Bringing Wigan Together: Partners Unite to Strengthen Support for Children and Young People

Last year, AllChild supported 1720 children and young people - and last week in Wigan, that impact came to life in one room.

The visit brought together representatives from Wigan Borough Council, school partners, supporters, local voluntary and community sector organisations – and crucially, children and young people themselves. We were pleased to be joined by Cllr Dane Anderton, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, and Colette Dutton, Director of Children’s Services at Wigan Council, whose leadership and insight are central to the borough’s vision for children and families. Hosted at Westleigh St Paul’s Primary School, the afternoon focused on how a whole-system, community-led approach can drive real change in Wigan and beyond.

Bringing the community together around a shared purpose

The visit powerfully showcased what the AllChild network stands for: connection, collaboration and a deep commitment to supporting children to flourish. Guests heard from Julie Leech, Headteacher, who spoke openly about the complex challenges that families in Leigh and across Wigan are facing.  

At the same time, Julie emphasised the strengths of the local area: a rich network of services, community organisations and opportunities. The opportunity now is to join them up so even more children and young people receive the right support, in the right way, at the right time.

Partnership in action

Throughout the event, the commitment of every partner was clear. Whether through schools, community organisations, local authority teams or funders, each voice in the room shared the same goal: to help children and young people thrive.

The role of Link Workers was a key thread of conversation, highlighting how their data-driven approach helps identify the children who most need support, while their day-to-day presence in schools provides the relational insight that turns data into meaningful action. This combination ensures that children are connected to support that genuinely meets their needs.

A key voice during the afternoon was Hannah Robinson-Smith, CEO of our delivery partner Everyday, an independent community arts organisation rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful force for change.  

She shared how the AllChild partnership has supported Everyday to deliver more widely and effectively stating,  

“Everyday is thrilled to have been part of the event yesterday. It was such strong evidence of our incredible partnership working model, and it was clear that everyone around the room was equally committed to helping children and young people thrive as we are! The methods and practices might be slightly different across the people and organisations represented, but the shared core commitment is what binds and guides us all!”

Her words perfectly captured the spirit of the afternoon: different organisations, different methods – but one shared mission and delivery that has become stronger through partnership and collaboration.  

Looking ahead

As the AllChild Wigan partnership continues to grow, the strengthened relationships and shared understanding built during this visit will inform the next phase of our work. Already, AllChild has supported 250 young people in Wigan, helping children build the trust and connections they need to achieve positive social, emotional and academic outcomes.

The day demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together with purpose, ambition and belief in its children. With partners across Wigan committed to working together, the path ahead is full of opportunity and potential for even greater impact.

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