Last year Wigan Council and its partners gave a total of more than £1 million to over 600 voluntary and community groups and organisations who work in the borough or for the benefit of people in the borough.
Applicants range from very small local community groups to larger community charitable organisations and grants vary from less than £100 to as much as £9,000.
The money can be used to help meet running costs, purchase equipment, run projects which help older people to meet and socialise, provide children’s activities and much more.
There are several different “funding pots” but these can be accessed initially by using one single online application form which can be found at: www.wigan.gov.uk then click G for grants in the A-Z of services. All the application forms for the different funds can be found on this site, but anyone unsure about which grant to apply for can contact Anne Roberts, Policy Officer Partnership and Voluntary Sector on 01942 827997 or email Anne Roberts
Joe Reid, president of the Norley Hall Allotment Society.
The money provided through the local grant aid scheme co-ordinated by the council enables local people to take direct control over the issues they consider to be most important.
And there’s certainly no shortage of public-spirited volunteers and community groups in Wigan.
Their tireless efforts help to make life better for all kinds of people who live in the borough.
Here, we showcase four of the many groups in the borough who achieved great things. Whether their focus has been on young people, adults, strengthening their communities or enriching Wigan’s cultural heritage, they have all contributed to making our borough a better place to live.
Over the past 15 years the society members have benefited from a number of grants totalling several thousands of pounds. The money has been used to buy expensive equipment such as a lawn mower, rotavator, garden tools and even a generator to help them produce bumper crops of produce and plants. For more information phone Joe Reid on 01942 511236.
