A Face to Launch…

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Local girl and former Coronation Street star, Jennifer James, will be pushing the boat out on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal next Monday (11th October) to launch a week–long celebration and promotion of social housing.

Staff, customers and partner organisations of the borough’s biggest landlord, Wigan & Leigh Housing, are pitching themselves into a series of promotional activities and events across the borough.

It’s full steam ahead from Monday, as Jennifer and a special crew climb aboard the ‘Kitty Wake’ at the Wigan Investment Centre at 10.30am. Other major events, all suited to landlubbers, include Wednesday’s ‘Meet, eat and greet’ social event for tenants and friends at Hilton Park, Leigh and a ‘Grand Finale’ at the Wigan Investment Centre on Friday, when winners of the gardening and other competitions will attend Wigan & Leigh Housing’s annual awards ceremony.

In addition, a ‘media bus’ staffed by officers from Wigan & Leigh Housing, joined by partner agencies, Mears and Leigh Building Services, with support from Wigan & Leigh College students, will visit council estates across the borough aiming to encourage residents to get actively involved in housing services. And the bus will be one of the attractions in Leigh town square for Friday’s closing celebrations, which feature live entertainment from children from Hindsford CoE Primary School.

Peter Gee, Chief Executive of Wigan & Leigh Housing says:

“Wigan & Leigh Housing has been in business for just a short time, but thanks to our staff, partner companies like Leigh Building Services and Mears, and our tenants’ and residents’ associations, we have come a long way.

“This week is all about positively promoting council housing and our services, encouraging people to get involved in shaping those services, and thanking everybody who helps make the event’s slogan, ‘working together, making a difference’, a reality.

“Council tenants can be assured of a warm welcome at their local area housing offices throughout the week and at the various public events. We look forward to seeing you!”

Anybody wanting more information about Wigan & Leigh Housing’s ‘Promotion Week’ can ring freephone 0800 389 7652 or 0800 032 1451 to find out more and discover ways to get involved.

Note to Editors

• For more information and details of photo opportunities, please contact Patsy Murray or Elaine Davies at Wigan & Leigh Housing on (01942) 705702 / 767343
• The full programme is:
  • Monday 11th October — Launch, Wigan Investment Centre, 10.30am;
  • Monday 11th–Friday 15th October — media bus visiting council estates across the borough (schedule (72kb) attached);
  • Tuesday 12th October — official opening of the new Wigan & Leigh Housing HQ at Unity House, Westwood Park, 2pm (invitation only);
  • Tuesday 12th October — ‘Open Day’ at Leigh Homes’ new repairs contact centre, Chapel Street. Local residents can drop in any time between 10am–4pm to see how the new contact centre works and take part in an interactive session on diagnosing repairs;
  • Wednesday 13th October — ‘Meet, eat and greet’ social event, open to tenants and friends, Hilton Suite, Hilton Park, Leigh, 6pm–8;
  • Wednesday 13th October — Hindley/Abram Township Forum ‘Big Thank You’ event, Monaco Ballroom, 6–8pm;
  • Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th October — ‘Getting out to meet you’ events at Wigan and Leigh Asda’s and colleges, from 11am–3pm;
  • Thursday 14th October — Multi–agency ‘Community Conference’, Hag Fold Community Centre, Atherton, 9.15am–3.15pm;
  • Friday 15th October — Board members’ ‘tour’ of the borough;
  • Friday 15th October — ‘Closing celebrations’ in Leigh Town Square, 12 noon–2.15pm;
  • Friday 15th October — ‘Grand Finale’, Wigan Investment Centre, 6pm. Winners of the week’s various competitions will attend Wigan & Leigh Housing’s annual awards ceremony, sponsored by Mears.
• Find attached the promotional poster (319kb) for Wigan and Leigh Housing’s ‘Promotional Week’.