WAC18304_ImpactReport2025_08

IMPACT REPORT

2023/24

INTRODUCTION

Looking back at another year of work at Wigan Athletic

Community Trust, I am immensely proud to present the

Impact Report for the 2023/24 season.

The importance of our work in communities across the

borough and beyond cannot be underestimated. We

engage with people of all ages, from two to 92, many

of whom live in areas experiencing the highest levels of

social and economic deprivation. This report provides an

opportunity to reflect on our achievements and reaffirm

the vital role that Wigan Athletic Community Trust plays

within the community.

Over the past year, we have worked with more than 12,500

individuals through 34 projects focused on Schools,

Community Development, and Training & Skills. Our key

objectives are to:

In 2023/24, the Trust secured over £1.65 million in

investment for the borough and surrounding areas. The

estimated social value of our work stands at an impressive

£11,829,739—equivalent to generating £7.17 of social

value for every £1 spent.

This level of impact is only possible due to the invaluable

support of our partners, and I extend my sincere gratitude

to them. Their contributions enable us to continue making

a real difference in our community.

Finally, I would like to recognise and thank our incredible

team. Their dedication, resilience, passion, and enthusiasm

are the driving forces behind our success. Their

commitment ensures that we continue to provide essential

services that meet the needs of our community, and I am

truly grateful for their hard work throughout the year.

• Increase participation in sport across all levels of

society, particularly among under-represented groups.

• Encourage young people and adults to lead healthier

and more active lifestyles.

• Improve the skills, aspirations, and opportunities for

disadvantaged young people and communities.

• Strengthen community cohesion and enhance the

quality of life for people of all ages.

Gareth Nolan | Head of Community

Watch the video

2 | WIGAN ATHLETIC COMMUNITY TRUST

OUR WORK

We work with Wigan Athletic towards equality in health, life chances

and communities, supporting over 12,500 people each year.

Running since 2007, the Community Trust operates across the areas of

Schools, Community development and Training and Skills with the aims of:

• Reducing inequalities across all levels of society

• Raising the aspirations and confidence of young people and

underrepresented groups

• Increasing physical participation and activity levels in young people

and adults

• Supporting increased community cohesion across the Wigan borough

• Enabling hard-to-reach young people, adults and elderly people to

access activities and support to increase their quality of life

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IMPACT REPORT 2023/24 | 3

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

SEP

OCT

NOV

• Nominated for Northwest Football Awards Community Club of

the Season and Community Initiative of the Season

• 16th Year of delivering Premier League and EFL funded

programmes

• New Learn with Latics Alternative Provision launched

• PE Systems become first ever #Believe in Communities partner

• Premier League Inspires Media experience

evening held to support future sports

journalists from secondary schools

• Anti-discrimination workshops held for

Primary and Secondary School students in

partnership with Show Racism the Red Card

MAR

APR

MAY

• Wigan Athletic Community Trust host the

Premier League Primary Stars Girls’ U11s

Regional Finals

• 300 people attend the first ever community Iftar

held at The Brick Community Stadium

• Hawkley Hall High School present their

‘#WiganStrongMinds’ mental health flag after

winning the Premier League Inspires Challenge


DEC

JAN

FEB

• Christmas parties are held to support at-risk

young people and socially-isolated older

people while players from Wigan Athletic

and Wigan Warriors visit the Royal Albert

Edward Infirmary

• Latics celebrate EFL Hero Dennis Heaton

from the Extra Time programme for

his fundraising efforts to support the

Community Trust

• In partnership with Wigan Youth Zone, the

first-ever Tom Flower memorial cup is held

and Youth Engagement Manager, Rachel

Wood, is presented with the Premier League

Community Captain Awards

JUN

JUL

AUG

• Premier League Kicks Boot Swap Shop

launched to enable young people across Wigan

to recycle and access football boots

• Wigan Athletic Community Trust become an

official partner of football’s largest anti-sexism

organisation, Her Game Too.

