Maureen Cummings

Councillors' calls for tougher sentencing of domestic violence perpetrators have been heard in Westminster.

Wakefield's call for tougher domestic violence sentencing heard at Westminster

Councillors approve village housing scheme despite hundreds of objections

Wakefield has held its first ever Reclaim the Night event aimed at empowering women and girls to stand up for safer spaces.

WATCH: City holds first ever Reclaim the Night event to highlight women’s safety

A programme of activities will be delivered by the council and partners during the '16 Days of Action' campaign.

Wakefield Council to support of 16 Days of Action campaign

The Redbeck Motel and Cafe, on Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, could be demolished to build 90 new homes.

Redbeck Motel: Plan to demolish famous cafe and motel set for approval

Daniel Wilton has been appointed as the new cabinet member for communities on Wakefield Council.

Youngest councillor appointed to cabinet 12 months after being elected

Councillor Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council's violence against women and girls champion.

First women's safety event of its kind for Wakefield

A march through the city centre, aimed at ending violence and women girls, will be held on November 27.

Wakefield to hold first Reclaim the Night event to highlight women’s safety

Wakefield has received £5.5m in Government funding to support residents between April 2025 and March 2026

Supermarket vouchers and other financial help available for Wakefield households

Some of the portraits that make up the project

Wakefield Cathedral to host service for Poverty Sunday

Councillor Maureen Cumming opened up about her experiences after being appointed Wakefield Council’s violence against women and girls (VAWG) champion.

Domestic abuse champion opens up on crusade to make women and girls safer

Wakefield is set to receive tens of thousands of pounds worth of funding to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness

Homelessness in Wakefield: District gets £65K rough sleeping funding boost

The council’s ruling Labour group has put forward a motion calling for a range measures to be introduced to achieve the target across the district.

Call for council to appoint violence against women and girls ‘champion’

Back left to right: Katie Potter, a Family Engagement Officer at Zarach, Kath Lindley from Prosper Wakefield District and Lisa Milburn from Wakefield Community Foundation. Front: Simon Topham, chair of the Residents First Group, and Coun Maureen Cummings, Cabinet Member for Communities and Poverty at Wakefield Council.

Wakefield Council allocates £10K to give hundreds of children their own beds

Citilodge, on Lower Warrengate, in Wakefield city centre

Citilodge no longer being used to house homeless as council makes £450K saving

The move comes as figures show 10,800 domestic incidents were recorded over the past 12 months within the local authority area, 8,336 of which were recorded as crime.

Domestic abuse services expanded to tackle high offence rates
Wakefield Council is to expand its domestic abuse services in a bid to reduce ‘really high’ rates of offending across the district.
Tony Gardner

Supermarket vouchers will be given automatically to all households in receipt of Council Tax Support

Supermarket vouchers: Help given to Wakefield households in need this winter

Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee is to reconsider plans to build 35 retirement homes on land off Nevile Drive, Walton.

Redrawn retirement village plan recommended for approval

The cameras are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ossett CCTV receives a digital upgrade to creates clearer pictures

Pete Girt and Rachel Speak, Lib Dem councillors for Knottingley ward on Wakefield Council

Councillors call for senior politicians to resign over care home ‘debacle’

Opposition councillors have called for a Wakefield Council cabinet member to resign over a decision to shut down a care home for residents with dementia.

‘A total fiasco’: Call for resignation over Hazel Garth care home failures

Councillors and residents opposed to proposals to expand the retirement living community in Walton village attended the planning meeting at Wakefield Town Hall.

Developer told to rethink retirement community expansion plan

Hazel Garth Care Home, Knottingley.

Call for answers over Knottingley care home closure

Wakefield Council and Wakefield BID has partnered with WalkSafe - a new personal safety app that will launch in Wakefield next week.

WalkSafe app launches in Wakefield

Your Money Matters advice events are coming to nine community venues across the district throughout January and February with the hope of encouraging residents to seek support on a range of issues relating to the Cost of Living.

Here's where you can get Cost of Living advice and support across Wakefield

Coun Michelle Collins and Coun Maureen Cummings at Wakefield Library's Welcome Space.

Free, warm, safe places across Wakefield to enjoy a cuppa and company

L-R: Julia Smith (manager of the Community Give Box – the Foundation’s retail arm), Coun Maureen Cummings, David Dinmore (Chair of the Community Foundation Wakefield
District); and Murray Edwards (Executive Director, Community Foundation Wakefield District).

