WN7 Outreach bringing kids together and off Leigh streets
Henley, Ruby and Anthony at WN7 Outreach CIC in Leigh
A programme launched to reduce youth anti-social behaviour in Leigh is offering young people a positive, safe environment to spend their time.
The Positive Pathways programme, launched by WN7 Outreach CIC, has previously been awarded £9,500 by the Wigan Borough Community Partnership to support young people aged 11 to 18-years-old across the WN7 ward, Leigh town centre and Leigh South.
Since the launch of the programme in April, several children have been engaging with the team in various activities, which include football, volunteering and cooking sessions, with a recreation space also available at their community base at The Cotton Mill, in Leigh.
Director of WN7 Outreach CIC, Anthony Doyle, 41, from Leigh, said: “WN7 Outreach was born to bring everybody together and try and offer something more positive in the town.
“It is giving young people a sense of belonging, showing them that there are people who care and don’t judge. It doesn’t fix everything straight away, but it gives young people an alternative to a street presence.”
The programme also helps young people who are struggling with their education by offering teaching and conversations around work opportunities led by qualified staff and trained volunteers.
Councillor Kevin Anderson, cabinet portfolio holder for police, crime and civil contingencies, said:“It is fantastic to see the programme being consistently engaged with by our young people.
“Young people can face numerous challenges, and we want to ensure they have access and opportunities to, learn, grow and feel safe in their communities.
“We support this to not only ensure our young residents flourish but to also address concerns of groups gathering unsupervised during evening hours and over school holidays.”
Around 30 children regularly engage with activities WN7 deliver, with more than 50 children signed up to the Positive Pathways programme so far.
Henley, 16, from Leigh, has been coming to WN7 Outreach CIC since he was nine years-old.
Henley said he has learnt how to do first-aid CPR and how to cook, while also taking part in football, skateboarding and other sports. He now volunteers to give something back to the team.
He said: “Since I began offering voluntary work here, I am not out on the streets messing about like I used to, and I am not sat in my room being bored, I am getting out and about and associating with people and making new friends.
“WN7 Outreach has given me the confidence to help deliver sessions to younger children, helped shape my friendship groups, and I can appreciate how lucky I am.”
Ruby Hope, 16, from Leigh, who has been coming to WN7 CIC for a year, said: “It has helped me to socialise more, and to not feel scared to go out and speak to people.
“WN7 CIC has also given me more confidence to do my GCSEs and not be scared of what’s to come.”
Anthony Doyle added: “If you are someone who sees something on social media or are walking through the town centre you may see certain situations as ‘a group of kids causing trouble’, but when you strip it back, when we get these young people in and get them working with other people, you can spot talent, they are not just all children who have no hope or just want to misbehave.
“We want to give everyone a fresh start, so the door is always open, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Wigan Borough Community Safety Partnership work with various community groups, including WN7 Outreach CIC, Wigan Youth Zone and Wigan Athletic Community Trust, delivering programmes for young people across the borough.
As part of the partnership, Wigan Council’s children’s REACH services also work with young people, aged 10 to17, across the borough, offering support via youth groups and community outreach support.
Councillor Anderson added: "We know we have a strong support network in place to help our young people make positive changes and choices, but it is about continually making these opportunities known.
"If anyone has any concerns about anti-social behaviour in general across Wigan Borough then we encourage you to please report it, we can only fully respond and help when we know there is a potential incident that has been reported to us or Greater Manchester Police."
Posted on Thursday 25th June 2026