The council will manage the £8.4m programme on behalf of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, aimed at boosting job opportunities and developing an ‘enterprise’ culture in Wigan and seven other north west coalfield areas.
Cllr Keith Cunliffe, the council’s representative on the scheme, said: “This is really good news for the region’s coalfield communities. Through these challenging economic times this will improve skills, encourage investment and create more attractive places to live and work in.”
About half of the funding is from the North West Development Agency with cash from other private and public sources making up the £8.4 million.
The first phase of funding, which saw £5m invested in Wigan alone between 2004 and 2008, led to improvements in health, employment and education in former mining communities and was praised by the independent watchdog the Audit Commission.
Projects included schemes to transform unattractive landscapes and create better access to green spaces in places like Ashton, Bickershaw and Mosley Common and measures to improve the health of young people in the coalfield areas.
Hindley benefited from funds to bring vacant or derelict buildings back into use, while there was help for unemployed adults to find and keep jobs.
Volunteer’s dream job
Conservation volunteer Philip Swift, who went on a personal development programme.
Philip Swift from Leigh is now fulfilling a long held dream doing voluntary conservation work with Groundwork and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.
Philip went on a personal development programme for the long term unemployed funded through the coalfield regeneration money.
Although highly qualified, Philip has been out of work for two years and his self confidence was at an all-time low.
He said: “The course was well constructed, very informative, well presented and original. My CV and interview techniques are better now so I hope this will improve my chances of gaining employment.”
