Matty Airey

Russells Hall Hospital hosted an Alcohol Awareness Week event focused on the national theme “Alcohol and Me.” Dudley North MP Sonia Kumar visited the hospital’s Alcohol Care Team, took part in activities demonstrating alcohol’s effects on coordination, health and serving-size awareness, and praised staff for their work. Volunteers from local charity Alternat+ives discussed supporting families affected by alcohol and substance misuse. The event encouraged people to seek early, stigma-free help through NHS services and charities if they are concerned about their own drinking or that of someone close to them.

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust has launched a scheme providing 30 free bicycles, training and accessories to eligible staff. Funded by Active Black Country and Dudley Council’s Commonwealth Games legacy programme, it aims to improve health and wellbeing, reduce car use and make commuting more affordable and sustainable. Trust representatives say the initiative will especially help lower-paid staff and those facing costly or unsuitable transport options, while The Active Wellbeing Society says it could also reduce pressure on staff parking.

Eighteen-year-old Halesowen para-athlete Maddie Down won bronze in the T38 100m final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, recording a personal best of 12.86 seconds. Olivia Breen took silver in a photo finish and Sophie Hahn won gold. Down, coached by Mike Bennett at the University of Birmingham, will compete in the long-jump final for another medal opportunity.

A street collection held at Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge raised £199.73 for Friends of Dudley Performing Arts. The volunteer group supports Dudley Performing Arts by funding music-making, concert stewardship, young musicians’ opportunities and performances connected with the Black Country Music Hub and local schools.

Marie Curie is seeking volunteers across the Black Country to support its Paint It Yellow fundraiser at Morrisons stores from July 30 to August 2, helping fund nursing care and support services for people with terminal illnesses. Community fundraiser Sarah Hampton encourages residents to take part, noting that even short volunteer shifts can meaningfully contribute. Participating stores will also run raffles, tombolas and themed activities, with Morrisons having raised nearly £7 million for the charity since their 2024 partnership.

Merry Hill’s Game On programme will host two weeks of free sport, gaming and family activities, beginning with football sessions led by the West Bromwich Albion Foundation. The schedule includes cricket challenges, mini golf, table tennis, boxing taster sessions, a gaming zone featuring PS5 simulators, and karate demonstrations. Additional offers include children’s dining deals, discounted cinema tickets and the return of the Artisan Market. Centre manager Jonathan Poole highlights the programme as an enjoyable, cost‑free option for families during the summer holidays.

Three primary schools in Dudley will begin offering free breakfast clubs in September under the Government’s expanded Best Start programme, aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures and helping children begin the school day prepared to learn. The initiative is part of a nationwide rollout reaching more than 2,700 schools and includes measures to reduce uniform costs by limiting compulsory branded items. Sonia Kumar MP welcomed the plans, noting expected savings for families and wider benefits alongside expanded eligibility for free school meals.

Stevens Park in Quarry Bank has retained its Green Flag status for the second consecutive year, reflecting ongoing improvements supported by nearly £2 million in Heritage Lottery funding. Additional Green Flag community awards were achieved by the Abbey Road Allotment Association in Halesowen and the Friends of Wollescote Park for their sensory garden project. Local councillor Damian Corfield thanked volunteers and community groups for their contributions to enhancing local green spaces.

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been named a finalist in the HPMA Awards after reducing agency nursing hours by more than 98 percent and cutting monthly staffing costs significantly. The improvements stem from expanded recruitment, strengthened internal staffing, and better rota planning, with leaders emphasising enhanced patient care and workforce stability. The trust has also broadened its recruitment reach, securing over 1,300 placements, with award winners to be announced later in the year.

Tia Kofi, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two, will headline Dudley Pride on July 18 at Stone Street Square. The free event will feature performances, stalls, and entertainment celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Local leaders and sponsors emphasize inclusivity and community spirit, with activities running from 1pm to 8pm under a marquee and more than 30 stallholders participating.

Halesowen College marked its 60th anniversary with an event bringing together alumni and current and former staff for themed activities, exhibitions and celebrations highlighting the institution’s history. Principal Jacquie Carman described the day as a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the college’s development and community impact. The institution, a major further and higher education provider in the West Midlands, encouraged former students and staff to join its alumni network as it looks ahead to future growth.

A Dudley-based men’s mental health initiative, Headz Up, received a £2,000 grant from GreenSquareAccord to run a 12‑week Walkie Talkies programme offering supportive weekly walks focused on conversation and wellbeing. The funding covers staffing, resources and materials to help men who struggle with clinical settings or daytime services. Founder Adam Bradley and local MP Sonia Kumar emphasise the project’s role in boosting confidence, connection and emotional support for men facing stress, isolation or personal challenges.

Dudley Council is intensifying efforts to address anti‑social behaviour during Anti‑Social Behaviour Awareness Week by deploying a drone, enforcing new Public Space Protection Orders and expanding out‑of‑hours operations. The drone supports monitoring illegal off‑road riding, fly‑tipping investigations and identifying potential drug‑related activity. Council teams are engaging with residents, visiting schools and conducting targeted enforcement, with satisfaction rates reported as high among those who have submitted complaints. Residents are encouraged to report non‑emergency issues through the council’s MyDudley service, while serious incidents should be directed to West Midlands Police.