Ambitious plans for how Sandwell will look in 2030 have been outlined at a special event in West Bromwich.

Sandwell Vision 2030 was officially launched at West Bromwich Town Hall.

Representatives of local businesses, the NHS, voluntary and community organisations and West Midlands Police were among those who attended the event run by Sandwell Council.

Sandwell Vision 2030 sets out 10 ambitions to be delivered by the council and its partners in the next 13 years.

They cover a wide range of topics from living healthy lives to lowering crime and from raising aspirations to improving the quality of schools.

The council carried out extensive consultation with residents and partners from across the borough to create the ambitions.

Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Steve Eling, said it was important that as many people as possible got involved with creating a better borough.

“This isn’t just about the council creating a better Sandwell for residents,” he said. “It’s about all of our partners, from schools to businesses and voluntary organisations to emergency services, coming together to deliver the Vision for 2030.

“There is so much we can do together to make a real difference. Everyone has only the very best intentions for Sandwell. By making sure we all pull together and face in the right direction, we can achieve positive outcomes for Sandwell and its residents.”

Councillor Steve Trow, Sandwell’s cabinet member for core council services, said: “By listening to our residents and partners we have created a bold and ambitious vision for Sandwell by the year 2030.

“It will be somewhere people feel safe and choose to bring up their families. Residents will enjoy good health, have rewarding work opportunities and feel connected and valued in their neighbourhoods.

“Yesterday was an important step in delivering these ambitions. It’s now up to us and our many partners to make the Vision a reality and we’re ready for the challenge.”

One of the new owners of the first shared ownership properties ever built by Haringey Council was today officially handed the keys to her new home.

Cllr Alan Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning and Chris Liffen, Managing Director of Homes for Haringey, were on hand to welcome Cristina Andronache to her new home in Brewery House, Whitbread Close in Tottenham.

With shared ownership, home-owners buy a share of between 25% and 55% of the property and pay rent on the remaining share. They have the option to increase the share they own in the future, making this a great way for first-time buyers to get a foot on the housing ladder, when they are priced out of buying a home on the open market.

Owners have now moved into the four new two-bedroom properties in Whitbread Close, built on the site of a former council car park. The new homes are of a high quality, promoting sustainable development, energy efficiency, and affordability.

The homes will be managed by Homes for Haringey, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the council’s housing stock. These properties are among 31 new homes being completed this year on former garage and car park sites in seven locations across the borough.

Cristina Adronache said: “Being a home owner is a dream come true thanks to the shared ownership scheme and I will always be grateful for this opportunity and for my friends who encouraged me to consider the scheme and supported me though the process.

“Shared ownership means I could get on the property ladder despite having a smaller budget, whilst benefitting from the high standards of modern living in an energy-efficient flat.”

Cllr Alan Strickland, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning said, “We’re determined to tackle Haringey’s housing crisis and help local residents to get the homes they deserve. It’s crucial that we build a variety of new homes to suit different needs and budgets – including new social rented housing, affordable homes to buy and rent, shared ownership and private housing.

“Shared ownership is a great way for people to still get into the housing market even if their budget won’t stretch to buying 100% of the new home. The Whitbread Close properties are part of our drive to increase the number of affordable properties in Haringey and it was a real pleasure to welcome Cristina to her new home.”

Chris Liffen, Managing Director of Homes for Haringey, said, “Homes for Haringey recognises the need for affordable homes in neighbourhoods where people want to live and can thrive. The shared ownership scheme at Whitbread Close is a great example of how Haringey is continuing to provide affordable housing solutions for local people. I wish Christina all the best in her new home.”

WaterSafe, the national register for approved plumbing businesses in the UK, will help crown the next winner of the HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year.

For the first time, WaterSafe will be on the judging panel of next year’s regional heats and grand final in April 2018.

The search for the next HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year is already underway and WaterSafe is encouraging students to take this opportunity not only to be recognised for their hard work and skills – but also to win great prizes worth over £9,000.

Entrants must be level 2 or 3 students and have until 1st December 2017 to apply for the chance to take part in one of seven regional heats, which will take place between 16 January and 28 February 2018.

Each regional heat winner, plus the student who has received the highest overall regional score, will go forward to the grand final which will be held at the ADEY Training and Conference Centre in Cheltenham on 25th – 26th April 2018.

WaterSafe’s Gareth Harris said: “This competition is great for showcasing how the next generation of apprentices are developing in their training. It also tests their skills under pressure and, from what I have seen as an observer in previous years, this results in some outstanding work. For that reason I am excited to be involved as a judge and to get to see how close the competition really is!

“Supporting apprentices who are encouraged to perform to the highest of standards fits perfectly with WaterSafe’s values and its mission to raise plumbing standards and protect the quality of drinking water in homes across the UK.”

Students must be aged 24 or under at the time of application and have successfully completed a test paper, which can be found on the HIP Magazine website along with regional heat dates, competition rules and application form. Only one student can be entered per college or campus.

Brightly coloured balloons lined the streets of Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield as families walked together in memory of loved ones and in support of John Taylor Hospice.

Nearly 150 people gathered at the Hollyfields Centre in Erdington to join the Birmingham hospice’s annual Family Walk and Fun Day. The ever-popular fundraising walk, now in its sixth year, raises money to provide care and support for people living with a terminal illness and their families.

