What happened in 2025

We’ve just produced our annual report for 2024, and it’s been a great time to reflect on all the great goings on in the community last year. The reporting year went from Oct 2023 to Dec 2024.

As a reminder, the aims of the Springfield Beech Hill Gidlow CommUnity group are

• To discover and make visible the treasure that we have within our community – the people who do great stuff and the places we love.

• To build connections with neighbours that focus on what’s strong rather than what’s wrong

• To create social spaces for people to build and deepen friendships and make the community stronger

• To create social spaces for associations and groups to flourish and grow power so that they can act together for the benefit of the area

JAN 2025

We released the annual survey results, with 98% of people thinking that the community is becoming more connected, at least in parts.

Give it a Grow Wigan held a seed and plant swap in the community garden which was well attended despite the weather!

And a coach full of families made the trip to Bolton to watch Aladdin in the theatre.

Some of the organising group started to learn about Ripple Mapping and a small group of women started mindfulness in the woods.

FEB 2025

St Andrew’s hosted a Family Play Day, and we opened the Playbox during half term.

We started Friendship Circles, offering community members the opportunity to come in and meet other people.

Marta, a community member, offered yoga classes on Monday evenings to share her love of yoga.

MARCH 2025

There were several community litter picks in the area for the Great British Spring Clean.

We held a Community Cash and invested in 6 community ideas, including publishing a poetry book, Creative Writing workshops, replacing the defib at Community corner, money towards an Easter trip, sponsorship for a kids rugby team, and supporting a new photography project.

We celebrated International Women’s Day locally and joined in with the events at Fur Clemt.

APRIL 2025

Work was completed on Diggle Street Park public square.

A new space for children to come and play with Lego started at CommUnity Corner. Local children from the craft club took on the role of Easter Bunny to bring smiles to the community and raise funds for a trip to Gullivers World..

MAY 2025

SBHG & Northern Heart and Soul invited people to come and learn about the amazing growth of community life in our area over a

two-day learning festival.

The first-ever Poetry Recital was held outside at CommUnity Corner by the creative writing group.

We had another fabulous Party in the Park event at Diggle Street with around 180 people attending.

JUNE 2025

We held bunting-making workshops and delicious food tasting sessions in the lead-up to our first-ever Community Food Share Festival, at the end of June.

The food festival itself was a beautiful afternoon of food, music, creativity and joy. It was enjoyed by hundreds of people.

We held our famous Afternoon tea, and there was a plant swap in the community garden. CommUnity Corner was a stop on The BIG GM Live Well Bus Tour.

JULY 2025

The Easter holidays saw more opportunities for families to enjoy spending time together. We made our way to Bolton for panto again, this time to watch Pinocchio.

The Playbox returned for a week, thanks to Cllrs Ramsdale and Wood. We had fun and used the time to fundraise and explore the design of our very own Playbox. We hosted our first Clothes Swap and set up a members lottery to raise money for the Playbox and Community Cash.

AUGUST 2025

National Play Day saw many familiar faces working together to bring a fun-filled day of community play to Wigan Park, with play, crafts and more.

It also saw the continuation of trips and the Playbox open for the summer. A group of parents and children came together for tea to organise.

The annual family blackberry pick in Gidlow field was a fun time together to see who could get the most!

There was a Community Apple Day at St Anne’s Community Garden – all the kids worked together picking and pressing apples to make our own apple juice.

And at Community Corner there was another evening of poetry thanks to the Creative Writing group.

This month also saw the first History Coffee Morning, where people gather together to share local history and stories.

Julie started hosting Art classes in Community Corner, focusing on a range of fine art skills and practices each week, which then also grew to 2 days a week.

SEPT 2025

June saw a community cash event. The young men returned to talk about their progress with gardening, and Kai pitched to host a treasure hunt at the annual party in the park.

Cats Guidance Rescue visited us with their bargains, and we hosted a Pop-up Market at Community corner.

There was a much-loved Afternoon Tea as well as the monthly women and young girls food share at Community Corner.

OCT 2025

This month saw a trip for SEN families to the Children’s Adventure Trust.

We held our first-ever Art exhibition at the community corner with over many artists displaying their artwork.

The annual Halloween walk seemed to double in popularity this year – it was really spooktacular! Families also worked hard to create all the decorations and props!

We hosted SBHG’s AGM at CommUnity Corner, and many families enjoyed pumpkin carving and crafts and fun in the dark at St Anne’s Community garden.

NOV 2025

Step into Nature monthly walk started in the area.

We had an Autumn party in the community garden, with food, games and awards & gifts for those who help out.

We also held a wonderful seasonal Christmas market at CommUnity Corner, full of goodies and bargains.

DEC 2025

The coach went to Bury market for a day of bargains. We organised a community Christmas dinner at St Andrew’s – a true community effort that was very much enjoyed.

Wigan Cult Film Club had their first film day at Community Corner.

We had Christmas Carolling with St Andrew’s – walking around the neighbourhood spreading cheer. And we also had a family Christmas party at the playbox.

At Community Corner, there were mince pies & Christmas cheer with a quiz.

There was a winter performance from the creative writing group, and the infamous visits by fun Christmas characters to the local schools and businesses.

To read the full report, download this PDF.