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:
- Long term – providing certainty and continuity, over 10-15 years.
- Resident-led – working directly with individuals living, working, studying and playing in areas rather than through organisations; building confidence and capacity amongst those wanting to make a difference to their community and their local area.
- Non-prescriptive – enabling residents to spend on their own terms and in their own time, on the projects they judge to be most important to them.
- Patient and non-judgemental – giving communities the time and opportunity to learn, make mistakes, resolve disagreements and overcome challenges for themselves, on their way to achieving their ambitions.
- Accompanied by flexible and responsive support – to help communities to build the confidence and capability to make the most of the opportunities available to them, whilst not constraining their own ambition and initiative.
One Walsall has worked with 2 Big Local programmes in Walsall.
Feel healthier and happier with
Talking Therapies Plus
Walsall Talking Therapies Plus is a free and confidential service for individuals 18 and older who are registered with a local GP.
We provide support for mental health challenges like anxiety, stress, and depression. Our therapists are kind and understanding, and they never judge you.
We help you in the way that works best for you either by phone, video, email and face-to-face in a community location you are comfortable with. You are able to choose which area of the Black Country you receive treatment in.
Our Talking Therapies Plus service aims to support underserved communities across the Black Country. Underserved communities may include: Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups; refugees and migrants; LGBTQ+ people; older adults; deaf and hearing impaired people; and men.
We do this by taking a flexible, creative and culturally appropriate approach to delivering Talking Therapies, for example, providing access to therapists with a range of language skills and matching service users to therapists with the same background.
Tell us what you're going through – we're here to help you feel better.
What support will I get?
- Access to therapists with a range of language skills for group or one-to-one counselling (languages include Ukrainian, Russian, Patois, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali etc.)
- Guided self-help to help with anxiety and low mood
- Bereavement support
- Domestic abuse support.
- Peer support for young men
- Support in the outdoors and local neighbourhood centres
- Online tools so you can access therapy digitally, anytime
- Personalised employment support to enable you to remain in work, find work or return to work
- Access to courses at The Recovery College
- Additional support such as: digital training and equipment; trusted advocacy; pre-counselling preparation and other appropriate community support
How to get our help
Step 1: Reach out
Contact us through our website or by phone. We are available to listen and understand what you're going through from Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm & Friday 9am to 4.30pm.
You can also ask your GP to refer you.
Step 2: An initial chat
We'll quickly find out if our services are right for you with an initial phone call. During this call, we'll plan how we can best help you feel better.
Step 3: Begin your therapy
After the assessment, we'll suggest the best therapies for you and aim to start quickly, always keeping in mind what works best for you. We can also advise on help you can access while you are waiting for your therapy.
We are working with the following community organisations:
- Aiana Community Hub
- Aspire 4 U
- EWA
- Mettaminds
- The Mindkind project
- Restoration Therapy
- WPH counselling
Get in touch today!
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.