting the strong and trusting relationships that run through each fostering story, whether that’s a between a carer and child or young person, the support from social workers, or friendships that have been built within fostering communities. Throughout the fortnight, the council’s fostering service will be hosting a celebration event to thank Walsall foster carers and will be hosting drop-in sessions…

Cllr Hawkins (centre) with Solihull Council cycling trainers and some of the bikes available to try Solihull Council has teamed up with Peddle My Wheels to offer Solihull residents the ‘Try before you bike’ scheme. Part of the West Midlands Cycle and Walk Programme, this innovative scheme offers a flexible approach to hiring or buying a bike without the initial cost of purchasing a new bike and accessories. Residents can hire a bike from Peddle My Wheels for £40 a month on a rolling monthly contract which includes insurance, bike lock, lights and a helmet. At any point they…

From tomorrow (Saturday 3 May) to Sunday 11 May, Wolverhampton will come alive with grassroots community events marking VE Day 80. The City of Wolverhampton Council has made £20,000 available in grants from the Safer Prosperity Fund, enabling communities to mark this historic occasion in style. Residents will be holding street parties and joining together in parks, community centres, places of worship – even allotments. VE Day, celebrated annually on 8 May, commemorates the day in 1945 when Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces, ending nearly 6 years of brutal conflict in Europe. The 80th anniversary serves as…

Would be street racers are being warned that they could face jail if they breach a High Court injunction in place across the Black Country. It comes after another individual admitted being in contempt of court following an incident of street racing, also known as car cruising, in Bearwood, Smethwick in late March. Qamar Hussain, of William Road, Smethwick, appeared before the High Court in Birmingham on Thursday 25 April and admitted racing against another vehicle along the Hagley Road between Wolverhampton Road and Bearwood Road. He received a 21 day custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to…

Families in Wolverhampton are being invited to pick up free toothbrushes and toothpaste from locations around the city. They are being provided as part of a drive by the City of Wolverhampton Council and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to improve oral hygiene, particularly among youngsters. It’s been made possible by funding from the government’s Household Support Fund. Free toothbrushes and toothpaste are available from Graiseley Strengthening Families Hub, Pool Street, Blakenhall, from WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams, WV Active Central and WV Active Aldersley, and from Central, Wednesfield and Warstones libraries – simply call in during each location’s usual opening…

There аrе usually three grоuрѕ – thоѕе whо lеаd, those whо fоllоw аnd thоѕе whо аrе ѕimрlу рrеѕеnt. You will quickly notice thаt оnе оr twо children аrе thе ones who hаvе thе idеаѕ that оthеr сhildrеn ассерt and fоllоw. Thеѕе аrе thе lеаdеrѕ. Othеrѕ have ideas аnd оffеr ѕuggеѕtiоnѕ аnd оссаѕiоnаllу their idеаѕ аnd suggestions are hоnоrеd, uѕuаllу because thе “leaders” аllоw thеm tо bе. Thiѕ group will gеnеrаllу jоin in аll the асtivitу оf thе group аnd bесоmе the “fоllоwеrѕ.” The сhildrеn in the third group will sometimes jоin thе grоuр as a fоllоwеr and ѕоmеtimеѕ ѕit on…

Councillor Grinsall (left) and Councillor Qais (right) with young people, youth workers and representatives from Crabtree Hall Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Solihull Council has provided over £450k to improve facilities and foster a stronger sense of community for Solihull residents. Renovations to nine buildings, including improvements to youth spaces, community areas, kitchen facilities, a new music studio, roofing, car parks and toilets, have been made possible through Solihull’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This includes grants awarded through the Solihull Community Buildings Fund, delivered via the Heart of England Community…