Useful links

• Information and advice
• Education, training and work
• Leisure activities
• Finance
• Parenting
• Wigan Council's services for children and young people 

Information and advice

• Early education, childcare and children's centres
  Find out about Sure Start services in Wigan borough, including children’s centres.
  
  
• Family Service Directory (external link)
  Information for parents and carers about a range of local organisations offering leisure activities, health services, family support, education (including special educational needs), volunteering and much more.
  
  
• Citizen’s Advice (external link)
  The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, financial and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice.
  
  
• Community Legal Service (external link)
  The Community Legal Service has been set up to help people find the right legal information and advice to solve their problems.
  
  
• Libraries
  There is a wealth of information available at your local library.
  
  
• Wigan Council
  Wigan Council provides information and advice as well as services.
  
  
• Wigan and Leigh Council for Voluntary Services (external link)
  Provides a database of groups and organisations that can provide advice and support on issues that concern you .

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Education, training and work

• Wigan Council
• Education and learning
• Health and social care
• Connexions
• Youth Service
  
  
• OFSTED (external link)
  OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) is responsible for the regulation and inspection of childcare, schools, colleges, children's services, teacher training and youth work.
  
  
• Jobcentre Plus (external link)
  Provides help and advice for people who can work and pays benefits to those who can’t work.
  
  
• Wigan and Leigh College (external link)
  Provides information on the further and higher education courses available as well as vocational and technical courses.
  
  
• Learndirect (external link)
  Distance learning and online courses, as well as part and full-time classroom courses throughout the UK.

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Health

• NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Trust (external link)
  Contains information about local health services including how to find a GP, chemist, dentist or optician in your area.
  
  
• Contact A Family (external link)
  Contact a Family provides advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children. Also enables parents to get in contact with other families, both on a local and national basis.
  
  
• NHS Direct (external link)
  Information about health problems, how to keep healthy and advice on when to call for help.
  
  
• Healthy Start (external link) 
  Free vouchers for milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins if you are on benefits or pregnant and under 18.

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Leisure Activities

• Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust
  The Trust works on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events in the borough. You can find out “what’s on” in your local area from this website.
  
  
• Wigan and Leigh Council for Voluntary Services (external link)
  Provides a database of events and activities taking place in your area.

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Finance

• HM Revenue and Customs (external link)
  Provides advice and information on taxation and benefits, including tax credits.
  
  
• Citizen’s Advice (external link)
  The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice.
  
  
• Now Let's Talk Money (external link)
  Have you got money worries? Whether it's about getting affordable credit, a bank account or free money/debt advice - find out what's available.

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Parenting

• Parent Direct (external link)
  Information and advice for parents on having a baby, childcare, the law, money matters and employment.
  
  
• Parentline Plus (external link)  
  Parentline Plus is a UK registered charity which offers support to anyone parenting a child.
  
  
• Gingerbread (external link)  
  Provides information, advice and support for one-parent families.
  
  
• Working Families (external link) 
  A campaigning charity supporting and giving a voice to working parents and carers, and helping employers create workplaces that encourage work-life balance for everyone.
  
  
• Netmums (external link)
  Netmums is the UK's fastest-growing online parenting organisation, providing information to mothers on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily, to where to meet other mothers.

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Wigan Council's services for children and young people 

• LINC Online
  With lots of information, reviews and articles on many topics, LINC Online is the definitive website for young people in Wigan borough.
  
  
• Library services for young people
  Services in libraries for young people - from toddlers to teens.
  
  
• Play Section
  Providing play opportunities for children.
  
  
• Schools' Library Service
  Learning resources, support and advice for all schools in Wigan borough.

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