What we do
We work across Wigan partnering with a range of national and local partners providing the back office support and governance to bring this vision into reality and making a real impact. These include:
- Food Pantries – we currently have 7 of these attached to local Anglican Churches across Wigan. The pantries not only provide a dignified way for people to source good food that would otherwise go to landfill, but also provide a warm welcome and care and support for all. Most pantries have branched out with initiatives such as Pay as You Feel Faith Cafés, serving food and refreshments, or providing a warm place to sit, have a brew and take advantage of a ‘listening ear’.
- Funeral Service – we aim to offer a sympathetic, fair, centralised funeral service for the bereaved. We work closely with local funeral directors across the borough to provide this.
- CAP Debt Centre – in partnership with Christians Against Poverty, we run a debt advice and support centre. This is in response to Wigan Council’s prediction of ‘a tsunami of debt’ engulfing people of the borough over the next few years. We have sourced funding for two years. The Centre is open to all those seeking help with debt across Wigan.
- Next Generation Team – we work both in high schools and in the community to support young people in their development and empower them to be the change in their communities. Our Youth Mission Enablers also work with 50 worshipping communities to identify, recruit, equip and encourage volunteers to offer youth focused activities. We provide leadearship training through BSD (Brighter School of Discipleship) open to all ages. In response to the ever-growing emotional and mental health crisis among young people, we employ two full-time, trained Counsellors at our partner schools -The Deanery C of E abd Byrchall High School. We require funding to coninue this much needed wellbeing provision, please click here for donations: Current Fundraising Projects - Wigan Deanery Trust.
Our relationship with Church Wigan
Church Wigan itself is a collection of seven hub parishes, each of which is an independent charity (the Parochial Church Council). The parishes are grouped together under a Joint Council, which is also a separate charity in its own right. The ambition of Church Wigan is to see churches (both Anglican and other denominations) working together both effectively and efficiently, in partnership with other groups - statutory and voluntary.
Out of that rich picture, Wigan Deanery Trust was conceived and born. WDT is a separate charity in its own right, with charitable objects that are broad enough for the trust to bring together all kind of local charities - both secular and faith-based - in a 'coalition for good'.
Many of the trustees of Wigan Deanery Trust are drawn from local churches, but they operate independently of Church Wigan and have a wider agenda. The work the trust does on behalf of Church Wigan is set out in a partnership working agreement, and funded by a grant from Church Wigan. WDT staff provide services on behalf of Church Wigan, they operate completely within the policies and standards of Church Wigan, as they would for any other partner in the future. Some are line managed by Church Wigan staff, but WDT provides all equipment, training, support and overall management.