• Young people from the Premier League Kicks

programme rewarded with ‘Big Day Out’ in

partnership with Meals and More UK

• Delivered the HAF (Holiday, Activity and Food)

programme and provided 2,768 free school meals

to local children over the summer holiday


OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS

12,526

people reached

WORKING WITH 110 EDUCATION SETTINGS

20 60 4 2 1 3 3

early years settings

17

primary schools secondary schools SEND settings engagement Pupil Referral Colleges

centres

Centre

Universities

34

Community projects,

supporting people aged

2-92

237

over 55s at extra time

60+ 2,653 2,768

staff members employed

143

young people gained a

qualification

young people taking part in evening activities

(Including football and mentoring sessions)

93% 86%

of young people did not offend

three months after mentoring

free meals given to local children

during school holidays

of adult participants improved their mental

health and increase activity levels

6,000+ £11,829,739

Wigan Athletic

tickets donated

to the local

community

218

(+ Schools) people

with a disability

Supporting

Delivered programmes

51/52

weeks in the year

of social value

generated

(£7.17 per £1)


OUR IMPACT

Moving on Programme

supporting adults with

disabilities to improve

employability skills

“I was quite nervous at first, but now I

think I’d be confident in a job interview.

The staff have been brilliant. They’ve

brought out the confidence in everybody

that’s on this course.” -

Moving On participant, Callum.

Extra Time programme

helping members with

dementia

“Mum’s more like herself when she’s

at Extra Time. You wouldn’t even know

that she’s got dementia. It’s like another

family to her.” - Terri’s daughter, Jo.

HeadStart programme

improving students’

confidence and mental health

in secondary schools

“It’s raised my confidence and lowered

my anxiety. I couldn’t go into the

classroom in Primary School, but when

I have a problem now, I can think of the

good side of things rather than the bad

side.” - Year 7 pupil, Lara.

First-ever Community

Iftar supports Community

Cohesion

“People are very caring at Wigan

Athletic Community Trust; they love to

work together. From day one, the main

aim has been community cohesion.

Get people together, and we can

work together again to make it better

for everyone.” - Dr Ahmed Ismail,

Community Impact Group.


SCHOOLS

At Wigan Athletic Community Trust, we

work with schools in Wigan, Leigh and the

surrounding areas, including 60 primary

schools and 17 secondary schools, with

support also provided to 20 early years

settings.

Our work in schools aims to:

• Raise the aspirations of students

• Increase physical activity levels and

participation in sports

• Ensure all students have equal

opportunities to fulfil their potential

This work is done through a number of

projects, including:


Premier League Primary Stars

• Supporting local primary schools to raise the quality

of PE delivery across the borough through in school

support and teacher CPD

• Over 2,580 pupils supported through the programme

• 45 teachers engaged with CPD sessions

Learn with Latics (AP)

• Alternate Provision to support students at risk of exclusion

from secondary schools, delivering maths and English

as well as sports based topics and physical activity

• 43 students successfully completed the programme and are

now engaging well in school

• All students were invited to a graduation event at The Brick Community Stadium

HeadStart

• Mental Health transition programme to support students

moving from primary to secondary school through

one-to-one mentoring and group activities

• Delivered 171 sessions through 282 hours of activity

• Supported 48 students with 30% having a disability and

84% being from an area of deprivation

Work Experience

• KS3 and KS4 offer to support students to pick up

real world experience in the sporting industry

• 648 hours of placements completed

Premier League Inspires

(& Premier League Changemakers)

• In school support to help students struggling to engage in

school improve their behaviour, increase their confidence

and raise their aspirations with a female specific sessions

delivered through the Premier League Changemakers programme

• Supporting 644 pupils across 13 education settings

• 85% students experienced an increase in confidence and self esteem

• 83% of students improved their attendance and attainment in school during and

after attending Premier League Inspires

Latics Unlimited

• Bespoke support for SEND students in Primary Schools

• Supported 50 students across three SEND schools


COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT

Wigan Athletic Community Trust aims to

reduce inequalities at all levels of society

and positively contribute to increased

community cohesion, supporting over

12,500 people across the local community.

