Community News

A survey of residents in and around Birmingham by Project Solar UK indicates that now is the time to consider solar energy as an alternative to heat and light our homes. An original poll, six months ago in March 2022 showed 5% of respondents in and around Birmingham said they would switch to an alternative energy source such as solar panels if there was an increase of up to 10% in their electricity bills.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was a wonderful event, with so many iconic people and highlights. Who could forget the amazing Raging Bull at the Opening Ceremony, the many memorable moments with athletes like Eilish McColgan, Adam Peaty, Katrina Johnson-Thompson, Olivia Breen and Delicious Orie and, of course, the Games mascot Perry.

Three more organisations have successfully secured funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to help better connect their local communities to nature.

All Saints Action Network in Wolverhampton, Marsh Hill Allotments in Stockland Green, Birmingham and Northfield Stroke Club in Birmingham have each received funding under the WMCA’s Community Green Grant scheme which helps green space poor communities improve their existing open spaces and enhance the local environment.

Residents, businesses, schools, faith groups, charities and other organisations are once again being encouraged to 'Orange Wolverhampton' next month, as the city says ‘No’ to interpersonal violence.

The annual Orange Wolverhampton campaign, which begins on 25 November, aims to raise awareness of the city’s continuing drive to end domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, ‘honour-based’ violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment.

Plans to grow and develop the region’s rail network over the next 30 years are to be revised following the Covid 19 pandemic.

The updated draft West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy sets out how the region’s rail sector plans to tackle challenges like post-pandemic recovery, maximise the benefits of HS2 and contribute to achieving net zero carbon targets. Like the first strategy, issued in 2018, key elements remain the continued development of HS2 and the delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub.

The City of Wolverhampton Council threw its doors open across the city as it launched its Warm Spaces scheme to help residents beat the cold and soaring bills this winter. 

The council opened its own wide range of buildings across the city providing a warm welcome, as well as a Warm Space and somewhere to charge devices, connect to WiFi and get a hot drink. 

Whilst the daughter of the man who saved the Flying Scotsman from being scrapped travelled to England to ride behind the famous train, Wilston Samuel Jackson was being recognised for his part in the illustrious history of the Flying Scotsman.

Penny Pegler, whose father, Alan (Pegler) who bought the redundant locomotive from British Railways in 1963 for £3,000, said that it had been a lovely and special part of her family life, before travelling from her home in Portugal to see the locomotive when it visits Swanage Railway in Dorset later this month.

A network of free-to-use Warm Welcome sites is being made available across Birmingham, with the first hubs opening today as part of the city’s response to the cost-of-living crisis.

Working with our partners, and building on the community response during the pandemic, Birmingham City Council is working with a partnership of voluntary and community sector organisations to help grow a network of spaces for people to use and visit during the winter period and beyond.

In his first speech as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that there would be difficult decisions ahead as his new government grapples with what has been describe as “a profound economic crisis". His speech outside No 10 came after he was appointed PM by King Charles.

Mr Sunak promised to deliver the manifesto that won the Conservatives a landslide election victory in 2019. He said he was elected as Tory leader to fix the mistakes made by his predecessor, Liz Truss.

Rishi Sunak has issued a plea for unity in the face of a profound economic challenge after winning the race to be the next prime minister. He won the Tory leadership contest after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to secure enough backing from MPs.

In his first speech, Mr Sunak said bringing his party and the UK together would be his "utmost priority".

Campaigning for change, television personality and author Baroness Benjamin came to the UK in 1960 during the Windrush.

Today she is Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee and has used her place in the Lords to draw government attention to the troubles faced by the Windrush generation.

Residents across Wolverhampton will benefit from a further green and healthy way to travel thanks to the launch of a second new cycle route in the city. The new cycle path forms the first section of a high-quality dedicated cycling route which will run along the A4124 Wednesfield Road. 

It was officially launched by Commonwealth Games gold medallist and city Cycling Ambassador Hugh Porter MBE, Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for city environment and climate change, Adam Tranter, West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner and Councillor Lynne Moran, chair of Wolverhampton Cycle Forum.

Wulfrunians are being encouraged to consider what they throw away and how they could help the environment during Recycle Week 2022. Residents across the city were urged to find out more about what they can and can’t recycle during the national awareness week which runs until today (Sunday October 23).

Figures from Defra, the Government’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, show that during 2020/21, Wolverhampton was the top performing Black Country authority for the amount of household waste sent for recycling, at 37.3%. The city also has higher rates than Birmingham.

Two World War Two veterans who travelled from the Caribbean to join the RAF have been recognised at a special ceremony.

Ralph Ottey, 98, and Alford Gardner, 96, were presented with their campaign medals at RAF Marham, Norfolk. A plaque was also unveiled for Ulric Cross, one of the most decorated West Indian servicemen of the conflict.

Known as the Black Hornet, Ulric Cross was a Squadron Leader in the RAF and is described by some as one of the most decorated airmen who flew during the Second World War. Achieving his childhood dream, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944 for being a "fine example of keenness and devotion to duty" and his "exceptional navigation ability" when he held the rank of Flight Lieutenant and the Distinguished Service Order. 

An overwhelming majority of Brits are worried about the price of heating their homes this winter and 9 in 10 (89%) will be changing their home heating behaviour in some way as a result, research has found.

The survey of 2,000 UK homeowners, commissioned by industry association the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), found that 93% of respondents were worried about the price of heating this winter – a figure which rises to 96% in the West Midlands.