The Wigan Courier Newspaper :: Wigan's Good News Paper

SCHOOL'S OUT - and across the whole of Wigan Borough loads of activities are being laid on to ensure young people stay Safe4Summer whilst still having lots of fun!

And even though the classrooms are closed for the next six weeks, there’s still plenty of opportunities to learn something new. So whether young people want to sharpen their archery skills in Mesnes Park as part of Operation Windburn, learn body popping in Leigh or go wet and wild in a range of exciting canalside activities across Greenheart Regional Park, there’s bound to be something right up their street.

Over the summer, young people can get involved in youth action groups where they can make positive contributions to the local community or join youth clubs where they can network with other young people. Alternatively for those of a more energetic disposition, outdoor activities such as rockclimbing and windsurfing are also scheduled to take place, together with the ever popular X-Zones on Friday and Saturday nights.

But Safe4Summer is about more than just having fun and taking part in activities across the borough.

Led on by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, and covering all ten local authorities in Greater Manchester, the Safe4Summer campaign offers young people personal safety advice – with particular emphasis on how to be safe around fire, near water and on the road.

Safe4Summer also gets young people thinking about some of the issues that are important to them, from healthy eating and alcohol to sex education and bullying. And it also prompts them to consider the impact their behaviour could potentially have on the wider community – including the life threatening knock-on effects of making hoax calls to the emergency services.

"Sadly, the summer holiday period poses many potential dangers to young people – from the risks associated with the family barbecue, to the often irresistible but tragic lure of dangerous buildings and open water.

"In spring, the borough’s fire appliances were called to more than 500 deliberately set fires, including grass fires, each costing in the region of £1970."

"Our aim with Safe4Summer is to help everyone to enjoy this time of year safely and responsibly, whilst ensuring resources are available to respond to real emergencies."

The Safe4Summer campaign is supported by Linc Online, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s information site which is produced in partnership with the Council’s Youth Service and local young people. Officers from Greater Manchester Police (Wigan Division) and teams from Wigan Council’s Children and Young People’s Services are also supporting the campaign as part of their commitment to the multi-agency Building Stronger Communities Partnership.

"During the long summer break, young people who are out and about could find themselves involved in something that looks like it's just a bit of harmless fun," says Cllr Sue Loudon, Wigan Council’s cabinet champion for children and young people.

"But other members of the community might not agree! So whilst young people may think they’re not doing anybody any harm, their behaviour could upset other people, land them in trouble or put them at risk of personal danger.

"That’s why campaigns like Safe4Summer are so important, by signposting young people to information on personal safety and social responsibility, as well as telling them about all the positive activities available to them."

"Safe4Summer is a great campaign that invites young people to get involved in lots of exciting activities over the summer holidays, whilst encouraging everyone to stay safe. We continue to target those engaging in anti-social behaviour, and we ask young people to look after their friends, have fun and stay out of trouble during the holidays."

"Engagement can be as beneficial as enforcement when it comes to tackling the issue of youth-related anti-social behaviour. We want to assure local residents that agencies are working together and constantly finding innovative and cost effective ways of combating the affects of ASB on local neighbourhoods. Safe4Summer is a great example of this in practice."

So make this summer memorable for the right reasons! Have some fun, keep out of trouble and stay Safe4Summer.

WIGAN town centre is the place to be thist week as the sounds, scents, tastes and textures of exotic North Africa come to town.
As part of its hugely successful themed-market series, the council’s town centre team will be welcoming a Tunisian Market to the town centre from Wednesday July 21 onwards.
Market Place in the heart of the town centre will take on the appearance of the Grand Bazaar or ‘Souk’ as it’s known in Tunisia, with brightly coloured stalls down the length on the busy street.
And there will be a veritable cornucopia of quality goods on offer from the mystical desert state.
There will be handmade garden pots and clay-baked barbecues, leather goods, handmade glass and ceramic ware.
For food lovers there will be speciality olives, honey-layered baklava, dry fruit and nuts and some very ‘moorish’ paella.
Wigan Council Cabinet Champion for the Economy Cllr David Molyneux, says: “Over the past few years our themed markets have really captured the imagination of shoppers and they’ve helped bring a lot of business back into the town centre.
“We would like people to come into the town to enjoy the Tunisian market and maybe visit our very own market for a few homegrown bargains at the same time.
“I am really looking forward to saying hello to the Tunisian traders or As-salam alaykum as we say in Ince!”
The Tunisian Market will run from Wednesday July 21 until Saturday July 24 between 9am and 5pm.