Wakefield Community Foundation’s Fuel Poverty campaign raises £25K
Wakefield Community Foundation has once again smashed its target to help struggling people across the district as part of its 2022/23 fuel poverty campaign.
Leanne Clarke

Cllr Josie Pritchard and Peer Leader Angela Lennon discussing the community heart hubs, which will help people manage their own heart health by becoming more aware of their risk and potentially avoid more serious issues

New 'Heart Hubs' set to open throughout Wakefield to combat heart disease

Cllr Maureen Cummings and Kevin Dobson, Project Manager of The Community Awareness Programme which was funded by The Household Support Fund.

Wakefield residents can get cash from £6million fund for struggling households

Coun Cummings gets her Covid jab.

Wakefield campaign to keep your family healthy and warm over winter

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable ill health in Wakefield and is linked to one in five deaths.

STOPTOBER: ‘When you stop smoking, good things start to happen’

A new Wakefield Council report has been released, focusing on the " the hard work and dedication of all those involved in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Public health report highlights dedication of Covid-19 response in Wakefield

Councillor Maureen Cummings with workers in the Agbrigg and Belle Vue Community Centre garden.

New garden opens for green-fingered adults with disabilities

Councillor Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Poverty and Health.

Council launches healthy 'ready, set, summer' campaign

Children took part in the ceremony, and it was proud moment for parents who by getting involved in the scheme are nurturing a love of reading.

Happy faces as children graduate from Dolly Parton book giving scheme

The Learning Disability Week awards winners.

Residents with learning difficulties recognised at award ceremony

West Yorkshire: Finding Independence provides help and support for people experiencing multiple problems which affect their wellbeing.

Service for vulnerable adults is unveiled in Wakefield

The A650 roundabout to the north of the city centre is being redeveloped with new pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, cycling lanes and carriageways. The total cost of the project is now expected to be £9.7m.

£1m extra funding approved for Newton Bar roundabout scheme

Emily Watson's dad was seriously injured after being trapped under the rubble when two cars ploughed into her garden wall. (Picture Scott Merrylees)

Shocking footage shows moment grandad was trapped when car crashes into wall

Eric stopped smoking last year the age of 80.

Ex-smokers encourage people to quit on No Smoking Day

Simon Topham, CEO of Citizen’s Advice Wakefield District; West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Wakefield councillor Maureen Cummings, right.

Cash boost for Wakefield's Help at the Hubs scheme

Shared Lives Carer Holly King with daughter Maddison and service user Luke.

Wakefield's 'Shared Lives' scheme hailed a success

Pupils from The Mount School, Upton Primary School, and Outwood Primary Academy have taken part in the video produced by Wakefield Council, as part of their Winter Wellness campaign.

Wakefield primary school pupils star in new 'how to keep healthy' video

Wakefield people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease will benefit from earlier access to rehabilitation thanks to new funding.

COPD sufferers in Wakefield to benefit from £200,000 funding

The money will be split between several projects, all of which will benefit people at greatest risk of experiencing health inequalities in the district.

£1.4m funding approved to tackle health inequalities in Wakefield

Housing homeless people in city centre hotels is ‘unfair’ on families who have to witness street drinking and drug taking, a councillor has warned.

Housing homeless in city centre hotels at £75 a night ‘unfair’ on families

The council is using the campaign to raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and offer safer sleep advice that reduces the risk of it occurring.

Wakefield Council uses wellness campaign to raise awareness of SIDS

Bar manager Anthony Spurr, Cllr Maureen Cummings, Chief Superintendent Richard Close and Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire Alison Lowe launch the #AskForAngela campaign at the Union Bank pub in Wakefield.

Ask for Angela - Wakefield Council announce return of festive campaign

Warm Spaces offer people places where they can gather for free, in a safe, heated and welcoming space, to enjoy a hot drink or food and some company, and with opportunities to take part in activities.

Cost of living: 33 'warm spaces' open in Wakefield this winter

The 16 Days of Action campaign aims to encourage people and businesses to take action against domestic abuse and violence.

Council launches White Ribbon domestic abuse campaign

Singer Dolly Parton pictured at the Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 5, 2022 in Los Angeles. Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library offers free books to kids across Wakefield

Watching a football match can expose viewers to a gambling advert every 10 seconds.

Wakefield residents encouraged to 'think carefully before gambling' on World Cup

Coun Maureen Cummings, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Health at Wakefield Council.

Wakefield Council shares plans to reduce hate crime

Data reveals top ten neighbourhoods in Wakefield district where residents’ health is worst

Data reveals top ten neighbourhoods where residents’ health is worst

Wakefield Council estimates that one third of households are in or will fall into fuel poverty.

Potential shake-up to Council money service due to cost of living crisis

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