Be Inspired!

Be Inspired!


25 September 2012

Organisers of the borough’s Active Choices activity sessions are hoping Team GB’s Paralympic success will prove an inspiration over the next few years.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s (WLCT) Active Living Team has been organising activity sessions for adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or severe and enduring mental illness for over five years.
Last year more than 600 people attended events which included Boccia, tennis table, badminton, dance, drama, adapted cycle sessions and a variety of sports and gym sessions. Now they’re hoping Team GB’s magnificent record breaking tally of 120 medals will serve as a launch pad for greater involvement here in Wigan and Leigh.
Elanor Reynolds, Active Living Officer for WLCT, said: “The aim of Active Choices is to improve access and choice, to get more people physically active in the borough, but we also want to keep the legacy of London 2012 alive and kicking in the borough.
“Whether people want to aspire to become the next Ellie Simmonds or David Weir, or maybe just want to have fun and try something new, we are here to support that. As well as providing activity and sports sessions every week, Active Choices can also help those attending to find out about different places where they can go to be active and play sport and which sports clubs would suit them best.

Wigan Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Chris Ready added: “These sessions not only improve health and wellbeing but can also improve confidence.
“We’ve had a fantastic summer of sport now we have to build on that here in Wigan and Leigh and inspire the next generation of Olympians and Paralympians.”

Aspull's Community Spirit

Aspull's Community Spirit


03 August 2012

Residents in Aspull were thanked this week for showing true “community” spirit.



Eight months ago members of the community stepped in to help run their local library.
Faced with massive cuts of £1.1m, due to the national austerity measures, Wigan and Leigh’s entire library service was re-defined in 2011. But unlike some other authorities, where large numbers of libraries closed, in Wigan the picture is very different.
The new look library service reduced costs by reducing some opening hours in certain locations, relocating services and by maximising stock and staff rotation across libraries. It was developed in response to key information such as local demand, lifestyle needs and cost effectiveness.
Volunteering and community support has also played a major part in ensuring access to library services in some areas. At Aspull, 24 volunteers ensure that their friends, neighbours and fellow residents can still access their library.
And on Wednesday (August 1) local dignitaries thanked them personally for all their hard work.Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready, said: “The scale of the national cuts to the public sector have been, and still are, extremely tough.
“The library review was a wonderful example of how we could rise to the challenge of meeting such stringent cuts and maintain service for the people of the borough. Volunteering has played a key role in that and we’re extremely proud of the community spirit here in Aspull.”Under the guidance of Kim Collins, Libraries Deputy Customer Service Business Manager and colleagues from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) – who manage libraries on behalf of the council - volunteers are not only helping to keep the community facility up and running but flourishing. When the new volunteer run library opened in January the site was accessible for 11 hours a week. It’s now open for 19 hours a week and could open for longer with more volunteers.
Stuart Murray, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “We’re extremely proud of the volunteers here at Aspull who do a tremendous job.
“People can volunteer for as long or as short as they want, they can pick what they’d like to do and they can have their say in how the library is developed.“This is real community spirit in action and we’d encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to get in touch.
Wigan’s Labour MP and Shadow Children’s Minister, Lisa Nandy, said: "Councils up and down the country have been forced to close much loved libraries because of the Government's spending cuts. I am delighted Wigan Council has found a way to keep our library service going, with the help of the local community."
Vince Broomhead, 73, has been volunteering at Aspull Library since January. He said: “It’s fantastic, I get a lot of enjoyment and personal satisfaction from it, they’re a great bunch of people here.”
For more information on events and activities taking place at Aspull Library visit www.wlct.org

It’s “A Little Scary” at Leigh Library

It’s “A Little Scary” at Leigh Library


20 August 2012

Horror writer Stephen King may have some new competition when it comes to films intent on chilling you to the bone!



A group of young people attended their own version of the Oscars at a special ceremony at Leigh Library on Friday.



The youngsters, aged 9 to 16, took part in a series of workshops at libraries in Tyldesley, Wigan and Leigh, over the summer developing, creating, producing and editing their own horror film.



The project called “A Little Scary” was organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) in partnership with Wigan and Leigh’s Youth Service.



Andrew Pickup, from WLCT who manage the borough’s libraries on behalf of Wigan Council, said: “It’s been a great success helping them to forge new skills such as using technology, creating stories and team working.



“It’s been such a hit we intend to roll out this project, and other activities, to other libraries across the borough.”



Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready said: “Offering activities like this in our libraries helps to change young people’s perceptions that libraries are stuffy places just full of books.



“I’m delighted that this project has taken off. The short films they made were brilliant and worthy of any Oscar.”



At the presentation Team Wigan's film called “Zombie Library” won Best Makeup, Team Leigh won Best Storyline for “The Doll” and Tyldesley were awarded Best Actors and Best Film for “The Lady in the Library”.



Logan Brown, 15 from Wigan said: "I've loved it. It's been a great experience. I've learnt loads and it's given me a different perspective on libraries."

Going North heads East

Going North heads East


19 July 2012

One of Wigan’s most famous paintings is heading for a tour of China!
Donated to Wigan Council in 1922, by Alexander Young, Going North by George Earl is a bustling narrative of nineteenth century railway life, depicting friends travelling from King’s Cross to Scotland for a summer of grouse shooting.
It currently hangs in Wigan Town Hall but soon the prestigious painting will be on a journey of its own as part of the tour of China organised by the International Touring Exhibition Group in an exhibition called “Toward Modernity: Three Centuries of British Art”.
Paintings, drawings and watercolours from across Greater Manchester and the North West of England have been selected for the 12 month exhibition opening at the Hunan Provincial Museum, Changshain September.
Yvonne Webb from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Heritage Service said: “This exhibition will draw on the great richness of art that is the legacy of collecting and patronage by the men and women of the North West.
“By drawing on the entire spectrum of styles and specialisations represented within the public collections in Greater Manchester the exhibition will show a comprehensive survey of the development of British painting from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day.”
It’s estimated that over the 12 months the exhibition will be seen by more than four million people showcasing Greater Manchester and the North West’s rich heritage, talent and diversity to the world’s second largest economy.

The tour will end at the Henan Provincial Museum, Zhengzhou in August 2013.
Wigan Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready, said: “This is an exciting exhibition and we’re delighted to be able to loan Going North as part of it and to proudly showcase the painting on the other side of the world. Alexander Young’s gift to the people of Wigan epitomises the generosity that exists throughout the region and shows that art has a universal meaning and is of great benefit to all people.”
More than 80 pieces of art from across Greater Manchester will be displayed as part of the exhibition including Peel Park by LS Lowry and Coal Mine by Keith Vaughan.
For more information on the exhibition call: Richard Burns, from Bury Museum and Art Gallery who is the International Touring Exhibition Co-ordinator for this exhibition.

 

Flagship Parks!

Flagship Parks!


26 July 2012

THREE of the borough’s parks have been awarded special Green Flags to mark them out as excellent facilities!
For the third year running Alexandra Park, Newtown, Pennington Hall Park, Leigh and Jubilee Park, Ashton have all been awarded the prestigious national Green Flag Award, a sign to visitors that the parks are well-maintained and well-managed with excellent facilities.
On Wednesday 25 July community groups, councillors and representatives from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT ) - who manage parks on behalf of Wigan Council – took part in a special flag raising ceremony at Alexandra Park, Newtown to mark the occasion and celebrate “Love Parks Week”.
Dignitaries also officially opened the newly refurbished Bowling Pavilion. The work, which includes new toilet facilities, was carried out by WLCT following contributions from local councillors through the Brighter Borough Fund, Wigan Council and the Bowling Forum.
Stuart Murray, Chief Executive of WLCT, said “We’re delighted these parks have once again been recognised in the Green Flag awards.
“We work tremendously hard each year to ensure that our parks and green spaces are well-managed and well-maintained and this award recognizes all the endeavour that takes place throughout the year.
“I must congratulate everyone who has been involved in gaining these Green Flags, especially those volunteers who give their time and energy free as part of our Friends groups and local councillors for their support through Brighter Borough Funding.”



This year’s Green Flag Award scheme saw 1,424 sites across the UK recognized for their excellent facilities.
Wigan Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready said: “Parks play a major part in our lives. They are places to relax, to play and to exercise and are exceptionally well used by the communities in which they are situated.”

Olympic T orch

Olympic Torch on its way!

18 May 2012

Three-times Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie will officially start the 70 day journey of the Olympic Flame tomorrow (Saturday) which means in less than two weeks it will be here in Wigan!

It will arrive in the borough on the afternoon of Thursday May 31 as part of its tour around the country before the Olympic Games in July.

To mark the countdown to the Olympics, leisure chiefs today unveiled a Cultural Olympiad Calendar with scores of activities planned over next few months.

