Community News

A sniffer dog helped trading standards officers in Sandwell to find more than 5,000 illegal cigarettes and a quantity of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco on raids on two shops. Yoyo the spaniel helped to find the illegal merchandise in the raids on the shops in West Bromwich and Tipton. The tobacco products were sniffed out by Yoyo from various hiding places including some behind a false panel within a shop's tobacco display.

It was fantastic to see so many local organisations and people from across the Black Country come together as one, to support the latest event celebrating Dudley’s unity. The Dudley ‘CommUNITY’ day of celebrations followed on the back of the hugely popular and national award-winning Funday Sunday event held earlier in the year.

Today, local school children from Southwark and neighbouring boroughs will be setting up shop, trading their home grown fruit and veg in Borough Market. These very select young traders will join the ranks of London's renowned fruit and vegetable market to sell their seasonal fruit and vegetables, grown and nurtured from seed.

Wolverhampton residents have been warned about suspicious calls from phone scammers who are targeting the city. City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team have issued an alert after receiving a number of complaints. The tricksters have been ringing households, some of whom have been elderly, pretending to be from the council.

A unique installation that brings the voices of children and young people to the heart of the United Nations General Assembly has been unveiled by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, and two young people from UNICEF Voices of Youth initiative. 

Balsall Heath residents are reminded that there will be a referendum on Thursday 8 October about the adoption of the Balsall Heath Neighbourhood Plan. The question asked will be – ‘Do you want Birmingham to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Balsall Heath to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’ Residents are entitled to vote in the referendum on 8 October if they are both entitled to vote in local government elections in the area and their qualifying address is in the area.

The popular Make It or Bake It Market returns to Tettenhall's Upper Green for the fourth time today with a wide range of artisan designers and makers set to showcase their talents. This autumn’s market includes 34 stalls selling a range of arts and crafts, bespoke gifts and homemade products like pickles, jams and chutneys. There will also be charity stalls, cafes, English, French and Cantonese street food and live entertainment.

Bilston's links to Mount Everest and the abominable snowman are revealed in one of a series of fascinating talks on different aspects of local history taking place in October. The City of Wolverhampton Council's Arts and Museums Service organises regular talks on a wide variety of historical subjects, including five in October.

Online shopping, WiFi, Google, Super Mario Brothers, wheelie suitcases, Harry Potter, Becks, flat screen TV’s, text messaging and email are considered to be some of the greatest things from the past three decades according to people in Birmingham – a new survey out today has revealed.

The spirit of Haringey as one of London’s great boroughs is celebrated following the unveiling of a new identity. Haringey Council’s new brand identity aims to capture the spirit of the borough as a place that oozes passion, creativity, authenticity and charm. An “I’m In” campaign is challenging residents and businesses to stand up for Haringey – and shout what they love about the borough.

Grosvenor Casino Coventry is hosting this year’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer on Friday 25^th September from 11am to 1pm.  Grosvenor has organised the charity event in alongside local business woman Debbie Kendrick, a cancer survivor who is committed to driving awareness and raising funds for Macmillan.

We have all heard the saying ‘home is where the heart is’ - this week, My Community is calling on residents to share why they love where they live by asking them to submit a short video clip and enter a national competition with a first prize worth £700.   The ‘love where you live’ film competition encourages applicants to send a short three minute film showing what they love about their neighbourhood and what they have done to make it a better place for local residents.

The Big Lottery’s Fund’s ‘Awards For All’ grant of £10,000 has been awarded to fund the purchase and installation of sensory equipment at Wolverhampton’s new Youth Zone. The inclusion room, fitted with sensory equipment is vital for the inclusion of all young people with an additional need or disability. This room formed part of the original plans and designs for the Youth Zone based on the learning from the OnSide Youth Zone network of existing Youth Zones.

Hundreds of people facing the challenges of homelessness will show their strength and determination in overcoming adversity at a national football tournament on Thursday 24 September 2015. Some 40 teams from Salvation Army Lifehouses (residential centres) and supported housing across the United Kingdom will flock to Goals Manchester’s five-a-side pitches for the chance to be lift The Salvation Army’s Partnership Trophy.

A new research project to uncover information about the lives of two working class Old Hill girls who were adopted by the well-to-do owner of Haden Hill House in the 1880s is under way. And local history buffs can watch online as the evidence unfolds and the project progresses over the coming months. Curator and visual artist Jo Loki intends to unravel the mystery surrounding Alice Cookin and Bertha Emma Bryant - dubbed Best's Angels for the project.

Sainsbury’s is calling for residents and community groups across the UK to nominate their town to receive £1 million investment and become a test bed of innovation for cutting down food waste. The Sainsbury’s Waste Less, Save More town challenge is being launched in response to the escalating issue of household waste, which results in the average family throwing away £700 of uneaten food a year.