Wigan Workshop C.I.O

27/05/2026

🌊 STAY SAFE, STAY DRY: The Truth About Open Water 🌊

With the warmer weather here, it can be incredibly tempting to cool off in local canals, reservoirs, or rivers. But what looks like a refreshing dip can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.

As a school, the safety of our students is our absolute priority. We want all our pupils to enjoy the sun safely, which means understanding why open water swimming is so risky.

🚫 Why Open Water is Different from a Swimming Pool:
Cold Water Shock: Even on a blazing hot day, deep water in reservoirs and rivers stays ice-cold. Jumping in can cause your body to gasp uncontrollably, leading to panic and drowning in less than a minute.

Hidden Dangers: You can’t see what’s beneath the surface. Jagged rocks, broken glass, shopping trolleys, and tangled weeds can trap even the strongest swimmers.

Hidden Currents: Rivers and reservoirs often have powerful undercurrents (and hidden machinery in reservoirs) that can pull you under instantly.

Pollution & Water Quality: Canals and rivers can carry harmful bacteria and illnesses (like Weil's Disease) that can make you severely ill.

🛑 What to do if you get into trouble: Float to Live
If you ever find yourself unexpectedly in the water, fight your instinct to thrash around.

Lean back and extend your arms and legs.

Gently move your hands and feet to stay afloat.

Float until your breathing calms down, then call for help or swim to safety.

🎒 Parents & Carers: Please talk to your children about these dangers. Let’s make sure everyone stays safe this season. If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 999 immediately—do not jump in after them.

Let's look out for each other! 💙

27/05/2026

Next Wednesday at 4:30 and for every Wednesday until the summer holidays, we will have our SEND creative after-school club, thanks to funding from Wigan Council as part of the short breaks scheme. It's for any SEND young person from the ages of 11+, or even if they are nearly 11 and love to be creative, then please book on the link provided https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wiganworkshopcio/2202546
I'll also be contacting local High Schools and Primary schools for the Year 6 pupils, so if you have any contacts, then please let us know :-)

SEND Short Breaks Creative Club ages 11+ – Meyrick Street, Newtown, Wigan, Wed 3 Jun 2026 - Creative After-School Group Ages 11+ These are structured creative after-school sessions for older young people with SEND, delivered in a calm, welcoming and supportive small-group environment. The sessions...

26/05/2026

Very limited availability left
🔴Robin Park FC 2026 Tournament⚫️ Wigan
St John Rigby College
Gathurst Rd
Orrell
WN5 0LJ
Mixed Tournament
U7s - 5 a side
U8s - 5 a side (full)
U9s - 7 a side
U10s - 7 aside
⚠️Tournament Time Schedule⚠️
● 9am Team Registration
● 9.30am Managers Meeting
● All group games = 12 mins one way, a Claxon will sound every 20 minutes to start the games which gives 8 minutes run off time, please make sure your team/s are on the pitch and ready for your games, we will try our very best to stick to the scheduled times but things do happen so please be patient if we run over for whatever reason. Game times are below 👇🏻
10am
10.20am
10.40am
11am
11.20am
11.40am
12pm
12.20pm
12.40pm
1pm
🟢 1.30pm QF - 14 MINS ONE WAY
🟢 2pm SF - 16 MINS, 8 MINS EACH WAY
🟢 2.45pm - FINALS, 20 MINS, 10 EACH WAY. 🏁
Rules ❗️
There will be no heading allowed across the age groups and kick ins rather than throw ins, so play by the FA rules of your age group. Goalkeepers CANNOT kick it from their hands, back pass rule in play, retreat rule in play (from goalkicks only), other than that normal football rules apply.
● Penalty shootout = 3 each for 5v5, 5 each for 7v7, no extra time played.
● If needed, group qualification will be decided by goal diffrence, in the event that teams have the same then it will go on goals scored, if still the same then head to head, if still the same it'll be decided on a 3 x penalty shoot out.
● First Aid on site
● Parking is £3, card & cash accepted, there will be a tournament App which will have all the groups and fixtures attached to it, details to follow in the group. Food and drink will be on site along with an ice cream van, photographer and some other stalls and stuff, again, card and cash accepted. No dogs allowed.
● We hope you all have a brilliant day with us at Robin Park FC for our 3rd annual tournament, last year was a huge success, but not perfect, so our aim is for it to be even better this year.
Robin Park FC Committee
Contact Stu to book +44 7359 334547 See less

