AN exciting new vision for Dudley borough has been unveiled by community leaders across the area.

Under the heading ‘Forging a Future for all’, the vision sets out aspirations for the kind of place Dudley borough wants to be in 2030.

The vision, which has been developed by organisations across the borough following extensive engagement with the whole community, including borough residents, businesses, Dudley Council, the police and fire service, NHS organisations, faith groups and voluntary sector organisations, sets out seven key aspirations.

The aspirations include ensuring Dudley borough is an attractive and affordable place to live and visit, with vibrant and diverse towns being home to healthy and safe communities. It also emphasises the importance of high quality schools and colleges to provide the skilled workforce to help innovative businesses prosper in a better connected borough both in terms of transport links and through digital technology.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “From the outset of engaging with people across the borough, as a council we have made it clear this cannot be a council vision, it needs to be a true borough vision.

"We are proud to have supported the development of the Forging a Future for all vision with its seven aspirations with all of our partners and we now look forward to working together across the borough to make the aspirations a reality. A group is now being formed, made up of representatives from across organisations in the borough and the community to help drive the project forward and help forge a future for all.”

Newsquest - publishers of the the Dudley News, Stourbridge News and Halesowen News - is teaming up with Dudley Council and partners to help launch the vision, with the launch of a new award scheme.

The 'Forging a Future for all’ Awards comprise of 12 categories, each representing the different aspirations of the vision.

This is a unique way to bring the vision to life and to ensure that borough residents and organisations can get involved and play a part in making the vision a reality.

Stephanie Preece, editor of the Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen News said: "We are really excited to be teaming up with Dudley Council to launch these awards. Dudley is a great place to live, work and visit and we feel these awards will help celebrate that.

"The Dudley News is proud of the borough and the people and organisations who work so hard to make the vision a reality. Now is your chance to help celebrate this wonderful work by getting involved in the awards."

If you know someone or an organisation doing great things for our borough, get involved and nominate them now for a Forging a Future for all award.

To make your nomination visit www.dudleynews.co.uk/awards/forgingafuture/

Information about the vision and further details of the awards can be found at www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk