BBC News, Wolverhampton<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Jane Platt’s bright pink polo shirt marks her out as a volunteer at the Big Venture Centre.<\/p>\n The community shop provides discounted items and other help to people living in some of the most deprived areas of Wolverhampton.<\/p>\n Places like Bushbury, Heath Town and Low Hill, where Ms Platt believes “everyone is struggling”, including herself. <\/p>\n The local council insists it is there for those who need support, but some living in the areas say they feel forgotten. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n “My baby won’t play out in the streets,” explained Ms Platt, who lives near the Scotlands Estate. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The 45-year-old has been volunteering at the centre for years and said it helped her gain skills and look after her own mental health. <\/p>\n But she claimed it was also one of the only places she felt safe in the area. <\/p>\n “You can’t look at people when you [are out],” Ms Platt said. <\/p>\n “I try and look the opposite way because you just don’t know what they’re going to say.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tracey Walters, a resident being supported by the Big Venture Centre, was born in the area. <\/p>\n The 61-year-old said she liked living there but felt it had been “forgotten” about.<\/p>\n She demanded more activities for younger children on the estate, and was also concerned about rubbish. <\/p>\n “I don’t think Wolverhampton Council care about this area,” she said. <\/p>\n The council said there was more than \u00a3121,000 in funding for children in the Scotlands during the school holidays, adding it received regular litter picks and sweeps. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The local authority also insisted 112 jobs involving roads and street lighting had been carried out. <\/p>\n But another centre user, who asked not to be named, said it looked “scruffy”. <\/p>\n The woman, who has lived in the area all her life, said drugs and other forms of anti-social behaviour were a big problem, often because young people did not have anything to do.<\/p>\n “It used be nice area at one time but there’s nothing left,” she claimed. <\/p>\n “It’s just empty houses that get smashed up. You find needles on the floor [and] nobody cares.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Despite the issues, volunteer director David Chadwick insisted the Scotlands was a place where “everybody will help everybody”. <\/p>\n “Without us a lot of families would suffer and that’s why we’re here,” he said. <\/p>\n City of Wolverhampton Council said it was working with police and other organisations to make sure the area was safe and nobody was “left behind”. <\/p>\n “The council has awarded millions of pounds in regeneration grants in the area and created The Big Venture centre by a community asset transfer,” a spokesperson said. <\/p>\n “We hold regular community resident meeting where people can talk directly to the council.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"BBC](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/c352\/live\/3be01be0-4df3-11f0-b3d1-27126d8691d8.jpg.webp\")
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