|
📆 Next week (from 15 September) Sandwell Council will be collecting bins on alternate weeks. This means we will collect recycling one week and non-recycling bins the next week (or the other way round).
You will have to separate paper, cardboard and cartons and put them in the new recycling (blue) bag which was delivered last week.
If you have not received the blue bag, you can call the Contact Centre on 0121 368 1177 or visit the One Stop Shop next week in Oldbury to collect one.
All other recycling such as, glass, plastics, cans and tins will continue to be recycled in the recycling (blue lid) bin.
You can check the leaflet sent to you for important information about the new bin collection service, including a calendar showing your new bin day. You can also find out if recycling or non-recycling will be collected first, by checking the online bin day finder.
If you have signed up for garden waste collections for 2025, your bin day for garden waste collections will not change. It will remain the same as usual for the rest of 2025.
If you live in a household that has a large shared recycle bin, there will be no change your collections this year.
ℹ️ More information about bin collection changes can be found on our website.
|
 Our 'You ok, mate?' campaign aims to get men talking about men’s mental health
⚠️ Content warning – discussions of suicide
In Sandwell, 79% of deaths by suicide are men, and that is a statistic we simply cannot ignore.
We need to break the silence, challenge the stigma and get men talking across our communities.
This week on #WorldSuicidePreventionDay and beyond, we are reminded of the urgent need to talk openly about mental health, regardless of gender. We need to take active steps to start changing the narrative. Asking for help is not a weakness, in fact it's the bravest thing you can do.
💚 If you need support for yourself or a friend, visit the Healthy Sandwell website to find out more about the 'You ok, mate?' campaign and a wide range of services that can help.
 Official opening of West Brom Indoor Market
We were delighted to welcome guests to the official opening of West Bromwich Indoor Market this week.
Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Kerrie Carmichael and Blind Dave Heeley launched the market with a plaque dedicated to the occasion.
Guests were welcomed by council chief executive Shokat Lal and heard from MP Sarah Coombs, Councillor Syeda Khatun, cabinet member for business and skills, and Christine Hinson, who is chair of the West Bromwich Towns Fund Board.
The market is one of the centrepieces for our West Bromwich Masterplan and was supported by the Government’s Towns Fund programme.
Guests were also treated to music from Sandwell College students – thank you so much to everyone who came and to the businesses who made everyone so welcome.
Illuminating the Chance Glassworks Collection tomorrow (Saturday 13 September) at Sandwell Archives 🧑🎨
Join Sandwell Archives tomorrow (Saturday 13 September) from 10am to 4pm to celebrate the innovations, workers and collections of Chance Brothers Ltd, a glassworks that once operated just down the road from our archives!
Discover everything there is to know about Chance Brothers by engaging with archive materials.
Chat with our dedicated volunteers, attend fascinating talks from our Local Studies Librarian and create your own Chance-inspired artwork.
ℹ️ Find out more information about tomorrow's event.
|
Bromwich Hall Alive - Medieval Mayhem this weekend, 13 and 14 September, 11am to 4pm
Bromwich Hall Museum, Hall Green Rd, West Bromwich, B70 2EA. Entry free, no need to book.
Travel back 600 years with us and discover and explore this beautiful medieval house come alive as if it is the 1400s with our medieval encampment. See knights and ladies, soldiers and ordinary folk.
Enjoy combat displays, learn about food and medicine and enjoy medieval dancing. You can even meet the Lord and Lady of the Manor and their horse.
Young visitors can join in knight school, play games and get messy, and make a medieval tile (£1.50). For further information and a timetable for the day go the Visit Sandwell website.
|
Car boot sale this Sunday
Come and grab a bargain (or sell a few!) at West Smethwick Park's car boot sale - this Sunday (14 September) from 10am to 1pm.
Location: West Smethwick Park, B67 7JJ
Time: 10am - 1pm
Great deals, hidden treasures, and a fun day out for all ages!
Refreshments available – bring the whole family!
|
Get advice on applications for The King's Award 🥇
Know a voluntary group making a real impact in your local area? Want to recognise this amazing work? Are you a community group making a difference?
Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS). Equivalent to an MBE, the King’s Award is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.
If your organisation is interested in applying for the King’s Award, please email us at comm_partnerships@sandwell.gov.uk so we can invite you to a face-to-face workshop on Thursday 18 September from 6pm to 8pm.
ℹ️ Head over to the King's Award for Voluntary Service website to find out more.
|
🤔 Still time to have your say on our Design Code
We’ve started developing a Design Code for Sandwell to help guide future developments – and there's still time to get involved and have your say.
A Design Code is a planning document, required by the government, that includes design standards for the way a site or area is developed. Our existing Residential Design Guidance will be reviewed and replaced by the new code.
It will establish a set of rules which all new developments in Sandwell must follow during the planning process. This will help raise the quality of developments and ensure the design of them is directly influenced by the character of different areas of Sandwell.
We are keen to know what you like about the character of your local area and what local issues that you think should be addressed by the Design Code.