This year, walkers had the choice of a pushchair and dog-friendly 4.5-mile walk or a more challenging 9-mile route. The event also offered entertainment for all ages with a Fun Day packed full of activities including bouncy castles, inflatable slides, raffles and stalls.

Setting the walkers off on their way was seven-year-old Louie O’Neill from Kingstanding. The young fundraiser - who has raised £1,000 for the hospice this year – was invited to cut the ribbon to signal the start of the charity walk.

Twickenham Primary School pupil Louie started raising money for John Taylor Hospice when he learned that his grandad has terminal cancer. Super supporter Louie has been busy challenging friends and family members to quizzes, holding a charity car wash, collecting money in supermarkets and organising a fundraising stall. He doesn't plan to stop there and has big plans for the future - including hopes to host his own carnival.

Louie’s mum Charlotte O'Neill said: “There are seven of us here today – along with our dog Maui – to do the walk and watch Louie cut the ribbon. He’s so excited to have been asked to open the event as he feels like a celebrity! He’s been really looking forward to it and we’re so very proud of him.”

Joining the walk for the fifth year were the Smart family from Great Barr. Christopher Smart and his wife Selina walked the 4.5-mile route, with their two sons and their niece by their side, in memory of Christopher’s father Peter Smart.

“My dad had lung cancer and was only at the hospice for a very short time – two to three days,” said Christopher. “The hospice did an outstanding job and it became like a home from home for us. We come to the walk every year to say thank you to the hospice staff for what they did for us. ”

Selina added: “Sometimes when we went to visit Peter we’d have 11 family members in the room at once and the nurses didn't mind at all. Nothing was too much trouble for them, they were incredible and did an amazing job of looking after us all.”

Stepping out together in memory of someone very special were siblings Louise, Emma and Simon Carlo. They walked the longer route - for the third year in a row - to thank the hospice for the care they provided for their mum Sheila Carlo in 2015.

“She was a wonderful woman,” said Simon. “We received incredible support from John Taylor Hospice and our mum was so well looked after, as were we. She was treated with dignity and respect and the hospice staff relieved a lot of the pressure for us.”

Louise, who raised over £1,000 by running the Birmingham half marathon for #TeamJTH last year, said: "When you’ve never had any experience of a hospice you expect it to be a depressing place but it’s not like that at all at John Taylor. We were really struggling before the hospice stepped in to help and we don’t know what we’d have done without them. We come to the walk every year to say thank you for everything the hospice has done for our family.”

Katie Mitchell, John Taylor's Head of Fundraising, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who joined us. We certainly didn't let the dreary weather dampen our spirits and we had a wonderful day.

"The Family Walk is a special day for lots of people with many local families joining us year after year to celebrate the lives of their loved ones and to support the work of our hospice. We're proud to have watched this event grow over the years and we're extremely grateful to everyone for joining us.

“Many families tell us they come to the Family Walk and Fun Day to show support for the hospice and say thank you for the care their loved ones have received. We want people to know that being there at events really does make a big difference. That incredible support help us to raise vital funds and ensures we're there for families - just like yours - when they need our care and support.”

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, will be celebrated in the City of Wolverhampton on Saturday 14 October.

The City of Wolverhampton Council has teamed up with the Shri Krishna Mandir, and other organisations for the annual Diwali Mela at Phoenix Park in Blakenhall from 4pm-8pm.

It will feature music and dance, including performances by the Pargan Bhandal Company and dancers and Dhol drummers.

The lights will be switched on at approximately 7.30pm followed by a spectacular firework display.

There will be a wide range of stalls and refreshments, and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu and Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden are due to attend.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Diwali is the biggest and brightest festival in India and we are delighted to be helping to celebrate it here in Wolverhampton once again.

"The event at Phoenix Park is always great fun for all the family, featuring excellent entertainment and a fantastic fireworks display.”

Children and families from across the Midlands are set to benefit thanks to a donation of £131,000 from KFC to Acorns Children’s Hospice.

The donation comes thanks to KFC’s Add Hope Foundation and the activities of staff at KFC branches across the region who encouraged customers to purchase fundraising scratch cards.

Proceeds from the scratch cards will go towards the nearly £10 million Acorns has to raise each year to continue it’s vital care for life limited and life threatened children and young people and support for their families.

Shane Fields, Area Coach at KFC Shirley, said: “The amount raised has been amazing, we are so proud to support Acorns and the brilliant work they do that is so important for families in the area. The KFC Add Hope Foundation gives staff the chance to really get involved in their community.”

Amanda Smallman, Senior Manager, Corporate and Community Fundraising at Acorns, said: “We are so happy to receive this significant donation.  At Acorns, we rely on fundraising and donations from organisations like KFC’s Add Hope for the majority of the income needed to provide our services.

“The donation will make a huge difference to people’s lives by helping us provide nursing care for children and young people and vital support for their families.”

Acorns offers a network of specialist care for children and support for their families across the West Midlands. In the past year the charity has cared for more than 870 children and more than 1,090 families, including those who are bereaved

To find out more about the work of Acorns Children’s Hospice and how you can help raise vital funds, please visit www.acorns.org.uk