Community News

Spectators, residents, and visitors to the West Midlands helped the region’s public transport network reach record numbers during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Local train, tram, cycle, and bus travel all saw record breaking numbers across the eleven days as hundreds of thousands of sports fans made their way around the region.

The RNBT (Royal Naval Benevolent Trust) is celebrating 100 years of giving crucial support to serving and former ratings of the Royal Navy and other ranks of the Royal Marines. As part of its centenary celebration, it has commissioned research across the UK which has revealed that families are struggling with the cost of living crisis, with worries about going into debt and energy prices top of their minds.

Wolverhampton’s Central Library was host to the city’s Story Trails last weekend, giving almost 2,000 visitors the opportunity to see the untold community stories in a completely new way using augmented and virtual reality alongside an immersive 3D map of the city. The Story Trail through Wolverhampton took visitors to the factory floor of Courtaulds Textiles Works, a major employer from 1926 to 1970 with factory chimneys that once dominated the city’s skyline.

The official auction and memorabilia marketplace for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has officially launched, offering fans the opportunity to bring the Games home and own a piece of sporting history.

The rare, authentic and exclusive pieces of history and memories from the action, has gone on sale on the official website.

Rail passengers are being thanked for their patience while the main entrance to Stoke-on-Trent station has been temporarily closed for urgent roof repairs. Network Rail engineers acted quickly to secure loose decorative stonework above platform one and the ticket hall after it was found during a routine inspection.

A demonstration of Community Spirit in abundance was displayed as Birmingham 2022 stages the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – an epic journey across the Commonwealth’s 72 nations and territories, travelling 4,000 kilometres via land, air and sea over a period of 294 days before reaching Handsworth, in Birmingham.

Over 400 performers of all ages in fabulous costumes, colour, dance, community and the rhythms of Trinidad came together in a celebration of carnival.

Big, colourful costumes inspired by the 11 Caribbean islands were on parade at Birmingham’s iconic Bullring and Grand Central as It’s Carnival took over the centre in a celebration of carnival on 6 August.

The Birmingham Back to Backs, are calling for visitors to the city to come and discover local social history and Commonwealth ties by visiting their new exhibition spaces, which currently feature two installations created by community organisations. 

For the duration of the Commonwealth Games and beyond, the Back to Backs on Hurst Street are home to two exhibitions; ‘The Lost Children’ by Balsall Heath Local History Society and ‘Home from Home’ by the Wassifa Heritage Foundation and Blackstory Partnership.

October marks the start of Black History Month (BHM) UK – a time to celebrate and remember African and Caribbean heritage peoples' achievements and contributions to the British economy, culture, and history. It's a chance to tell the stories of those less well-known Black Britons who we will forget if we don't showcase them.

A scheme that will help homeowners make their property greener and sustainable - and save money on energy bills has returned for homeowners in the Blakenhall area of the city.

City of Wolverhampton Council in partnership with Marches Energy Agency is set to deliver the next phase of the Green Homes Grant - Local Authority Delivery Scheme.

Tens of thousands of British Muslims will meet for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic at the UK's longest running Islamic convention. Ahmadi Muslims from across the UK will descend on the 200-acre Oakland Farm in Hampshire between 5-7 August for three days of prayer, discussion and spiritual rejuvenation at the event known as Jalsa Salana.

The crew of a Lancaster bomber plane that crashed during the Second World War in Wednesfield have been immortalised on a new housing development. City of Wolverhampton Council’s wholly owned housing development company, WV Living, has named the streets at its development ‘The Marches’, Lakefield Road, Wednesfield, in honour of the crew on the plane that crashed nearby, killing everyone on board.

Cycling to work could save commuters in the West Midlands up to £760 each per year, helping households manage expenditure as they navigate the cost-of-living crisis.

This could provide an important saving for many. The cost of travel to work, including fuel prices, is cited as a top concern for almost two-thirds (62%) of employees, second only to utility bills (73%).

An exciting partnership will create a legacy for community basketball from the huge success of the 3x3 format of the sport at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. England's Men and Women claimed the inaugural Commonwealth Games 3x3 medals, winning gold and silver respectively on a triumphant night in Birmingham.

Perry the mascot has been having a brilliant time at the Games. You may have spotted him cheering on athletes, meeting fans, high fiving volunteers and dancing at our Festival sites.  

From star appearances on live TV from Victoria Square and Centenary Square, to Netball, Hockey, Beach Volleyball, Lawn Bowls and much much more, our brilliant Brummie bull has been popping up across the city, racking up a whopping 100 appearances in the first few days of the Games.

New wider platforms at the busy University station have been used for the first time this week as the major redevelopment project reached another key milestone.

Spectators heading for the Birmingham 2022 hockey and squash competitions were among those to benefit from the extra space and new shelters on the wider platforms.