Anna Whittaker

Nottingham

Political Reporter at BBC Radio Stoke

BBC political reporter for Staffordshire / #30ToWatch journalist / @IpsoNews panel/ [email protected] / IG: annawhittakerbbc

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Articles

Bloxwich food pantry finds strong community response

1 week ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Food pantry finds strong community responseAnna WhittakerBBCJane Collins is one of the customers of the new community pantry in Bloxwich in the West MidlandsOrganisers of a new community pantry to help people who are struggling and needing food say there has been high demand for their help.
Frustration about collections over border

1 month ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Bin woes on Birmingham's borders as strike goes onAnna WhittakerSophie MillwardBBC Hereford and WorcesterBBCMaggie Boylan and Andreas Gabriel work at Bakers Lane Fish Bar near the Birmingham-Black Country borderResidents and businesses on Birmingham's borders have spoken of their frustration as the city's bin strike continues.
Campaign to save Dudley's Crystal Gateway dementia centre

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Whittaker

Image caption, Marilyn Beattie and her husband Bob, who has dementiaBBC political reporter, Black CountryFamilies are campaigning to save a "lifeline" dementia centre which is set to close. Dudley Council axed Crystal Gateway Dementia Centre in Amblecote last month as part of its budget to save £500,000 a year. The centre offers an outreach service to those living with dementia and their carers, as well as art, knitting and choir sessions for an hourly fee.
Three more Dudley councillors resign from Labour

1 month ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Three more councillors resign from LabourAnna WhittakerBBC political reporter, Black CountryAlex McIntyreDudley CouncilCouncillors Matt Cook, Peter Drake and Karl Denning have quit the Dudley Labour groupThree more councillors have resigned from the Labour Party in Dudley as the fallout over the government's welfare cuts continues. Councillors Peter Drake, Karl Denning and Matt Cook confirmed they had quit the party and would sit as independents on Dudley Council in the West Midlands.
Dudley Labour group leader resigns from party over benefit cuts

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Whittaker

The Labour group leader of a Conservative-run council has resigned from his party over huge changes to the benefits system and will sit as an independent member. Dudley councillor Pete Lowe said welfare cuts announced on Tuesday were "the final straw" after months of heart-searching and tears. He said he objected to the "stigmatisation of the most vulnerable" including the Labour government's decisions over women's pensions and cuts to pensioners' winter fuel payments.
Government school breakfast club pilot begins

2 months ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Government school breakfast club pilot beginsAnna WhittakerBBCLotty Summers is excited about the new free breakfast clubs Parents at a school in Walsall that is part of the government's breakfast club pilot said the free rollout will enable them to get to work. Rivers Primary Academy in Bloxwich is one of 750 schools which will get a free daily breakfast club from April. Over a third of schools in the pilot are said to be in deprived areas – with 82 in the West Midlands.
Birmingham: Mum tells of 'heartbreak' after Southport stabbing riots

2 months ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Whittaker

Media caption, What does being British mean in the West Midlands? BBC political reporter, Black CountryA woman from Birmingham has spoken of her "heartbreak" after her children asked if it was safe to leave the house during the riots in the wake of the Southport stabbings. Sabiha Aziz, a full-time carer from Acocks Green, said her identity was a combination of her sense of "British values, my Muslim values and my Pakistani values".
Mum tells of 'heartbreak' after Southport stabbing riots

2 months ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Mum's 'heartbreak' after Southport stabbing riots Anna WhittakerWhat does being British mean in the West Midlands? A woman from Birmingham has spoken of her "heartbreak" after her children asked if it was safe to leave the house during the riots in the wake of the Southport stabbings. Sabiha Aziz, a full-time carer from Acocks Green, said her identity was a combination of her sense of "British values, my Muslim values and my Pakistani values".
The Walsall centre helping people in tears over rising energy costs

2 months ago | bbc.com | Anna Whittaker

Centre helps people in tears over energy costsAnna WhittakerBBCHafiz Khan said he was among many people in Walsall struggling with rising energy billsA woman who sought help with her energy bills at a community centre says she was reduced to tears when she heard costs would rise again in April. Patsy Graham, 60, said she found her electric and gas bills hard to understand and turned to the Walsall Energy Action Project in the West Midlands for help.
How much council tax will I pay in the Black Country?

2 months ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Whittaker

Image caption, Black Country authorities are raising council tax for residentsBBC political reporter, Black CountryCouncil tax charges are set to rise across the Black Country in April. Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell councils laid out their plans in budget meetings this week. All four councils agreed to increase council tax by the maximum 4.99% and approved millions of pounds of spending and cuts, with leaders citing significant financial challenges.