Birmingham City Council confirms revised bin collection dates over Christmas and New Year 2026. Residents warned NOT to put blue-lid recycling bins out due to ongoing strike action. Check your new dates here.
A look back at the beloved celebrities and public figures who died in 2025, including music legend Ozzy Osbourne. Read our full tribute to their lasting legacies.
A look at how community action led to the rejection of several HMO applications in Birmingham in 2025, from Handsworth to Erdington. Read the success stories.
DWP urged to rethink Lincoln office closure as PCS union announces two-week strike from January 5th. Union says cost-cutting move 'makes little sense' and will lose vital experience.
King Charles urges the nation to hold fast to the values of courage and community from WWII, highlighting modern heroes and the need for unity in a divisive era. Read his full address.
Amanda O'Neill, known as 'the Christmas dinner lady', is preparing over 100 festive meals for Solihull residents facing hardship. Her initiative, a tribute to a late friend, highlights incredible community spirit.
The Met Office predicts a mostly dry, cold, and bright Christmas Day 2025 for the UK, with a brisk wind and a very low chance of snow. Find out the full festive forecast.
Discover the full list of stars, from Milo Manheim to Avan Jogia, who have reportedly tested for the role of Flynn Rider in Disney's upcoming live-action Tangled movie.
The beloved NORAD Santa Tracker is live for Christmas Eve 2025. Use the interactive tool to follow Father Christmas's global journey, see when he'll reach England, and discover the heartwarming story behind this festive tradition.
A Birmingham pensioner is dreading festive waste as the city's bin strike continues. Lorraine Boyce, 80, has recycling from last Christmas still stored in her home. Read her story and the latest on the industrial action.
Lloyds Bank reveals UK business confidence rose 10 points in 2025, with construction leading the surge. A positive sign for economic growth heading into 2026.
Ray Beaglehole and Nigel Hart from Channel Rotary Club Folkestone have been awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary's highest honour, for their outstanding service. Discover their stories.
A Birmingham community centre is challenging Kingstanding's negative reputation with a packed schedule of free activities, from Tai Chi to a dementia choir, and delivering 100 Christmas dinners to those in need.
Dover and Deal MP Mike Tapp reviews his first full year, highlighting £20m funding, school investments, and restored hospital services. Read his community update.
Amanda O'Neill from Solihull is preparing over 100 festive meals for locals in need this Christmas. Discover how her act of kindness honours a friend's memory.
Virgin Media O2 employees have spread festive cheer by donating over 450 presents to Action for Children centres across the UK through the Giving Trees initiative. Discover how they're making a difference.
Future Birmingham council leaders elected in 2026 will lack full autonomy, bound by a government-imposed action plan to ensure financial stability. Discover the binding roadmap for recovery.
Redrow South Midlands' Community Fund has awarded £2,600 to three Cambridgeshire organisations, supporting youth sports and adult disability services. Discover how the donations are making a difference.
Discover the full list of stars, from Freya Skye to JoJo Siwa, who have tested for the coveted role of Rapunzel in Disney's upcoming live-action Tangled movie.
Birmingham residents face more missed bin collections after protests at a council depot. The city's long-running industrial dispute continues to cause disruption. Read the latest updates.
A stark Nationwide Building Society survey reveals the cost of living crisis is forcing parents to make tough sacrifices this Christmas, with spending gaps widening. Discover the impact and how to help.
A fresh dispute has erupted in Birmingham after agency bin workers were offered a £600 cash incentive to work over New Year, angering striking council staff. Read the full story.
Swansea Community Farm launches a Crowdfunder to upgrade its kitchen and offer free cooking classes. Every public donation is tripled by Swansea Mortgage Advice Bureau, turning £10 into £30. Support mental health and wellbeing in Wales' only city farm.
Solihull Council's cabinet approves £340,000 to finalise designs for the transformative Kingshurst village centre regeneration, including a new community, health, and retail hub. Read the latest.
Persimmon Homes West Midlands has donated £3,000 to Wem and District Rotary Club via its Community Champions scheme. The funds will support local people through events, youth activities, and tackling isolation.
The Labour government begins repealing the Minimum Service Levels Act, calling it 'unworkable'. Unions hail the move as a victory for workers' rights. Read the full update.
Families supported by Action for Children enjoyed a magical evening of light shows, carols, and treats in Sandfields. The Queen Bees group donated selection boxes, and local councillors showed their support.
As 2025 ends, MP Marie Goldman reflects on the irreplaceable human spirit in Chelmsford's charities, from litter-picking to supporting veterans, proving community action beats any algorithm.
Junior doctors in England will stage a five-day strike from December 17th after BMA members overwhelmingly rejected a government offer. The walkout coincides with record flu cases, sparking a patient safety row.
A Lloyds Banking Group volunteer from Wrexham discussed the power of employee volunteering with King Charles at Windsor Castle. The event previewed a major UK volunteering weekend in June 2025.