ANOTHER £1.5 million is being made available for community groups and volunteers who want to make a difference where they live.

On Monday, April 3, Wigan Council will open its successful Deal for Communities Investment Fund for the fifth time, bringing the total investment to £9 million.

It is available to small, innovative investments only, projects which require less than £2,000.

The funding forms part of The Deal, an informal contract between the council and residents that includes a commitment from both sides to work together to make the borough a better place.

The groups that were successful in the previous round of funding were celebrated at a networking evening last week and revealed how the money they received has been making a difference to local people.

Hag Fold Community Centre in Atherton was given £1,343 to work with firefighters to deliver bootcamp sessions for parents.

Brian Seddon, chairman of the group, said: “It was absolutely brilliant and we couldn’t have done it without the funding.

"The parents love the variety. They have been knackered after they have done it.

"It is a great partnership we have with local people and services to make things happen on the estate.”

The group also received £10,000 from the investment fund to deliver activity camps over school holidays.

They see an average of 56 children a day doing a variety of activities, from football and netball to learning about healthy eating from Dorset Road Community Centre.

Brian said: “It has been the most successful project in Hag Fold since I have been there.”

Leigh Ornithological Society received £1,600 to help the Pennington Flash Ranger Service preserve wildlife habitat and look after the nature reserve.

David Shallcross from the society said: “The fund has helped me to set up a group which carries out tasks around the reserve, and it has helped us all to get fitter.

"It is a health and wellbeing group as well as a conservation group.

"We are very grateful to The Deal.”

Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities at the council, said: "So far the fund has had a massive impact on communities.

"It was overwhelming last week to hear from each of the groups about how the funding is making a real difference to the lives of local people.

“Every year we are inspired by the bids and by how many people want to make the Wigan borough a better place.

"We are delighted to be funding more projects.

“There are many authorities that are withdrawing funding from communities, but we are bucking the trend and investing more into them.

“Wigan Council is determined to provide support for organisations and groups who want to help improve issues we face in the borough.

"It is why we launched The Deal, so we can work with the community to achieve this.”

The small investment pot will be open for six weeks.

For information about bidding for a slice of the £1.5 million visit wigan.gov.uk/thedeal.