Community News

A volunteer counselling scheme that helps more than 100 children and young people a week has been nominated for a West Midlands PCC Outstanding Citizens award. The volunteering team at The What? Centre in Coventry Street, Stourbridge, helps young people aged between 13 and 25 who are troubled or battling mental health issues. All of the volunteers are trained counsellors who give up their free time to help 120 youngsters a week via 5,500 sessions a year.

The Mayor of Wolverhampton is encouraging people to put their little grey cells to the test when he hosts four charity quiz nights over the next few months. The general knowledge quiz is returning by popular demand and will be taking place in the Mayoral Suite at the Civic Centre on Thursdays 1 September, 15 December, 9 February and 4 May.

In an exciting move by YHA (England and Wales), dogs are now welcome to stay with their owners at Youth Hostels that offer camping and cabins accommodation. The move will not only enable YHA to reach new customers but also enable dog owners to take advantage of nearly 60 YHA sites that offer camping pods, cabins, tipis, bell tents and pitch up facilities in their grounds. 

While spring and early summer may bring a welcome break from the shorter days of winter, the rise in the pollen count can cause many humans to suffer from hay fever and other seasonal ailments. However, what is less well known is that pets can suffer just as badly. A survey in 2012 showed almost half (44%) of pet owners didn’t realise their pets can suffer from allergies. 43% admitted they wouldn’t know how to tell if their pet was suffering from an allergy.  

With police recording over 4,500 offences involving stolen dogs in the last two years in England and Wales, ethical retailer Pets Corner has put together an owner’s guide to help safeguard your dog from theft and what to do if an animal is stolen. Lucy Ross is an animal specialist and Head of Training at Pets Corner.  She said: “The emotional impact of losing a cherished pet is profound so if an animal goes missing it can be an incredibly distressing time for its owners.  There are a number of things that owners can do to help protect their pet from thieves as well as procedures they can follow if an animal is taken.”

69% of people in the West Midlands picked seeing friends as the number one reason for bringing a smile to their faces, followed by listening to music and falling in love. Recent research commissioned by Wrigley’s Extra® to mark its partnership with leading charity Action for Children and the launch of oral health workshops shows that spending time with our friends is what makes us smile most.

School children from Ward End Primary spent a day asking speeding drivers to account for their actions, after they were caught breaking a 20mph speed limit outside the school. Over the course of three hours 19 drivers were stopped by West Midlands Police and given the opportunity to face a panel of school children at a ‘Kids’ Court’, or face points on their license and a £100 fine. Those who were driving at excessive speeds of 37mph or more were immediately reported.

The fascinating story of Queen Victoria’s visit to Wolverhampton 150 years ago will be brought to life as part of a series of fun events celebrating all that the city has to offer. Queen Victoria came to Wolverhampton in 1866 to unveil the statue of her late husband Prince Albert which remains in Queen Square to this day and has become an iconic symbol of the city. It is believed that the monarch’s trip to the Black Country was her first public appearance after years of private mourning following the death of her beloved consort.

Next month’s Enjoy Wolverhampton programme includes a footy treat for all generations. You can get free entry to the Wolves Museum on Friday, July 8, between 11.30am and 5pm. The museum includes access to a special interactive Games Zone, History Zone and Cinema Zone. Between noon and 3pm football fans will also have the chance to meet legendary former Wolves players as well as have their football memorabilia valued by some of the leading experts in the game.

The average person from the West Midlands loses more than 3,300 items in their lifetime – including 230 items of clothing and 104 umbrellas, research reveals. A national study into lost belongings of 2,000 adults found we’ll also misplace 394 pens across a lifetime and on average lose four items a month. Keys are the most commonly lost item, followed by mobile phones, pens and glasses.

Conjure up an image of a cartoon rabbit and you will probably picture it chomping on a carrot. But despite the close association, the root veg should not be at the top of the shopping list when it comes to your bunny’s diet – and lettuce, which is dangerous to rabbits, shouldn’t even feature at all! As part of Rabbit Awareness Week – an annual campaign to raise the profile of rabbit welfare – Lucy Ross, Head of Training at Pets Corner, discusses what constitutes a safe and healthy diet for rabbits so you can keep your pet in tip top condition.

Whichever way you are going to vote in the EU Referendum, make sure that you use your power and get out there and vote!

Slave Trade Legacies: The Colour of Money, in Nottingham is appealing for local votes as it strives for nationwide acclaim on BBC One in this year’s National Lottery Awards. The project beat off stiff competition from over 600organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.  Slave Trade Legacies: The Colour of Money is competing against six other projects to be crowned the winner of the Heritage category.

Britain goes to the polls to decide whether the UK should stay a member of the European Union with what is described as the ‘most important ballot in a generation’ taking place tomorrow as the UK votes in the EU referendum. But is 'in' or 'out' best? The county will decide whether to stay in the European Union or leave after being a member since 1973. Over the last few months the debate on what is best has often been heated, with people from both sides of the argument arguing their point – to the last second - to convince the public of their point of view.

Tesco is pulling out all the stops to support London Pride this weekend. On Saturday 25th June and Sunday 26th June, stores across London will join in the annual LGBT festival, displaying rainbow bunting, balloons, and even arranging their fruit and vegetable displays to reflect the Pride colours. 12 Tesco stores along the parade route will also turn the iconic Tesco chevrons the rainbow colours of Pride to show their support .

At dawn on Tuesday 21st June, in Sydney, to celebrate World Yoga Day, BridgeClimb and The Hindu Council of Australia collaborated in hosting the world first Yoga event at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Two certified Yoga teachers, from Isha Foundation and The Art of Living School of Yoga, led twelve enthusiastic participants through a series of yogic practices, 134 metres above the sparkling harbour, with the Opera House silhouetted by the rising sun.