Wolverhampton Youth Voice held its first ever UK Parliament Week Question Time event recently, giving young people the chance to directly challenge local decision makers on the issues that matter most to them. The panel featured the Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council Councillor Stephen Simpkins, Leader of the Opposition Councillor Simon Bennett, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Wolverhampton North East MP Sureena Brackenridge, Wolverhampton West MP Warinder Juss, and Alison Hinds, the council’s Executive Director of Families. Pat McFadden MP sent apologies but contributed a video message responding to questions from young…

As Youth Work Week 2025 draws to a close, Sandwell Council is celebrating the dedication and impact of youth workers who support young people across the borough every day. This year’s theme – Building Brighter Futures: Safe places, trusted support, and opportunities to thrive – has shone a spotlight on the life-changing role youth work plays in helping young people feel safe, supported and empowered. Throughout the week, Sandwell Youth Service has been showcasing the breadth of its work with young people aged 11 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs or care experience. From youth…

Sandwell’s annual roadshow for Anti-Bullying Week is now under way and is travelling to 10 schools across the borough. Pupils at Crocketts Community Primary School in Smethwick wore odd socks to celebrate their individuality and uniqueness to help launch the first roadshow as part of nationwide Odd Socks Day yesterday (Monday 10 November), the first day of Anti-Bullying Week. Adults attending the launch also wore odd socks to show their support. Sandwell Council’s SHAPE Team will deliver the roadshow in partnership with West Midlands Police, visiting seven primary schools and three secondaries. The theme of this year’s roadshow is ‘Power…

Children and young people can now visit registered safe spaces in Walsall if they are worried, upset or need help whilst out and about. Walsall Council and West Midlands Police have launched a new, safe spaces initiative following calls from young people to make the town feel and be a safer place. 14 venues taking part in the scheme have received specialist training, ensuring staff are prepared to offer practical help and immediate support to young people whenever it’s needed. “ We’re proud to deliver on a commitment to our young people by launching this scheme. This is something young…

The popular Yo! Active programme, which provides free access to physical activity opportunities for children and young people across the city, is to be extended. The City of Wolverhampton Council has gone out to tender for a provider to deliver and manage the programme – in conjunction with the local authority – from April 2026, and to ensure its continued success in breaking down financial barriers to sport and exercise. Launched last year by the council, WV Active and Wolves Foundation, Yo! Active is a public health initiative that offers a wide range of free physical activity sessions across WV…

A Wolverhampton charity is launching a new scheme to help residents in the city learn skills which could change their lives, while restoring unwanted bicycles. Hope Community Project has created Heath Town Spokes and Skills – a 6 week programme focusing primarily on bike mechanics and maintenance, which will restore bikes donated through the council’s Too Good to Chuck scheme. But it will go far beyond that by empowering people to build skills, confidence, friendships and potentially even gain employment. It’ll also strengthen communities, as it brings people together. It is the latest scheme under the council’s City Homemakers banner…

On Tuesday 23 September 2025, from 11.45am to 12.30pm, Walsall College will host a pre-launch event. At the event, the upcoming launch of a series of podcasts will be discussed over the coming weeks. Attendees will get a sneak peek into the stories, voices, and ideas that will be shared from across the borough. “ This new podcast is a wonderful way of showcasing the pride, passion and ambition of our community. We Are Walsall 2040 is not just a vision but a movement that belongs to everyone. Through this podcast, we will continue to listen, learn and celebrate the…

Approximately £1.4 million of illegal vapes and counterfeit goods have been uncovered by Walsall Trading Standards officers following a joint operation with specialist sniffer dogs. The enforcement activity, part of the national Operation CeCe crackdown on illicit tobacco and vapes, took place on Thursday July 25, 2025. Officers initially visited two retail premises in the borough, where sniffer dogs located illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes—even from a sophisticated concealment and a hidden ceiling compartment. The team then moved on to a self-storage yard in Walsall, where sniffer dogs Griff and Cooper alerted officers to four suspicious containers. Two were found…

Six new sites for the location of speed cameras across Birmingham have been announced by the city council, which will be installed by the end of the year. The average speed enforcement cameras will be funded through the Clean Air Zone net surplus revenues and the locations agreed following joint working with West Midlands Police. Routes have been selected and prioritised based on the number and severity of road traffic collisions along the route and/or where compliance with speed limits is poor which leads to an increased risk of road harm. All the routes chosen have the full endorsement of…

Bookings have gone live for Walsall Council’s successful Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme. Eligible families can book activities for the summer programme that will take place for four weeks this summer: Monday 28 July – Friday 1 August Monday 4 August – Friday 8 August Monday 11 August – Friday 15 August Monday 18 August – Friday 22 August The council works with over 75 providers in the borough to offer children and young people aged 5 to 16 years old, fun, local activities, while providing the opportunity for learning and developing new skills. The programme enables children…