The rollout of the free Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine to selected local pharmacies has been welcomed by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community. Councillor Obaida Ahmed said it would make it even easier for eligible groups to get protected. RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs which spreads all year round. It often causes symptoms like a cold, such as a runny nose, cough and fever, and usually gets better by itself. However, for infants and older adults the virus can lead to more severe illness and hospitalisation. People aged…

The Wednesfield junior parkrun will commemorate a significant milestone next month when it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Established in 2015 by Liz Lister and Martha Cummings, both of whom worked for the City of Wolverhampton Council and were members of Wolves and Bilston Athletics Club, it welcomes scores of children and young people to Wednesfield’s King George V Playing Fields every Sunday morning. The Wednesfield junior parkrun gives 4 to 14 year olds the chance to run, jog or walk around a 2km circuit, with parents invited to join in if they wish. It takes place thanks to the efforts…

There’s still time for people to share their views as the City of Wolverhampton Council recommissions local specialist domestic abuse support services. The council wants to hear from local residents, people affected by domestic abuse, and professionals from across Wolverhampton to help shape priorities and intentions for the new services to ensure they are effective, accessible and respond to local need. Domestic abuse specialist support services provide victims of domestic abuse with practical help, advice, and guidance. In Wolverhampton, support is available to women, men, and children who are either living in the community or in accommodation such as a…

Youngsters taking part in the Yo! Active summer programme join, left to right, Lisa Johnson, Service Manager for WV Active, Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, and Grace Whiston, Community Activation Officer, Wolves Foundation, for one of the activities at WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams Children and young people across Wolverhampton are being encouraged to sign up for a summer packed full of fun, free activities with Yo! Active over the next few weeks. Yo! Active is delivered by WV Active and Wolves Foundation and offers a wide range of free activities all year round to…

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…