This is accomplished through a number of

projects, including:


Premier League Kicks

• Free evening football and

dance sessions to reduce

anti-social behaviour and

create positive environments

across the local community

• 1,684 young people

supported across 1,056

individual sessions

Youth Engagement

• Youth engagement

programmes to support

targeted young people at

risk of or having previously

offended through mentoring

and enrichment activities

• Supporting 418 vulnerable

young people

Community Iftar

• An Iftar hosted in

partnership with Community

Impact Group and Wigan

Mosque at the Brick

Community Stadium

to increase community

cohesion

• 300 people attended the

event with representatives

from Wigan Mosque, Wigan

Athletic F.C and the local

community, with many

taking part in an Iftar for the

very first time

Every Player Counts

• Free to access disability

football sessions to improve

the health and wellbeing of

adults living with disabilities

• 30+ participants supported

each week

• Regularly represent Wigan

Athletic in fixtures in the

Greater Manchester ability

counts league and took

part in a fixture at The Brick

Community Stadium in April

Holiday, Activity

and Food Camps

• Holiday support for children

on free-school meals and

from deprived areas to

continue to access healthy

food and physical activity for

free during school holidays

• 631 children supported

through weekly football

development sessions

• 2,768 free meals given to

children across the 2023/24

academic year


TRAINING

AND SKILLS

Our Training and Skills department runs a

number of bespoke education courses to

develop and inspire the next generation of

coaches, teachers and community support

staff, with 74 students enrolled in our

Football and Education, University of South

Wales and apprenticeship programmes.


Football and Education

• Post-16 education programme for

16-18 year olds looking to pursue a

career in the sports industry

• 52 students worked with

• 68 qualification obtained

University of South Wales

Foundation Degree

• Foundation degree for individuals

wanting to attain a specialised

university qualification for working

in the sports and community

industry, delivered in partnership

with EFL in the Community and

University of South Wales

• 22 USW students

• 100% of students graduated from

the course

Apprenticeships

• Apprenticeship programme to

support young people to take

the first steps into the sports

industry, including roles as teaching

assistants, community workers and

administrative staff

• 100% completed their

apprenticeship

• 50% of apprentices were retained

at the Community Trust following

completion of the course

Moving On and

Skills for Success

• Adult education and employability

programmes

• Supporting 32 adults to improve

their employability skills


HEALTH

We work to improve the health of people

across the borough and make healthy

activities and lifestyles more accessible.

We directly support people on their own

health improvement journeys through a

number of programmes, including:


Fit Maintenance

and Football 4 Fitness

Extra Time

Veterans

Walking Football

• Weekly group exercise session

led by Community Trust health

specialists at The Brick Community

Stadium and weekly social football

sessions to increase physical

activity and participation in sports

for adults

• 70 adults supported over the last 12

months

• 93% increased their physical activity

levels outside of the programme

after joining the weekly sessions

• Hub sessions in Wigan, Leigh and

Ashton to tackle loneliness and

reduce social isolation amongst

people aged 55+ through physical

and social activities

• 339 participants supported at the

Hubs and through garden gate visits

• 99% of participants were

satisfied or very satisfied with the

Community Trust’s work

• Bespoke football and walking

sessions specifically designed to

support the health and wellbeing of

the armed forces community

• 47 veterans supported

• Weekly walking football sessions

delivered at the Wigan Athletic

Academy in partnership with Wigan

Walkers

• 40+ adults engaging in the weekly

sessions

• 93% of participants developed their

understanding of the importance of

physical activities


OUR SQUAD

Wigan Athletic F.C. is committed to supporting

our work as the club’s official charity, with the

coaching staff and players regularly supporting

community activities. Across the 2023/24 season,

the first-team squad contributed 58 hours to the

Community Trust, supporting work in schools,

local hospitals and across the local community.


Premier League

Inspires Challenge

Scott Smith

Academy graduate and 21/22 PFA

Community Champion Scott Smith

returned to his former High School,

Hawkley Hall to support a group of

students with a mental health campaign

through the Premier League Inspires

Challenge.

Scott, a former participant on the

Premier League Inspires programme,

helped inspire the students to design

a flag to raise awareness of their

#WiganStrongMinds social media

campaign which will proudly be

displayed at The Brick Community

Stadium during the 24/25 Sky Bet

League One season. Scott was also

joined by current Academy Player Oscar

Harris who helped support the students

with their ideas and planning.

