Don’t be a couch potato this Autumn
How will you be spending your autumn half term? Tidying your room? Vegging out in front of the telly? Squabbling with your kid brother over the Wii? Or even worse - visiting an elderly aunt who knits you those repulsive jumpers?! Well, if you prefer your half term to go with a bang, check out all the things you could be doing instead.
Here’s our at-a-glance A-Z of activities, and many of them are free!
a
Assault courses, arts projects and alcohol awareness advice…all part of the X-Zones!
b
Bikes! Learn basic cycle proficiency and maintenance skills or trailblaze across the borough. For more information, call the Outdoor Education team on 01942 769812 or email outdooreducation@wigan.gov.uk
c
Canoe Club at Scotmans Flash – Saturdays 1.00pm – 3.00pm. £4 for young people. Beginners to intermediate. For more information, call the Outdoor Education team on 01942 769812 or email outdooreducation@wigan.gov.uk
d
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Open to all young people aged 14-25. The award offers the chance to get involved in exciting activities, the chance to learn new skills and to gain a brilliant, nationally recognized qualification for activities you are already involved in. To find out more about the award contact 01942 769813 or dofe@wigan.gov.uk
e
Everybody counts, fully accessible youth club for young people with disabilities. Cookery, picnics, workshops, trips out, arts and crafts – there’s loads happening! Lowton Youth Club – Tuesdays 6pm – 8.30pm
f
Fire fighter experience Visit a fire station and learn what fire fighters do.You must book a place in advance and come along with a youth worker. Leigh and Hindley fire stations. Talk to your youth worker about this or call 486237/487087 for more information.
g
Girls Allowed! There are several girls-only groups across the borough. Meet like-minded people or get involved in activities including sports, crafts, workshops, games and cooking. Atherton Girls Group meets at Meadow Bank Sure Start centre on Formby Avenue (Wednesdays 5 - 8.30pm). Lowton Girls meet on Mondays 6 - 9pm. The Meadows in Worsley Hall holds a girls-only club on Thursdays 6.30 – 9.15pm.
h
Hit Zones. Youth workers will be out and about in your area during the autumn. Have a chat, get confidential advice about anything that’s worrying you or just find out about activities that are happening in your area. Hindley, Platt Bridge, Abram. Thursdays and Fridays 5pm - 9pm.
i
Information. Don’t be in the dark this autumn. If you want advice about anything from alcohol to sex or from skill workshops to school bullying, there’s loads of information online. But remember, take care when you’re online. Lowton Girls’ Group have produced a DVD about how to protect yourself when you’re on the internet. For more information call the council’s Voice and Engagement Team on 486237.
j
James Bond (Shaken not stirred!) Voices for Choices has organised a special James Bond themed celebration event at DW stadium in November to promote the achievements of young people in care. For more information or to nominate a young person for an award contact Amy Calter on 01942 487071.
k
Kool Zones are free workshops, discussions and activities for young people. They’re happening all over the borough: The Meadows in Worsley Hall, Borsdane precinct, Lowton youth club, Hag Fold Park, Shakerley Common and Fosters Playing field in Ince. There’s loads to do from quizzes to climbing walls.
l
Latics in the community. Wigan Athletic Community Trust is planning a range of football matches during Operation Treacle. For more information contact Wigan Athletic Community Trust on 01942 488 530 or e-mail community@wiganathleticct.com
m
Media Bus. For 8-13 year olds. Make some fun masks and frightful decorations for Halloween! Woodcock Drive, Platt Bridge, Mondays 5.45 – 8.15pm.
n
Non-alcoholic cocktails. Learn how to create your own fruity cocktails. Avoid that hideous hangover and stay in control! Join in the fun at Lowton Youth Club, Thursdays 6pm-9pm. For young people 13-19.
o
Organised bonfire displays! Don’t get your fingers burnt playing with fireworks. Get yourself along to a display – it’s safer, loads more fun and there’s usually bags of treacle toffee on sale too!
p
Power boating at Scotmans Flash – for more information, call the Outdoor Education team on 01942 769812 or email outdooreducation@wigan.gov.uk
q
Qualifications. Get some advice on your future options and find out how to beef up your CV. For more information, visit: www.mycoursemyfuture.com
r
Rafiki is a youth group for kids from different ethnic backgrounds. You can get involved in a range of activities, workshops or family support groups. Kamosi is a similar group for young people from Eastern Europe. For more information on these groups, call Mehmood on 487090.
s
Saturday Sailing at Scotsman’s Flash off Poolstock Lane in Wigan – Saturdays 09.30 – 12.00 noon. £4 for young people. Beginners to advanced. For more information, call the Outdoor Education team on 01942 769812 or email outdooreducation@wigan.gov.uk
t
Trick or Treat! Have fun on Halloween, but remember that sometimes older people can find it very frightening to see people they don’t recognise knocking at their door. Please be considerate to vulnerable people, show respect for property and be polite when ‘trick and treating’.
u
Uniformed groups. There are loads of uniformed groups across the borough, offering you the chance to learn new skills, make friends and have fun!
