Former charity staff join parents in bid to open new centre in Wigan for vulnerable children

Hop, Skip and Jump, on Parson’s Walk in Wigan, closed its doors in March when its owners went into administration, leaving staff without jobs and parents devastated.

Wigan Council bosses said staff were offered support to consider setting up a community interest company (CIC).

When this proved not to be possible, the council decided to provide the services themselves, along with Wigan Youth Zone.

But parents and former members of staff concerned about the future of the centre have decided to go their own way.

They want to open a separate venue providing the same facilities and services that were previously available at Hop, Skip and Jump for children with disabilities or special educational needs.

Demi Priestley, who used to be deputy manager at the centre, said: “A lot of our families were devastated about us going into administration. They used direct payments and a lot of children were in crisis because they had nowhere to go.”

The former staff members have applied to set up a CIC to run the centre and they are now looking for a building, which must be accessible for youngsters who use wheelchairs.

They are confident that the new centre will be a success.

Demi said: “Parents will be able to manage their own budget and they can use their care payment however they like. We have a lot of families behind us. We would be able to self-sustain because we had a lot of children accessing us before. It is very well needed and it will be very popular.”

A fund-raising campaign is under way to raise the money needed to set up the new centre, with a series of events planned.

There will be a family fun day from 3pm on Saturday, August 29 at Whelley Labour Club, with a DJ, food, drinks, cake stalls, bouncy castle and other attractions.

Around 70 people will take part in a 20-mile sponsored walk along the canal from Halsall to Wigan on Saturday, September 5.

There are also plans for an adult fund-raising night at Whelley Labour Club on Saturday, September 26, which will include live entertainment, a DJ, auctions, raffles and food.

Emma Eastham, whose 14-year-old son Alex has complex health needs and disabilities and attended Hop, Skip and Jump, said: “We want the centre back up and running as quickly as possible, so we thought if we all chipped in and tried to help to raise the funds, even if it was temporary at first, they could carry on.”

To find out more about the fund-raising events or to help, for example by donating raffle prizes, call Emma on 07703 571003.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/terry-derbyshire-3.