Healthy Schools network goes to college as Wigan and Leigh and Winstanley make the pledge

Healthy Schools network goes to college as Wigan and Leigh and Winstanley make the pledge

Mayor Jenny Bullen with Maxine Mealey of Wigan and Leigh College at this year's Healthy Schools Celebration

Wigan borough’s successful Healthy Schools network has taken another big step forward… by graduating to college!

Wigan and Leigh College and Winstanley College have officially become the first further education settings to sign up for the scheme, which supports schools – and now colleges – to embed a positive culture of health and wellbeing.

They join 91 local primary and secondary schools in making the pledge to create their own wellbeing framework as well as sharing resources and insights on best practice.

Councillor Keith Cunliffe, Wigan Council’s deputy leader and cabinet portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: “Since its launch in January 2023, Wigan Healthy Schools has been making a real impact across the borough – helping create environments in which children and young people are supported to be healthy, happy and connected.

“While it’s important our future generations have access to a quality, well-rounded education, it’s just as vital they have the opportunity to thrive physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.

“That’s why we’re excited to expand our important work into further education settings by welcoming Wigan and Leigh College and Winstanley College as our first official ‘Healthy Colleges’, and we hope to collaborate with even more colleges in the future.”

The news comes hot on the heels of last month’s third annual Wigan Healthy Schools Celebration Event, which was the best attended yet.

It featured presentations from pupils about initiatives happening at their schools, while many partner services were in attendance delivering important messages on topics including healthy eating, mental wellbeing, safeguarding, online safety, water safety, smoking and vaping.

Maxine Mealey, assistant principal at Wigan and Leigh College, who were the very first college to sign up for the scheme, said: “We’ve been really keen to get involved with Healthy Schools for some time now so our students and staff can benefit from all of the resources, all the great messages, and all of the partnership work that’s happening across the borough.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure our students have the best possible life. We want them to leave with the highest grades and the best opportunities, but we also want them to be really happy and healthy too.”

Victoria Morgan, assistant principal at Winstanley College said: “We are passionate about providing outstanding support to our students and creating an environment at college which promotes physical, social, emotional and mental health.

“We encourage our students to ‘be well to do well’ and look forward to building further on our health and wellbeing offer with Wigan Healthy Schools and Healthy Colleges.”

Visit our Wigan Healthy Schools and Healthy Colleges web page for more information.