Bikeability is described as the 21st Century Cycling Profciency course and is designed to give young people confdence in cycling on the roads.

Wolverhampton City Council’s Community Development organise courses for 8 – 16 year olds at Aldersley School in conjunction with the Road Safety Team during school holidays and are now taking bookings for April and June.

To get the Bikeability award, young people will be instructed on how to ride their bikes to the Government approved National Standard for Cycle Training, which sets out the training and skills essential for making cycling trips in today’s road conditions.

Those taking part will receive a certifcate for each award gained and a FREE gift.

Bikes and helmets can be provided for courses subject to availability and storage space.

For more information and to book, phone 01902 556220 or visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/bikeability.

Photo: Andreas Kambanis

Calling all Strictly fans! Are you the next Alisha Dixon or Harry Judd?

There’s a new ‘Learn to Dance Ballroom and Latin’ class in Wednesfield at Perry Hall Primary School on Coleman Avenue.

There’s no fuss, no hassle, no pressure just great fun and exercise! As a couple activity it’s ideal to bring a friend or partner along too!

Come and see us every Wednesday at Perry Hall Primary School, Coleman Avenue, Wednesfield.

Beginners 8:30pm – 9:30pm
Improvers 7:30pm – 8:30pm

£2.50 per person

For more information contact Bill Gilruth on 01902 607845, email billgilruth@aol.com or follow @BillGilruth on Twitter (Qualified IDTA Dance Instructor)

Photo: BBC / Strictly Come Dancing

Whilst you may have heard this morning that the 2012 Olympic Torch will be visiting Dudley, won’t you probably won’t have heard is that the torch will also be coming to Wolverhampton!

Wolverhampton will play host to the Torch as it makes it’s way to London for the 2012 Olympic Games next summer.

Torch in Wolverhampton 30th June, 2012

The city has been chosen to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay route on the afternoon of Saturday June 30, 2012, giving Wolverhampton residents the opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame to the region.

It is hoped that people will line the streets of the city and take part in a series of special events which will be held as the Torchbearers carry the Olympic flame through Wolverhampton.

Street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year (here’s hoping Wednesfield will be on the route!), but it has been confirmed that the torch will visit the city on its way through the Black Country.

Wolverhampton is one of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced today (Monday November 7, 2011) by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by 8,000 Torchbearers.

Fitting tribute to sporty Wulfrunians

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “Over the years Wolverhampton has produced many sportsmen and women who have represented the city on the national and international stage, and it is fitting tribute to them, and to Wolverhampton, that the Olympic Torch will be coming to the city next year.

“Although the 2012 Olympics is based in London, it will truly be a national event for everyone in the country to celebrate, and it’s great that Wolverhampton will be playing its part, not only on the sporting field but also by hosting a wide variety of events and activities during the Games and, of course, welcoming the Olympic Torch procession to the city.”

He added: “We hope as many people as possible will be able to join in the events which we will be staging around the city on June 30th.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Wolverhampton will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame and to extend an invitation to people in the area to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.

“This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Wolverhampton to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.”

David Moorcroft, West Midlands for 2012 Chair, added: “What fantastic news for the residents of Wolverhampton that they will have their opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame on June 30.

“We encourage communities to start thinking now about how they will celebrate as the Olympic Torch Relay, a once in a lifetime experience for many of us, signals the approach of the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End on May 19, 2012, and travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK before arriving at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012, for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Check out an interactive map of the route at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap.

Source: Wolverhampton City Council

Police grant helps support local football club

Cash from a police fund has been donated to a grassroots football club in Wednesfield.

Wednesfield Junior FC applied to the West Midlands Police Property Act Fund for cash to help with the upkeep of the club.

The application was successful and they have received £750.

The PPA Fund is made up of monies received by the police from property confiscated by order of court and then sold.

Ron Brown, from Wednesfield FC, said: “It’s so hard to get funding so this cash will make a real difference.

Sergeant Simon Causer, from Wednesfield police station, said: “It’s always nice to be able to take seized cash and put it back into local good causes.

“Ron clearly does a fantastic job for the community and it’s a pleasure to hand over this cheque today.”

Wednesfield North Police Team and Fatty’s Bait & Tackle shop are holding a fishing competition to mark National Fishing Month this August.

The event which takes place from 10am – 2pm on August 5th will offer over £100 in prizes.

Where? Casltebridge to Broad Lane South canal, meeting at the canal side for 9:15am for drawing of pegs and time to set up.

How? Bait will be provided free of charge by Fatty’s Fishing Tackle and a rod licence will be provided for the day by British Waterways.

