The 2008-09 campaign will see Wigan Athletic Football Club underline its  work at the heart of the local community during the last two seasons.

The Big Blue Bus Arrives in Town

We want to give every single person in Wigan and Leigh the opportunity to be apart of the club at some level. As well as reinforcing existing relationships with schools, youth groups and charities, the Club has added new partners to ensure that there are more links than ever before with the people of Wigan. To launch our commitment to the community the club will be unveiling an exciting outreach project developed in partnership with the Wigan Council. At the heart of the delivery of this project is 'The Big Blue Bus' a fully equipped mobile learning facility that will work throughout Wigan and Leigh to raise motivation and educational attainment and encourage the hardest to reach young people into learning by using football as a means.

The WAFC branded bus is kitted out with IT equipment including 15 state of the art lap-top computers and multi-media resources and will be staffed by newly recruited WAFC staff, as well as WAFC Football in the Community coaches. Activities will involve basic skills, citizenship, health, environment & football coaching and will be in collaboration with schools & youth groups.

The 'Big Blue Bus' will aim to visit a different school each day and youth and community groups in the evening, working with over 50,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 as well as adults throughout the Wigan and Leigh Borough. The project will offer support to youngsters who have a lack of ambition and no desire to 'move on'.

Basic skills will be taught by the dedicated teacher, through the onboard computing facilities. Their will also be the delivery of specially designed workshops in the Health, Environment and Citizenship modules of the national curriculum within the classroom or youth group and football coaching sessions will be held on playing fields and community halls. Each day over 150 young people will benefit from the unique learning experience offered by Wigan Athletic Football Club.

Also coming under the 'We Are Wigan' banner is our very successful Community Trust scheme who offer curriculum time coaching, after school activities, nutritional advice and Saturday and Summer Clubs. (For further information on activities run by Wigan Athletic's Community Trust contact the Community Manager Hayley Turner on 01942 824599)

Other elements of the We Are Wigan Community programme include the

Wigan Athletic Ladies F.C, Junior Latics Football and our centre of excellence -

we are giving everybody in Wigan the chance to be of the club in some way or other.

In the forthcoming season you will see more community activity than ever before, so get ready to support our 'We Are Wigan' community campaign and help put Wigan on the map.

As the Community Manager at Wigan Athletic, it is my duty to get involved in all areas of Community work. The Wigan Athletic Football in the Community Scheme is a great way of achieving this as it allows us to cross many barriers regardless of age, background, ability or disability.

Our aim is to involve as many people as possible in football through the Community Trust Scheme in association with Wigan Athletic Football Club. As Wigan Athletic rise to the Premiership they are becoming more successful and more people want to be involved in all aspects of the football club including the Community Scheme.

This is where Wigan Athletic's Community Trust Scheme comes into it's own.

We coach about 700 children a week throughout Wigan and surrounding areas, including Ormskirk,

St Helens and Rainford, promoting Wigan Athletic Football Club and football itself. Listed below are just some of the wide variety of courses, events and activities that we offer, all of which are excellently run and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone that comes along.

Community Manager

 HAYLEY TURNER

Curriculum Time Coaching:

This is a free option consisting of 1-2 hours per week over a 5-6 week period after the school have booked an After School (min 25 children) or Sponsored Penalty Competition.

Sponsored Penalty Competition:

This is a good and fun way for the school to raise money. All the school gets involved and all participants will receive a certificate on completion. All the money raised will be divided equally between the school and the Wigan Athletic Football in the Community Scheme.

After School Coaching:

This is an intense 1 week course running from Monday to Friday after the school day is over. This course is designed to improve technique, skill and knowledge as well as being fun and helping with fitness. There will be a different topic every day ie: short passing, heading, shooting etc.

Soccer Schools:

As the Community Manager at Wigan Athletic, it is my duty to get involved in all areas of Community work. Soccer Schools and Multi-Activity Schools run throughout the year during all school holidays. Soccer Schools are based on soccer skills delivered in an enjoyable way and run from 10am to 3pm. .

All this adds up to a very enjoyable week for the children. All children will receive a certificate or medal on completion of the course and each and every child will have the chance to win additional prizes. The biggest prize though, is learning and enjoyment.

Wigan Athletic are a FA Charter Standard club for Holiday Courses. This means that we have passed all criteria set by the FA for good practice in delivering quality coaching & Soccer Schools.

Well that's about it from me then and I hope I have given you a good overview of exactly what we offer at Wigan Athletic's Community Trust Scheme. However, if there is anything else you would like to know, please feel free to contact me in the Community office on 01942 824 599.

Email Wigan Athletic's Community Trust

for all upcoming news and events

Wigan Athletic's SATURDAY SOCCER CLUB

is a weekly activity for children who want to play

football in a safe environment, whilst learning new

techniques, participating in mini-tournaments and

having lots of football fun. The Saturday Club runs

at both Alder Lane playing field, Parbold (On grass)

10am - 11:30am - Only £2 per session and

Shevington High school 10.00 – 11.30am £1 per child

Available to boys & girls aged 5 - 14 yrs

Girls and boys of all standards and experience are welcome. The sesssions are outdoors so studs or moulded stud boots are preferred, all players must be wearing shinpads and have a drink with them.

For further information contact the Community Trust office on 01942 824599 or email us on the links.

Plus: Wigan Athletic weekly competitions & prizes

For more info on Wigan Athletic Ladies Football Club Juniors or Open Age player, please contact Flo Mather, Club Secretary on 01942 703800.

 For more info on Wigan Athletic's Junior Latics Football Club, please contact MALC VEALL

 on Wigan: 01942 709142