Latest news

Here's to a cracking Easter! 🐣

Happy Easter, everybody! Yes, the Bank Holiday weekend is here and we dare say there'll be a fair few choccy treats in store over the next few days. 🍫

As well as being an important date on the Christian calendar, Easter is also a chance for many of us to spend a little extra time with our families and loved ones (especially for those of us with school-aged children!).

Whatever your plans over the next few days, we'd like to wish you a very happy and peaceful Easter. And if you're looking for some Easter activity inspo, make sure to read on for lots of 'egg'-citing things to do over the holidays!

A record-breaking Spring Clean! 🌼♻️

More than 800 volunteers took to the streets to brighten up our borough during this year's Great British Spring Clean (13-29 March), Keep Britain Tidy's national campaign to tackle litter.

A total of 612 adults and 223 children got involved and did their bit for their communities, and combined with council staff they collected more than 1,600 bags of rubbish - making it our best year yet!

One of the big areas to benefit were alleyways between Gordon Street and Glebe Street in Leigh, which was given special focus following repeated reports of litter and fly-tipping.

Around 6.5 tonnes of waste was collected via bin wagons there alone, and around 8 loads of bulky waste cleared - as well as a full litter pick and mechanical sweep to remove any remaining rubbish.

A big well done to everyone who took part. You've really made a massive difference! 👏

Grab a FREE month at new Wigan gym! 💪

The brand-new gym at Wigan Life Centre is now open – and it’s looking on point! With fresh décor and all the latest fitness equipment, there’s everything you need to make those gains and achieve those goals.

Better yet… Be Well is celebrating the makeover by offering one month FREE to all new Be Well Fitness members! Just use code BEWELLSPRING at checkout to unlock the offer. (Note: offer excludes Be Well Fitness Flex).

Members get unlimited access to all seven Be Well leisure centres: Ashton, Hindley, Howe Bridge, Leigh, Robin Park, Standish and Wigan.

In other news...

🕯️The Jewish festival of Passover began this week. Although we only have a small Jewish population here in Wigan Borough, we aim to mark the key dates for each of the major world religions throughout the year, to help everyone in the borough feel part of our local community. If you live in the borough and are currently marking this festival, we’d like to wish you a very happy Passover.

What's on

Hop to our Family Hubs this Easter! 🐰

Give your local Family Hub a follow on Facebook and see what they've got planned!

Hit the Easter trail at your local library... 📚

If you're looking for something egg‑stra special to do with the kids this Easter, make sure to head to your local library for their Easter Trail (4-18 April).

How it works: 

✨ Pick up your trail sheet at any library 

🔍 Find each hidden bunny 

✅ Complete the trail and hand it in

🎁 Every child who finishes will be entered into a prize draw to win an Easter egg at that library, with one winner per library. 

It’s FREE, fun, and perfect for families over the school holidays. 

Even more family fun at the Flash! 🪿

If you're searching for fun times as a family, make sure to check out the Easter Trail at Pennington Flash.

Simply pick up a map from The Hide Coffee House and explore the surroundings to find a secret Easter message. Once you’ve cracked the code, return your completed map for an Easter treat! 

The trail is available up to Sunday 19 April, so there's plenty of chance to give it a go over the holidays. Maps are available for just £2.

More what's on...

🛶 Don’t miss Scotman Flash’s Easter Activity Camps over the holidays! These full-day adventures are perfect for kids ages 8-14 who love exploring, teamwork and trying new challenges. Activities include: •  Kayaking • Canoeing • Paddleboarding • Outdoor adventure challenges. Dates: 6–10 April & 13–17 April. Times: 9am-4.30pm. Price: £30 per day. Book via the Be Well app or the online booking site (select ‘Be Well Outdoors’ and ‘Scotman’s Flash Activity Camps’).

🏊 Inflatable Pool Sessions are back at Hindley Pool over Easter! Jump, scramble, slide and race across the wobbliest inflatable obstacle course… if you dare! Perfect for energetic swimmers aged 8–14. Dates: Wed 8 & 15 April / Fri 10 & 17 April. Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Price: £5.30 per child. Note: Children must be able to swim. Book now via the Be Well app or online booking site to avoid disappointment!

🚲 Want to teach your child to ride a bike this Easter? Be Well has Learn to Ride sessions available to book now for just £1! Choose from different time slots at Leigh Sports Village (Sat 4 Apr), Leyland Park (Thu 9 Apr) or Firs Park (Thu 16 Apr). There’s also £1 Bikeability Balance sessions for ages 4-6 at Leigh Leisure Centre on Wed 8 Apr & Wed 15 Apr (1.30pm-2.15pm).  Places are extremely limited so book now via the Be Well app or online booking site to avoid disappointment!

🎈 Pedal Parties are a fun way to ride together as a family and grow your little one’s confidence on two wheels… and Be Well has added extra dates at Pennington Flash for the Easter holidays. Events are traffic-free and have fun activities for children to develop their skills on a bike. Book your free spot now for Saturday 4 April (10am-12noon), Wednesday 8 April (10am-12noon) or Wednesday 15 April (10am-12noon).

