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£1.5 million fund launches to support communities and businesses
 £1.5 million of new funding has become available across South Staffordshire to support projects that improve local areas, strengthen communities, and help businesses thrive across South Staffordshire.
The Community Groups and Local Initiatives Fund offers grants of between £1,000 and £10,000. This fund is designed to support community‑led projects that respond to local need. Eligible projects include local events, clean‑up campaigns, educational activities, sustainability projects and volunteer training.
Meanwhile, the Business Investment Fund supports South Staffordshire businesses with practical help to start, grow and succeed. It funds projects that meet local needs, boost economic growth and strengthen the district’s economy, while supporting entrepreneurs, expanding businesses and revitalising village centres. Grants are available from £1,000 to £7,000.
You can find out more at: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/community-and-business-investment-fund
Garden Waste Subscription 2026/27 now open – don’t miss the deadline
With just over one week to go until the new garden waste subscription year begins, residents are urged to renew their subscription now to ensure collections continue without interruption. To guarantee your bin is emptied from Monday, 29th June, 2026, renewals must be completed by Monday, 22nd June, 2026. Visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/gardenwaste or use the My South Staffs app to renew today.
Subscriptions can be completed online or via the My South Staffs app.
- The price of a permit is £49.00.
- Garden waste collections will now run all year round, with no winter break
- From the end of June onwards, you will receive a letter through your letterbox with your permit sticker enclosed. It is your responsibility to ensure your sticker is placed on your bin(s). If you have not received your sticker before your first garden waste collection, rest assured the crew will know if you have subscribed and will empty your bin.
Full terms and conditions are available at www.sstaffs.gov.uk/gardenwaste.
Subscribe today to make sure your collections continue without disruption.
 Helping Our Communities Stay Safe Around Water
As the weather warms up and more people head to the water, South Staffordshire leisure centres have been proudly supporting RLSS Drowning Prevention Week to help keep our communities safe.
We’re continuing to promote the Water Safety Code, a simple but vital set of messages designed to reduce the risk of accidents in and around water - whether at the pool, beach, canal or open water.
The Water Safety Code:
- Stop and think – Take a moment to look for potential dangers
- Stay together – Always go with others and avoid swimming alone
- Float – If you fall in, float on your back to help stay calm and conserve energy
- Call for help – In an emergency, dial 999
Accidents around water can happen quickly and unexpectedly, but having the right knowledge can make all the difference.
By encouraging people to take a moment to assess their surroundings, stay with others, and understand what to do if they get into difficulty, the Water Safety Code provides simple steps that could ultimately save lives.
Stay Safe This Summer
We’re encouraging all customers and residents to stay informed, stay vigilant, and enjoy the water responsibly this summer.
You can find out more at: https://www.rlss.org.uk/listing/category/the-water-safety-code
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Take a Break from Revision and Recharge at Your Local Leisure Centre
 With exam season in full swing, many young people are spending long hours revising and preparing for assessments. While studying is important, taking regular breaks to focus on mental and physical wellbeing can make a real difference to concentration, stress levels and overall performance.
Getting active is one of the most effective ways to reset the mind. Whether it’s a quick workout, a swim or a group exercise class, physical activity can help reduce stress, boost mood and improve focus - helping students return to revision feeling refreshed and ready to go again.
Activities for Young People
Our leisure centres offer a wide range of activities for young people aged 14+, making it easy to find something that fits around revision schedules, including:
Gym access with specialised student memberships
- A variety of exercise classes, from high-energy sessions like HIIT, indoor cycling and circuits, to more relaxing options such as yoga
- Daily public swimming sessions
- Indoor cycling classes for a fast-paced workout
Students don’t need to commit to a membership to get started either. Flexible pay-as-you-go options are available, along with discounted access through supervised Active Youth sessions in the gyms.
Young people under 16 can access the gym during supervised sessions.
Alternatively, they can attend at any time when accompanied by a participating adult aged 18+
Time to Reset and Recharge
Taking time away from revision isn’t a distraction, it’s an important part of staying healthy, motivated and productive. Whether it’s letting off steam with a workout or unwinding in the pool, there’s something for everyone at your local leisure centre.
👉 Students and families can find out more by visiting your local centre or exploring the leisure services pages online.