Stuart Murray, Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “From traditional Olympic events such as the 100 metres to scuba diving, community fun days to a National Skateboarding Day; there’s a raft of sporting events taking place across the borough over the next few months to celebrate the games. Whatever your age and whatever your ability, this programme has something for everyone.”

Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Chris Ready said: “The spirit of the Olympics is as much about taking part as it is about winning. This wonderful programme is an opportunity for everyone to feel part of the biggest British sporting event in a generation.”

Penny McGinty, head of Leisure and Culture for Wigan Council added: “Wigan has a rich sporting heritage and we’re delighted the torch is passing through the borough.
“This is a once in a lifetime event so we’d like to encourage everyone to be part of the celebrations.”

The Olympic Torch will arrive in Wigan on Thursday 31 May with numerous events organised along the route.

On Torch Day, there will be volleyball and Thai boxing in Walmseley Park, Ince  and community events in Abram. 

In Hindley there’s both patriotism, in the form of a Veterans’ salute as the Torch passes the town hall and slapstick, with the residents’ association planning their own ‘It’s a Knockout’ sporting party.
Not to be outdone, there’s plenty going on in parts of the borough away from the Torch Relay itself.  Leigh Sports Village is planning a triathlon as part of a week of linked events and several Worsley Mesnes schools are planning Olympic themed events.  Parties in the parks are planned at Ashton’s Jubilee Park (Sunday 18th May), Mesnes Park (on the morning of the Torch Day 31st May) and later at Pennington Hall Park in Leigh.

Wigan town centre will play host to The Anvil Street Drummers, art workshops, cycling demonstrations, sustainable transport events and promotions from the NHS, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan Youth Zone.

Lizzie Hendley, from Wigan’s Sports Development Unit, will be volunteering during the torch relay and will also be at the Olympics and Paralympics as a First Aider.

She added: “I’m thrilled to be helping out at all the events. It’s a massive honour to be one of the 70,000 volunteers selected for the Olympics  from the 250,000 who applied.”

Aspull wrestling coach, Roy Wood, will be carrying the torch through Aspull and will be coaching at the Olympic Games. He added: “It’s going to be a great summer. I’m really looking forward to it.”

For more information about the Torch Relay visit www.wigan.gov.uk
For more information on the Cultural Olympiad Calendar see main section of this website.

Wigan Library

Cllr Ready and Stuart Murray at the new library New Wigan Library set to open 06 January 2012 The north west’s only newly built central library to open in 2012 will unlock its doors to the public on Monday. With more than 70,000 books, 37 computers with free internet access, a large collection of CDs and DVDs, and an events programme packed to the rafters the new Wigan Library opens to the public on Monday 9 January. Set across two floors it is complete with a children’s section, a dedicated teen library space, reference, fiction and non-fiction departments and will host more events and author visits than you can shake a bookmark at! And checking something out couldn’t be easier! Using the latest radio frequency technology, the self-service system will automatically recognize each item. All you have to do is pick what you want to borrow, scan your library card, and let the system do the rest. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) will manage the library on behalf of Wigan Council. Chief Executive Stuart Murray said: “This is a fantastic new facility and a flagship site for us. Libraries have changed significantly over the last few years, they now offer a range of services and events that cater for all ages and this wonderful building will serve to take our library service to a new level.” The new library is part of the Wigan Life Centre, a new public services “hub” that is due to be formally opened in February. Situated between Hewlett Street and The Wiend, next to Wigan Town Hall, the 6,500 square foot building will be the culmination of the council’s £217M Life Centre project. It will offer residents of the borough a new ‘gateway’ to all public services in the borough through a state-of-the-art customer contact centre. The vision will see any member of the public with a query about services provided by the council, housing, health and other partners have it resolved quickly and in one place. The new Learning and Information Zone follows on the heels of the Healthy Living Zone – which opened over the summer and incorporates new leisure complex, including swimming pools and gym, as well as council offices. Both sites have been built for the council by construction company Morgan Sindall and will be operated by the Council's FM partner Hochtief facilities Management. The town centre campus is also complimented by a network of local Life Centres in communities across the borough. Wigan Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Leisure, Cllr Chris Ready said: “The Life Centre campus will give us a new approach to serving our communities. “It will make it easier and quicker for residents to contact the council and other public services. “The council’s ambition is to create a ‘confident place with confident people’ and we believe the new Life Centre typifies this.” Matt Hilton will be the first author visit at the new library on Thursday 26 January.