Wednesday, June 17, 2026 domesticabuse football worldcup england lawyer violence abuse westmidlands support statistics sport

Karen Gray, a domestic abuse lawyer based in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, has raised concerns about the link between major football events and increased domestic abuse cases. Representing Higgs LLP, Gray emphasized that … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 walsall villagehotel strike protest hospitality unite livingwage worldcup paydispute industrialaction

Staff at the Village Hotel in Walsall are preparing to protest outside the hotel during England’s opening match of the World Cup, escalating a pay dispute that will lead to over three weeks of strike action. The strike, … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 derrenbrown birmingham hippodrome evacuation sceptics theatre security falsealarm audience performance

On Friday, June 12, Derren Brown’s performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome was unexpectedly interrupted when the entire audience was asked to evacuate due to a potential emergency. The historic theatre, packed with … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 sandwell perryfields academy redevelopment education oldbury schools construction sports facilities sport

Sandwell Council has given the green light to a significant redevelopment project at Perryfields Academy in Oldbury, marking a major milestone for the school, which has not seen a substantial upgrade in decades. On June 10, … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 queensheath pride birmingham lgbtqia community inclusivity accessibility festival joelycett kingsheath

Queens Heath Pride, the vibrant Birmingham pride event founded by comedian Joe Lycett in 2021, is back for its fifth stunning year on Sunday, June 21. What started as a bold community initiative to counter anti-LGBTQIA+ … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 tiktok crime children westmidlands violence sexualassault cybersafety socialmedia police under13

New data exposes a troubling rise in TikTok-related crimes targeting children in the West Midlands, prompting urgent warnings for parents and guardians to remain alert. Between 2023 and 2025, West Midlands Police recorded … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 dudley brierleyhill hmo conservation planning victorian architecture housing council development

Dudley Council planners have rejected a contentious proposal to convert a vacant office building in Brierley Hill into an 18-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO). The site, located between High Street and Albion Street, … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 birmingham worldcup truancy attendance education schools students lockdown engagement football sport

As World Cup excitement grips the nation, Birmingham schools are taking proactive steps to prevent a surge in truancy linked to late-night football matches. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson visited the city ahead of … Read More

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 passport brexit travel easyjet birmingham airport eu holiday boarding regulations sport

Terry and Molly Winter set off for their first foreign holiday in eight years, only to be derailed by an unexpected passport problem that cost them almost £1,000. The couple had checked in their luggage and received their … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 astonvilla morganrogers transferwindow unaiemery psr namingrights villapark squadbuilding premierleague footballtransfers sport

As the summer transfer window kicks into gear, Aston Villa’s busy off-season is taking shape following their Champions League qualification and Europa League triumph. John Townley joined Dan Rolinson on Monday’s Claret & … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 worldcup england pubs hospitality fines celebration legal community government pandemic

As England gears up for the World Cup, fans are being warned that a common pub celebration habit could come with a hefty price. Tossing pint glasses into the air during celebrations—a popular way to mark goals or … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 england worldcup football pubs labour regulations keirstarmer bukayosaka extendedhours fanexperience sport

The Labour Party government has unveiled two key changes to pub regulations in England starting this June, just in time for the 2026 World Cup. The international football tournament, taking place from Thursday, June 11, to … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 welfare benefits dwp defence labour andyburnham poverty socialpolicy resilience cuts

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has faced strong opposition from campaigners who are warning against implementing welfare cuts to finance increased defence spending. Advocates are calling on the Labour Party … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 dwp linkedin employment jobseekers careers skills youthemployment labourmarket partnership ukeconomy

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a landmark partnership with LinkedIn to help UK jobseekers build sustainable and fulfilling careers. This collaboration acknowledges that the traditional ‘job for life’ … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 counciltax pensioners financialrelief counciltaxreduction independentage poverty ukgovernment localauthorities socialwelfare lowincome

State pensioners across England are missing out on up to £1.71 billion in council tax relief, warns a new report from Independent Age. The charity’s analysis highlights a significant gap in access to Council Tax Reduction … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 universalcredit counciltax counciltaxreduction postcodelottery lowincome workincentives socialpolicy welfarereform localauthorities financialsupport

Households across the UK are facing a postcode lottery when it comes to council tax support, according to a new report by the Institute for Policy Research (IPR). The study, titled ‘Council Tax Reduction and Universal … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 birmingham houseprices propertymarket suttoncoldfield edgbaston realestate housing affluent markettrends prices

Recent figures indicate a noticeable decrease in house prices in several of Birmingham’s most desirable and expensive districts. Areas such as Sutton Coldfield, Edgbaston, and other prestigious neighborhoods have experienced … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 ikea recall safety kitchen garlicpress stirringspatula consumeralert healthrisk productrecall uk

IKEA has announced an urgent recall of two popular kitchen products, advising customers to stop using them immediately due to potential safety hazards. The recall affects the IKEA 365+ VÄRDEFULL garlic press and the IKEA 365+ … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 housing benefits socialhousing london tenancy subsidy dwp homeswapper rents policy

In London, spacious social housing properties are being advertised at surprisingly low rents, as little as £744 per month, prompting calls for reforms in housing benefits. HomeSwapper, a platform facilitating tenancy … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 walsall hmo ambulance security accommodation planning property antisocial temporary development

A former ambulance depot adjacent to Junction 10 in Walsall is set to be transformed into an eight-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), according to recent planning applications. Jubilee House on Bloxwich Lane, … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 football footballer birminghamcity samcosgrove championship aleague aucklandfc striker resurgence soccer sport

When Birmingham City secured Sam Cosgrove from Aberdeen for a reported £2 million in January 2021, hopes were high. The powerful centre-forward, boasting 31 goals in 79 Scottish Premiership appearances and back-to-back … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 wmca scrutiny westmidlands mayor transparency accountability transport budget governance councillors

Calls for stronger accountability and critical scrutiny of major projects in the West Midlands have sparked debate following the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board’s decision to reform its oversight structures. The … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 dudley council funding holiday food children lowincome support programme education

Dudley Council is set to address a funding shortfall in its Holiday Food Activities Programme (HAF) by allocating money from its own resources. The programme, which supports over 13,000 children eligible for free school … Read More

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 perverting justice traffic driving falseidentity police distress sentencing wolverhampton birmingham

A West Midlands driver has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after repeatedly providing false names and addresses to police during traffic stops, causing significant distress to an innocent man. Adam Rybicki, 60, was … Read More