Believe in Communities 2022

IN COMMUNITIES

STRATEGY & OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK 2022

INTRODUCTIONS

On behalf of Wigan Athletic Community Trust staff and board of Trustees I am delighted to be introducing our Believe in Communities strategy that will help us drive the charity forward over the next few years and enable us to reach and help even more people.

Each year the Community Trust helps over 11,000 people and attracts £1.6 million of investment into Wigan and the surrounding area.

In November we were named Community Club of the Year at the 2022 North West Football Awards and this report highlights some of this impact we have had on individuals, families and different communities over the last 12 months.

But importantly it also looks forward to what we want to achieve and how we will do it as we look to help reduce inequalities in our communities which have been deepened by the effects and aftermath of Covid-19 and the current cost of living crisis.

Almost 12 months ago we started the process of consulting with local people, Wigan Athletic supporters, our stakeholders, funders and partners to find out what was important to them and how Wigan Athletic, through the Community Trust, could help them. I would like to thank

everyone who took part in this exercise, conducted on our behalf by Mike Parker from Progress Health Partnerships.

I would also like to thank our main partners without who we simply would not be able to operate.

The support of Wigan Athletic FC and its owners Phoenix 21 remains unwavering and crucial to our work and everyone associated with the charity is incredibly proud to represent the football club across the Borough.

Through our national partners the Premier League and Premier League Charitable Fund, the PFA and the EFL Trust, we are fortunate to be able to bring significant investment into Wigan, which through our links and partnership with Wigan Council, we endeavour to ensure addresses local priorities in the most appropriate areas.

Lastly, I would like to recognise the hard work and commitment of the staff who represent the Community Trust and Wigan Athletic with such passion, honesty and enthusiasm.

Tom Flower Head of Community December 2022

Wigan Athletic prides itself on being a close-knit family Club, centred at the heart of the town, and nothing illustrates that more than the work our Community Trust continues to deliver across the Borough.

Phoenix 2021 Limited was already aware of the incredible work that the Trust was capable of and that our Community Trust was something to be immensely proud of, with the recent recognition as the Community Club of the Season at the North West Football Awards further evidence of this outstanding work.

The varying initiatives that the Trust offers, from tackling isolation to those in need, to improving the health and well-being of young children, through to enhancing career opportunities via education programmes, illustrates the unwavering desire to help and support those within our town.

The Footballing Operations is and always be a hugely important part of our Football Club, but how we engage and interact with people within our town through the Community Trust is just as important.

The Believe in Communities strategy will again look to continue this fine work, and Wigan Athletic will continue to support this and help to make Wigan a stronger and proud town.

Mal Brannigan Chief Executive Wigan Athletic

When our whole town came together to save Wigan Athletic a couple of years ago, we were fighting a battle to save far more than a football team.

Of course, the success of the players on the pitch matters but the work that the club does, through the fantastic Community Trust, goes well beyond football.

The opportunities and skills it provides to disadvantaged young people through its education programmes are transformational. It helps tackle intractable social challenges. It supports the building of a stronger community through the values of inclusion and diversity that run through all of its work. It improves health and well-being and provides a much-needed outlet for young people to have fun. I have seen first-hand the enjoyment young people take in being involved in its programmes, and the positive impact that experience has.

Football teaches us a powerful lesson – that we can always achieve more together than we can achieve alone. That togetherness matters in Wigan, a proud town where we have survived tough times by sticking together and looking after one another.

It’s fitting that our football club, through the Community Trust, plays such a key role in fostering that sense of unity and togetherness, and in passing those timeless values on to the next generation.

Wigan would be immeasurably worse off without the Latics, and without the work the club does in our community. It’s wonderful that, after the tough times we have endured, the Community Trust is continuing to grow and thrive.

