'Wolverhampton has good and bad like everywhere'

Maria Billington describes Wolverhampton's Gatis Community Space as a "green oasis in a urban jungle".

Hidden away in the built-up area of Whitmore Reans, it has a charming collection of gardens where wildlife grows free and there is space for children to play.

Projects are run here to help those of all ages living with poverty, as well as health and housing issues.

Despite pockets of deprivation, Ms Billington explained Whitmore Reans was often misunderstood and had a strong community spirit.

"People don't realise how wonderful Whitmore Reans is," she said.

"We've got some fantastic organisations here."

The BBC has been speaking to community organisations throughout Wolverhampton to find out how they are helping those in need.

The city is among the most deprived areas in the West Midlands, but it has been targeted for major investment in recent years.

People like Ms Billington believe that while there is still work to be done, it is a place on the up.

The community worker said groups like hers were "leading the way" to show the city had a lot to offer, despite sometimes being painted in an "unfair light".

"In diverse communities there can be a lot tensions," she said.

"We think it is part of our job to celebrate those differences and bring people together."

It is a view echoed by Samuel Henry.

He is Wolverhampton's bicycle mayor and runs a community interest company called No Limits to Health.

"We're all serious about changing the image of Wolverhampton," he said.

"It has had a poor perception as the small sister to Birmingham but we have our own bell to ring."

The 59-year-old is starting a bike bus initiative in Bilston to help children and parents become more active, and has also set up a cycle hub in Heath Town.

Heath Town is another area with what he called a "bad reputation" for social deprivation, high unemployment and crime.

But Mr Henry said it had improved greatly, and was now among a number of areas that he felt were now unrecognisable due to investment.

"You can find good and bad in everywhere you go," he said.

"It's about how people feel about where they live that makes that place a good place."

But in some places, like the Scotlands Estate in the north-east of the city, some feel there is still more to be done.

David Chadwick is a volunteer director at the Big Venture Centre which supports people who need it through discounted food and clothes.

"Without us a lot of families would suffer and that's why we're here," he said.

Mr Chadwick explained the area was a place where "everybody will help everybody" despite having issues with crime and deprivation.

But he said the number of food parcels handed out by the organisation had risen sharply, and more needed to be done to help families with the cost of living.

"We have a wonderful community that support us," he said.

"We're here to try and give to the community what they're missing out on because of cuts from here there and everywhere."

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