Month: December 2024

A local apprentice from Walsall Council has just been named one of the best in the Black Country at this year’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards.

L-R Cllr Pardeep Kaur, Abbie Farr-Smith and Jane Kaur-Gill (Employment and Skills Manager at Walsall Council)

Abbie Farr-Smith, who works on the council’s finance team, was nominated by Walsall College and awarded with the Apprentice of the Year at the Ladder for the Black Country Apprenticeship Awards for her hard work and dedication, standing out among some of the top apprentices from across the region. 

Council’s Support for Apprenticeships

“A big congratulations to Abbie for this wonderful achievement. Her dedication and commitment have been recognised by the entire region, and we are all extremely proud of you, ” said Councillor Pardeep Kaur, Portfolio Holder for Education and Skills, Walsall Council.

“Apprenticeships can offer such a fantastic balance of work and study, equipping you with all the knowledge, skills, and work experience to achieve success like Abbie. Another big well done from us all at Walsall Council, it is truly well deserved.”

 

Walsall’s new Youth Bus is hitting the streets next week, giving young people a unique chance to explore music recording and podcasting. Equipped with a mini-studio, the bus will stop at local Family Hubs throughout the borough from Monday, 4th November to Saturday, 9th November, inviting anyone keen to try their hand at creative media. Besides recording, visitors can chat with council youth workers about topics that matter to them.

The initiative celebrates Youth Work Week and aims to connect young people, support their creative ambitions, and let them know they have a voice in the community’s future. The Council’s vision, inspired by the “Children’s and Young People’s Alliance 2040 strategy,” is to build a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive Walsall by 2040.

Councillor Stacie Elson, the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, expressed her excitement about the bus tour: “We want our young people to know they have a voice, and we’re listening.”

Catch the bus at one of the following stops:

• Monday: East Locality Family Hub, 3-5 pm
• Tuesday: West Locality Family Hub, 3.30-5.30 pm
• Wednesday: North Locality Family Hub, 5-7 pm
• Thursday: South & Central Family Hub, 3.30-5.30 pm
• Saturday: North Locality Family Hub, 10:30 am-1:30 pm

Don’t miss this chance to get creative and have a say in your community! Find out more by visiting Walsall Council’s website.

A persistent street drinker has been banned from Walsall Town Centre after being found guilty of five offences relating to the town’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

David Coffey was found guilty of urinating in public, consuming alcohol within a prohibited area and remaining within a specified area without reasonable excuse to cause harassment, alarm and distress. 

At Dudley Magistrates Court on 16 October, he was fined £120, plus a £48 victim surcharge,

“Once again the council has proven that we will clamp down on anti-social behaviour – it has absolutely no place in our borough,” said Councillor Gary Perry, Leader of Walsall Council.

“People need to understand the personal responsibility they have as citizens, and if they don’t, we will enforce it to protect our residents and communities who wish live in a clean and safe environment.

“Our community protection teams are targeting hotspots within the borough where anti-social behaviour is particularly prevalent, and following the latest result, it shows our plan is working.

“Well done to those teams for bringing these cases to court and showing that Walsall will not accept this behaviour. “

The council also applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to be issued, which the court can grant against an individual to tackle the most persistent anti-social behaviour.

Two men have been charged following a police operation in Walsall that led to the seizure of a significant amount of cash and drugs.

The arrests come after officers from the West Midlands Police recovered drugs and cash in Walsall Town Centre on November 14.

Brandon Thumber, aged 18 from West Bromwich, and Mohammed Choudhury, aged 21 from Walsall, were arrested at the scene and have now been charged with drug-related offences. They are due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court in December.