About Wigan Borough
This Section has information about:
Wigan has a population of about 300,000 people living in an area of 77 square miles. Wigan is one of the largest metropolitan districts in England. The borough is based around the two main towns of Wigan and Leigh, and several smaller towns and villages of the former Lancashire coalfield. Wigan is the most westerly district of the county of Greater Manchester, although many local people (and the Royal Mail) prefer to consider the area part of Lancashire.
The borough of Wigan covers an area much larger than the town of Wigan, and includes Leigh, Abram, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Aspull, Astley, Atherton, Billinge-Winstanley, Golborne and Lowton, Haigh, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Orrell, Shevington and Appley Bridge, Standish and Tyldesley.
Maps of the borough
You can find out more about these places and see maps of Wigan borough (external link)on the council’s website.
Wigan Council has a leader and cabinet system. The current leader is Peter Smith, who also sits in the House of Lords as a Labour Party life peer, under the title Lord Smith of Leigh. He became leader in 1991. The council rejected the idea of a directly-elected mayor following a consultation in 2001. The borough is divided into 25 wards, each of which elects three councillors. One councillor from each ward is up for election every year.
Local councils are large organisations which influence many aspects of the lives of people who live in their area. They are responsible for a range of services, such as:
- Education and lifelong learning
- Social services and health
- Housing
- Jobs and regeneration
- Waste collection and recycling
- Roads and street lighting
- Arts, sports and culture
- Community safety and crime reduction
- Environment
- Planning and regulation
- Transport
Wigan Council serves the whole of the borough and delivers more than 700 services. The Council's website has an A-Z directory of all the services it delivers and how to contact Council staff. If you can't find the information you are looking for on the Council's website, try asking at your local library, as staff there may be able to help you.
Wigan Borough Partnership (WBP) is the name of the Local Strategic Partnership for the Wigan Borough. The Partnership brings together local representatives from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors. This includes organisations such as the council, the police, fire service and health services. The Partnership is responsible for developing and delivering the Sustainable Community Strategy which is the long term plan for the borough. Wigan Borough Partnership is made up of a board, a management group, four thematic partnerships, ten township forums and community networks. For more information go to the Partnership pages of this WiganLife website or ring 01942 487372
People get a lot from volunteering and it’s a good way of settling in to a new area. It can help people to get involved in their local community. It can help you to meet new people, take up a new interest and develop new skills. To find out more about volunteering opportunities contact Wigan and Leigh Council for Voluntary Service at the CVS website (external link) or ring 01942 514234
There are ten townships in Wigan Borough, for more information about your township please visit the township page below:
Sports and Social Activities
This section gives information about:
Going to a swimming pool in Wigan is free for everyone. You will however need to obtain a Lifestyle card for £1.50 before the first session, these are available from your local swimming pool. For further information visit the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust 'Lifestyle' website (external link). To find out the opening times for your local swimming pool call:
- Tyldsley pool 01942 882722
- Hindley Pool 01942 255401
- Ashton Leisure Centre 01942 720826
- Howe Bridge Sports Centre 01942 870403
- Leigh Sports Village 01942 487800
There are many other sports happening across Wigan, Leigh and other areas of the borough. You can find out what is available from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust or phone them on 01942 828508. A translation service is available when needed. Leigh Sports Village in partnership with Leigh Sports Centre (external link) offers a range of sports.
You can get information about the leisure activities that are going on in your area by contacting Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust(external link)or by going into your local library. You can visit Wigan’s “Museum of Wigan Life ” for free, as well at the art galleries in Wigan and Leigh
You can find out about some local events by looking in the free local newspapers that get delivered to your home– Wigan Reporter, Leigh Reporter, Leigh Journal or other local papers which can be seen at the local library.
Wigan borough has many nice parks and open spaces that are free to visit. There are also good places to walk along the canals. Some of the parks have children’s play areas. You can find out about your nearest park by visiting the Wigan, Leisure & Culture Trust - Parks (external link) website or by calling 01942 776612
Wigan has lots of groups and organisations to join which will help you find out more about life in Wigan. They are often run by local volunteers. Wigan Council for Voluntary Service (external link) can tell you about groups in your area that have activities that you might be interested in. Contact no: 01942 514234
There are several organisations in the borough that welcome and support people seeking asylum, refugees and other people from overseas.
