COMMUNITY centres could shut their doors in the borough if they do not get the cash they need soon, a council boss has warned.

Reducing volunteer numbers and a rise in utility bills as a result of the cost of living crisis are a real concern for community centres, Wigan Town Hall heard at the latest full council meeting.

Cllr Chris Ready, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, explained to his colleagues that the cost of living crisis is having a detrimental effect on every ward in the borough.

This is a real concern in the run up to winter where demand is expected to rise, especially as the council gave out more than 3,400 food parcels in August, Cllr Ready stated.  Cllr Ready said: “With no help from the government this can’t continue as costs continue to increase,” Cllr Ready said, after explaining bills have increased by 50 per cent. “It won’t be long before we see our groups close out of a lack of cash or volunteers because of the frustration at the lack of help from Westminster.

“Our communities play a massive part in combating loneliness, isolation, mental health, to name just a few which eases pressures on our care system and NHS. Utility costs are our biggest worry.

“We have a reduced number of volunteers because they have to find paid employment because of the cost of living crisis (different to MPs who have second jobs to pay for luxury’s). Maybe if the government hadn’t cheated the Waspi women, they would be our volunteers.

“We are seeing more people through our doors more than ever before. We can’t open out of hours or run projects because of the fear of costs.”

The cabinet member went on to say that 80 warm hubs were set up last winter, welcoming on average 200 people a week. The council chamber heard how the community team at the council is constantly looking for grant funding opportunities but this is ‘not enough’.

Cllr Nazia Rehman added that these volunteers are "heroes not miracle workers". They cannot do what they do with dwindling budgets, the chamber was told.

The motion to support community centres strapped for cash was approved by the council chamber. Several members stood up to praise their individual communities for the "vital work" they did during the pandemic and the start of the cost of living crisis.

The town hall heard the council will now to write to the government urging them to provide more funding for community centres to stop them from going into financial crisis.