23/05/2026

5 of our 7 learners finished their CPD DIY course yesterday. Two with be back to complete the last day very soon and pick up their certificates. Once again we had a great group, and the feedback has been fantastic. We will share some of the feedback soon Wigan Borough Community First

22/05/2026

The second CPD DIY course finished today! Another amazing group. I was going to share the photos but I’ll do that tomorrow, instead I thought I’d share our joinery teacher falling out of the door at dinner time 😅
Hope his ankle is okay tomo, he’s working on our house 🤣
🤦🏽‍♀️

22/05/2026

Our third SEND short breaks after school club created lovely collages this week representing their favourite things 🫶 off for half term next week but we will be back every Wednesday of the next school term 4:30-5:30 💜

20/05/2026

I know a few have confirmed coming along this Friday, there won't be any drop-in sewing running in June. However, we may have some workshops running to make particular items with a small booking fee to help us cover rent and overheads :-)

Sewing Drop-in – Meyrick Street, Newtown, Wigan, Fri 22 May 2026 - Sewing Drop-In This is a free drop-in session run by a volunteer. Please note: You must be able to use a sewing machine independently. Please bring your own sewing project with you. The volunteer will be available to support everyo...

20/05/2026

Thanks so much, Sarah, for running the second cohort of your beginner sewing course. And to everyone who attended, see you all with the other courses you've signed up for as part of the Wigan Borough Community First

18/05/2026

🎨 Beginner Art Skills Course – Fully Funded (5 Weeks) 🎨

As part of our Pathway to Purpose Project, we are offering a relaxed and supportive beginner art course for unemployed adults of working age living in Wigan.

Led by fully qualified and experienced art teacher Sarah from True Colours Expressive Art, this small group course will explore drawing, colour, print and painting, taking inspiration from whimsical landscapes and nature. No previous experience is needed.

📍 Meyrick Street, WN5 Newtown, Wigan
🎨 Fully funded as part of the Pathway to Purpose Project Wigan Borough Community First
👥 Small group setting
🕙 Tuesdays, 10am–1pm
📅 2nd June, 9th June, 16th June, 23rd June and 30th June

During the course, you will:
✨ Explore beginner art skills
🌿 Be inspired by nature and landscape, looking at the work of other artists
🖌 Learn about composition, mark making, tone and colour
🎨 Use watercolour, acrylic, print and mixed media
🖼 Develop an idea into a mini project
💫 Create your own unique artwork and find your personal style

This course is funded through Wigan Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions - DWP

📧 Please email us at [email protected] for the booking link, access code, or any questions. We can also forward course-related questions to Sarah at True Colours Expressive Arts.

Spaces are limited.

16/05/2026

A big thank you to all the young people who have attended our first two SEND Short Breaks Creative After-School Club sessions for ages 11+.

It has been lovely to see everyone getting involved, being creative, trying different activities and helping us shape the group as it develops.

We would also like to say a big thank you to Wigan Council for funding these sessions and helping us provide more creative opportunities for young people with SEND.

Our next session is:

Wednesday 20th May
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Wigan Workshop CIO, Meyrick Street, Newtown, Wigan, WN5 9

The sessions are for young people aged 11+ with SEND who can access a small-group creative session with light support. Activities may include clay, ceramics, printing, textiles, mixed media, texture work and other process-led creative activities.

If you would like to pop in and see what the group is like, please book a place and come along.

Book here:
https://buytickets.at/wiganworkshopcio/2202545

Please note there will be no session the week after due to half term.

SEND Short Breaks Creative Club ages 11+ – Meyrick Street, Newtown, Wigan, Wed 20 May 2026 - Creative After-School Group Ages 11+ These are structured creative after-school sessions for older young people with SEND, delivered in a calm, welcoming and supportive small-group environment. The session...

16/05/2026

A big thank you to Tracey for volunteering her time to run yesterday’s drop-in sewing session at Wigan Workshop and thanks to those who came along :-)

Our next drop-in sewing session is now available to book for next week.

Book your place here:

Sewing Drop-in – Meyrick Street, Newtown, Wigan, Fri 22 May 2026 - Sewing Drop-In This is a free drop-in session run by a volunteer. Please note: You must be able to use a sewing machine independently. Please bring your own sewing project with you. The volunteer will be available to support everyo...