Made in Wigan Blog
Room For Hire in Wigan Town Centre
Planning a meeting, seminar or training session?
The upstairs room at our Made in Wigan shop has now been finished. During these times of social distancing it is available for hire to those in need of training, space for meeting rooms, classroom space which can accommodate up to 10 people, or as a board room space which can accommodate up to 12 people.
If you would like to make any enquiries, find out more, or book the venue, simply call 01942 732 022 or call in to the Made in Wigan shop.
Abram Ward Community Cooperative ‘s David Baxter has been announced as member of Greater Manchester Social Enterprise Group
Abram Ward Community Cooperative is delighted to announce that David has been selected as one of sixteen representatives of a new advisory group that will support the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) leaders to include the social enterprise agenda in the delivery of the Greater Manchester Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy.
The representatives span a range of sectors – from eCommerce to social care – and cover the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
Rose Marley, CEO of SharpFutures which supports young people into employment in the creative and technology sectors, is taking on the role of interim Chair for the first 12 months.
Rose said: “There are now more social enterprises than ever before active in our region, and the sector is the fastest growing in the UK. Social enterprise has the potential to transform our economy and make a long-term positive social impact on our city-region.”
The group convened its first virtual meeting in April and agreed priorities for the forthcoming year including: campaigning; business and finance support; procurement with the public and business sector and market opportunities.
David says ‘i am proud to have been chosen to represent Social Enterprise in Wigan Borough, we have amazing organisations and look forward to helping to grow this sector’
Greater Manchester social enterprises can keep up-to-date with the Advisory Group’s updates by visiting https://greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/economy/social-enterprise-advisory-group/
and by signing up to the Greater Manchester Social Enterprise Network email bulletin.
Social enterprise colleagues wishing to share their views and feedback can contact the group by emailing socialenterprise@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk or using the contact details listed on the webpage.
Thank you from everyone at Made in Wigan
We would like to share a huge thank you to everyone who attended our first Made in Wigan Charity Event on the 24th August at Bickershaw Village Club. We are extremely proud to announce that the evening raised £2,300 and this money will continue to support the excellent community businesses in Abram Ward.
Dave and his team would like to extend their thanks to the wonderful staff and volunteers who organised the event and helped the night run smoothly. Additionally, a huge thanks to Pianos, Pies and Pirouttes for showcasing amazing music, dance and poetry acts, all Made in Wigan. Finally, thank you to More Than Words CIC for their performance on the night and continued support and encouragement over the years.
“The evening was fantastic and undoubtedly one of my proudest moments from working in the community over the last 2 years, the artists were incredible”. David Baxter Principal Officer at Abram Ward Community Cooperative.
We are really looking forward to this weekend to celebrate our first Made in Wigan Charity Night
This bank holiday weekend we will welcome our first Made in Wigan Charity Event run via Abram Ward Community Cooperative. We are especially looking forward to this evening as we will be celebrating 20 years of Platt Bridge Community Zone and as many will know, this community hub was the main driver behind the development of Abram Ward Community Cooperative.
During the evening we will be showcasing the wonderful Art and Culture talent in our Borough. We are working in partnership with Alan Gregory and his Piano, Pies and Pirouettes organisation, and all the artists performing are truly Made in Wigan.
Thanks to our events committee; Alan Gregory, Pete Smith, Jackie Lowe, and the Events Lead; Gen Smith and special thanks to the sponsors and donators of this event:
Experience Days
Watson Fuels
Barclays Bank
Hotel Old Trafford
Embrace
Wigan Mens Sheds
MissPlaces
Tastebuds Cafe
Betty’s Cafe Bickershaw
Bickie Lads and Lasses
Jean Reflexology
Amans Lowton
Delta Force
Wigan Roller Rink
Tatton Park
Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester
Storck UK
Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden
Breakout Rooms Manchester
Comedy Club Manchester
Mountain Monkey’s
St Andrews Golf
Empire Cinema Wigan
Breakout Room Liverpool
Wigan Little Theatre
Old Courts Wigan
Cottons Hotel Knutsford
Liverpool Royal Philamonic Theatre
Carrington Riding Stables
Blue Planet Aquarium Cheshire Oaks
Team Sport
Wigan Warriors
TransPennine Express
Great Western Railway
Play Factore Trafford Park
Knowsley Safari Park
Martin Mere WLT
Belle Vue Speedway
Dunes Splashworld Southport
Ashton Leisure Centre
Salford Arts Theatre
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Great Rail Journeys
Sandcastle Blackpool
Everton FC
Andies Cafe St Helens
Monopoly Events
Tastebuds Community Café
In June we launched our Community Garden project at Platt Bridge Community Zone, funded via Wigan Council.
We are looking to support local people in Abram Ward to get involved in food growing, with all our food grown forming our menu inside the Cafe. Thanks to Harold Baxter and Ricky Parkinson, two of our local residents for bringing your fruit and veg to our Cafe, all grown locally.
The first batch of potatoes grown in our community garden at Platt Bridge Community Zone are now being placed on the menu, one of our dishes this week is a Potato Salad.
If you would like more information on how to get involved, please message us on tastebudswigan@outlook.com
Our new Made in Wigan shop is now open in the Galleries in Wigan Town Centre!
After a complete transformation and a successful opening event the new Made in Wigan shop is open. This will provide us a platform to help more people to set up their own Community Businesses across the Borough, plus provide a sales platform for our Community Business and the products they make.
You can now access free support to turn your ideas into a community business Drop in to the Madeinwigan.org hub on Hope Street, Monday- Friday 10am-2pm for more information #MadeInWigan
Jeremy Graham from @millikeneurope joined David and Andy from @madeinwiganorg at the opening of the shop. Thanks so much to Milliken for the donation of the modular carpet and logo mat for the new shop.
‘We Count You In’ Gathering
Come to our ‘We Count You In Gathering’
Friday 5th April—6-8pm
At Platt Bridge Community Zone, the home of Made In Wigan
Come along and celebrate the history of shops, shopping and small business in Abram Ward:
- See the unveiling of a new artwork by professional artists which local people have contributed to
- Savour the delicious FREE buffet
- Meet friendly local people running community and local businesses
- Find out about how Made In Wigan can help you
- Comment on the community-led plans for changing our communities for the better
This is an Abram Ward event for everyone, especially those who:
- Support community and local businesses
- Have a business idea you want to take further
- Have an interest or skill and you’d like support to turn this into a product or service
- Support people and organisations making a positive difference in our area
Let us know you’re coming by signing up using this Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/we-count-you-in-tickets-57721587823
New artwork celebrating shops in Abram Ward
New artwork to be revealed very soon!
The ‘Picture This’ project has finished collecting in stories, memories and photos celebrating the history of shops, shopping and small business across Abram Ward.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the over 100 stories – how fantastic! So what’s next?
The professional artists Helen Mather (lead) and Cath Long (associate) have taken your contributions and are making a textile artwork to be permanently displayed at Platt Bridge Community Zone, home of Abram Ward Community Cooperative and several community businesses.
Come along to the unveiling of this beautiful new artwork, which celebrates everyday life in Abram, Bamfurlong, Bickershaw, Platt Bridge and Spring View on Friday April 5th 6-8pm.
This free event is entitled the ‘We Count You In Gathering’ – it’s for people living in Abram Ward, please come along.
#PicturethisAbramward photo sharing
What are your earliest memories of the small businesses of the five villages of Abram Ward?
An ‘Eventful’ Autumn!
The past two months have flown by and have seen me buzzing about all over the borough and indeed the country attending events.
