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A new initiative that provides free dance, football and creative art
activities for young people is also helping to foster new friendships
amongst residents in Leigh.
The Leigh Neighbours Project, led by the Leigh Township Forum, with the
recreational element co-ordinated by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust
(WLCT), is working towards creating stronger multi-cultural communities
in the Leigh area.
Lots of activities have been set up to provide young people from all
backgrounds the chance to enjoy a variety of activities together. The
sessions involve input from Leigh Centurions, Leigh RMI, the Fit2Dance
project and the Turnpike Gallery.
Many young people have already taken the opportunity to get arty and
sporty in Leigh and now the project’s organisers are looking for more
young people aged 11 to 16, to take part in a host of free activities
that include:
• art, dance and performance opportunities;
• football and rugby league coaching;
• football and rugby league teams for boys and girls.
Megan Griffiths (pictured right), aged 14, said, “I really love the
dance sessions. I am so glad I got involved, it has really helped to
improve my self-confidence and I have had the opportunity to make lots
of new friends.”
John Hesketh, Community Regeneration Manager, for WLCT, says, “We are
delighted that young people have been enjoying the activities and as a
result have learned new skills and had a great deal of fun at the same
time. There are lots of exciting opportunities to enjoy, so I would urge
young people or their parents to register their interest soon. They can
get involved with the existing groups, or we can try to tailor different
activities to their needs.”
John continued, “There are more and more people from different ethnic
and cultural backgrounds settling in Leigh. It is becoming a very
diverse community. We believe that by encouraging children of different
cultural backgrounds to share positive leisure time experiences with one
another, we can help to create an environment in which young people from
different ethnic backgrounds can forge long-lasting positive
relationships.“
Dance sessions currently take place at Westleigh High School, every
Monday from 4.00 to 5.30pm. Art activities take place at the Turnpike
Gallery on Tuesdays from 4.00 to 5.30pm. Times and dates vary for the
football and rugby league elements according to age and starting points.
Anyone wishing to be involved in these free activities should contact
John Hesketh on 01942 486916, via email at
j.hesketh@wlct.org, or by
writing to him at the freepost address: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust,
Freepost NATW1645, Wigan, WN1 1XZ.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or
at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
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Megan Griffiths at a free dance session
Joel Fletcher enjoying an art workshop |