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<\/p>\nLife is getting better\u202ffor hundreds of residents living\u202fin a close-knit\u202fcommunity\u202fin Tipton thanks to help they are getting to\u202fcut\u202fthe cost of living\u202fand\u202fimprove their job skills and overall health.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, visited the Park Lane Estate to see the positive impact a \u00a3500,000 investment\u202fby\u202fthe West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)\u202fis having on the lives of residents \u2013 many of whom are from a south Asian background.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The investment is part of a pilot scheme looking at how neighbourhood wide improvements to make them greener, healthier and more prosperous places to live can strengthen community cohesion and improve quality of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A total of 35 homes on the estate have been fitted with solar panels to cut energy bills\u202fand\u202ftackle fuel poverty, more trees are being\u202fplanted,\u202fand\u202fresidents\u202fare growing their own fruit and vegetables at a newly established\u202fcommunity allotment.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Jaswinder Kaur prepare to plant a pear tree at the new community allotment in Tipton<\/p>\n
Social and activity groups are improving residents\u2019 physical and mental health,\u202fbuilding\u202ftheir\u202fenvironmental awareness,\u202fand\u202fequipping them with the English language skills and digital capabilities they need to access community services in person and online.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All\u202fof\u202fthe\u202factivities\u202fhave been\u202ffunded by the Mayor and led by the Bangladeshi Women\u2019s Association, which is based at Tipton Muslim Community Centre, with\u202fsupport\u202ffrom\u202fSandwell Council.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Video: Jaswinder Kaur explains how the new allotment is helping to bring the local community together<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n During the visit the\u202fMayor\u202fmet Robina Kauser and Parmjit Kaur, who, thanks to the investment, are now more active in the community having spent many years caring for their families.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Robina Kauser (right) and Parmjit Kaur with her four-year-old son Samraj told Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, how the learning courses have improved their lives in recent months<\/p>\n Parmjit, who is looking for a job with a renewed confidence, said: \u201cI\u2019ve\u202fspent many years at home looking after my two stepchildren, my own son, and mother-in-law and father-in-law. I felt lost.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNow I dress up and give myself some attention. I love the activities, gardening, playing netball,\u202fI\u2019m\u202flearning to speak better English and now looking for work. I am so much more confident about myself.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Robina, who has lived in Tipton since coming to the UK from Pakistan almost 20 years ago, said: \u201cMy life is so much better. Being more involved has helped my depression, my\u202fEnglish\u202fand my health.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u202fdidn\u2019t\u202ffeel able to go outside much before because of looking after my children and then my poor mental health. Now I play netball, go to the\u202fpark\u202fand help with litter picking.\u202fI\u2019ve\u202fmet so many new people and learned so much.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI also have a job as a passenger transport assistant\u202faccompanying\u202flocal SEND children on their journey to and from school. It makes me feel more involved.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u202fMayor\u202fsaid: \u201cRobena, Parmjit and many more of their neighbours who I met at Park Lane Estate are proof of\u202fwhat\u2019s\u202fpossible when we invest in helping communities to help themselves. I was proud to see the real difference this funding is already having on their lives. It\u2019s given them new confidence and opened up\u202fvaluable opportunities for them to learn and to earn their own money.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen communities like this one are overlooked, residents can become isolated from the rest of the region. But this investment is delivering the change I promised: supporting a happier, healthier and better-connected community. And there\u2019s even more to come when the new tram line opens, with a stop serving this estate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n From left: Ray Nock, leader of Sandwell Council, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, Jaswinder Kaur, who runs the community allotment in Tipton and Cllr Ken Parsons, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for housing and deputy leader<\/p>\n Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and Jaswinder Kaur with the pear tree they planted at the new community allotment in Tipton<\/p>\n Cllr Ken Parsons, Sandwell Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, said: “This project is making a real difference to people’s lives in Tipton. By helping residents reduce energy costs, improve their skills, build confidence, and connect with their community, we are creating opportunities that will benefit local families for years to come. We are pleased to be working alongside the Mayor and the Bangladeshi Women’s Association to support this important work.<\/p>\n “The investment in Park Lane Estate shows what can be achieved when local organisations, residents and public bodies work together. From warmer homes and lower energy bills to better health and employment opportunities, this project is helping residents build a brighter future while strengthening the local community.”<\/p>\n The longer-term vision for Park Lane Estate includes safer cycling and walking routes\u202fto make it easier to get to the nearby canal and other nature sites, Dudley Port train station and the Midland Metro extension that will take trams into Tipton for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other neighbourhoods included in the\u202fpilot are\u202fCastle Vale in Birmingham;\u202fGraiseley\u202fin Wolverhampton; Chelmsley Wood in Solihull; Dudley Fields\u202fin\u202fWalsall;\u202fHillfields\u202fin\u202fCoventry; and\u202fBrockmoor\u202fin Dudley.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Robina](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bma-18.jpg\")
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