Lisa Nandy Wigan MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

of secondary school students feel they make a positive contribution to their school

of participants contribute to stronger, safer and more inclusive communities

of young people did not re-offend in 3 month period after engaging in mentoring

THIS IS OUR BOROUGH

The borough of Wigan has a growing, ageing and increasingly diverse population of 330,000 people and is the second largest in Greater Manchester. Over the past five years we have seen:

Improvements in health and wellbeing now achieving the England average for female healthy life expectancy and the fastest improving healthy life expectancy for men in Greater Manchester.

Improvements in life chances with an increase in the numbers of children who are school ready, 90% of schools rated good or outstanding, higher levels of educational achievement and higher employment rates.

Development of strong, safe and friendly communities with a 52% reduction in first time entrants into the Youth Justice system, lower levels of anti-social behaviour and above the North West average for the happiest place to live.

Growth of community groups and increase in the importance of the community and voluntary sector.

The town come together to save Wigan Athletic FC.

Yet challenges around inequalities remain...

There are pockets of significant deprivation making Wigan the 75th most deprived local authority in the country (out of 317 local authorities), with almost a third of residents living in the 20% most deprived areas of the country. The gap in life expectancy, the gap in educational attainment and employment rates between the most and least deprived communities remain.

Covid-19 shone a spotlight on these inequalities, with people living in the most deprived communities being hardest hit. The unfairness of economic and social arrangements,

ethnic disadvantage and racism and the extent of health inequalities have been exposed. There has been greatly heightened awareness of the importance of local assets, including the role of the voluntary sector. Children and young people in particular have been disproportionately, and inequitably, harmed by the impacts of restrictions and lockdowns, with disruption to education, training and employment. Restrictions on socialising have been harmful for many young people and there has been an increase in poor mental health among children and young people from already concerning levels before the pandemic.

Wigan Athletic Community Trust works towards reducing these inequalities. We want to continue to support people to achieve their full potential to improve their health, increase life chances and make communities stronger and safer.

SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES

MEDIUM-TERM OUTCOMES

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES

Participants have an increased knowledge of healthy living, physical and mental health and wellbeing

• Participants have increased confidence to make healthier choices

• Participants intend to adopt healthier behaviours

• Participants are engaged in healthy activities

Partners have a greater understanding of the Community Trust’s health and wellbeing offer

• Participants feel less socially isolated

Sustained increase in physical activity in participants

• Sustained behaviours that improve physical health, mental and emotional wellbeing

• Measured reductions in risk factors

contributing to physical and mental ill health

• Measured improvements in targeted health concern and long term conditions Measured reduction in loneliness

Equality in health and wellbeing between communities

• Equality in healthy life expectancy

• Enhanced quality of life

• Reductions in lifestyle related illness in all communities

• Young people re-engaged in education, training or employment

• Children and young people have a greater focus / engagement in education

• Young people and adults engaged in further training, volunteering and employment opportunities

• Increased confidence and motivations of participants to improve their life chances

• Increased aspirations of participants

• Most vulnerable and under-represented groups positively engaging in activity

• Participants fully engage with education and training

• Participants progress successfully through education, and training

• Participants increase their employability

• Participants gain new qualifications and proactively seek new training opportunities

• Participants proactively seek employment and volunteering opportunities

• Equality in educational attainment

• Equal access to sustainable employment

• Reduction in employment and qualification gaps between communities

• Equality in life chances for all

• Enhanced productivity across the local economy

• The Trust becomes an anchor point with partners supported in engaging with communities

Diverse communities consulted and involved in developing activities

• Participants understand issues affecting communities (domestic abuse, violence, knife crime and ASB)

• Participants engaged in positive activities that reduce the risk of ASB and offending Community volunteers upskilled

• Reduction in Anti Social Behaviour within targeted communities Reduction in first time offenders and in reoffending

• Increased resilience of participants

• Reduction in crime and the fear of crime

• Residents employed and volunteering in their communities

• Residents feel safer in their community

• Equality within and between local communities

Inclusive, resilient and vibrant communities Connected communities

• Residents are safe and supported within their communities

OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS CLUB

Wigan Athletic Community Trust, Robin Park Leisure Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan , WN5 0UL