Monday 24th December 2007
(ref:
WLCT 168/2007)
After five years of inspiring Wigan Borough’s residents to ‘get active’ Jacqui Boardman will officially stand down as Chair of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust from January 2008.
Jacqui, who has held the position of Chair since December 2002, is leaving her position due to the increasing demands of her career as a management consultant which involves a great deal of global travel.
Jacqui’s decision was formalised at the Trust’s Annual General Meeting earlier this month. The Trust’s Board of Trustees has the legal responsibility for ensuring that the organisation is managed appropriately, as such the position of Chair is crucial.
During Jacqui’s five years at the helm she has overseen a period of significant change within leisure and cultural services. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is the largest charitable trust of its type in England with around 800 staff and an annual turnover of approximately £26m.
Some hugely positive projects and initiatives have been initiated under Jacqui’s tenure:
- Wigan became the first place in the country to offer free swimming for both children (16 and under) and the over 60s;
- Two of the borough’s libraries have been fully refurbished (Ashton and Golborne) and the borough’s first new library for over 20 years was opened in Platt Bridge;
- A bid for £3.4m of funding for the restoration of Mesnes Park has been successful;
- A new £6.4m public sports centre as part of Leigh Sports Village will open in January;
- Arts festivals have grown in popularity, in particular the Wigan One World (WOW) Festival and Haigh Music Festival.
Other highlights include the development of an award winning Grounds Maintenance Service, an increase in libraries usage and a new era for Wigan Heritage Services including the refurbishment of the History Shop and plans for a new arts and heritage learning centre.
Jacqui was born in Wigan and now permanently resides here, having left initially to gain a physics degree at Imperial College in London. She later worked in Washington DC for the US Department of Energy and has worked and travelled in all of the world’s continents.
In her spare time, Jacqui is both a stained-glass artist and a singer, having spent 18 years as a soprano with Wigan Choral Society. She was one of the founders of the annual ‘Arts in the Park’ Festival at Haigh Country Park.
Jacqui said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with the Trust and I am really grateful for all the support I have been given over the past five years. I am immensely proud of our achievements and I really feel that the Trust has made a significant difference to the delivery of Leisure and Cultural services across Wigan Borough. I am sad to leave the organisation and wish them well for a bright and prosperous future.”
Preston born Andy Wiggans will take on the position of Chair as of January 2008. Andy has been a member of the Trust’s Board since 2005. He currently works as a free lance consultant with a particular focus on community development, engagement and cohesion.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Chief Executive Rodney Hill said:
“Jacqui has given five years of outstanding service - all of it in an unpaid voluntary capacity. She helped to establish the Trust in 2002, before its launch in April 2003, and has developed an excellent Board giving strong and creative leadership.
“Jacqui has always been passionate about the contribution that leisure and cultural services can make to the quality of people's lives and she's been unstinting in her commitment, not least in terms of time. We will all miss her, but she's left the organisation in a much stronger position than it was when first formed. We all wish Jacqui well for the future.”
Jacqui now plans to concentrate on managing and growing her own consultancy business, which currently employs over 100 people both in the UK and Norway. She is also looking forward to getting her weekends back!
