Latest news with #WalsallCollege
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Walsall Council displays sculpture made from seized vape boxes
An art sculpture made of empty boxes from approximately 4,000 seized illicit vapes is on display to the public in an attempt to spotlight the potential harms of sculpture, which is a large-scale model of a pair of lungs and a heart, will be on display at Walsall Council House this artwork was part of a collaborative project between Walsall College and Walsall Council's Trading Standards and Public Health Council said the aim was to raise awareness of the harm associated with vaping, especially to young people, and stressed the issues of vaping illicit products. The 4,000 vape boxes which comprise the lungs had been seized by the council's Trading Standards and provided to the college to create the artwork last statue was officially unveiled at Walsall College in June 2024, and over the last six months has been on display in secondary schools across the Walsall borough to support ongoing health and wellbeing Council House will now host the sculpture until September, and people can visit the artwork and also find out more about the smoking support on offer from services, including Be Well Walsall and the Quit with Bella app. Councillor Gary Flint said: "We're delighted to host this powerful sculpture at the Walsall Council House. "It serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by illicit vapes, which often contain unknown substances and exceed legal puff limits, making them harmful to people of all ages, including adults."The project is a great example of how art, education and public health can come together to protect our communities."Councillor Adam Hicken added: "This sculpture is a striking visual reminder of the scale of the problem we're tackling. "These products are not only harmful but often linked to wider criminal activity." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wolverhampton Art Gallery volunteers praise confidence boost from scheme
An art gallery is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its volunteer scheme which has seen people give thousands of hours towards supporting the city's cultural at Wolverhampton Art Gallery said the initiative had welcomed them from all walks of life – with 48 regular volunteers who have given a combined total of almost 13,000 hours of their time over the past year."I think it gives me more confidence and has helped show me I am more capable than I believed," one of the volunteers, John, duties include welcoming visitors and helping with workshops and events, with their ages ranging from 18 to 81. John added that being part of the programme helped him get out of his house and to stay active."I work with nice people and have made some new friends," he are asked to volunteer a minimum of four hours per week and are given training. Another, Kieran, first started helping at the gallery during a work placement organised by Walsall College and he remained afterwards."Helping out with craft club and showing new volunteers around gives me the confidence to have a go at things and learn new skills that I never knew were there," he said."They help bring our exhibitions and events to life by creating a welcoming environment for visitors and sharing in the stories behind the art," said councillor Chris Burden, from the City of Wolverhampton who are interested in volunteering can find out more by visiting the art gallery's website or visiting on 7 June between 11:00-15:00 BST. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
