Work has commenced on improvements to three parks and play areas in Walsall. The £470,000 project will be delivered on behalf of One Palfrey Big Local, with funding from Local Trust, following consultation with residents which identified green spaces for investment. As part of the work, the play area at Palfrey Park will be extended with four new items of play equipment installed and a new seating area created. The play areas at Bescot Crescent and Rutter Street arena will also be refurbished and resurfaced with the existing outdated equipment removed and replaced with new items. Meanwhile, the sports arena…

More than 160 passionate and ambitious leaders, residents, and partners from across the borough came together at the first We Are Walsall 2040 conference. They celebrated shared successes and explored new ways to collaborate, working towards making Walsall the most improved borough in the region by 2040 and a vibrant, thriving community people are proud to call home. The event, held on Tuesday 24 June 2025 at the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus, also marked the launch of the first We Are Walsall 2040 biannual report, showcasing the significant progress made in the 18 months since the strategy’s inception. Sacha…

Vaccination UK are holding two further catch-up clinics for pupils who have missed a vaccination in school, and for children who are home educated. The following vaccinations will be available: The Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) vaccine, also known as the three-in-one teenage booster, which is offered to children in Year 9 and above. This booster is the last routine dose that provides young people with long-lasting protection into adulthood The Meningococcal (Men ACWY) vaccination for children in Year 9 and above which helps protect young people against four types of meningococcal disease which can cause both meningitis and septicaemia…

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, the Story Garden, gets underway in Wolverhampton on Saturday (12 July). Young readers are invited to sign up at any of the city’s 16 libraries for free, join the adventure and discover a magical world where stories grow. The annual Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with The Reading Agency. Last year over 1,200 young bookworms took part, visiting their local library at least three times and reading at least six titles over the summer. Participants can take part in competitions and will receive a certificate and medal on completion of the challenge. To…

A series of free family fun days will take place across the city this summer to encourage everyone to love their community. The Love Your Community fun days will be taking place at Pendeford Dovecotes TMO on Wednesday 30 July, the Cannock Road Gurdwara on Thursday 7 August, Lanesfield Church on Wednesday 13 August, and St Joseph’s Church, Coalway Road, on Wednesday 20 August. Each will run from 11am to 3pm and all are welcome. Partners including the City of Wolverhampton Council, community organisations and charities, the police and other service providers will be on hand to provide a day…

Residents, community groups and businesses in Smethwick are being urged to take part in an important online survey to help shape the town’s future. Smethwick is set to receive up to £20million in government funding through the Plan for Neighbourhoods – a 10-year investment programme that will support local communities and drive positive change across the town. The Smethwick Partnership Board, which is overseeing the delivery of this ambitious programme, has launched a short survey to understand what matters most to local people. Feedback from the survey will help identify key priorities for the town and guide how funding is…

Illegal goods with a retail value of approximately £365,000 were seized in an operation carried out by Walsall Trading Standards and West Midlands Police on 2 July 2025. Officers, supported by a specialist search dog team, investigated four retail premises, one associated vehicle, and a storage unit. The operation uncovered approximately 100 kilograms of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, 287,000 illicit cigarettes, and 350 illegal disposable vapes. Sniffer dogs Griff, Cooper, and Bran—highly trained in detecting tobacco and vapes—assisted the team. At a self-storage yard, Griff identified a unit containing the illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. Inside, some counterfeit cigarettes were even…

With high temperatures forecasted, Walsall residents are advised to take steps to stay well during the hot weather, as the UK Health Security Agency (in partnership with the Met Office) issues a yellow heat health alert for the West Midlands. The alert is in place from Wednesday 9 July to Tuesday 15 July. High temperatures can pose a risk to health, particularly for older adults, young children and individuals with long-term health conditions who may need extra help to stay cool. “ As warmer weather is forecast, there are things we can do to stay well. Keep indoor spaces cool…

Walsall residents are being encouraged to adopt healthier choices by cutting down or quitting alcohol as part of Alcohol Awareness Week (7–13 July). The Beacon – Change Grow Live, commissioned by Walsall Council’s Public Health team, is raising awareness of the health and social impacts of alcohol. The service, which provides specialist treatment for individuals experiencing alcohol and drug addiction, is offering guidance and support to anyone looking to take control of their alcohol consumption. Advice on safer drinking includes keeping within the recommended limit of 14 units per week, spreading drinking over three days or more and having several…

People are being encouraged to think about their drinking habits and the risks posed by alcohol during Alcohol Awareness Week, which gets underway today (Monday 7 July, 2025). The City of Wolverhampton Council and substance misuse service Recovery Near You will be highlighting the harms associated with alcohol and the treatment and recovery support which is available in the city. Representatives from Recovery Near You and SUIT, the Service User Improvement Team, will be available at locations throughout the week offering support, advice and, where appropriate, interventions. At some locations, a fibroscanner will also be available to identify the early…