Community News

Nearly half the UK tuned in or turned up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, new polling shows, with eight in 10 people saying it gave the country the chance to celebrate.

The findings, in a survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of DCMS, means the Games - delivered in record time - drew an estimated overall UK audience on TV, online and in person of more than 20 million.

A milestone thousandth visit to Birmingham’s neighbourhoods was made by the city council’s Mobile Household Recycling Centre (MHRC) service. Launched in the summer of 2021, the service offers residents a simple and convenient way to dispose of waste and unwanted items – and an alternative option to the city’s bricks and mortar HRCs.

Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families have been enjoying an action-packed school holiday through Wolverhampton's Yo! Summer programme.

Thanks to funding from the City of Wolverhampton Council and the Department for Education Holiday and Food (HAF) programme, the Let Us Play charity has provided a huge range of activities over the holidays for five to 19-year-olds with SEND.

Anyone wanting to catch a final glimpse of the Birmingham 2022 Countdown Clock in Birmingham city centre has until 5 September to do so.

The iconic structure, unveiled in Centenary Square in March 2020, is being removed and temporarily placed into storage before a planned relocation to the grounds of the Alexander Stadium – so there are just six days left for people wishing to take a selfie with the Library of Birmingham as a backdrop.

As part of the charity’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, the RSPCA has revealed it received more than 100 reports of animals being abandoned every single day throughout 2021 and sadly these figures are on the rise this year. A total of 38,087 abandonment reports were made to the charity’s cruelty line last year - an average of over 3,000 reports a month, 104 a day or four abandoned animals every hour.

A local dog and her owner are celebrating their success at the world-renowned Kennel Club International Agility Festival.

Sarah Prentice, from Birmingham, West Midlands and her two-year-old Miniature Poodle, Luna, took first place in the Small Kennel Club Starters Cup Agility Semi-Final on Saturday 13 August 2022, qualifying the pair to compete in the final at London’s biggest dog event, Discover Dogs, in October.

People are invited to join in at Wolverhampton West Park for a creative festival showcasing talents of young people in our city.

The festival, Same Difference, is led by young people for young people aged between 11 and 18 years old and this is Wolverhampton Cultural Education Partnership (CEP) www.wolverhamptoncep.org  first youth festival in partnership with the Culture and Diversity Youth Group from #YES www.youthengagementstrategy.co.uk 

The Parliamentary Archives, which are currently located in the Palace of Westminster’s Victoria Tower, are going to move to The National Archives in the south-west London district of Kew. The relocation is expected to take place before summer 2025.

The risk of fire, water damage, and failure of environmental controls and safety, as well as constraints on access and services, have meant that Victoria Tower is no longer considered to be a suitable place to store the Parliamentary Archives.

Relatives or friends of a man who passed away recently are being asked to get in touch with the Court of Protection Team at the City of Wolverhampton Council so that his funeral can be arranged. 

Kenneth Gittoes, who was 71, was from Wolverhampton and had been living in the Wednesfield area. He previously lived in Bradmore, Merry Hill and Finchfield. 

Fitness fanatics have raised more than £11,500 for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity which will fund 12 missions and help save many lives across the West Midlands.

The charity’s Airbase Challenge, which originally launched in 2021 as part of the its 30^th anniversary celebrations, saw participants jog, walk, swim and cycle their way around four distances ranging from 27 to 121 miles, representing the mileage between the charity's three airbases at Tatenhill Airfield in Staffordshire, RAF Cosford in Shropshire, and Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire.

The Chancellor's response to the Ofgem energy price cap announcement is below: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi said: “I know the energy price cap announcement this morning will cause stress and anxiety for many people, but help is coming with £400 off energy bills for all, the second instalment of a £650 payment for vulnerable households, and £300 for all pensioners.

A member of the Cathedral Eco Group will be running the Worcester Half Marathon on Sunday 4th September to raise awareness about climate injustice.

Paul Grime, who is 58 and worships at the Cathedral, joined the Eco Group earlier this year, after relocating to the city.

Birmingham City Council has launched a campaign for the community – Be Your Personal Best – to honour the success of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The city council is calling out for Birmingham’s residents to share their ‘personal best’ stories – the achievements and everyday acts that they take great pride in.

Audience members will have the chance to see inside a rare example of a purpose-built jewellery manufactory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter this September as part of BOLDtext Playwright’s ‘Gem of a Place’ show which is taking place during Birmingham Heritage Week and as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

Households reliant on oven cooking could save up to £604 per year by switching to a more energy efficient cooking methods, according to new research by energy supplier Utilita. Joining together with frozen food specialist Iceland, the pair are embarking on a first of its kind partnership, that aims to help those struggling with the rising cost of living, by offering practical solutions and advice on how to save money. 

The cost of living crisis is worsening by the day - and with an average UK wedding costing upto £35,000, it’s no wonder brides-to-be are looking for tips and tricks to cut the cost. 

But just how can engaged couples save on the cost of their big day without skimping on the quality of the wedding they want?