Matty Airey

The Kingswinford & Wall Heath Litter Pick Group is celebrating five years of community litter-picking, during which more than 400 volunteers have collected thousands of bags of rubbish. Founded and funded by The Saleem Foundation, the group honored founder Shaz Saleem and leader Gail Bradley at a volunteer gathering, with support from Hickory's Smokehouse Wall Heath and Territreatsretro. The group plans to recruit more volunteers and continue its local environmental work.

VAT on domestic electricity bills will be scrapped from October 1 under a decision by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, cutting around £45 from typical annual costs. Halesowen MP Alex Ballinger welcomed the measure, which comes on top of a previous £150 reduction. The change will be funded by cancelling a planned £1.8 billion Digital ID programme, with broader funding plans to be outlined in the Budget. The government says suppliers must pass the reduction to all customers, with some small businesses and charities also benefiting.

Barnsley’s regeneration model, which integrates health, community and retail services into vacant town-centre spaces, is highlighted during a visit by Cat Eccles MP and other parliamentarians. The approach has reduced missed medical appointments and increased local spending. Eccles aims to explore similar partnerships with Dudley Council, the NHS and regional authorities to strengthen town centres in Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton, including plans for a regular market. Julia Buckley MP emphasises the central role of markets in revitalising communities.

A 19-year-old Dudley entrepreneur, Lawrence Latham, has become one of the world’s youngest IPAF MEWP instructors after completing an engineering apprenticeship and earning multiple safety qualifications. He now trains operators in safe use of mobile elevating work platforms while running depots in Dudley and Birmingham. IPAF leadership praised his achievement as an example of opportunities for young people in the powered‑access sector, and Latham hopes it encourages others to pursue technical apprenticeships.

A Lye-based optician has completed a full refurbishment to create a more modern, patient‑focused practice featuring upgraded clinical technology, including OCT scans and expanded dry eye services. Owner Daniel Wright emphasises the investment’s role in improving comfort and early detection of eye conditions. The independent practice highlights its personalised, sales‑target‑free approach and continues to offer NHS and private eye care services.