EFL Week of Action

Baba Adeeko, Liam Morrison, Scott

Smith and Charlie Hughes, Josh Stones

To mark the EFL Week of Action, players

from the first-team squad attended a

number of community events across the

week.

Josh Stones visited our Leigh Extra Time

hub to support elderly people aged 55+,

academy graduates Scott Smith and

Charlie Hughes attended our Advanced

Development Football Centre to inspire

the next generation of Latics players,

while Baba Adeeko and Liam Morrison

visited our Every Player Counts session

at Laithwaite Park alongside EFL CEO,

Trevor Birch.

Premier League Kit Donation

Jonny Smith, Liam Shaw

Through the Premier League Primary

Stars programme, Latics midfielders

Jonny Smith and Liam Shaw visited

Westfield Community Primary School to

present their football after school club

with a new set of football kits generously

donated by the Premier League

Charitable Fund and Nike Football.

Latics Women

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Wigan

Athletic launched the very first official

Wigan Athletic Women’s team!

The team have already become proud

supporters of the Community Trust’s

work, supporting a variety of educational

and health programmes across the

Wigan borough.


OUR FUTURE

How you can work with Wigan Athletic Community Trust

In 2022, we launched our five-year

#Believe in Communities strategy and outcomes

framework; two years into this strategy, we continue

to increase our reach and support of the Wigan

community and beyond each season.

The impact of this new strategy was seen at the

2023 EFL Awards where we were named the EFL

Community Club of the Season, recognising our work

as the most impactful of all 72 EFL football clubs.

But, our work is only possible thanks to the support

of local partners whose generous support enable us

to have a life changing impact on 1,000s of people

across the borough.

That’s why we are launching our new #Believe

in Communities partnership programme to help

local and national businesses support and make a

difference in their local community.

Our new partnership programme offers a range of

opportunities for socially conscious businesses and

organisations to support causes close to their hearts

and make a real difference across the borough.

To find out how you can support our work and make

a difference to people in your community, please

scan the QR code or contact Head of Community,

Gareth Nolan, using the details below.

Gareth Nolan, Head of Community

01942 318 090 | g.nolan@wiganathletic.com



FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Wigan Athletic Community Trust is committed to being a financially stable and

sustainable charity that is proud to attract significant national investment into

Wigan, enabling the Trust to work with local partners to address local priorities.

The Community Trust is governed by a board of trustees with a diverse range

of skill sets to ensure its effective and efficient operation.

Wigan Athletic Community Trust Board of Trustees:

• Phillip Williams - Chair

• Cathy Robinson - Vice Chair

• Philip Ivory

• Jenny Meadows

• Caroline Molyneux

• Cllr David Molyneux MBE

• Dr Peter Marwick

• Sarah Guilfoyle

• Richard Bramwell

• Emily Higham

• Martin Preston

For more information about the Community Trust’s financial history, please

visit the Charities Commission website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission

Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s registered charity number is 1120745.


INCOME 2023/24

EXPENDITURE 2023/24

Premier League Charitable Fund £434,560 26%

Community Development £368,453 22%

Schools Services £266,788 16%

Football & Development / Holiday Courses £191,527 12%

Training and Skills £181,355 11%

Wigan Council £93,837 6%

EFL Trust £74,360 4%

Sponsorship and Fundraising £42,189 3%

Other Grants £5,172 >1%

Staff £1,192,630 72%

Facilities and activities £158,452 10%

Overheads £124,450 7%

Travel and Vehicle Costs £80,823 5%

Kit and Equipment £38,965 2%

Training and Accreditation £12,811 1%

Printing and Publicity £9,127 1%

Other £32,259 2%

Total £1,649,517 100%

Total £1,658,630 100%


OUR PARTNERS



Wigan Athletic Community Trust | 01942 318090 | community@wiganathletic.com

wiganathletic.com/wigan-athletic-community-trust

Registered Charity Number 1120745

@LaticsCommunity

WAC18304_ImpactReport2025_08

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