BUSINESSES in Leigh showed how much they care for their community when they took a tour of groups across the town.

Twenty-two businesses joined the tour of five organisations to find out about the work going on in the town and strengthen links between the businesses and the community sector.

The tour, organised by Business in the Community’s Sonya Bithell in partnership with Wigan Council, has been hailed ‘very successful’, with opportunities for mentoring, volunteering and new business identified.

Organisations visited by the businesses include The Turnpike Gallery, True Colours CIC, Higher Folds Community Centre/Community Voice, Leigh Community Trust/Former Forces Support and The Bridge Café.

The community groups have all been supported by the council's Deal for Communities Investment Fund.

Sonya said: “The support from businesses in Leigh for community organisations was overwhelming and it was a very successful day.

“Due to reductions in funding streams, the community sector is now operating in a more business-orientated way.

“The expertise and experience that businesses can support the community sector with is of huge benefit.

“The businesses also get a lot out of it, such as mentoring and volunteering opportunities and even new markets.”

Sonya said there were pledges of materials, volunteering, food, board of trustee membership, building maintenance and digital help as well as business-to-business connections.

Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities, said: “It is great to forge relationships between these two strong sectors and to see how they can work together in the future.

“It is about us all working together through The Deal to build a stronger borough, and to do that we need to exchange ideas and community knowledge.”

The businesses involved praised the tour and the principles behind The Deal for people to put something back into their community.

Adam Vause, from IT Express based in Higher Folds, said: “I am already actively involved in community engagement so I am really looking for opportunities to give back more.

“The Deal is fantastic and gives community groups the opportunity to excel and deliver for their communities.”

Call Print Signage’s Trish Lyons, who works from Hindley, said that after attending the Wigan tour she developed links with community hub Sunshine House which led to a fundraising event for the centre.

“Bringing communities and business together is a great approach,” she added.