Issue 41 - Wigan Council

4NewsNewsin BriefJoin Jack fora race aroundWiganRunners are being urgedto sign-up for the first everWigan 10k road race.More than we could WWiSH forFifty-TWo children have beenadopted in the year since WiganCouncil merged its adoptionservice with Warrington and St.Helens councils.Now called WWiSH, the combinedservice is the first of its kind in thenorth west. It was created to speedup the adoption process and provideincreased opportunities for childrenwaiting to be adopted. In the12 months since it started, 34prospective adoptive families havebeen approved 204 enquiries havebeen received and another 42 familiesare currently being assessed.Currently there are 85 children waitingto be adopted across the three councils.If you’re interested in providing themwith a permanent home, find out moreat www.wwish.org.ukThe event will be held onSunday 8th September and isbeing organised by local charityJoining Jack. It will start andfinish in Wigan town centre -passing a host of landmarksalong the route.Wigan Council and WiganLeisure & Culture Trust arehelping Joining Jack organisethe race. The charity was set-upby former Wigan Warriors playerAndy Johnson and his wife Alex,seen above with Matt Johnson,Wigan Council Leader LordPeter Smith and Stuart Murrayfrom WLCT, after their five yearold son, Jack, was diagnosedwith incurable muscle wastingcondition Duchenne MuscularDystrophy (DMD). Runners areinvited to raise money for acause of their choice.You can register for the race atwww.wigan10k.co.uk. Thereyou can also find informationabout the route, on the dayfacilities and sponsorship forms.Wigan Warriors coach Shaun Wane, businessman Martin Ainscough, Warriors star Sean O’Loughlin,Wigan Athletic’s Gary Caldwell, The Youth Zone’s Simon Baker and Wigan Athletic’s Roberto Martinezmark the 100 days until the openingCountdown to the opening of Wigan Youth ZoneA brand new facilitygiving young peoplea place to meet andtry out a range ofactivities will officiallyopen its doors in June.The Wigan Youth Zone willbe open from 4 pm to 10pm - seven days a week– offering youngsters ahost of things to do. The£6.3 million building, atMesnes Field in WiganTown Centre, will be ableto accommodate as manyas 3,000 young peopleevery week. Entry will costjust 50 pence.Wigan Council hasprovided the land forthe site and, alongsidelocal businesses, willcontribute to its annualrunning costs. It’s beingfunded by Wigan-basedbusinessmen MartinAinscough, Dave Whelanand Bill Ainscough. Theproject is also supportedby Onside North-West, thecharity behind the hugelypopular and successfulBolton Lads and Girls Cluband four other successfulyouth zones.As many as 25 activitieswill be available toyoungsters agedbetween eight and21. The zone’s facilitiesinclude a state-of-the-artgym, a multimedia andmusic suite, a climbingwall, a dance studioand four all-weatherflood-lit football pitches.Building work on the siteis on-going. The YouthZone will open its doorson 8th June. A series ofcommunity open days willbe held when people willbe able to tour the newfacility before it opens.For more information, orto find out how you canbecome a volunteer atthe Youth Zone, go towww.wiganyouthzone.org or follow thecharity on Twitter (@WiganYouthZone) or onFacebook (www.facebook.com/WiganYouthZone)