Latest news

Lights, camera, action! 🎥

A new fund will give young people the chance to film a documentary with local chart-topping band The Lottery Winners!

100 per cent of funds from a major BBC production which is being filmed at Leigh Town Hall will be reinvested into creative opportunities for the town's young people.

Northern Heart Films will support 22 young people to take part in the documentary making in the run up to the band's headline homecoming show next year, as well as running a film-making bootcamp.

As well as the documentary project, Curious Minds will offer grants of up to £500 to young people from Leigh aged between 11 and 18 to allow individuals and organisations to access cultural activities they may not have been able to otherwise.

Wigan Pier welcomes Curious Minds 🤩

Curious Minds, the Wigan-based arts education and cultural learning charity, has taken the first formal steps to occupying Wigan Pier as its new permanent home.

Working closely with Wigan Council, Curious Minds plans to breathe new life into Pier 2 - the oldest building on the Pier site, which dates back to the 1700s.

Curious Minds are beginning the process of restoring and adapting the building with utmost care and consideration. When the renovation work is complete, Pier 2 will be used to host community-based creative projects and cultural events, as well as providing office and training space for the Curious Minds team.

From within its walls they will continue their national mission – designing pioneering arts and culture programmes, influencing policy and helping to raise standards in cultural learning for all children and young people.

Ashfield Park gets new play area 🧒

A popular play area in Standish has reopened with brand-new equipment after investment from Wigan Council.

Upgrades to Ashfield Park, on Wigan Road, include a new multi-play unit and netted climbing frame, along with swings, see-saws, balance beams and more.

Developed with input from local residents group Standish Voice, the area has been designed for all abilities - with wheelchair-accessible pathways and equipment plus quiet zones and sensory textures created with SEND children in mind.

The refreshed recreation space also has a new outdoor gym where residents of all ages will be able to exercise outdoors whenever they like.

In other news...

❄️ Get ready for winter! United Utilities has some helpful advice as we head into winter: find your stop tap so you can shut off your water in an emergency, wrap up your pipes (especially those in colder spots like lofts and garages) to stop them from freezing, and don't forget to insulate your outside taps too. Visit the United Utilities website for more helpful advice. 

📣 Are you a parent/carer of a child aged 0 – 11 years old, or up to 16 years old for children with special educational needs or disabilities? There is a range of childcare funding entitlements which help support early years education and wraparound care to be more affordable and accessible for families in the borough. Find out more on the government website. Got questions? We’re here to help. mailto:leyep@wigan.gov.uk

🚍 TfGM are asking people who live, work, travel, visit, or study in Greater Manchester to help shape the future of travel through to 2050 by giving their views during a public consultation. The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy and Delivery Plan outlines how our growing city region will deliver a world class, joined-up transport system. Find out more about the Plan and get involved on the GM Consult website.

🐝 With one year to go until the first rail services start joining the Bee Network, 17 stations on the first two lines will be refreshed with Bee Network branding and new customer information points to make onward journeys between train, tram, buses and bikes even easier. Find out more on the TfGM website.

⚠️ We've been asked to share that certain integrated heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier pose a fire risk due to an internal short circuit during normal use. The affected brands include Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna and Montpellier. Advice is to stop using the appliance immediately and unplug it if possible, check the model and serial number online, and contact the manufacturer to arrange a repair. Find out more on the Government website.

What's on

Set your New Year challenge now! 👟

It’s a good idea to stay active over Christmas, but if you’re on the wind down and are planning to pick things up again in the New Year then make sure to sign up for Be Well’s next Couch to 5k runs.

Starting from 4 January at venues across the borough, over 10 weeks you’ll gradually increase your confidence and stamina with the support of a friendly group of other new runners. Book now using the Be Well app or the links below – and we’ll see you in the New Year!

📍 Wigan Life Centre, Sun 4 Jan - 9.30am

📍 Howe Bridge Leisure Centre, Mon 5 Jan -  6.30pm

📍 Leigh Leisure Centre, Wed 7 Jan - 6.30pm

📍 Aspull Playing Fields, Wed 7 Jan - 6.30pm

📍 Ashton Leisure Centre, Thu 8 Jan - 6.30pm

📍 Amberswood Nature Reserve, Sat 10 Jan - 9am

More what's on...

