Visiting housing tenants and asking them how they are has been the focus of an intensive week of activity by Birmingham City Council. Housing officers have visited around 2,000 council tenants in just one week to check in with people, to get to know them face-to-face and to ensure they are receiving the support they need. Officers visiting properties have been able to refer tenants for financial advice, identify potential savings on energy costs, determine if properties or gardens require any repair work, and identify tenants interested in being involved on local tenant boards. The visits are an opportunity for…

A city landlord who threatened to unlawfully evict a tenant with a young family has given an undertaking to the courts to stop business activities for 3 years following investigations by City of Wolverhampton Council. In the first case of its kind in the city, Aunberin Kawal Saddique, sole trader and director of Emerald Lettings and Developments Limited, gave an undertaking to the courts to cease engaging in the letting and rental management services of private residential properties until 17 July, 2028. The undertaking means that Saddique, who manages 36 properties across the city, has agreed to not let housing…

Encouraging residents to be responsible dog owners are (from left) dachshund Stan with his owner Richard Bracey and Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council Dog owners are being encouraged to follow a simple phrase when taking their pets out in public to help keep the city safe and clean for everyone. ‘Collar, tag, microchip, bag’ is the expression that City of Wolverhampton Council is asking everyone with a dog to keep in mind when they take their pooches out and about. The aim is to remind dog owners of their legal responsibilities…

People are singing the praises of a free yoga session which is held at a Wolverhampton park every weekend. Organised by Park Yoga, a national charity, with the support of the City of Wolverhampton Council and Active Black Country, it takes place at East Park from 9.30am to 10.30am every Sunday from early May to mid-September. It is open to people of all ages and abilities and there’s no need to book. All people need to do is bring a yoga mat if they have one, or a blanket or towel. For more details, please visit Park Yoga Wolverhampton. Group…

This level of sleep deprivation increases the risk of serious injury or fatality in safety critical situations. Published in Science Advances, the biomarker used a combination of markers found in the blood of healthy volunteers. Together, these markers accurately predicted when the study volunteers had been awake for more than 24 hours under controlled laboratory conditions. The biomarker detected whether individuals had been awake for 24 hours with a 99.2 percent probability of being correct, when compared to their own well-rested sample. When a single sample was considered without the well-rested comparison (similar to a diagnostic blood test), it dropped…

Birmingham City Council tenants are enjoying discounts at over 100 national retailers, thanks to a new money-saving app called Housing Perks. Earlier in the year, the council conducted a trial partnership with Housing Perks. This app provides tenants with exclusive offers and discounts at retailers such as Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Morrisons, and Argos. During the trial around 5,000 tenants downloaded the app, which generated savings for these households of £17,722. The trial has been a success, and the council is looking to continue with Housing Perks while implementing a new feature where tenants are able to put their savings towards rent…

design drawing showing the potential layout of units at Six Mile Green Public consultation is underway on joint City of Wolverhampton Council and University of Wolverhampton proposals for the first phase of the city’s pioneering Green Innovation Corridor (GIC). The GIC will connect key assets at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus, Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park – the country’s most successful Enterprise Zone. It will introduce new commercial and business opportunities for development, incubation space, grow on space for SMEs and space for larger use. The scheme has already secured £27million funding from UK…

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, tries out the Health Kiosk at Woden Road Surgery Residents can now take greater control of their health thanks to the rollout of new self service health kiosks at GP practices across Wolverhampton. The easy to use kiosks are designed to be used prior to appointments, allowing people to check vital signs such as blood pressure, height, and weight, and complete health questionnaires related to long term conditions like asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. This will empower people to have valuable information in advance of…

weakness,” is a powerful natural substance that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. Found primarily in the Himalayan mountains, Shilajit is a mineral-rich resin that is created from the decomposition of plant matter over millions of years. It contains more than 80 minerals, as well as fulvic acid, which is believed to contribute to its wide range of health benefits. Here are some of the top health benefits of Shilajit. 1. **Boosts Energy Levels** Shilajit is a potent energy booster. It helps improve the body’s mitochondrial function, which is essential for energy production at the cellular level. By…

Sandwell is proud to announce that in the latest national Green Flag Awards, 15 of our parks and green spaces have once again been recognised as well managed. And we are even more pleased to announce that West Smethwick Park has joined them to win the prestigious standard! The Green Flag Awards are an international scheme recognising well managed parks and open spaces and it sets the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. This week’s award ceremony for the West Midlands, as well as for the East of England and…