West Midlands Interchange:
Road closure at Vicarage Road
 The programme has been constructing an access roundabout into the site on Vicarage Road and we’re now ready to connect the existing carriageway to the new roundabout. This will include resurfacing and installation of white lining.
To ensure the safety of residents and our workforce, Vicarage Road will be closed overnight on the following dates:
• Friday 3rd July from 8pm to 6am Saturday 4th July
• Saturday 4th July from 8pm to 6am Sunday 5th July
• Sunday 5th July from 8pm to 6am Monday 6th July
If unforeseen circumstances or weather conditions prevent completion of the works during these dates, the closures will take place the following weekend instead, on Friday 10th July, Saturday 11th July, and Sunday 12th July, during the same overnight hours.
A fully signed diversion route will be in place during the closures. Access to properties will be maintained at all times.
HSE guidance on running an event safely
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding organisers to protect event workers and the public by using their event safety webpages.
Whether you’re organising a small gathering or large-scale event, HSE guidance provides practical advice to help you meet your health and safety obligations.
HSE’s guidance helps to plan, manage and monitor events effectively with three key sections:
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Help shape the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
📆LNRS drop-in sessions
Landowners, farmers and residents are invited to share ideas and help shape the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Come along to a drop-in session to learn more, explore the maps and speak directly with the team.
📍 Wheaton Aston Village Hall - session led by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Friday 26 June | 10.30–11.30am or 2.00–3.00pm
No need to book – just drop in.
Find out more at: https://staffsandstokelnrs.co.uk/
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Perton Cuppa Club
Perton Cuppa Club meet on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 1-3pm at The Church Perton, WV6 7QH.
Everyone is welcome to join for tea, coffe & cake to support your wellbeing by meeting new people, enjoying crafts and trips out including the upcoming trip to Llandudno and the canal trips, as well as opportunities to engage with guest speakers.
For more information please contact Jean Woodhouse at 07415 973819 or pop along to the church on the first Tuesday of the month.
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Meningitis (MenB) vaccination programme for young people is announced
 The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and devolved nations announced that thousands of young people will get protection against meningococcal B disease (MenB) through a one-off vaccination programme launching ahead of the 2026 academic year.
The one-off vaccination programme will be offered to:
• Everyone in England and Wales born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008 (current school year 13) or equivalent final year of school age (Year 14 or S6) in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Everyone turning 25 after 31/12/2026 who will be starting higher education for the first time, or who will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time, in autumn 2026. This includes international students and students in the UK Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies.
• International students under 25 entering their first year of university should receive their first dose in their home country where possible.
Eligible people will need two doses for protection, with the first being offered from July and the second dose provided from August.
The national booking system is set to go live on 13th July in England.
Staffordshire County Council introduces a new £8 million Crisis and Resilience Fund to help people across Staffordshire
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Money from the fund will support people with the rising cost of living and help people facing emergency money problems. We will use the fund to:
✅ Provide crisis payments for essentials like food, gas, electricity and water
✅ Help people with budgeting and managing money using simple tools and advice
✅ Give debt advice to reduce stress, lower debt, and improve money confidence
Crisis payments will go to people who need urgent help. If you’re already being supported by a professional, you can ask them to apply for you. If you think you may be eligible but are not currently being supported, you can still ask for help.
There’s also support to help people become more financially stable and more confident managing their money.
For more information about the Crisis and Resilience Fund, click here:
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/community-support-and-safety/crisis-and-resilience-fund
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Have a fun, active summer with the HAF programme
This summer, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back across Staffordshire, offering children and young people the chance to take part in a wide range of free activities, along with a healthy meal.
Running from Monday 20th July to Monday 31st August 2026, the programme is open to children aged 5 to 16 who receive benefit-related free school meals. Eligible children can book up to 16 free sessions over the summer holidays, giving them plenty of opportunities to stay active, try something new and meet new friends.
Activities take place at venues across the county and include everything from sports and creative sessions to outdoor adventures. Any activity lasting over two hours will also include a free meal, providing extra support for families during the school holidays.
There is also a dedicated offer for young people aged 11 to 16, combining fun activities with opportunities to build skills and confidence, such as sports coaching and personal development sessions.
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