Leigh Asylum Seekers and Refugees Support (LASARS)
LASARS has a "Drop in Centre" on Tuesdays 12pm - 4pm, at Kingsleigh Methodist Church Youth Centre, King Street, Leigh WN7 4LR (opposite the bus station)
You can meet people, share food and drinks, play games and practice your English conversation. There are also art/craft and play opportunities for children.
Enquiries and Help
The LASARS office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm at Fit 4 Life, King Street, Leigh, WN7 4LJ. You can contact the office on telephone number 01942 678574 or email help@lasars.org .
The LASARS website (external link) contains contact details, links and a brief description of the help offered.
Kurdish Cultural Association
For information about the activities and support offered by Lancashire Kurdish Cultural Association call Sulleyman on 07709 755149 or Khaled on 07861 287912.
Support for Wigan Arrivals Project (SWAP)
- Support, advice and drop-ins
- 28 Upper Dicconson Street, Wigan
- Tel. 01942 235022
- SWAP has an open Drop-In every Thursday afternoon from 1-4 pm, all welcome.
For more information visit the SWAP website (external link)
Wigan Welcome
- International Drop In Centre
- Queens Hall Methodist Church, Market Street, Wigan (downstairs)
- Saturdays 2.00 - 4.00 pm
- Conversation, support, clothes
- Jean Parker - 078321 46301
Rafiki Motswako
Shopping and Money
This section has information about:
The currency in the UK is the pound sterling (£). £1 = 100 pence (p). Most money is issued by the Bank of England; however, you might also see some coins and banknotes issued by the Bank of Scotland,Bank of Clyde and the Isle of Man: this is all legal money in the UK, so don’t worry that you have been given false currency.
The coins in circulation include the 1 pence, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Banknotes include the £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100.You can change bank notes into coins and coins into banknotes at any bank or Post Office. It is not normal to round prices up or down in the UK: if the price label says £9.99, then you should get 1p change from a £10 banknote: if the price label says £10.02, you will have to give exactly that much, not just £10.00.
It can be difficult for people from abroad to open a standard (current) bank account with a UK bank, because banks are required to make careful checks on the identity of a person and this usually means that they ask to see documents that you may not have.
Many banks also want you to prove that you have been living in the UK for at least 1 year.
However, some banks are able to be more flexible, so if one bank refuses to open an account for you, it is worth trying a different bank.
All refugees and migrants should take as much documentation as possible with them when trying to open a bank account, for example:
- ARC card / SAL letter (for asylum seekers)
- A letter from your doctor or solicitor confirming your identity and address
- Your contract of employment
- Your college registration documents
- Your tenancy agreement
- A benefits book
- TV licence documents
- UK driving licence
- Passport / travel documents
- Utility bills / council tax bills /Home Office letters
A basic account or savings account will let you keep money somewhere safe and take it out when you need it.
A credit union is an organisation that provides affordable financial services to its members. Every member makes regular payments into a savings account and after a while is able to apply for a low cost loan. If you live or work in Wigan you can become a member of Unify Credit Union (external link)
The best and safest way to send money to another person in the UK is to use a personal cheque, which you will have if you have opened a current account. If you do not have a current account, then you can use postal orders. You can buy postal orders equal to the amount of money you need to send from any Post Office (external link)
Do not send cash in the post.
You can send a Moneygram or international money transfer to most countries through the Post Office (external link). You pay in cash the amount you are sending plus a fee.
Money Gram will transfer money instantly to post offices or banks in most countries around the world. Money can also be sent overseas for a fee through agencies such as Western Union (external link), which has branches throughout the UK. They will tell you where the recipient can collect the money. The Western Union branch is Wigan is inside the Cash Converters shop, opposite Wigan Northwestern train station. The Leigh branch is at Going Places, 25a-27 Bradshawgate. You can also use 0800 833 833 (calls are free)
People do not haggle over prices in shops but this is sometimes possible in markets. It is better to look around for a price you can afford before deciding to buy. Paying in cash is still very common, however a lot of people now pay for goods and services using electronic means of paying. Usually this is a debit card, which takes the money directly from their current account, or a credit card, which means that they will pay a bill for all items on their card in the future. You cannot usually use a cash card linked to a savings account to pay for goods and services.
