Double delight for Wigan borough leisure centre at Westminser awards cermony

A Wigan borough leisure hub was among the big winners at the inaugural HAF Awards at the House of Commons.
By Matt Pennington
Published 25th May 2023, 15:45 BST
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Howe Bridge Leisure Centre Atherton, owned and run by Wigan Council’s Be Well brand, claimed two major prizes at the Westminster ceremony.

Organised by the Department for Education (DfE), the awards celebrated the outstanding frontline provision happenign across the country as part of the Holiday Activities and Food programme. The centre was also crowned one of two North West champions.

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Left to right: Chris Rimmer (general manager, Howe Bridge LC), Gaynor Eastham (lead officer - public health, Wigan Council), Shannon Fairhurst (HAF Coordinator, Wigan Council) and Tony Doyle (WN7 Outreach) with the National Recognition Award.Left to right: Chris Rimmer (general manager, Howe Bridge LC), Gaynor Eastham (lead officer - public health, Wigan Council), Shannon Fairhurst (HAF Coordinator, Wigan Council) and Tony Doyle (WN7 Outreach) with the National Recognition Award.
Left to right: Chris Rimmer (general manager, Howe Bridge LC), Gaynor Eastham (lead officer - public health, Wigan Council), Shannon Fairhurst (HAF Coordinator, Wigan Council) and Tony Doyle (WN7 Outreach) with the National Recognition Award.
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Coun Jenny Bullen, the local authority’s portfolio holder for children and families, said: “HAF makes such a huge difference to local families, especially when so many are facing such difficult times because of the rising cost of living.

“We’re so incredibly proud of all the brilliant work done by our delivery teams all across our borough, and we’re absolutely delighted our activity at Howe Bridge Leisure Centre has been declared among the very best in the country!

“I’d like to say a massive congratulations to our amazing team and to all our wonderful partners who have made this possible.”

Wigan’s HAF programme provides healthy meals and enriching activities for thousands of children and young people aged five to 16 across the borough during the school holidays.

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Funded by the DfE and open to families in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, it aims to encourage children to eat more healthily and be more active while supporting the development of their character, wellbeing and education.

The National Recognition Award commended Howe Bridge Leisure Centre for its “strong effective local partnerships” and its fully inclusive offer which has seen 350 individual children take part in camps across Easter, summer and Christmas 2022.

The centre was also praised for the flexibility of its staff and the wide variety of its delivery including climbing, skating and BMX in its adventure zone, swimming boxing and and overnight Christmas holiday camp in partnership with WN7 Outreach CIC.

Other activities ranged from arts and crafts, dance and reading, to computing and Lego robotics, while children were also provided with healthy and nutritious meals each day that they attended camp.

Coun Chris Ready, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “It’s a massive honour for Howe Bridge Leisure Centre to be recognised on the national stage, but the real reward has been seeing the smiles of the many local children who have been enjoying our wonderful holiday activity camps, and knowing what a positive difference we’ve been making for local families. It really makes it all worthwhile!”

Learn more about Wigan Borough’s HAF programme at wigan.gov.uk/HolidayActivities

Related topics:WiganHouse of CommonsChris ReadyWigan Council