WIGAN Borough has seen the largest drop in unemployment in Greater Manchester over the last twelve months.
The June figures show a fall of nearly 5 per cent in those claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance since last month. Since last summer the fall has been over 12 per cent.
The data, just released by Wigan Council’s economic regeneration office, once again shows unemployment in the borough falling for the fifth successive month, and at a faster rate than UK averages.
“This is excellent news,” says Cllr David Molyneux, the cabinet champion for regeneration. “The council continues to work closely with business leaders, banks, advice groups and our own economics experts to support jobs, people and businesses.”
June’s claimant count reduction was largely a result of a reduced number of people moving onto Job Seekers Allowance. This is seen as a strong indication that fewer people are being made redundant.
It was recently reported that the Intensive Start Up Support (ISUS) Business programme is creating one new business every day and is expected stay above target.
Susan Gambles, head of the council’s regeneration agency, says: “The good news is that since the beginning of the year 5,235 people have found work. This compares with 4,300 over the same time period last year. What we are seeing is a 18 per cent increase in people finding work since 2009 performance.
The work of the council’s economic regeneration office and its partners continues to help Wigan weather the financial storm.
The council has pledged to continue its work alongside local businesses and through funding streams to ensure these strong trends continue to benefit locals and the wider economy.

WIGAN Warriors have confirmed the signings of Melbourne Storm trio Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch and Jeff Lima.

The three players join for the 2011 season onwards; Second Row Forward Ryan Hoffman has signed a one-year contract (2011) with a second year option, Half-Back Brett Finch has agreed a two-year deal (2011 and 2012) whilst Prop Forward Jeff Lima joins for three years (2011, 2012 and 2013).

Wigan Warriors Head Coach, Michael Maguire, is delighted to secure the three players:

“Having worked with Ryan, Brett and Jeff during my time at Melbourne I am thrilled that they will be joining us from next season. All three are champion players with experience at the very highest level. They all have a great work ethic and are top quality additions who will complement our existing playing squad.

“Ryan will provide us with a massive presence in the back row whilst Jeff is a powerhouse who will lead from the front. Brett has great skills, a good kicking game and is a good organiser on the field who will provide us with more options between the half back and hooking roles.”

“I am delighted that the Wigan Club has been able to attract players of such quality to the engage Super League. They are all in the prime of their careers and are hungry for success with us. Wigan continues to have a great reputation in Australia and the decision of these three players to join us again demonstrates our ability to attract the best players in the sport.

“Their presence will also offer mature experience and a winning culture in direct support of the young players in our squad such as Stefan Marsh, Chris Tuson, Liam Farrell, Lee Mossop, Ben Davies and Joe Mellor together with the other excellent Wigan prospects coming through towards the First Team.”

“We have always said that the Wigan strategy is to bring through and retain talented young players from within our Scholarship and Academy and complement them with a limited number of world-class overseas players. These signings are entirely consistent with that policy.”

“I am also proud to note that 11 of our 17-man squad playing against Warrington last Friday were Wigan-trained or Wigan-born”

26 year old Hoffman has played four times for Australia and earned five New South Wales, State of Origin caps having spent all his career at the Melbourne Club.

Brett Finch, 28, made his first Grade debut in 1999 for Canberra and has since played for Sydney Roosters (03-06) and Parramatta (07-09) before joining Melbourne in April 2009. During his career Brett has played three times for New South Wales.

Jeff Lima, 28, has played six test matches for New Zealand having started his career at West Tigers. He then had a brief spell in France before joining the Storm in 2006.

Previous Clubs Canberra (1999-2002), Sydney Roosters (2003-2006), Parramatta (2007-2009), Melbourne (2009-2010)

It's time to think about entering for this year's Wigan business awards or nominating a company you know. Closing date for nominations is 12th August and the trophies will be awarded at a gala dinner in Wigan on 19th November.
The awards give Wigan businesses a great opportunity to generate positive publicity for their products and services as well as offering the chance to entertain key clients at the annual awards dinner.
2010 sees three new awards: for Business Continuity, Exporting/International Trade, and Commitment to the Community. So we have eleven awards to tempt you.
You can nominate yourselves or someone else - the scheme is open to all Wigan businesses not just Chamber members.
More information and nomination forms can be found at www.gmchamber.co.uk/wiganbusinessawards
The process is as follows:
All nomination forms to be sent in by 12 August.
Shortlisting (three per category) undertaken by Chamber staff by 3rd September. Businesses and media notified.
From 6th September, media run articles on shortlisted businesses up to 15th November.
Panel-style judging in mid-October to select the winner in each category.
Gala dinner award ceremony on 19th November.
Media publicity for winners in wc 22nd November.
Cover story in December/January edition of Chamber magazine 53 degrees sent to over 5000 Chamber members.

If you would like any further information, please don't hesitate to phone me, or let me know if you would like to have a chat to any of last year's winners or shortlisted businesses and I will try and arrange that.
Patrick Prinsloo
Local Policy Manager
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
0161 237 4250 / 0781 562 4028
patrick.prinsloo@gmchamber.co.uk
www.gmchamber.co.uk
Fax: 0161 237 3277