🏃 Be Well's 10-week Couch to 5k programme is back from 13 April. Book now for week one the following venues: Mondays (6.30pm-7.15pm) at Howe Bridge Leisure Centre, Wednesdays (6.30pm-7.15pm) at Haigh Woodland Park or Leigh Leisure Centre, Thursdays (6.30pm-7.15pm) at Ashton Leisure Centre, Saturdays (9am-9.45am) at Amberswood Nature Reserve, Sundays (9.30am-10.15am) at Wigan Life Centre.

Our communities

If you're the parent or carer for a child with disabilities, Wigan Council's short breaks offer could be for you.

Short breaks enable children and young people with a disability to meet new people and try new things, in a safe and supported environment.

If you'd like to know more, come along to Local Offer Live in Leigh to chat to the short breaks team and lots of other services. This FREE event is open to children, young people, parents/carers, and professionals:

📆 Monday 27 April

📍 Progress With Unity Stadium, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, WN7 4JY

⏰ Drop in any time between 10am-2.30pm and 3.30pm-6.30pm (there will be a quiet space available throughout)

A chance to 'Do Disability Differently' 🫶

Happy Smiles Training are launching a new creative project in partnership with local book publisher Maddison House Press.

'Do Disability Differently' will bring together disabled and neurodivergent children and young people to co-create a brand-new book rooted in their lived experience. The book will be aimed at adults to offer education around disability and neurodiversity, from the perspective of children and young people.

Children, young people, and families are invited to meet the Happy Smiles team and find out more at the following engagement events:

📆 Wednesday 8 April - Standish Library (10am-12noon)

📆 Saturday 2 May - Wigan Library (10am-12noon)

📆 Saturday 23 May - Leigh Library (10am-12noon)

If you’re part of an organisation that supports children and young people with disabilities and would be willing to host an engagement event with the children and young people you work with, or if you would like more information on any of the library events, please contact Alex at a.winstanley@happysmilestraining.co.uk.

Make some time for your wellbeing 💚

Next Tuesday (April 7) is World Health Day, and Be Well will be shining a light on the 'Five Ways to Wellbeing' and how little things we can do can make a difference to how we feel day-to-day.

Whether you take a moment to chat with a neighbour, move in a way that feels good for you, pause to notice what's around you, try something new, or do a small act of kindness, Be Well will be celebrating it all!

Keep an eye on Be Well's Facebook, Instagram and TikTok channels for a series of inspirational short stories from volunteers and the wider community. 💚

A true celebration of women 💜

A big thank you to all the local women who ran or attended community events, or shared their stories or positive messages as part of this year’s International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. 

We also had almost 280 entries into our schools’ competition, with local children sharing stories about a female leader that they admire. Well done, everyone!

More from our communities...

🤸 HAF is back for Easter with a full range of fun activities for young people who qualify for benefit-related Free School Meals. There’s lots to choose from – from sports and outdoor adventure experiences to arts, crafts and computing. If you’re eligible, you should have received your e-voucher to choose and book your child’s place at holidayactivities.com (please check your junk folder if you haven’t). Some providers also offer paid provision for children who aren’t eligible for free places. You can find out more on the Holiday Activities and Food programme webpage.

🧑‍⚕️ When diagnosed early, nine in ten people survive bowel cancer – which is why it’s so important to know what to look for this #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth and beyond. Symptoms include bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo, a change in how often you poo or regular diarrhoea or constipation, unexpected weight loss, feeling tired all the time when you’re not sure why, and a pain or lump in your tummy. If you have any of these symptoms, ask your GP for an at-home test as soon as you can.

🚭 Want to stop smoking but life keeps getting in the way? Quit Coach is your digital stop‑smoking assistant, giving you quick, personalised advice whenever you need it via WhatsApp. No appointments. No waiting rooms. Just FREE, practical support, whenever you’re ready. So why not see how Quit Coach can fit around your life? Sign up and start your smoke-free journey now.

Here For You

ICYMI: Important update on support fund

The Household Support Fund ends on 31 March, and from 1 April the Government is providing new funding called the Crisis and Resilience Fund. It'll be administred by local authorities in England to support low‑income households who experience a financial shock, and to strengthen both individual and community financial resilience.

The eligibility criteria and the way the fund can be used will change. It's important to note that Crisis Payments are intended to meet occasional or short‑term needs. They cannot be used as a replacement for regular income or ongoing financial support.

Crisis Payments can be used for:

• Emergency support for food, fuel, water and essential household items
• Costs relating to clothing, including warm winter clothing and footwear
• Support following a disaster, such as serious flood, fire, explosion or leak
• Help with unexpected costs linked to an accident, health emergency or mental health crisis
• Essential items such as white goods, medical equipment or heating equipment
• Essential transport costs, where required to prevent or address crisis
• Assistance where residents have no means to meet basic living costs