Project
One Walsall believes in the power of partnership. We work hand-in-hand with community organisations, businesses, and local government to develop and implement projects that create lasting change.
Active Black Country is the Active Partnership for the Black Country region providing the strategic leadership for sport and physical activity across the areas of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Active Black Country believes that being active has the power to improve people’s lives, that it is everyone’s right to be active and play sport and that everyone in the Black Country has equal access to the benefits of a more active, healthy life. For more general information about Active Black Country contact via their website here.
Between 2020 and 2024, One Walsall was the host of an Active Lifestyle Community Connector who covered 3 areas of Walsall – Birchills/Leamore, St Matthews and Willenhall South.
One Walsall has supported Big Local Trust programmes for a number of years.
Local Trust is a place-based National Lottery fund initiative, supporting communities to achieve their ambitions. The Big Local was established with a number of core key features that make it different from other programmes. It is:
One Walsall has worked with 2 Big Local programmes in Walsall.
Project Overview
Between October 2025 and March 2026, Talking Therapies Plus delivered a dedicated programme of mental health and wellbeing support across Walsall and the wider Black Country.
The project was designed to improve access to mental health support for people aged 18 and over, with a particular focus on communities that may experience barriers to accessing traditional mental health services. This included Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, refugees and migrants, LGBTQ+ people, older adults, deaf and hearing-impaired people, and men.
The project took a flexible, inclusive and culturally appropriate approach, offering a range of ways for people to access support, including face-to-face sessions in community settings, telephone, video and email.
Community organisations involved
The project was delivered in partnership with a range of local community organisations, helping to ensure support was accessible and responsive to the needs of different communities. These included:
Support provided
Support available through the project included:
The project aimed to make mental health support more accessible, responsive and relevant to the needs of local communities, helping people to feel healthier, happier and better supported.
The project has now concluded. Findings and learning from the project will be shared on this page.
Creative Black Country have collaborated with One Walsall as part of their Walsall Makes programme. Through this collaboration we have made Small Community Cultural Grants of £1k to £5k to support brand new community cultural and creative activity in Walsall Borough.
This project is managed by Creative Black Country.
Here are the successful projects:
Kuzivana by Afrikan Fusion
The activities will take place over 6 weeks through weekly interactive performances and hands-on workshops which will involve sharing and raising awareness of lived experiences. The activities which will be in the form of hands-on workshops culminating in live performances. These will showcase authentic traditional instruments and songs in different languages. The purpose of music and the arts is to allow an atmosphere that is conducive to these free-flowing conversations, interactions and connections. Through the ubiquity of music, common aspects are covered and explored.
From Concept to Creation by Black Diamond Creations
A 10-week Prosthetics and SFX Workshop for the Drama and media students from Walsall College will culminate in a Community Production that showcases the skills participants have learned
Walsall Wonderland by Bostin Creatives
Day of free festivities and activities for the whole family at the Walsall Hub including Drop in Crafts, Christmas card Corner, Live music, Festive storytelling and games and Christmas performance
The Hidden hands of Walsall by Tereza Buskova
The project will engage with a group of women from diverse and often migrant backgrounds living in Walsall who regularly meet at Simple Steps CIC and Aaina Community Hub but do not regularly engage in arts and culture currently. During a series of workshops and using a variety of creative techniques they will design headdress that reflect their experiences / culture. These will be worn in a procession through Walsall.
Butts Lantern Festival by Walsall Creative Factory
This project will develop and deliver a lantern trail representing local history and local diversity in our local area. 6 drop in Sunday workshops to create individual and giant feature lanterns for a Lantern Festival trail around The Butts on Sunday 8th December.
Winter Warmer Climate café, Creativity for Wellbeing by Wild Earth Movement Lisa Loves Crafts
This will promote skill sharing and creativity with a sustainable ethos led by Hannah (using sewing machines). A collaborative workshop led by Lisa and Hannah that mixes both of our skills and ethos. A Further 3 creativity for wellbeing sessions led by Lisa with a focus on connecting with others, storytelling, sharing skills and heritage around re-using/re-purposing fabric.
For further updates and dates on the project head over to the Walsall Cultural Compact website.
Since 2024, One Walsall has supported physiotherapy students from the University of Wolverhampton by providing opportunities to engage with local communities and gain valuable experience beyond the clinical setting.
Through community connections, insight into the voluntary and community sector, and opportunities to understand the wider factors that influence people’s health and wellbeing, One Walsall has helped students develop their knowledge, confidence and understanding of community-based practice.
Projects and opportunities supported through this partnership
Here we will showcase the work undertaken by students and the impact of their engagement with communities across Walsall.
One Walsall works closely with a range of partners at local and regional level.