University helps city fill empty shops

The shop, named ‘WLV’, has been launched in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council and the Wolverhampton City Centre Company to help tackle the number of empty retail units within the city centre.

Based in the Mander Shopping Centre, WLV will offer a wide range of free activities hosted by students and academic staff from the School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications.

The shop, situated on the ground floor of the Victoria Arcade, will also provide course information and advice to people interested in studying at the University.

Upcoming activities include a talk by author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera, who received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the University in September. The author of "The Boy with a Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton" will present a talk on Saturday, 22 May 2010, from 1pm to 2.30pm. The event will be held in Room MC001 in the Millennium City Building, at City Campus.

Other events this month include a free Legal Help Clinic supervised by Talbots solicitors every Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 1pm, as well as question and answer sessions on a range of topical issues.

Associate Dean for the School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications, Lynn Leighton-Johnstone, said: “The new shop has given us the opportunity to give something back to the community of Wolverhampton and help the city with its regeneration plans. We are proud of the partnerships we have created and hope to continue to build relationships with businesses across the region.

“WLV also allows our academics to showcase their areas of expertise as well giving our students the opportunity to demonstrate their newly developed skills and knowledge.”

City Centre Manager Kim Gilmour, who has been working with the University team, Mander Centre staff and council officers for a number of months on the project, said: “It’s great to see the shop finally open, everyone has worked really hard to secure the funding and the property, fit out the shop and make this project work. I wish the group every success and I am sure it will attract a lot of interest.”

Further details of events are available at www.wlv.ac.uk/wlvshop

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For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736