It'sAboutPeople.It'sAboutPlaces.
A Community Anchor Organisation supporting Platt Bridge and Abram Ward and Hindley areas of Makerfield, as well as delivering Boroughwide programmes
Our services
Everything we do is for the community
Platt Bridge Community Zone
Providing dedicated training rooms, office space, nursery facility and café facility. Home to WLCC's head office.
Find Out More→Tudor House
Providing dedicated office space, workshop space, storage space plus supported housing accommodation.
Find Out More→Community Engagement
Hosting events and playing an active role in the community via Community Organising across Wigan and Leigh.
Find Out More→Made in Wigan — Training Programmes
Working in partnership with Social Economy organisations in Wigan Borough to deliver skills and training.
Find Out More→Proper Good Social Investment
Hosting subsidised workshops for social economy organisations looking to grow and access investment.
Find Out More→WLCC Library
Podcasts, community stories, funding reports and video resources all in one place.
Find Out More→
It's About People
It's about the growth of the local economy for the benefit of the local community — an opportunity for any person to turn an interest or skill into a valued product or service, work with others to create community businesses, and give young people and communities a voice through Community Organising.
It's About Places
It's about recognising diverse needs within local communities and responding by stimulating local action. We led the Abram Ward Neighbourhood Plan — approved by referendum in 2025 — turning local conversations into Planning Policies that safeguard buildings and open spaces for the benefit of people, the economy and health.
It's about High Streets and supporting places to meet, chat, learn new skills and buy locally.
About WLCC
A Community Anchor Organisation
Wigan & Leigh Community Charity (WLCC) is a Community Anchor Organisation supporting Platt Bridge and Abram Ward and Hindley areas of Makerfield, as well as delivering Boroughwide programmes. We exist to safeguard community assets, provide support, education, advice, funding and business support to local people looking to run their own Social Economy Organisation.
WLCC started life as Abram Ward Community Co-operative in 2013, established around the Community Asset Transfer of Platt Bridge Community Zone — a local community hub built by local people in 1999. From there, we have grown to support social enterprises, cooperatives and community businesses across the whole borough.
Meet the team
The staff and trustees behind WLCC — working with communities across Wigan and Leigh every day.
Est. 2013
Our History
- 2013
Founded to save Platt Bridge Community Zone from closure — established as Abram Ward Community Co-operative through a Community Asset Transfer, funded by Wigan Council's The Deal.
- 2015
Established Abram Ward Neighbourhood Plan Forum — giving local people a direct say in the future of their neighbourhood. The plan was approved by referendum in 2025.
- 2017
Chosen as 1 of 6 across England for the Power to Change Empowering Places programme — a £1 million initiative to grow Community Businesses at a neighbourhood level.
- 2022
Renamed to Wigan & Leigh Community Charity; acquired Tudor House in Hindley; led the campaign for Wigan Borough to become a Social Enterprise Town via Social Enterprise UK; and launched the Proper Good Social Investment programme.
Founded to save Platt Bridge Community Zone from closure — established as Abram Ward Community Co-operative through a Community Asset Transfer, funded by Wigan Council's The Deal.
Established Abram Ward Neighbourhood Plan Forum — giving local people a direct say in the future of their neighbourhood. The plan was approved by referendum in 2025.
Chosen as 1 of 6 across England for the Power to Change Empowering Places programme — a £1 million initiative to grow Community Businesses at a neighbourhood level.
Renamed to Wigan & Leigh Community Charity; acquired Tudor House in Hindley; led the campaign for Wigan Borough to become a Social Enterprise Town via Social Enterprise UK; and launched the Proper Good Social Investment programme.
Our spaces
Spaces built for the community
“WLCC champions the vision of a ‘line of sight’ of Social Economy led organisations in Platt Bridge and Abram Ward and Hindley areas of Makerfield, as well as through Boroughwide programmes — educating, supporting and safeguarding community assets for the benefit of local people.”
Skills & investment
Made in Wigan and Proper Good — working together for the borough
Training and enterprise support sit alongside our boroughwide social investment programme, so local organisations can build skills and access funding in one connected journey.
Made in Wigan
Training programmes
We work in partnership with social economy organisations across Wigan Borough to deliver skills, training and practical support for people and enterprises.
Proper Good
Social investment
Boroughwide access to social investment — including workshops, advice and the Proper Good podcast exploring community business and funding in Wigan and Leigh.
Latest from the blog
News, stories and updates from across Wigan and Leigh.
Get involved
Support What We Do
Become a Trustee
Help shape the future of WLCC. We're always looking for passionate people to join our board.
Donate to Us
Your donation helps us deliver training, support local social enterprises and maintain our community spaces.
Support via Match My Project
Help local community projects reach their fundraising goals through the Match My Project platform.