Sandwell Council

Your latest Sandwell news and events update📲

Sandwell Council sent this bulletin at 14-07-2023 05:57 PM BST

Jazz & Blues Festival under way

🎺🎻🎤Calling all music lovers!!!

🎷🎹Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival has started today and will run until Sunday 23 July, with lots of fab music in our libraries, museums and parks.

🎼We enjoyed attending the launch at Wednesbury Library earlier with the Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Bill Gavan.

🎸The Shufflepack (who sounded fantastic) were on warm-up duties to kick off the start of the festival.

🎼With a jam-packed programme of events (most of which are free), enjoy some world-class jazz and blues on your doorstep here in Sandwell.

View the Sandwell schedule and how to book tickets.

Happy Black Country Day!

We've been celebrating Black Country Day today (Friday 14 July) and our libraries have held a series of bostin' activities this week.

Come along to Tipton Library from 10am-12.30pm tomorrow (Saturday 15 July) to hear all about the history of Stourbridge Glass with Dr Kate Round, followed by some bostin' Black Country poetry with Brendan Hawthorne.

We fly the Black Country Flag every day in Sandwell.

The summer Sandwell Herald is out now!

The summer edition of the Sandwell Herald is being distributed to homes and businesses in Sandwell this week (between Monday 10 and Saturday 15 July).

This edition previews the opening of Sandwell Aquatics Centre to the public on 24 July.

There is also a special four-page Summer of Fun guide to activities across Sandwell for children and young people this summer.

Check out our Supporting Sandwell advice and a host of projects that help people to keep healthy and stay safe.

Read about our investment in housing as well as parks and green spaces, plus celebration events, the Jazz & Blues Festival and inspirational stories of Sandwell people.

Bins and tip update

Blue-lid recycling bin collections have now resumed and tip bookings for all visitors are back from tomorrow (Saturday 15 July).

Please put your bins out on the usual day.

If your recycling is not collected on the usual day, please leave your bin out until crews can get to you. Recycling collections will continue over the weekend.

From tomorrow (Saturday 15 July) if you’re visiting the tip in Oldbury by car, you’ll need to book an appointment.

The booking system helps reduce queuing times.

The online booking form to visit the tip by car is now available for any visits for tomorrow and beyond. Please book before you visit.

There’s a new police chief for Sandwell

Chief Superintendent Kim Madill takes over from Maria Fox as the borough commander. She is responsible for all aspects of policing in the area.

Find the details of your neighbourhood policing team.

SHAPE Youth Summer Fest is this Saturday!

Saturday 15 July, 12noon - 8pm Sandwell Valley Showground, B71 4BG

With lots of FREE, fun activities for children, young people and their families!
From climbing walls, to giant family games, to outdoor youth clubs, to amazing live music and entertainment… there is something for everyone!

Please note - the Family Zone is only open from 12noon - 5pm

The team are keeping an eye on tomorrow's weather forecast which is regularly changing. The festival is going ahead for now, but times of activities may change due to the weather. Keep an eye on the Just Youth Sandwell Facebook page and Just Youth website for updates later today and tomorrow morning if anything changes.

For more information visit the Just Youth website.

Sporty Summer Reading Challenge under way

Are your children signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge 2023 yet?

Don't worry, if you haven't signed up yet, you've got all summer to do so.

The challenge, which has a sporty theme this year, is aimed at children aged between 4 and 11. It's free to take part and you can sign up at any Sandwell library.

With great rewards for all your hard efforts, this is the perfect way to maintain your reading skills across the long summer break!