☃️ 'Waiting for... Snow' will bring performance and creative play to Pier4 tomorrow (Saturday 13 December). At Wigan Pier, guests will be guided through an enchanting and joyful 'journey of waiting' using physical theatre, clowning, puppetry and live music. Follow this link for tickets and more information.

🎺 Enjoy the Christmassy atmosphere at Haigh with the Astley Youth Brass Band in the Courtyard this Sunday (14 December) with performances at 1pm and 2.30pm.

🐶 Join the Waggy Tails Walk at Haigh! Meeting at the Visitor Centre at 10am this Sunday (14 December), come along and make some new friends - for you and your furry friends. Dogs are asked to be on short leads please. 

🎶 Age UK are hosting their Silver Choir Christmas Concert next week, with an opportunity to get protected from flu and COVID with a mobile vaccination van. Come along on Wednesday 17 December at 1pm, St Paul's Church, Goose Green. Find out more about Age UK Wigan Borough on their website.

Our communities

Jordan smashes his MND charity challenge! 💪

Congratulations to Wigan Warriors wheelchair rugby player Jordan Burns, who completed his 40-mile arm bike charity challenge in support of the MND Association earlier this week.

Inspired by RL legend Kevin Sinfield's high-profile Motor Neurone Disease fundraisers and cheered on by family and friends at Robin Park Leisure Centre, Jordan showed amazing determination to reach the virtual finish line. 

Warriors coach Matty Peet and Wigan Athletic manager Ryan Lowe were among the well-wishers who popped in to show their support, along with friends from his Be Well boccia and adapted cycling sessions. 

Jordan has already raised more than £2,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease charity and the Warriors' community foundation. Well done, Jordan!!!

HAF is back for Christmas! 🎅🎄

This year’s Robin Park Christmas Camp (Monday 22 December & Tuesday 23 December) is bigger, brighter and more fun than ever, with lots of exciting activities from…

💚 Be Well 🏉 Wigan Warriors 🧑‍💻 Computer Xplorers 🥋 Black Scorpion Karate 🧑‍🍳 Classroom Kitchen ⚽ Smart Body Sports 🌿 Wild Workshops 🩷 Everyday Lessons

From high-energy sports to hands-on creative workshops, our wonderful providers will be bringing the Christmas spirit to life like never before!

So, if your child is eligible for benefits-related free school meals, make sure to book your place using your e-voucher at holidayactivities.com. Not received your voucher? Please speak to your school before the end of term. 

If your child isn't eligible for a free place but you'd still like them to be involved, don't worry! Limited places are also available on a paid basis. Click the links to book for Monday 22 December or Tuesday 23 December.

⚽ Bonus Festive Treat!: You can also use your HAF e-voucher to grab tickets for Wigan Athletic vs Blackpool on Saturday 20 December and be part of the festive football buzz!⚽

Walking the Wigan Way 🗺️🚶🧭

“It’s not just a walk, it’s also about Wigan’s history – what was there before and what’s there now.”

Already renowned among ramblers, The Wigan Way is being brought to new audiences with the launch of a new, up-to-date walking guide. It’s the brainchild of Be Well walk leaders Bev and Heather, who’ve “sweated blood” to bring the celebrated route back to life!

Heather, a volunteer who’s lived in Wigan all her life, said: “There’s a lot of industry, a lot of heritage. But it also shows Wigan isn’t just the industrial north. We’ve got beauty too.” Bev said: "Hopefully people will come to Wigan to try it out.”

More from communities...

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Don’t forget to reconfirm your childcare code! If you’re receiving the working parent funded childcare, you need to reconfirm your eligibility every 12 weeks to keep your code valid. It’s quick and easy to do and it ensures your child’s place stays secure. Just log into your childcare account and follow the steps. Email the team at leyep@wigan.gov.uk for support. 

🕎 If you’re part of the Jewish community in Wigan Borough and are going to be celebrating Hanukkah over the coming days, we’d like to wish you a very happy and peaceful time. Happy Hanukkah!

Staying well this winter

Listen in to the latest Borough Life podcast 🎙️

This month's podcast is all about staying well in winter!

Listen in for Kevin Parker-Evans, the chief nursing officer from the WWL NHS Trust, and Lee Girvan from the council's public health team sharing advice on how to keep yourself, family and friends safe and healthy this winter.

The UK Health Security Agency is reporting an increase in cases of flu and RSV in early December, but there is still time to get protected for the rest of winter.