Community News

The region’s economy will be powered up by the levelling up zones to be established by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as part of the ground-breaking Deeper Devolution Deal. Six zones have already been identified as having the potential to accelerate growth, development and regeneration.

Key investment sites within each will be unlocked by a new agreement with the Government that enables the region to retain Business Rates growth over the next 25 years, worth around £500 million.

When the Most Reverend Michael Curry was a boy, he gave up Bazooka bubble gum for Lent, just as many Christian children give up chocolate or some other candy.

Now, as presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, Curry sees more clearly what Lent means.

The Junior Rowing Academy programme at Leeds Rowing Club have purchased vital new equipment thanks to a grant from enfinium as part of its nearby Skelton Grange energy from waste project. A £50,000 Community Benefit Fund has been made available to community groups and organisations in Leeds during the construction phase of enfinium Skelton Grange, which is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Gone are the days when TikTok was nothing more than a way to pass the time with a silly dance routine during lockdown. Following astronomical growth which has seen users double in just under two years, a billion people worldwide now actively use the platform, with a quarter of those aged between 10 and 19.

Dudley Council bosses have welcomed news of multi-million Government funding for the Metro expansion from Wednesbury into Brierley Hill.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in parliament that Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is to get £60 million towards the completion of the second phase of the scheme. The first phase, from Wednesbury into Dudley town centre, is already well under way and is expected to be carrying passengers by next year.

Fundraisers are being invited to join St Giles Hospice’s wild and wonderful Safari Solstice Walk this summer on Saturday 17th June in Lichfield.

Safari-themed fancy dress is encouraged for this unforgettable 10k adventure around the streets of Lichfield City Centre, starting and ending at Lichfield Rugby Club.

The Coronation Champions Awards have been backed by a star-studded list of ambassadors, with celebrities supporting the awards and praising the efforts of volunteers across the UK. The exciting new awards launched by Royal Voluntary Service and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, have attracted the attention of big names including Dame Judi Dench, Alex Jones, Gethin Jones, Tasha Ghouri, Sam Ryder, Elaine Paige, Tom Read Wilson, Felicity Kendal and Nadiya Hussain.

Active Travel England has placed Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) among its top ranked local authorities for delivering and promoting cycling, wheeling and walking schemes. It is one of just five local authorities to secure a tier three rating following a self-assessment of its work during 2022, validated by the Department for Transport

A senior leader, a political economist, and a construction and manufacturing industry expert at Birmingham City University have reacted to today’s Budget announcement from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Professor Julian Beer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: It is really great news that the West Midlands has been chosen to host one of the Tech hubs clustered around universities in England.

A new world’s first collection of gold sovereigns, the first to be created in honour of the accession of a British monarch, has been released in celebration of the accession of King Charles III. As the nation prepares for the first royal coronation in 70 years, The 2023 King Charles III Accession Sovereign Range released by gold sovereign specialists Hattons of London, will be the first in history to bear the King’s royal cypher.

Worcester Cathedral has been awarded the Silver Eco Church Award, by A Rocha UK – the Christian environmental charity committed to equipping churches and their congregations to care for the environment.

After achieving the Bronze award last year, the Cathedral’s Eco Group has been busy working towards Silver, implementing a number of initiatives to improve its eco rating and involve the whole community.

Over half (55%) of people in poverty are finding it difficult to pay for their insurance amidst the cost-of-living crisis – leading some to give up insurance as they prioritise food and energy bills, new report warns.

New research by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), supported by Fair By Design, found that insurance is becoming increasingly unaffordable for those on low incomes as they are charged “a poverty premium” – meaning they pay more for insurance cover due to reasons they cannot control, such as where they can afford to live.

When the world talks about princesses, Saffron Harding is a delicate flower we all love to see.

Happy Birthday from all of us at The Phoenix Newspaper!

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to announce in this week’s Budget an additional £33 million over the next 3 years to support veterans, in recognition of the sacrifices they’ve made for the UK. The majority of the funding package (£20 million) will go towards the Veteran Capital Housing Fund - a new project to provide extra housing for veterans through the development of new builds and refurbishment of veteran social and charitable housing.

The City of Wolverhampton Council has re-affirmed its commitment to the city’s armed forces community at a special Armed Forces Covenant signing ceremony at its Civic Centre. The Armed Forces Covenant was re-signed by the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE on behalf of the council and by Major Maxwell Sones on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

BBC director general Tim Davie apologised to licence fee payers after a day of disruption for sports programming on the network.

Football shows were pulled at the last minute when presenters and commentators walked out in support of Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker. The host was suspended on Friday after he criticised the government's controversial asylum policy.