They will be targeting young people through social media advertising to encourage them to seek help if they are being pressured, or feel that they need to carry a knife.

Key messages for the campaign are as follows :

Messages aimed at young people

• Most young people don’t carry knives, it’s not normal behaviour.
• When you carry a knife, you could risk 4 years in prison, being a victim of crime, your future employment and your ability to travel to other countries.
• Knife crime doesn’t just affect the person who carries the knife, it can also affect your friends and family.
• You may think it keeps you safer but carrying can put you in danger as your own knife could be used on you if things escalate.
• Don’t feel pressured to carry a knife, get support if you need it.

Messages aimed at parents/carers

• Start a conversation and let your young person know that carrying a knife isn’t normal behaviour – 99% of young people don’t carry (national figure from Fearless).
• Support agencies can help you, you’re not being disloyal by getting support if you think your child is carrying a knife/involved in knife crime. Please reach out for support.
• Spot the signs – understand common signs of carrying a knife/involvement with knife crime, and don’t stereotype as any child from any background could be carrying.
• We’re working with partners to tackle knife crime in Staffordshire, using a multiagency approach to tackle this issue.

You can find more details on the campaign website: #DitchTheBlade | Staffordshire Police

The Local Plan sets the planning framework for the district and includes sites for housing and employment, and policies to decide planning applications.  The strategy has been revised following changes by the government to national planning policy in late 2023, and updated evidence.

The consultation runs until midday, Friday, May 31, 2024.

The Publication Plan, FAQs and supporting documents can be viewed at Local Plan Review | South Staffordshire District Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

We are holding a number of in person consultation events and two online Q&A sessions.  Our next in person event is at the Haling Dene Centre in Penkridge on Tuesday, May 7 and you can book a slot by calling 01902 696423.

Our first online Q&A session is scheduled for the following day, Wednesday, May 8th, starting at 6pm.

There is no need to register, anyone can join the meeting, just click on the link under the Consultation Events tab here: Local Plan Review | South Staffordshire District Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

All comments must be made in writing before 12 noon on May 31, 2024.

Are you a husband or partner of a menopausal woman, and you want to understand more about this life change?

Are you curious about the menopause in general and what it means?

Then come along to an empowering and informative Menopause Meet-Up.

Break the taboo and share experiences and tips, and support each other through this phase.

The Menopause Meet-Up is at Bilbrook Village Hall, on every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm.

Thank you to South Staffordshire Council for funding the meetings.

Everyone is welcome ♀️

Community Foundation Staffordshire (CFS) are administering the Grants.

The funds are intended to help organisations in order to:

• Support, sustain and/or build on Supportive Communities outcomes (thematic)
•  Support, sustain and/or build on Better Health Staffordshire outcomes (thematic)
• Initiatives which promote mental health and wellbeing through at least 2 of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing
• Building skills, knowledge, and confidence around self-help or in finding help with mental and emotional wellbeing
• To support costs that are associated with the above outcomes but not limited to: training, equipment, promotional activity, venue hire, staffing or volunteer expenses

We are looking for projects that:

• Enable mental wellbeing and the promotion of healthy lifestyles as the norm
• Prevent ill health & promote self-care to enable individuals to be independent and live in their own homes for as long as possible
• Reduce loneliness and social isolation
• Increase access to affordable healthy, nutritious food
• Increase access to opportunities for people to ‘move more’
• Supporting healthy aging

Grants are available from £3,000 to £25,000.

This programme is for over 18’s and families.

The timetable is as follows:

• 29/04/2024 – Scheme to be launched
• 31/05/2024 – Closing date for applications to be submitted
• wc 24/06/2024 – Successful applicants informed/funds distributed
• 02/09/2024 – 2^nd round of funding to commence

Further details and the application form to the VSCE (Supportive Communities and Better Health Staffordshire) grants can be found here VCSE Grants – Supportive Communities & Better Health

The team attended the Wombourne Parish Council Community Engagement event on Wednesday evening to showcase their funded training opportunities.

On Thursday, the team hosted yet another successful Skills and Jobs Fair, this time in locality one, Penkridge.

Over 200 local students attended and more than 80 members of the public.  Feedback from the 25 employers was very encouraging and attendees rated the event a fantastic score of 4.5 out of 5.

Customer feedback included:

‘Deb from Creating Brighter Futures was very helpful made me feel positive and hopeful had lots of helpful ideas and a fresh perspective’

‘Came for advice on training opportunities and have had some very helpful information’

‘Excellent help and advice’

‘Good variety of employers’

‘Came regarding business startup info not for employment but was given great advice’

‘Helpful staff who gave me some useful information’

‘Keep going, do more’

Michelle Kettles, Welfare and Benefit Team Manger stated ‘we are working with local employers to fill their vacancies, so it was great to see so many people attend the fair’

Councillor Helen Adams stated “Penkridge Parish Council were pleased to host the Skills and Jobs Fair and are delighted that it was such a well supported and successful event”.

To find out where the team will be next, please visit our website www.sstaffs.gov.uk/events or sign up to our welfare services updates https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/alerts

These Walx make every step count! Total Body walking is a unique mix of walking drills, strength and balance exercises with or without total body walking poles. Delivered by our fully qualified WALX Masters who will teach you how to walk well and help you improve how you look and feel with every step, in sessions that are full of fun and variety.

The Walx will take place every Thursday, starting June 13^th from 12pm-1pm.  Everyone is welcome – meet at Codsall Community Hub reception (Please wear suitable trainers for flexibility – not walking boots). The Walx are free to attend and Walx poles will be provided however there will be limited places.

For more info and to book your place contact Lisa at  lisaembrey@hotmail.com or call 0777 332 6373.

For more information email footballdevelopment@wolves.co.uk  or to make a booking, click here

Wolves Soccer Schools will also be running during May half-term providing 2-day sessions for children in reception to year 7. For full details and to book click here.

Non-members can sign up at their nearest leisure centre at a nominal cost of just £5 for an adult and £2.50 per child with savings then available for an entire year.

For full details, click here.

Young people can also use the gyms at any time when accompanied by a participating parent/guardian.

To find out more about the Active Youth gym sessions and other services available for children and young people including training courses, and membership packages for students and apprentices, click here.

Dates: May 28th to May 31st

Aspire Active Camps will be offering children’s sports-based activities for young people aged 5-14 year olds.

Bookings are already being taken – book before May, 10th for the best possible price.

To find out more, view activity timetables and book, click on the following links:

Wombourne active camps – https://www.aaeg.co.uk/active-camps-wombourne

Codsall active camps – https://www.aaeg.co.uk/active-camps-codsall

The webinars are provided by Wellbeing People and start on 16th May.

Every year, 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem.

To help prioritise mental wellbeing in the workplace, register your place for our first free webinar.

Resilience and Mental Fitness:

Date: Thursday, May 16th ⏰ Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Zoom)

Register now and download the poster.

Let’s create a mentally healthy workplace together! 🌿

As part of Green Libraries Week, the Sustrans team will be visiting several libraries to engage with residents who live in each of the areas and encourage them to take part in the survey.

The data collected will help the Active Travel team to understand what improvements are needed for each area to benefit local residents and feed into the Local Transport Plan.

The link to the survey is as follows:

Have your say on walking in your community | Let’s Talk Staffordshire

The survey will close on May 31^st.