Community spirit is on show in bucket loads in Wigan

Danny Fletcher with the weekly food donations

The last three months of lockdown has been a diffiult time for many - but community spirit can be found in bucket loads.

That is certainly the case for kind-hearted people in Ashton and Bryn who have been donating food and taking part in litter pick-ups.

Over the last few months, Ashton resident Danny Flether has organised weekly food donation collections to Wigan Council’s SDF Hub in Ashton.

Each week residents have contacted Danny donating whatever they can.

Danny Fletcher doing the litter pick with resident Ray Douglas

As the weeks have progressed more and more residents have responded to Danny’s donation request.

And Danny is also helped by other local Ashton and Bryn volunteers, such as local children’s poet, Ray Douglas, Ashton Circle Co-ordinator, Becky Noy, Ashton councillor, Anthony Sykes, and even Danny’s son, Harvey Fletcher.

Danny, who is a Labour council candidate in Ashton, said: “This shows how communities can truly pull together in times of unprecedented need.

“Ashton and Bryn has certainly shown how small acts of collective kindness can make the difference.

‘The generosity of Ashton and Bryn community has ensured our most vulnerable residents will not go hungry.

“A huge thank you for all donations this past few months.”

Claire Marriot-Lodge, Church Minister at Salvation Army in Ashton, said: “Thank you Danny for your continued support of our food bank and always delivering with a warm smile.”

And Danny’s efforts have received praise from Wigan Council leader David Molyneux who thanked him for his support, as well as from people on social media.

As well as the food donations, Danny has been involved with a community litter pick-up with resident Ray Douglas on Bryn Rec where bin bags of excess rubbish were collected.

Danny said: “It was a pleasure assisting Bryn resident, Ray Douglas, with his community litterpick. We recognised that Wigan Council are rightly focussing on frontline COVID related matters, and therefore stepped in as part of The Deal to help clear excess litter’

“We recognised the strain on council services at the moment, so we stepped in to clear the excess litter.

He added: "This is all relating to Wigan ‘The Deal’ initiative.”

The Wigan Deal is an informal agreement between the public sector, citizens, community groups and businesses to create a better borough.