On Saturday June 12th the staff at Abbeyfield House in Wednesfield are opening their doors so that the local community can have a look around at the house and see the type of accommodation that is available for people over 55.

The event takes place at Abbeyfield House, Duke Street, Wednesfield,WV11 1TG from 10:30am to 3:30pm and you are invited to call in and speak to the house manager and enjoy free refreshments!

Staff are also looking for people to train as volunteers to work within the organisation – so please speak to somebody on Saturday if you are interested in volunteering.

The £400 million Decent Homes programme won the National Housing Maintenance Forum’s ‘Best at Meeting Residents’ Needs’ award.

The judges praised the time, energy and effort Wolverhampton Homes had put in to reduce disruption for residents, particularly when considered with the scale of the project.

(L-R) Shaun Mulloy, Maintenance Manager, Shaun Aldis, Director of Property Services, and Mick Guy, Maintenance Manager, collecting the Decent Homes National Housing Maintenance Forum award for Wolverhampton Homes.

Director of Property Services, Shaun Aldis said: “This award for Wolverhampton Homes’ Decent Homes programme is a result of a combined effort by our residents, partners and staff.

“I was proud to accept this award and we will continue to work hard to give all our tenants and leaseholders the standard of home they should expect.”

Wolverhampton Homes is in the midst of the programme which involved bringing 23,500 properties up to a Government standard by fitting new kitchens, bathrooms and insulation.

Currently 600 homes are renovated at a cost of £1.25 million each week.

The decent homes programme will conclude in 2012. Currently the programme is nearing the end of its second year which will mean 10,500 homes have been completed.

newspaper kitty by brit.

Click below for a round-up of this week’s local news headlines…

Mother is jailed for copper boiler theft
Express & Star – 28th October 2009

A mother-of-two has been jailed for 18 weeks after ripping a copper boiler and pipes out of the Ashmore Park flat she was facing eviction from.

Please let me stay, says 106-year-old resident of threatened Midland care home
Birmingham Post – 29th October 2009

At the age of 106, Wednesfield born Louisa Watts is the UK’s fourth oldest woman and faces being evicted from the Midland care home she knows and loves because of a cuts package drawn up by the local authority.

Gang rape suspect stands trial
Express & Star – 29th October 2009

A man accused of taking part in the gang rape of a teenage girl in the grounds of the Jennie Lee Centre in Wednesfield has gone on trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Missing Willenhall teenager – Police appeal
The Yam Yam – 30th October 2009

Concerns are growing for a missing teenager from Willenhall, who hasn’t been seen since Monday. Gemma Parsons, aged 18, was last seen by her boyfriend at an address on Walsall Street at around 9pm on Monday 26 October.

Penalty miss costs Ledbury (Wednesfield FC match report)
Hereford Times – 30th October 2009

SCOTT Roberts missed a second-half penalty for Ledbury in this scrappy West Midlands League Premier Division match. Wednesfield’s goalkeeper was sent off for bringing down Anton Thompson and then, after a delay, the stand-in stopper saved Roberts’ spot-kick.

Black Country man jailed for robbing two vicarages and churches
Birmingham Mail – October 31st 2009

A Black Country man who repaid the generosity of two Church of England priests by robbing them has been jailed for 21 months. Christopher Phillips, 28, had been given food and support by the vicars before raiding their vicarages and churches in Wednesfield and Wolverhampton.

Battling Brummie packs power punch
Express & Star – 31st October 2009

Wednesfield Bomber Steve Saville discovered size matters in Liverpool. Saville, the Midlands Area lightweight champion from Wolverhampton, jumped up two weight divisions last night to face red-hot prospect Frankie Gavin.

Here’s something you don’t hear very often – council tenants will soon be notified of a decrease in their council rent!

According to the recent Wolverhampton Homes ‘tenants update’ newsletter, the UK government announced in March this year that the national average guideline for rent increases for 2009/10 would be halved from 6.25% to 3.18%.

This reduction affects everyone who was a council tenant on or after 6th April 2009, and Wolverhampton Homes tenants will receive letters informing them of their new rent in the next few weeks.