Community

Sunday, July 12, 2026 greenbelt housing development conservation walsall community planning opposition traffic environment

Residents living adjacent to a proposed 850-home development in Great Barr, Walsall, have voiced significant concerns over the plans to build on 42 hectares of green belt land. Developer IM Land and Walton Homes recently … Read More

Saturday, July 11, 2026 birmingham culinary youth education community training cooking chef apprenticeship empowerment

Adam Pickett, a renowned Birmingham chef with global experience and a history of cooking for football stars like Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy, is on a mission to empower young people in his community through cooking. … Read More

Saturday, July 11, 2026 birmingham american relocation citylife community culture lifestyle expat history uk

Stephen Pihlaja, an American who relocated to Birmingham in 2014, has found a deep appreciation for the vibrant city life in his adopted home. Since making the move, he has embraced Birmingham’s unique culture, … Read More

Friday, July 10, 2026 birmingham pub refurbishment hospitality harborne brewery conservation community planning eventspace

Plans to refurbish The New Inn, a beloved pub in Birmingham’s Harborne district, have been approved by local planners amidst concerns about the struggling hospitality sector. Joule’s Brewery acquired The New Inn in May … Read More

Friday, July 10, 2026 solihull pspo antisocial behaviour youth engagement council crime community safety

Councillors in Solihull have come together in a rare display of cross-party unity to consider the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour in the town centre. The proposal … Read More

Thursday, July 9, 2026 lidl harborne demolition development supermarket community quinton jobs consultation traffic

Lidl has fast-tracked its plans to demolish the former Harborne Day Care Centre, following a proposal submitted earlier this year. The site, previously owned by Birmingham City Council, was closed and sold off last year, … Read More

Tuesday, July 7, 2026 school garden education horticulture stonehenge history oasisacademy community mentalhealth outdoorlearning

From the moment you step onto the grounds of Oasis Academy Woodview in Edgbaston, it’s clear this isn’t an ordinary school. Among its unique features are a Viking ship and a striking replica of Stonehenge—both created by the … Read More

Monday, July 6, 2026 bilston pcso hero choking toddler firstaid community police westmidlands emergency

In Bilston town centre, a quick-thinking PCSO became a local hero when he came to the rescue of a young toddler struggling to breathe. Toddler Roxy began choking on a sweet while sitting in her pushchair, causing panic for … Read More

Sunday, July 5, 2026 solihull schoolstreets trafficreduction roadsafety coppiceprimary airquality sustainabletravel community parking education

Solihull’s School Streets scheme, which has already proven to enhance safety and reduce traffic around several primary schools, is set to expand with the addition of Coppice Primary School. The initiative temporarily … Read More

Sunday, July 5, 2026 birmingham memorial fundraiser katiefox tragedy busstop smallbrookqueensway community remembrance family

Last November, tragedy struck when Katie Fox lost her life while waiting at a bus stop on Smallbrook Queensway in Birmingham city centre. Her mother, Maria Fox, has now taken the initiative to honor her daughter’s memory by … Read More

Sunday, July 5, 2026 shirley parkgate entertainment venue antisocial traders community youth business safety

The owner of a recently opened games venue in Shirley has come forward to defend his plans amid worries expressed by local traders. Business owners at Parkgate Shopping Centre have voiced concerns that the venue might attract … Read More

Sunday, July 5, 2026 theft crime football vehicles birmingham police matchday socialmedia conviction community sport

Two young men, Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Haydar, have been sentenced to prison for a large-scale theft operation targeting vehicles near Birmingham City FC’s stadium. Between December 2022 and October 2024, the 23-year-olds … Read More

Saturday, July 4, 2026 houlton rugby midlands village community heritage sustainability education events living sport

Nestled near Rugby, Houlton is a charming village with deep historical significance that is quickly becoming one of the most desirable places to live in the West Midlands. With a population of around 850 residents and growing … Read More

Saturday, July 4, 2026 birmingham cemetery campaigner respect graveyard dignity behavior community awareness sanctity

John Gilmore, a dedicated campaigner for maintaining the dignity of Birmingham’s cemeteries, has raised concerns about couples engaging in sexual activities within one of the city’s graveyards. He describes the incidents as … Read More

Thursday, July 2, 2026 alumrock shooting teenager injuries emergency investigation councillors socialmedia violence community

A teenager has been critically injured in a shooting incident in Alum Rock, leaving the community shaken and concerned. Emergency services responded promptly to the scene, where the young victim was found with potentially … Read More

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 solihull kids2kids uniform schoolwear preloved affordable parenting budget community charity

With the new school term just around the corner, a caring Solihull mum is making a real difference for families on a budget. Jenny Charman, owner of Kids2Kids Preloved in Shirley, has introduced a special 50p school uniform … Read More

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 walsall greenbelt housing development planning council taylorwimpey infrastructure community environmentalimpact

Proposals for a new housing estate in Walsall have emerged through an Environmental Impact Assessment application recently submitted to the council. Developer Taylor Wimpey aims to build up to 600 homes on agricultural land … Read More

Monday, June 29, 2026 education achievement birmingham heartlands disadvantaged ofsted attendance community tesawards aspiration

E-ACT Heartlands Academy in Birmingham has been honoured as Secondary School of the Year at the TES Awards 2026, recognizing its outstanding achievements in educating young people from some of England’s most … Read More

Sunday, June 28, 2026 bowelcancer diagnosis awareness birmingham symptoms screening healthcare earlydetection community cancer

Rob Parnham, a 42-year-old father from Birmingham, recently received a shock diagnosis of stage 3 bowel cancer after initially attributing his extreme tiredness to a hectic lifestyle balancing construction work, exercise, and … Read More

Sunday, June 28, 2026 aldi alcohol licence suttoncoldfield birmingham retail offsales licensing community stores

Aldi Stores Limited has submitted an application to Birmingham City Council requesting an off-sales alcohol licence for its Sutton Coldfield store located at 31 Brassington Avenue, B73 6AA. The proposed licence would permit … Read More

Sunday, June 28, 2026 grief memorial fundraiser blackcountry family community remembrance tribute loss chereissbailey

The family of Chereiss Bailey, the woman tragically found dead in a canal in the Black Country, are grappling with profound grief and an overwhelming sense of emptiness. To honor her memory, they have organized a family fun … Read More

Sunday, June 28, 2026 pub heritage conservation restoration birmingham architecture camra historicengland hospitality community

The Woodman, a historic pub nestled in Digbeth, Birmingham, has been honoured with the Historic England Conservation Award at CAMRA’s prestigious Pub Design Awards. This accolade recognises the pub’s outstanding commitment to … Read More

Saturday, June 27, 2026 elmdon solihull childcare planning council councillors carehome parksafety community approval

A proposed children’s care home in Elmdon received planning approval despite councillors’ appeals to postpone the decision for further scrutiny. At Solihull Council’s planning committee meeting, the application to convert a … Read More

Saturday, June 27, 2026 bournville bakepicnic community baking local family picnic birmingham food events

If a picnic filled with cakes, brownies, scones, and sourdough fresh from the oven sounds delightful, Bournville has just the event for you. On Saturday, August 1, the village will host its inaugural ‘Bake … Read More