The CUP Comes To Leigh

Leigh MP Andy Burnham joined community and business leaders to support local youngsters this week.

The Communities United Project – CUP – which is very active around Higher Folds and other parts of Wigan – has received a major boost from Wigan and Leigh Housing and its network of contractors and consultants. Together they are working with young people to give them opportunities to learn, develop and engage with their communities.

Health Secretary, local MP and sports fan Andy Burnham said: “I’m proud to continue my support for the CUP. They do excellent work boosting opportunities for young people, and I am especially proud when there’s such a strong investment for our local area. Thank you to the businesses concerned.”

Celebrating the news, Mr Burnham met with officials from BAAS, Rock and Mears construction firms, plus Higher Folds residents association leaders Jacqui Farrington and Mona Follows and Wigan and Leigh Housing board members Marjorie Marsden and Leigh East councillor Fred Walker.
Lesley Steel, a CUP Project Director working on the scheme, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wigan and Leigh Housing and their appointed contractors and partners. Their support will help CUP provide support and resources to develop constructive opportunities for local young people.”

A massive £20,000 has been donated by the partners that will support other funding opportunities open to CUP, including from Sport England and the Youth Sector Development Fund.
Cllr Walker added: “CUP are already working successfully in Higher Folds and the additional money will allow them to expand their service into other areas. If the expansion of the service is successful, we’ll be working with CUP to see how this can be rolled out to other parts of the borough as well”.

It’s about more than just football, as Lesley Steel said: “Although we use sport as a tool to encourage community involvement, is about the personal development of adults and young people and building strong positive relationships within a community.” Activities provided by CUP include football and other sports activities as well as music, arts, dance and drama for youngsters aged between 8 and 16. This is a crucial time for providing positive opportunities for young people to develop and widen their perceptions of the choices available to them. CUP also works with schools to offer support and advice to teachers and develop both curriculum and after-school activities.