What? You will need: rod, reel keep net, landing net and any other tackle.

First prize: £50 tackle voucher for Fatty’s
Second place: 8ft pole
Third place: £30 Fatty’s tackle voucher

Registration is required by no later than Wednesday 27 July, click here to download an entry form which you can print off.

All forms to be returned to Fatty’s Tackle shop, Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park (bottom shops). You will be notified by phone by 3 August if you have been chosen to take part.

Wednesfield Taekwondo Club has recently moved to a new location.

To find out more about the club, read our previous article – class times and the new location are as follows:

The Club trains on Monday evenings at:

Long Knowle Primary School
Blackwood Avenue
Wednesfield
WV11 1EB

Beginners 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Intermediates/Seniors 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Thursday evenings at:

Edward the Elder Primary School
Moathouse Lane East
Wednesfield
WV11 3DB

Beginners 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Intermediate/Seniors 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Sparring 8.00pm – 9.00pm

Footage from Wednesfield Girls FC under 15′s excellent recent win over academy team Coventry City.

Wednesfield Girls play their home games at the ‘back’ of Wednesfield Football Club in Amos Lane.

Please come along & support the girls in the CW Premier League where they are holding their own against much more established teams!

Match report by Richie Garner.

A Judo club in Wednesfield have been given a great start to 2011 after being awarded a cheque from a West Midlands Police Fund.

Wolverhampton Judo Club in Duke Street, Wednesfield were handed a cheque for £1,500 after their application to the Police Property Fund Act was successful.

The Police Property Act Fund is made up from funds that have been raised through the sale of property that has been in police possession for over 12 months, where the owner cannot be found. Recipient organisations are usually local charities and community groups.

The cheque was presented by Chief Inspector Joanne Chilton from Wolverhampton Police on Tuesday 4 January.

The money has been put towards installing a new heating system after the previous system broke down.

Mac Abbotts, chair of Wolverhampton Judo club, said: “When I heard that we had been awarded the money I thought it was brilliant news because it meant that we could get the heating system installed straight away.

“Last winter was horrendous and we actually started losing members because the building was so cold.

“My wife does the cleaning at the club and she normally has to wear a hat and gloves, when she did it today she was sweating!”

Chief Inspector Joanne Chilton, said: “I am delighted to present this cheque on behalf of West Midlands Police. This money will help Wolverhampton Judo Club continue the good work they are doing in engaging local people in sport by providing a safe and warm environment for them to train in.”

Picture: Chief Inspector Joanne Chilton from Wolverhampton Police presents Mac Abbotts, chair of Wolverhampton Judo club, with funds to improve the heating at their training facilities.

Source: West Midlands Police

*Unfortunately this event has been cancelled at the last minute due to pitch conditions :-(

Pudsey Bear will be undertaking referee duties at a football tournament on Friday, in an event organised by the Wolverhampton Homes Partnership to raise much-needed cash for Children in Need.

The event, which will kick off at 5pm at Wednesfield Social Club in Amos Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, involves four teams from the partnership including community regeneration specialist Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) West Midlands, Thomas Vale Construction, Bullock Construction and Wolverhampton Homes.

Bullock has volunteered its Regional Director Richard Baker to referee the matches. The teams will also be wearing a Pudsey Bear eye patch to make it more interesting.

Money will be raised through the sale of football programmes at £2 each and sub-contractors and suppliers have been encouraged to donate £50 in return for having their business cards included in the programme.

Shaun Aldis, Director of Property Services for Wolverhampton Homes, said: “We want as many people as possible to come down and support the event on the day.

“We’re always looking for new ways of raising money for charity and we thought the football tournament was a fantastic idea. I’m sure it will be played in great spirit, and there will be plenty of entertainment available for anyone who wants to come down and watch on the day. I would like to thank the partners for organising the event.”

The tournament will boast four games lasting 40 minutes each including a match between FHM and Wolverhampton Homes, Thomas Vale and Bullock. Participants can also make use of a bar set up throughout the day where food is available.

For more information about sponsoring the event, or to make a donation to Children in Need, please call Gemma Edwards on 01675 461 661, Jon Rodway on 01902 867 950 or Sammy Sidhu on 01299 827 770.

Wednesfield Aces are looking for new members to join their well-established cycling club.

The club, which enters it’s 49th season in 2011 are looking for both riders and volunteers as increased development within the organisation has seen a growth in the number of activities taking place.

“The club are specifically targeting former riders as volunteers” said Chief Executive Paul Bodley, “But we are more than happy to introduce Cycle Speedway to newcomers as well.”

If you would like to get involved with the Wednesfield Aces, please contact Roger Ellis on 01902 562600 for further information.