From making your home more energy efficient to help with your wellbeing, you can drop into Kidderminster Library on Thursday 16 February to see what support is available for you. Our financial inclusion team will be there offering welfare and financial advice. You will also be able to get help with things like finding work, or setting up a business, improving your digital skills and information on support available for parents, carers and families.The libraries in Worcestershire are hosting fairs throughout the month.
If you receive government benefits, you could be eligible for low-cost broadband and phone packages called Social Tariffs. For some, accessing this could mean a saving of around £180 a year.
Lots of working families don’t realise they can access government support for childcare costs, including a 20% top up on breakfast clubs, nurseries, after-
Being a councillor is all about giving back to your community, getting stuck in and making a real difference to local people and to wider society. They help shape local services, representing the views and needs of residents to make sure the community is heard.
In May there are elections for Wyre Forest District Council and all the district’s town and parish councils (apart from Kidderminster Town Council). If you are thinking about being a councillor you will find everything you need to know to make your decision on the Be a councillor website.
The Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. You may already have an acceptable form of photo ID like a passport, driving licence or blue badge. If you don’t you can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. There is more information about the forms of ID you can use and how to apply for a VAC on the Electoral Commission’s website.
Regeneration work continues Worcester Street, Kidderminster
Site work is progressing well on Worcester Street, Kidderminster to prepare for the regeneration of this area of town.
Locally based Industry specialists DSM are appointed by NWedR on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council to carry out the work in empty shops which is expected to be complete in Spring 2023.
Looking to install solar panels? You could benefit from joining Solar Together Worcestershire. It’s an innovative new scheme offering solar panels and battery storage. It is a group buying scheme available to Worcestershire households, SME businesses and community groups. Through group buying they promise competitive price, high-quality products and installations and an easy process. It is free to register and there is no obligation to take up the offer.
Collections are restarting at the end of this month for our garden waste customers. The first collections will be from Monday 27 February. The garden waste collection service provides a convenient way of getting rid of your garden waste. We pick it up from your doorstep, saving you time, money and helping the environment. All garden waste is composted into soil conditioner. More details and information on how to sign up is on our website.
Each Wednesday we send out a job bulletin featuring all our latest vacancies. It’s easy to subscribe to this and all our other newsletters by visiting the subscribe page on our website.
The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III is taking place on Saturday 6 May. There are many ways to join in the celebrations. Communities are being encouraged to take part in a Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May and The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May. If you are thinking about holding a street party and road closures are required please submit your applications as soon as possible. Community groups can apply to the National Lottery Awards for All programme for funding. We are hoping to be offer grants locally too. This is subject to confirmation at the full council meeting on Wednesday 22 February. All the details will be available on our Coronation webpage.
Have you been a patient with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in the last year? The Trust has launched a short survey as part of “The Big Quality Conversation”. It is to find out the views of the community and to learn about how safe people feel in their hospitals and views on the services the Trust provides. Survey closes Sunday 5 March.
The gift shop and the Shambles walkthrough into the gardens reopened today. They are open daily from 10am – 4.30pm. The Garden Kitchen café will be welcoming customers again from Monday 20 February and the museum site will fully reopen on Saturday 4 March.
The museum is holding crochet classes starting tomorrow evening (Tuesday 7 February, 6.30pm). The course runs for 4 weeks and costs £60. Sessions are two hours.
Bring the children along to the museum during the February half term for a chance to join in our craft activities. There is a different activity for each day. The sessions are running between 10.30am and 2.30pm and cost £6 per child per activitiy. All children must be supervised by a parent or carer.