Food Shopping
In Wigan Borough you will find a large range of places to buy food such as supermarkets, corner shops, markets and delicatessens. Prices vary greatly so try to check them before you shop. Most people do their main shopping at supermarkets which, together with indoor markets generally have the cheapest goods.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are sometimes cheaper to buy at markets and greengrocer shops than in supermarkets. All packaged food has one label saying when it must be sold by and another saying when you must eat it by (the use by date). Supermarkets often cut the price of food nearing its sell by date and you can get bargains this way: they also cut prices of bread and some other fresh foods after 8.30 at night. It is worth checking the “reduced to clear“ shelves in supermarkets: the products on these shelves are often there just because their packaging is damaged, but the contents are fine.
There are 2 shops on Standishgate in Wigan where you can buy a few different halal foods and other cultural foodstuffs. Supermarkets often have a small range of “world foods”.
For a large selection of cultural foodstuffs you can go to Bolton or Manchester where you will find a large number of international stores. Contact Support for Wigan Arrivals Project (SWAP) (external link), Leigh Asylum and Refugee Support (LASARS) (external link) or Wigan Welcome for further information about how to get there.
Clothes Shopping
A number of shops sell clothes that are inexpensive including supermarkets, so its worth looking around to find the best ones to use.
Many British people also buy clothes from charity shops or second-hand shops: it is not seen as embarrassing in the UK to but clothes which are not new. Sometimes local organisations have jumble sales or coffee mornings, which usually have very cheap second-hand clothing.
If you buy something that doesn’t work or isn’t in good condition you can take the item back to the shop. Take it, with the receipt and explain to the Customer Services desk what the problem is. The shop should change the item or give you your money back. If you have lost the receipt you can still try to return the item but your returns might not be accepted.
If you have any problems with returning goods you can ask Trading Standards (external link) for advice on 0845 4040506
Post offices sell postage stamps, currency, phone cards and power cards. It has forms for driving licences and car tax. It also provides banking services for paying bills and sending money abroad.
Find your nearest Post Office (external link) .
Keeping in Touch
This page gives information for people who have come to Wigan from abroad on:
If you have lost contact with your family members the British Red Cross (BRC) may be able to help you to find them and make contact. As the service is international, the British Red Cross will work with its colleagues in Red Cross or Red Crescent offices in different countries.
The British Red Cross cannot guarantee that the person you are looking for will be traced, but will do everything possible to make this happen.
You will need to give essential information about the person (or people) you are looking for, including full names, dates of birth and last known address on a special form.
How your information will be used by the British Red Cross to find your family members will be explained to you: the information you have given will be between you and the Red Cross, but this will be used to find your family members.
There is no time limit on finding the lost person.
For help with this service contact Wei Lynn Ng on 0161 888 8908 or for more information visit the Red Cross website (external link)
If you want to send a message to a relative overseas who is living in a difficult place to contact or where the post or telephone is not functioning - such as a refugee camp - the British Red Cross Message Service (external link) may be able to help you. The service staff will give you a special Red Cross Message form to write your message on. Messages must be about family or personal messages only, they must not include political or military information.
The Red Cross cannot send money or packages.
For help with this service contact Wei Lynn Ng on 0161 888 8908.
If you have arrived in Wigan on your own, or you want to make new friends who speak your language, then organisations like Support for Wigan Arrivals Project (SWAP) (external link) or Leigh Asylum Seeker and Refugees (LASARS) (external link) may be able to put you in touch with people.
Wigan borough doesn't have many refugee and migrant community organisations, but there are many communities from around the world in Manchester and Liverpool, which are not far away. Contact:
- Red Cross Refugee Services on telephone number 0161 888 8900 or
- Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN) on telephone number 0161 232 7420
If you are thinking about returning to your home country on a permanent basis, you can get help and advice on how to do this from the Choices team at Refugee Action (external link)This is a confidential service, which does not pass information to any Home Office organisations without your permission; the team can be contacted on telephone number 0161 233 1216 / 1219.
You can also get assistance to return home from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). IOM operates Assisted Voluntary Return programmes for asylum seekers and migrants who wish to make a sustainable return to their home country. For more information visit the IOM website (external link)
IOM North West has offices in Liverpool and Manchester. All enquiries to IOM are treated confidentially, and there is no need for anyone to give their name in order to receive free advice. Call 0151 244 5641 for the Liverpool office or 0161 212 1463 for the Manchester office. IOM is not part of the UK Government, and will only assist you to return home if you wish to do so.
