Community News

Royal fans poured into the heart of London to experience the flag-lined roads, pomp-filled processions and, above all, brave a miles-long line for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bid adieu to Queen Elizabeth II, who died after an unprecedented seven decades on the throne. And while in the capital, they’re packing hotels, restaurants and shops.

This year’s Yo! Summer programme, organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council, was a great success with thousands of children and young people taking part in a wide range of fun days, sporting activities and holiday clubs across the city.

Held over the school holidays, there were hundreds of different activities, many of them free, including athletics and multi sports at WV Active, martial arts with Wolverhampton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a summer camp at The Way Youth Zone, drama days with the Central Youth Theatre, WV10 Consortium's Rock School and Tech Play with LearnPlay Foundation.

Councillors David Leytham and Harry Warburton delivered pages from the book of condolences on behalf of Lichfield Cathedral to allow patients at St Giles Hospice an opportunity to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Whilst hundreds of local people have flocked to sign the book s of condolences in memory of Her Majesty the Queen at the National Memorial Arboretum and Lichfield Cathedral, there are many vulnerable people of all ages who are sadly unable to make the journey.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) extended sympathy to the royal family and to the government and people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Commonwealth of Nations following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last week.

Birmingham’s planned launch event for Black History Month went ahead, following careful consideration in light of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The event took place at The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, featuring inspiring speakers and creative performances – including pieces by Aston Performing Arts Academy, Eloquent Praise Dance, a reading from She’s Royal and poetry readings.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Along with so many of you, we find ourselves mourning the loss of a truly inspirational woman – a figurehead of national unity.

Nomads will join those of you paying your respects to Our Queen on Monday 19th September. 

Tapping into a reservoir of grief and divinity, this was history as solemnity and spectacle were in equal measures as the world said their final “good-bye” to Queen Elizabeth II. With heads of state, dignitaries and community heroes and sheroes, side-by-side inside Westminster Abbey, the significance of the moment was almost audible on this once-in a-lifetime international occasion marked the end of an era – the end of the second Elizabethan Era.

The Monarch was then given a tour of the tram where she met workers behind the city centre extension, and even got in the driving seat herself for a look around the cab. She was fittingly dressed in fuscia pink coat and hat, a close match to the branding colour of the trams.

Among those to speak with the Queen was Nicky Haigh, who was West Midlands Metro’s head of engagement with businesses and communities along the route of the extension, responsible for keeping them updated on progress.

The OPEC Fund for International Development has adopted its first Climate Action Plan, which commits the organization to increase its climate financing to 25 percent by 2025 and 40 percent by 2030 with a cross-cutting approach to all its projects. The current share of climate finance in approved projects is 20 percent.

The new Climate Action Plan will boost the Fund's support for sustainable, low-carbon, inclusive and climate resilient investments in partner countries.

The University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies (CSPS) has secured £35,000 to deliver three externally funded projects which highlight the continued success of the Centre in addressing issues in local and regional faith communities. 

The Director of CSPS, Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, has brought together a team of academics from the University’s School of Society and Community, School of Public Health, School of Allied Health and the Wolverhampton School of Art to deliver the projects which are focused around healthy lifestyles and organ donation.

The state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be shown on a big screen in Queen Square in Wolverhampton on Bank Holiday Monday (19 September).

The City of Wolverhampton Council has organised the event to enable residents to come together to mark the occasion and give their thanks to Her Majesty.

Black History Month (BHM) UK is 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.

The Queen's eight grandchildren, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, have stood vigil around her coffin as she lies in state at Westminster Hall. At King Charles's request, Prince Harry wore military uniform, for the first time since 2020.

Prince Harry has worn civilian clothes at public events since the Queen died. It is the first time in history that the grandchildren of a monarch have taken part in the ceremony.

As the UK continues living through the ongoing cost of living crisis, research undertaken by UltraLEDs has revealed the regions that are paying the most for their energy in the UK.

By analysing ONS and UK government data, the lighting supplier highlighted residents living in Merseyside and North Wales were paying the most for gas and electricity in 2021, spending around £116 per month.

UK media coverage of the Queen’s death has exposed wide-ranging systemic issues with diversity and representation in domestic news and media organisations, according to journalist and academic Marcus Ryder.

In an exclusive opinion piece for the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, based at Birmingham City University, Ryder says that the dominant British mainstream media narrative of “a nation in mourning” fails to reflect the wide range of views about the monarchy across the nations of the United Kingdom and contrasts starkly with reports by US, African and European media.

The end of one reign and the start of another brings with it many changes with the introduction of the King’s head on currency and stamps to amended cyphers and altered signatures. Coins featuring the new King will show him facing to the left - Elizabeth II’s effigy faced the right.

It is a tradition from the 17th century to alternate the way successive monarchs are facing. New coins and notes will need to be designed and minted or printed, but are not likely to appear in general circulation for some time.