Sat, 21 Jun 2025

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 Group stepping in where 'everyone is struggling'

The BBC visits a community centre in one of Wolverhampton's most deprived areas.

* The Big Venture Centre in Wolverhampton provides discounted items and support to people living in deprived areas, including Bushbury, Heath Town, and Low Hill.
* Volunteer Jane Platt says she feels safe at the centre but not in the surrounding area, where everyone is struggling, including herself.
* Resident Tracey Walters claims the area has been forgotten by the council and demands more activities for younger children and better rubbish collection.
* The council disputes this claim, pointing to £121,000 funding for children's activities during school holidays and regular litter picks.
* Another centre user says the area is scruffy and plagued by drug-related anti-social behaviour due to a lack of things for young people to do.
* Volunteer director David Chadwick insists that the Scotlands is a community where "everybody will help everybody".
* The council claims it is working with police and other organisations to make the area safe and says it has invested millions in regeneration grants.
  >>