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Funding boost for community projects

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A group of innovative community projects in Wigan Borough will go ahead thanks to a £350,000 funding boost.

A total of 76 projects will share the investment as Wigan Council announced the latest round of its Deal for Communities Investment Fund.

The pot of money is now in its fifth round and by the end of this round a total of £9m will have been invested in more than 450 groups in Wigan Borough.

The council has invested millions of pounds into local projects and groups who are tackling local priorities and helping to solve some of the borough’s biggest social problems.

It’s all part of The Deal – Wigan Council’s informal contract with its residents where both sides work together to make the borough a better place.

The investment ranges from £200 to £10,000 and is split into three categories – start-ups, small investments and getting going, which is a specific strand of funding to get people active in their communities.

Investments include £4,000 to True Colours CIC to deliver the borough’s first autism specific festival, £2,000 to Atherton Salvation Army to host youth activities, £10,000 to Reflect Therapeutic services for walk and talk therapy to improve people’s mental health and £10,000 to Christ Church Pennington for increased youth provision in Leigh.

A programme dedicated to giving girls aged 11-16 the self-belief and skills needed to pursue a career in digital and tech was given £8,930 investment. The group said: “This is fantastic news! Thanks so much for believing in us. We’re really looking forward to working with you.”

Strike a Chord CIC was given £8,800 investment to host a festival in Lilford Park. Bevan Thompson said: “We are delighted to receive funding. With it we intend to bring a live music event, artisan stalls and a family day out for the people of Leigh to enjoy. We are hoping to build on the success of our inaugural festival last year, with a bigger and better event, after listening to feedback from the community. The festival is planned to highlight the wider aims of the CIC of bringing music to the people, and with the long term goal of creating music hub in Leigh for local bands, young people and disadvantaged people to get into music, who normally may not have been able to.”

Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities, said: “Unlike so many other places we are bucking the trend and investing money into our communities. We have already seen it have a huge impact on residents and we are seeing real results.

“Other local authorities ask us what the secret formula is in Wigan but we just have a common sense approach and a great relationship with our communities. Our innovative way of working is being mirrored in other areas which we’re very proud of.

“We face many different social issues and we know local people are best placed with the knowledge and connections to help us to address and tackle these problems. We’ve given the control to our residents and we’re seeing it work and have real impact.

“We are delighted to be able to keep supporting so many of our fantastic groups and small organisations.”

The big idea applications for the fund will be announced in 2018.

For more information please contact The Deal for Communities team at dealforcommunities@wigan.gov.uk

Full list of organisations with successful bids in this round:

  • Friends of Westleigh park
  • Frenchwood Court Social
  • St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School
  • Bridgewaters Cafe and Christchurch Pennington
  • Aspull New Springs lions ability lions
  • Spring view o/60s club
  • Friends of WIgan Youth Brass Band
  • Leigh Heritage The Mining Wheel.
  • Awareness 4 Autism
  • Three Towers Alternative Provision Academy (TTAPA)
  • St Jude’s Amateur Football Club
  • Wigan Metro Talking News
  • Quiet Riot
  • Bridgers Community Group
  • Embrace Wigan and Leigh
  • Bickershaw Village Residents Association
  • Leigh Genesis Football Club
  • St Marie’s Bowling Club
  • Alison Brown
  • Standish St Wilfrids Football Club
  • Langtree Friendship Group
  • UNITED CHURCHES FELLOWSHIP
  • Chowbent Primary School
  • Abram Ward Community Cooperative
  • North West and North Wales Tai Chi
  • Wigan MS Therapy Centre Ltd
  • Orrell St James ARLFC Under 9’s
  • Wigan Epilepsy Action Branch
  • Beehive Community Centre
  • Atherton Salvation Army
  • Atherton Start Well Family Centre Trust
  • Atherton Start Well Family Centre Trust
  • Tyldesley Creative Writers
  • Wigan Cosmos Football Club
  • Beech Hill Tenants and Residents Association/Friends of Beech Hill
  • Meadowbank primary school
  • BIG (Be Involved Group)
  • Young Persons Residents  Forum  – Adactus Housing Association
  • Wigan Parent Carer Forum
  • Stolen Thread Productions CIC
  • True Colours Inclusive CIC
  • Trencherfield Mill Residents Association
  • Westleigh Start Well Family Centre
  • Christ Church Pennington
  • Ashton, Wigan & District YMCA
  • Fur Clemt
  • Believe Schools Programme
  • Wigan Warblers
  • Wigan St Judes ARLFC
  • Lpool Girl Geeks CIC
  • My Life
  • Redfolio CIC
  • Friends of Families
  • Wigan Digital Learning CIC
  • Bickershaw Village Community Club
  • The Storehouse Project
  • Happy Timers C.I.C
  • Golden Mile
  • Reflect Therapeutic Services
  • Wigan Mens Shed
  • Haigh Walled Kitchen Garden
  • Strike a Chord CIC
  • Oomph! Wellness
  • Lucky Hens CIC
  • Lancashire Wildlife Trust
  • Red Rose Steam Society Ltd
  • Wigan and Leigh Wrestling Club
  • Autistic Foundation
  • ACT (Abram ward Communities Together)
  • Excel in life (NW) CIC
  • Umbrella Community Arts
  • Monument Men
  • Care Leavers Creations Cafe
  • S K Independent Living Services CIC
  • Smiths Academy
  • STEPS cic and ids services cic – (this is a joint bid)

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