Wigan Harriers - helping enhance lives in their local area
Wigan Harriers are a shining example of a club making a real difference in their local area, with members telling us how much the volunteers involved in running the club have helped change their lives.
The club were awarded as Club of the Year in our recent North West Regional Volunteer Awards, and over the past 60 years, they have developed athletes from beginners to more than a dozen Olympic & Paralympic internationals.
In 2024, the club developed a plan led by two committee members, to achieve all of their Club Standards that same year, which they managed to achieve.
In the past 18 months, Wigan Harriers has grown its membership from 300 to more than 400 members, plus supporting a further 100 young athletes by providing coaches to the Wigan Warriors Mini and Junior athletics programme, delivered on a weekly basis to help children aged 5-11 to take their first steps to becoming involved in athletics.
Creating a family atmosphere
One club volunteer, Rebecca Hopper, told us:
"Some of the main qualities that make up Wigan Harriers are definitely the inclusivity, the family atmosphere. A lot of people describe it as a place where they come to be engaged, have fun and make friends, but it's also a place that strives for greatness."
Olympic inspiration
One young high jumper at the club, Will Jackson, came to the club at a young age after being inspired by watching the Olympics on television, and some of the people coaching him at the club now, are the ones he watched at the Olympics!
"One of the Olympians, Emily Borthwick, she's taken me for a couple of sessions with my coach, and seeing an insight of an Olympian, it would really inspire me to work hard and become one of them in the future.
"People helped bring me to a level, being good role models, and then I can now do that for the younger athletes. Giving them tips, help them come through the club, and become a better version of themselves."
Enhancing lives
The club also pride themselves on the difference they make to the lives of their members, beyond the sport. They see the value in getting families involved in the sport through creating a vibrant atmosphere at Robin Park.
Another coach, John Hayes, told us:
"To come and join a running club like this, the friends you'll meet along the way, it'll be the best thing you'll ever do. My wife and all my family are Wigan Harriers."
Club volunteers have revamped the clubroom, making it a welcoming place for members with new wall displays, tea and coffee facilities and equipment.
All new enquiries receive a welcome email covering training sessions, and are allocated to a group so coaches can welcome the new athletes (and parents) on their first session.
They have also developed a coaching pathway, and recruited a number of parents to increase their number of qualified officials from three to 13.
Wigan Harriers are a prime example of a thriving club always looking for new ways to enhance the experience of their members and recruit and welcome in new members to a real family atmosphere.