Community News

Christmas 2022 looks like it’s going to be a frugal affair as millions of Britons feel the strain of rising utility bills and food prices. And one UK waste company has found that up to half of people are planning to give at least one person in their immediate circle of family and friends cash toward paying their fuel bills.

Economic Secretary Andrew Griffith was in Edinburgh today, where he hailed the success of Scotland’s financial services sector and the strength of the Union. 

Speaking at TheCityUK’s Annual Conference, the minister praised the energy and vitality of Edinburgh, the second biggest financial hub in the UK, with one seventh of Edinburgh’s workers – 50,000 people – employed by the sector.

Families looking for a fun-packed, low-cost activity during the Christmas holidays can go along to one of Severn Trent's festive trails. The trails will be running at Severn Trent’s visitor sites at Carsington Water, Draycote Water and Tittesworth Water from Saturday 17th December to Monday 2nd January (inclusive).

New research has revealed the most Googled people of 2022 in Coventry, with the late Queen Elizabeth II taking the top spot. The research conducted by celebrity news site CelebTattler analysed Google search data for over 150 of the most influential celebrities since January 1st 2022 to determine which celebrity was the most talked about of the year.

A Buckingham Palace household member has apologised and resigned over "unacceptable comments" made to a Black British guest at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort.

Ngozi Fulani, the founder of a charity supporting victims of domestic abuse, says she was repeatedly asked by a royal aide where she was "really from". She was asked at the Buckingham Palace event where she was from in Africa.

A museum in the UK is set to return the Benin Bronzes, and 71 other items, to its owner, Nigeria.

The unconditional transfer of ownership taking place in front of the African country’s royal household and other dignitaries. The decision by the Horniman Museum, in London, comes as pressure rises on other museums and galleries over the question of restitution.

Hundreds more families and individuals at risk of homelessness are to get a safe and comfortable place to call home thanks to a £9 million investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The funding will enable Tamworth-based social enterprise Cornerstone to nearly double the number of properties it owns and uses to help families and others in desperate need of accommodation.

As the cost-of-living crisis bites and house & rent prices soar, many kind-hearted folks came together with the one goal in mind, to support young people and keep them off the streets.

Millennium Point once again played host to the St Basils Homelessness Sleepout where over 400 people from schools, businesses as well as individuals raised much needed funds by sleeping outside in cardboard boxes.

The finalists of the Wolverhampton Cares Awards have been congratulated by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services. The winners of the inaugural event, organised by the West Midlands Care Association and sponsored by the council and the Wolverhampton Cares campaign, were announced at a ceremony at Grand Station.

Children and young people from Wolverhampton joined together at the city’s Art Gallery for the Takeover Day challenge. The annual event sees children and young people consulted on a host of current issues and get involved in making decisions about things that affect them.

Key challenges for discussion included how to tackle bullying across the city, improvement work in the city centre and the issue of climate change, which saw young people learn about the City of Wolverhampton Council’s commitment to reduce emissions and meet with the project team to share their views and ideas.

City residents are being given some helpful safety tips if they are thinking of buying second-hand electrical goods. Officers from City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team are issuing the advice as they carry out visits to inspect and test second-hand electrical appliances for sale in the city.

Actions to combat the cost-of-living crisis, health inequalities and homelessness will be top of the agenda when dozens of faith and community leaders gather with public sector officials at a key summit next week.

Around 200 people are expected to attend the 2022 Faith in Action Summit at the Bescot Stadium in Walsall on Wednesday (30 November) to help drive forward new ideas and projects aimed at tackling some of the most critical issues currently facing communities across the West Midlands.

The encouragement of self-harm will be criminalised in an update to the Online Safety Bill, the government has said. Content that encourages someone to physically harm will be targeted in a new offence, making it illegal.

The government said the changes had been influenced by the case of Molly Russell - the 14-year-old who ended her life in November 2017. Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said she was strengthening the bill "to make sure these vile acts are stamped out".

One year on from the devastation caused by Storm Arwen, businesses and homeowners are being urged to act now to prepare for storms this winter.

More than a million homes lost power and thousands of trees were uprooted during the storm last November which brought severe winds of almost 100 mph. Tragically three people died when they were hit by falling trees.

Savvy shoppers hoping to grab a bargain in this month’s Black Friday deals are being asked to consider supporting West Bromwich based charity, the Kaleidoscope Plus Group. The West Bromwich-based charity helps thousands of people across the UK each year and offers a range of services for people in need, struggling with their emotional health and wellbeing. 

With homeowners up and down the country looking to control heating bills, NFU Mutual is warning people to take steps to prevent pipes from freezing and avoid repair bills which can run to £8,000 and beyond.

As people look to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and the rise in their energy bills, a YouGov survey shows 61% of people will use their heating less this winter.