Wigan Rotary Club and Golborne and Lightshaw Rotary Club have for years now supported groups of youngsters who for many different reasons have extra responsibilities in their very young lives. The responsibility of caring for a parent or a sibling in their family means that their youth is very different from that of other children.

For the last 4 years these children, aged between seven and thirteen, have enjoyed a carefree, fun day out. The Inspiring Healthy Lifestyle team and members of the two Rotary clubs have been taking them to Scotsman’s Flash where instructors have organised a full day of activities. The day starts with a breakfast snack, then there is climbing walls, jungle craft, a BBQ, boating on the Flash and finishing with hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows. This has provided these children with a really special and memorable ‘Day to Remember’.
However, this year was different and all this had to be cancelled as the COVID virus struck!

The Clubs realised how sad and difficult this time would be for this particular group of youngsters who needed support more than ever. We agreed that the Wigan Rotary club would fund and then, with the help of Wigan Council and the volunteers of the Young Carers groups, send “goody bags” to all Young Carers right at the start of the lockdown in the Spring and we were all even more pleased and delighted to be able to repeat this for Christmas 2020.

We used a special Christmas bag which was filled with all kinds of goodies and activities along with a personal handwritten message for each child from the members of the Wigan Rotary Club.

Recently Paul Caroll, retiring Manager of the Young Carers sent a message to the Club. He said “Just a short note to say that the team have started to deliver the Xmas wellbeing/goody bags. We have added the Christmas card from The Rotary Club of Wigan (great writing please pass on our thanks). Your team of Rotarians have provided brilliant support to the Young Carers and I pass on our thanks for the kind support they have shown our young people over several years!”

The Club hopes and wishes that when it is safe and possible we can continue the normal Fun Days once again.