v
Volunteer on an environmental project with Groundwork. Find out more at www.groundwork.org.uk/wigan
w
Windsurfing. For more information, call the Outdoor Education team on 01942 769812 or email outdooreducation@wigan.gov.uk
x
X-Zones are happening on Friday nights right across the borough including: Norley Hall, Beech Hill, Whelley, Robin Park Sports Arena, Jubilee Park in Ashton, Dootsons Park in Leigh, Central Park in Atherton, Astley Street Park in Tyldesley, Mesnes Park in Wigan, The Meadows in Worsley Hall and Borsdane precinct in Hindley.
y
Youth Councils. If you want to have your say, get involved in your local youth council. Boroughwide locations. Find out more by calling Angela on 487082.
z
Zumba – the latest Latin dance craze for all ages. To find classes, log on to www.zumbawigan.com or www.hurstdance.co.uk
No matter how you want to spend your autumn, whatever you want to do... there's plenty going on and there's something for everyone. But if that’s not enough, here are some more suggestions to get you thinking…
Other activities
Wigan Leisure & Cultural Trust would encourage everyone to attend an
organised display.
Haigh Hall
Remember, remember, the fifth of November… only this year, it’s on the fourth!
Haigh Bonfire and Firework Display 04 November 2012 at 16:00
- Haigh Country Park, Haigh, Wigan
- Celebrate Bonfire Night at Haigh Country Park.
- Gates open 4pm. Bonfire lit 6pm. Firework display 7pm
- Tickets Only
- Advanced Tickets Adult £7 Child £5 Family £20 (2 Adults 2 Children)
- On The Night Sales Adult £8 Child £6
- To Book Please Tel: 01942 828 271
Other organised bonfire events
- Venue: Westhoughton Cricket Club
- Details: Annual firework display (no bonfire)
- Date: Friday 2nd November
- Time: Commences 8.00pm
- Venue: Leigh Cricket, Tennis & Bowling Club, Beech Walk, Leigh
- Details: Annual bonfire firework display
- Date: Monday 5th November
- Time: Children’s Display 7.00pm / adults display 7.30pm
- Venue: Wigan RUFC
- Details: Annual bonfire firework display
- Date: Monday 5th November
- Time: Commences 6.45pm
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust
There’s no shortage of things to do across Wigan Borough.
Get down to your local library – where you’ll find a huge choice of CDs, DVDs, playstations... oh, and books!
Or if you don’t mind getting your hair wet, make a splash at your local swimming pool – and swim for free until 14th November!
Plings
Plings is the first national source of information about brilliant, inspiring and challenging places to go and things to do for everyone who's aged 13-19. No matter where you live or what you're into, we'll have something that you and
others will love.
Want to fuel a passion or discover a new talent? It's easy.
Just browse or search by keyword, postcode and date to get the lowdown on what's happening, where and when. Even better, we've made it dead easy to share details with your friends and other
young people so, whether your into street dance, football, theatre,
film projects, music, wheelchair basketball or anything else, Plings
will get you connected.
Make a difference and get
involved in Youth Work Week.
The National Youth Agency has re-launched Youth Work Week this year to celebrate great youth work and generate positive publicity for young people locally. From 1 to 7 November 2010, youth groups cross the country will be urged to celebrate great youth work, and to raise awareness of its benefits among politicians, both local and national, as well as the general public.
http://about.plings.net/./featured-plings/national-youth-work-week
Wigan Borough Sports Council
Get Active with Wigan Sports Development this Autumn check the website out to find out what activites are available this autumn.
Click here to visit the website.Wigan Athletic Community Trust
- Day of event: Monday
- Activity: Kickz Football
- Venue/Location: Hag Fold, Dorset Road Community Centre, Atherton, M46 9PT
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Tuesday
- Activity: “Girls Only” Street Dance and Multi-sports in partnership with Active Living and Wigan Sports Development
- Venue/Location: Hag Fold, Dorset Road Community Centre, Atherton, M46 9PT
- Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Thursday
- Activity: Kickz Football
- Venue/Location: Hag Fold, Dorset Road Community Centre, Atherton, M46 9PT
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Thursday
- Activity: Latics Soccer Centre
- Venue/Location: Byrchall High School, Warrington Road, Ashton in Makerfield, WN4 9PQ
- Time: TBC
- Age Range: 6 – 11 years
- Cost: £3
- Day of event: Thursday
- Activity: Midnight League Football in partnership with Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Wigan and Leigh Housing
- Venue/Location: Shakerley Common, Cumberland Avenue, Tyldesley, Manchester, M29 8FU
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Thursday
- Activity: Football and Multi-sports in partnership with Wigan Sports Development and Wigan and Leigh Housing
- Venue/Location: Belle Green Lane, Ince, Wigan, Lancashire, WN2 2EP
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Friday
- Activity: Kickz Football
- Venue/Location: Hag Fold, Dorset Road Community Centre, Atherton, M46 9PT
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Friday
- Activity: Midnight League Football in partnership with Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Wigan and Leigh Housing
- Venue/Location: Shakerley Common, Cumberland Avenue, Tyldesley, Manchester, M29 8FU
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free
- Day of event: Friday
- Activity: Football in partnership with Wigan and Leigh Housing
- Venue/Location: Rosebridge High School, Holt Street, Ince in Makerfield, Wigan, WN1 3HD
- Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm
- Age Range: 12 – 19 years
- Cost: Free