PRESS CENTRE
Press releases, features and more
Three local children’s authors awarded GLL Literary Foundation bursaries
Poppy T. Perry, Donna David and Siren Knight have been selected by the GLL Literary Foundation as three of the 20 children’s authors across the UK to receive a bursary placement for 2026 worth up to £4,000 each. Poppy has an honours degree in Visual Communication...
Authors and comic artists wanted!
Local authors, writing groups and comic artists are invited to apply for a free table at Dudley Library’s first ever Authors’ Market. Taking place on Saturday 25 April from 11am to 3pm, the event aims to celebrate local talent – with those taking part able to promote...
Local library World Book Day costume swap
With little time left before World Book Day on Thursday 5 March, parents and carers in Dudley are being reminded that last year’s costume can be swapped for another at Brierley Hill, Gornal, Wordsley and Halesowen libraries. Many schools encourage children to dress up...
GLL Health Watch: “I no longer take medication”
According to NHS England, physical activity is essential for people living with long-term health conditions writes Sue Bradbury. Symptoms associated with arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and chronic lung conditions can all benefit from regular...
Free character workshop at Stourbridge Library
Writer and illustrator Poppy T Perry will be leading a free character workshop on Saturday 7 March at Stourbridge Library from 2-3.30pm. Author of Dead Real which waspublished by Fox and Ink last summer, Poppy will talk about how to develop character both verbally and...
National Year of Reading events at Dudley Library
Dudley Library is running a series of free author events for adults and teenagers as part of the National Year of Reading. On Wednesday 25 February at 7pm, Laura Liptrot and Jon Hartless will talk about their new books published by Tenebrous Texts. Laura’s The...
Become a junior police community support officer!
Children aged 7-11 are invited to Cradley Library in Halesowen this Saturday morning (21 February) to start a junior police community support officer (PCSO) course. Over six weeks and under the expert guidance of PCSO Mich Hall, those attending will be taught how to...
Smoke-free leisure centre launch
To mark No Smoking Day on 11 March, Bodmin Leisure Centre will become the first of GLL’s nine leisure centres in Cornwall to become an entirely smoke free site. In the run up to the launch, the Bodmin centre will be hosting Healthy Cornwall drop-in sessions on...
Half term fun at Reading leisure centres
Basketball, table tennis, football, multi-sport and pickleball drop ins, junior gym, aqua play, diving, aqua splash inflatable and enhanced soft play are just some of the many activities on offer at Better leisure centres in Reading this half term. “Our Rivermead,...
Halesowen Library hosts Warhammer Hobby Space Demo
A Warhammer Hobby Space Demo will take place for the first time at Halesowen Library on Tuesday 17 February from 3-4.30pm. Aimed at those aged 12 and over, the free activity is an opportunity to build, play and paint one of four Warhammer models. Once built, the model...
Health activity drop-in sessions
People living with health conditions like diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis can be referred to free monthly community health activity drop-in sessions at Better leisure centres in Bodmin, Bude, Liskeard and Newquay. Taking place from 10am to...
Nighttime economy joins Camborne’s crime reduction system
BID Camborne has received £3870 from the Devon & Cornwall Police Hotspot Problem Solving Fund to expand DISC, the town’s app-based business intelligence scheme. Known as BID:BIS, the DISC system enables member businesses to report local crime and alert others...
Ramadan exhibition at Cradley Library
Cradley Library is hosting a Ramadan exhibition from 11am to1pm on Thursday 19 February. Organised by Halesowen’s Baitul Ghafoor Mosque, there will be well displays featuring information about how Muslims celebrate Eid, religious fasting, Eid card making, and Ramadan...
Phase one complete at Saltash Leisure Centre
Phase one of a major refurbishment project at Saltash Leisure Centre has been completed with the opening of new poolside changing rooms. They include an accessible toilet and five showers – two of them for families, one that’s accessible and two that are temporarily...
World Book Day costume swaps
Following Brierley Hill’s successful costume swaps for World Book Day last year, four Dudley libraries are offering fancy dress options for the same event in 2026. Taking place on Thursday 5 March, many schools celebrate World Book Day by encouraging children to dress...
Saucy Jack Suspects
Who were the men suspected of being Jack the Ripper and how did falling under suspicion impact their lives? That’s the question author Damian Carter will be addressing when he discusses his book ‘The Whitechapel Women’ on Monday 23 February at 11am in Cradley Library....
Lots of library fun this half term
Lego clubs, Chinese New Year craft making, biscuit decorating, animal-themed trails, pancake flipping and a Zip the Zebra author talk are just some of the 130 free kids’ activities available in Dudley’s thirteen libraries this half term. From playing board games and...
Half term leisure centre fun
A sea-themed silent disco, pool inflatable sessions, five-day intensive swimming lessons, junior gym and extended soft play hours are just some of the many activities on offer at Better leisure centres in Cornwall this half term. Kids can swim for £1 at designated...