In the community

As an Individual

• Get to know your neighbour.
• Buy at least some of your fresh produce at farmers markets/from local producers.
• Join a local volunteer or community group .
• Vote at elections.
• Consider getting involved with the citizens’ panel or at township meetings (see below for web address with more information on this).
• Try to raise awareness generally around issues such as recycling, protection of local amenities and resource saving.
• Become a magistrate or stand as a local councillor.
• Organise a one-off event which contributes to the local community or helps local wildlife.
• Set up or get involved in a Fairtrade group (link to the Wigan FTG below).
• Set up a Home Watch scheme to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in your area (for help and advice see link to council Homewatch page, below).
• Older people make time to talk to young people you know and young people make time to talk to older people – both groups might be surprised what they find out!

Businesses/Organisations

• Look into the possibility of using local suppliers where possible. This can reduce both transport costs and CO2 emissions related with long distance transport and also injects money into the local economy.
• Consider whether you can offer work experience to local teenagers to help them improve their skills and knowledge thereby supporting the development of local people in the local economy.
• Consider whether local groups could benefit from the nearly new technology you are disposing of when you upgrade the office PCs.
• Become a sponsor of a community group or organisation
• Think about where and how you are disposing of waste – is it endangering or inconveniencing local people or damaging the local environment? How can its impact be reduced?

Useful links

The following links provide a wealth of information to individuals and businesses about the various ways they can contribute to making their local communities more sustainable:

• Home Watch
  
• Volunteering England (external link) provides information and contact details about a variety of volunteering opportunities both regionally and nationally in a range of different areas of interest.
• Wigan Council recruits volunteers for a variety of roles. 
• Do-it! (external link) is an informative website for anyone thinking of volunteering at home or abroad
• Greenpeace (external link) homepage of the world renowned organisation campaigning for the protection of the natural world and peace.
• Fairtrade Foundation (external link) 
• The Wigan Fairtrade Group (external link) may be a good place to start if you want to get involved in promoting Fairtrade in this area.)
• Wigan Borough Township homepage
• Citizens’ Panel
• Lancashire and Greater Manchester Farm Shops and Markets (external link).  This website provides links to some local producers including listings of some (though not all) farmers markets in the region.
• Every Action Counts (external link) helps community groups and the voluntary sector with ideas for how they can be more environmentally friendly
• Business in the Community (external link) is comprised of over 700 companies committed to improving their positive impact on society. Provides help and guidance for other businesses.
• Groundwork (external link) works alongside communities, public bodies, private companies and voluntary bodies to deliver projects benefiting people, places and prosperity in communities across the UK.
• Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust (external link) provides a comprehensive range of community health services.

Contact Details