CHURCHES in Leigh have united to launch a mobile youth centre on a bus.

The Eden Bus project will be equipped with video games, a chill-out zone, a climbing wall and a nail bar.

Young people will be able to enjoy the entertainment at Spinning Gate car park every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm starting from May 9.

As well as activities on the bus, football sessions will be run by Ambassadors in Football.

Craft sessions will also take place at the LEIGHway building, which is set to be linked to Leigh Carnival. 

Leigh Journal:

Inside the mobile bus

Vicar of Christ Church Pennington, Reverend Alan Saunders said: “The cut backs to youth services are so severe that there are very few resources for youth activities these days.

"The voluntary sector is looking to the fill the gap, which is both an opportunity for churches and a challenge.

“We hope this project acts as a catalyst to build and strengthen partnerships across the town.

"No single organisation can effectively fulfil the task of reaching out to our young people - we are better together."

The bus will also be touring high schools from Monday until next Thursday including Lowton CE High School.

This has been since the appointment last year of Wiremu Kingi as senior church youth worker and Lowton school chaplain.

"We are starting to see sustained growth in numbers of children and young people attending church groups since Wiremu joined us, "Alan said.

"The youth work programme has developed, made possible by funding from grants and giving.”

Leigh Journal:

The Eden Bus

The project has received backing from Wigan Council.

Rev Saunders added: "We are excited that so far partnerships are developing with Wigan Council, Wigan Community Partnership, our high schools, churches, Ambassadors in Football and a community arts project.”