📝 Visit the Design Code homepage and fill out the survey before Monday (15 September).
|
🙋♂️ Young people wanted for Smethwick Partnership Board
Sandwell Council is recruiting young volunteers aged 14–25 to join the Smethwick Partnership Board, helping shape the future of the town through major regeneration projects including the £23.5million Towns Fund and £20million Plan for Neighbourhoods.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain leadership experience, influence local decision-making and represent the voice of young people in Smethwick.
Deadline to apply: Tuesday 23 September 👉 Find out more and apply
|
🧑🌾NEW: Autumn on the Farm fully funded visits
In 2024, our Education and Outreach team welcomed 445 groups with over 8,000 participants to Farming Fortnight, one of the farm-themed programmes. The success of Farming Fortnight continues to grow, and we are excited to introduce autumn sessions for schools to apply to our Autumn on the Farm Fully Funded Visits at Forge Mill Farm.
Thank you to Countryside Stewardship Grants, who have funded 2 ½ hour visits to the farm for schools.
Dates:
 Week 1 - Monday 6 to Friday 10 October 2025
Week 2 - Monday 13 to Friday 17 October 2025
Applicable to Primary, Secondary and SEND schools - availability is limited.
High Point Academy wins ‘Secondary School of the Year’ at Education Awards 2025 🏆
Congratulations go to High Point Academy in Wednesbury who have been named ‘Secondary School of the Year’ at the Education Awards 2025 — a fantastic achievement for a specialist setting supporting pupils with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and associated learning difficulties.
Opened in 2021 as part of the Forward Education Trust, the school caters to 90 pupils aged 11–16 and is known for its personalised curriculum, therapeutic interventions and commitment to holistic development.
|
Are you aged 55 or over and living in Sandwell? 💭
We want to hear from you!
We’d like your views on the kind of support that can help people stay healthy, active and independent for longer – and what would make it easier to access this support.
Your answers will help us understand local experiences, identify gaps, and inform the way services are planned and developed.
📝 Have your say by completing our short survey.
📆 The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete. Please share your views by Friday 26 September.
If you need help completing the survey, you can:
Your feedback is really valued – thank you for taking the time to share your views.
|
Songs of Sandwell 🎶
Be part of an exciting project with Birmingham Opera Company and YMCA West Bromwich in Sandwell. Create and tell stories through words and music with artists Sipho Eric Ndlovu and Reisz Amos.
 Learn new writing styles and get your words out!
 Get a chance to perform!
For anyone aged 16 to 25, whether in education or not. Every Tuesday until 28 October from 12.45pm - 2.15pm at YMCA West Bromwich, B70 9LG. All the sessions are FREE!
Be a part of something exciting happening in Sandwell and use your creativity to express yourself! Travel expenses and lunch will be covered by Birmingham Opera Company.
📲 To sign up and for more information email create@birminghamopera.org.uk text Immy on 07399 52330 or DM Birmingham Opera Company on Instagram.
|
NEW: Free online support for unpaid carers in Sandwell 🧑💻
Our new, free online platform can support unpaid carers in Sandwell who look after a family member, friend or loved one with their caring responsibilities and help them to maintain their own wellbeing, too.
For instant advice, personalised support, and self-help information visit Bridgit Care here. You’ll find information on local events, financial support and more.
|
We’re redesigning Sandwell’s SEND Local Offer website – and we need your help! 📢
Are you a parent carer or young person with SEND?
Our SEND local offer is a key online resource for families of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). It provides information about education, health, social care, activities, transport, housing and more. Tell us what works, what doesn’t, and what you’d love to see on the new site.
📝 Survey open until: 28 September. Click here to take part.
Quick and easy to complete, your feedback shapes the future - help us build a better resource for families in Sandwell.
|
 Don't miss free Heritage Open Days at Sandwell Museums 🙌
Join us for this year's national festival of heritage giving FREE access to explore our local history through talks tours, walks, peeps behind the scenes, events and open days
At Sandwell Museums you can enjoy talks, tours, walks, peeps behind the scenes, open days and events.
ℹ️ It is free to explore but some activities need pre-booking.
Find out more about our Heritage Open Days in Sandwell.
See all upcoming events by their location below:
📍 Sandwell Museums📍 Forge Mill Farm 📍 Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre
📍 West Smethwick Park📍 Lightwoods House and Park 📍 Sandwell Libraries
📍 Malthouse Outdoor Activity Centre
🌐 Or view Visit Sandwell for all events across the borough.
Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP)
The new programme is just getting started, and it’s growing and changing as we learn more about what works well for families in Sandwell.
We want to make sure children, young people and families help shape this new way of working. Your ideas and experiences are important to us. This month, we spoke with some young people and a parent who has used family support services. We’re looking for more chances to work together and hear from you.
We launched the Oldbury Families First Pilot on 26 August. This pilot has brought together social workers and family support workers in Oldbury to try new ways of helping families - especially when children need extra support. We’re testing how some of this work can be done by different types of trained professionals.
From Monday 8 September, our partner organisations joined us for a daily Family Allocation Meeting. This is where we talk together about how to make sure families get the right help as early as possible.
|
