Walsall community heroes to be honoured with a British Empire Medal

Five local residents will be recognised for their exceptional contribution to the local community by being presented with the honour of the British Empire Medal (BEM). They are part of a total of 46 recipients that will be presented with the award by West Midlands Lord-Lieutenant, John Crabtree OBE on Wednesday 15 September at the University of Birmingham covering the years 2020 and 2021.

Customer Engagement pilots face-to-face service for vulnerable residents

Walsall Council's Customer Engagement Directorate is piloting a face-to-face service for vulnerable residents.  The service will help them with enquiries around missed bin collections, how to book a bulky waste collection, or report fly tipping, enabling vulnerable residents to access key services at a time which suits them.  The service will also be able to direct vulnerable residents to apply for council services online such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction and other welfare benefits such as Universal Credit.

Children's Commissioner visits Walsall to talk with care leavers

The Children’s Commissioner for England has praised Walsall for the support that is provided to its young people leaving care.

On a recent visit to Walsall Council, Dame Rachel De Souza, appointed as the Children’s Commissioner in March of this year, met with young people from the borough and with Council officers who work to support them.

Trading Standards unlock a 200k cannabis haul, illicit cigarettes and bang vapes during tobacco sting

During a covert illicit tobacco operation yesterday (09 September) Walsall Trading Standards in partnership with the police, got more than they bargained for when detection dogs sniffed out a huge haul of cannabis – which is thought to have a street value of up £200,000.  As part of the pre-planned Trading Standards sting, several other premises thought to be trading in illicit tobacco and dodgy vapes were also raided and illegal tobacco and ‘bang vapes’ were also seized from two shops. However, for legal reasons these locations can’t be disclosed.

Thousands of eligible Walsall children benefit from a successful Holiday Activities programme over the summer

Children and young people have been able to enjoy a range of activities and healthy food options over the summer due to the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme. The Government funded HAF programme means that, over the summer, Walsall Council has provided a wide range of opportunities for children and young people eligible for HAF because they qualify for free school meals, enabling them to engage in a summer offer that is within three miles of where they live and inclusive and non-stigmatising. Walsall Council was awarded £1.8m from Department for Education funding to deliver the programme in 2021.