Wigan Borough Sports Council started life in 1974 as the Wigan District Sports Association but fell into disuse shortly thereafter. It was reborn in 1998 and has now become a vibrant umbrella organization for all sports throughout the Borough of Wigan.

Trevor Barton became Chair in 1999 and what became obvious was that there was a divide between the sporting voluntary sector and the Local Authority. It wasn’t negative; it’s just that there is a cultural and structural difference between the two. Obviously with volunteers working mainly evenings and weekends and the Sports Development Unit working predominantly during the daytime, there is a problem of communication and interface.

Additionally, it is a nightmare for both the Sports Council and the Sports Development Unit to keep up-to-date databases for our constituent members.

Hopefully this new website will overcome both these major difficulties. Both Sports Development and WBSC are working a lot closer together, to improve sporting opportunities and sporting communities.

The information will be accessible 24: 7 and for the first time ever, we will have a fully interactive website where members and their clubs can keep their contribution up-to-date and accurate, by following the details on FAQ page.

What has always impressed me at our meetings in the past is how clubs who identify problems are invariably helped immediately by other clubs. I remember vividly a rugby union club helping a junior rugby league club out with pitches owing to an unforeseen suspension of a lease. Hopefully the website will help us to further help each other.

I need to mention at the outset the fantastic help and support that our sponsors, Milliken and Sports Match, have given and I hope they’re impressed by the significance that the website brings to our Borough.

You will see that there is a little space on our banner for some tasteful advertising and this should help with costs in moderating the site in the future.

So why be a member of the Sports Council? Well, for the 60+ clubs who used to pay rates they now enjoy 100% discretionary rate relief from our Local Authority who has recognized the great part that sports has to play. The Council, with Government backing, invests over £100,000 a year in our sporting infrastructure and we are truly grateful to them for that. One of our clubs would be paying £13,000 in rates each year if it wasn’t for DRR.

If you want to see what this means, have a look at (Leigh Miners Rangers ARLFC) Any problems – let us know using this email support@wbsc.org.uk

The Sports Council has, in the past, received funding for child protection sessions and the distribution of free sports equipment to clubs with junior set ups. It’s played its part in securing millions of pounds worth of sports facilities from the New Opportunities Fund. It is researching benefits of community amateur sports clubs and/or charitable status. It has secured access to a specialist Sports and Arts Funding Officer who works for the Cultural Partnership. The website allows us to have a continually updated Club Development Pack administered by our young, keen and enthusiastic Sports Development Unit. It helps with Club mark or similar accreditation.

We pioneered and now assist the SDU with our Awards Evening which links to Greater Sports. After some time we now have the One Stop Shop which is helping clubs regarding the tricky issues of leasing, planning, funding, etc. and from that, the Sports and Facilities Development Sub-group has been spawned. We are now consultees in relation to potential planning applications on current and disused sports facilities.

So, if you think its worth being part of a great bunch of people whose sole objective is to help each other, then download an application form (see membership) or E-mail Us !

We are all volunteers too, so please be patient and we’ll get there. If you need some urgent help, see the contacts page.

Yours in sport,

Trevor Barton – Chairman