Last July, we held three sector-wide ‘co-creation’ events, ‘Let’s Create Together!’. These events held across Wigan and Leigh were all focused on how best we proceed building ourselves as an organisation into an LIO (Local Infrastructure Organisation) We wanted your feedback, not just to run away and do whatever we decided would work.
A lot has changed since then – but we haven’t forgotten anything you said.
We’d like to share with you the results of the interim report from our LEGO Play facilitator (The reason we had you all putting together towers and cars and whatever else in-between!), the feedback we got and, finally, how we’ve actioned it since.
You can find the full 8 page PDF at the bottom of this article, but otherwise, we’ll show off the simplified key points here.
The Workshops Objective:
To enable Wigan Borough Community First (WBCF) to gather insights from the Voluntary, Faith, Community and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector in a creative, engaging and honest way, enabling the co-creation of a proposal which outlines an effective approach to developing a unique infrastructure body for Wigan Borough.
The exercises focused on questions like:
- What does it mean to have a thriving and influential VCFSE sector in Wigan Borough?
- How do people want to interact with WBCF?
- What would meaningful, collaborative decision-making look like?
- What does accountability mean and how should it relate to how WBCF operates?
- How do we genuinely engage with local people and communities?
What Should Our Vision Include?
Across the three sessions 206 words were submitted about what we should include in our mission statement. Twelve themes emerged with a clear focus on collaboration, partnership working, diversity, equity, inclusion and support with words linked the these three themes totalling over 50% of the words submitted.
Essentially, there were the words said the most!
| Working Together | 56 | 27% |
| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | 26 | 13% |
| Support | 23 | 11% |
| Forward Looking | 13 | 6% |
| Trust / Integrity / Consistency | 13 | 6% |
| Amplify | 11 | 5% |
| Human | 11 | 5% |
| Transparency / Communication | 10 | 5% |
| Community | 9 | 4% |
| Voice / Listening / Hearing | 8 | 4% |
| Adaptive | 6 | 3% |
| Ambitious | 5 | 2% |
| Misc | 15 | 7% |
A Thriving and Influential VCFSE Sector the Wigan Borough
The following are direct quotes from Let’s Create Together, it is some of the feedback we received:
“Success, play, confidence”
“Better places to live, work, play. All in the same boat. Look out for each other”
“Everyone can move / change directions”
“Everyone having enough, contribution, happiness”
“Links, strength, connection, community”
Essentially, when the VCFSE sector is thriving and influential, people and communities experience greater happiness, inclusion, and opportunity. Individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered to shape their own lives and local areas, supported by strong, collaborative networks across sectors. There is better access quality housing, green spaces, and person-centred support, with resources distributed fairly and no one left behind. Communities become more connected, resilient, and diverse, offering a wide menu of options so no one has to “make do.”
The result is a level playing field where trust, creativity, and cooperation unlock lasting change and sustainable growth for all.
A thriving and influential VCFSE sector?
“Money, not competitive, shared Vision”
“Strong communication inclusive approach regular ‘coming together’ to discuss progress and how we can improve”
“Bravery, care, environmentally sustainable”
“Level playing field”
“Move at the speed of trust, give space to grow, support all parts of the ecosystem”
To achieve a thriving and influential VCFSE sector, we need strong foundations built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. This includes reliable funding, accessible resources, and supportive infrastructure. Open communication, inclusive decision-making, and a commitment to working together across different organisations, sizes, and backgrounds are essential. We must nurture a culture of care, transparency, and bravery, where people feel listened to, valued, and supported.
Success also depends on meaningful partnerships with local authorities, devolved power, and opportunities that are genuinely accessible to all. By resourcing the full ecosystem and moving at the speed of trust, we can build momentum for lasting change
Relationship with Wigan Borough Community First
“I would engage with events and the network”
“I want to be access the organisations easily move towards it when I need it, be in control of how and when I access it. No Barriers – easy access – person ( organisation) with knowledge”
“We want to be part of the boat sailing to a good place with lots of others together – we will fly the flag”
“Currently new CIC trying to navigate everything that with a new business and feeling stretched so currently curious rather than that actively involved”
“Want to be involved but leave LIO to their jobs. Only way their can be is if they are trusted.”
“I think I would be able to offer space, networking, connections, research, finding out needs”
“I would like to be involved in shaping the LIO but currently have lots of moving parts in work, life, family so unsure how I can commit in the next 6 months”
People thought they’d only have the capacity to join occasional networking events, others were keen to use their connections to help actively boost the reach of WBCF and / or be involved in its development
The Ideas Board
At our main event, we had an ‘Ideas Board’ and a ‘Whinge Board’. One for you to place your ideas, and another for you to place your frustrations. Ideas included…
“Building a bridge between the VCFSE and Wigan Council”
“Support with finance and accounts”
“Everyone working together, growth together”
“Thematic networks for organisations to meet and and share best practice”
“Directory of organisations with themes so we can connect”
“Forgive people, conflict is not the end”
“Recruiting and retraining volunteers – show care, make it fun, don’t judge and celebrate their success”
“Dragons den style community panel”
The Whingeboard
“Too many empire builders”
“Bellends”
“Communications with the Council”
“Lack of support – except from networking groups”
“You can’t say anything anymore. Resillience.”
“Level playing field”
“Reach a plateau then get stuck with the Council”
“Who is monitoring CIC’s to ensure they’re spending money as they should?”
The Full Report
How have we responded?
Communication With the Council
We heard about your issues with communicating with the Council – from reaching a plateau or struggling to reach them. Not only do we advocate for the sector and ensure your voice is heard in higher level meetings, but we have also set up different channels for you to reach them. Inquiries from our website may be forwarded to the Council to ensure you get the help you need and we’ve set up a WhatsApp group to allow informal conversations during their Funding Friday drop-ins. Join it here!
Social Enterprise Support
We’ve heard your issues getting support as a CIC or social enterprise, so we’ve put resource into supporting you! We’ve held a series of events: Accountancy Training, the Social Enterprise Day Drop In, the Social Enterprise Lunch and Learn – plus more, to support your organisation. Further, we’ve provided valuable information to many organisations on various matter running their organisation through emails and inquires on our site!
Progress With Unity: Path To Purpose
You said you wanted even, level and fair funding – so we’ve delivered. Alongside other work we’ve done to make funding fair and equitable, we put out the PWU: Path To Purpose fund in later 2025. The processes we built to distribute this fund were informed directly by feedback from Let’s Create Together and other events, which will be used with future funds we distribute to ensure it’s unbiased and totally fair to you. Recipients are actually decided by the ‘Dragons Den style community panel’.
The WhatsApp
Full control of how you contact us? You’ve got it. We’ve built our whole communications strategy around you being able to access us at all points we can reach you – just reply, as the newsletter says. Further, the WhatsApp we have allows you to get in touch whenever you want with a quick and convenient method and has a focus on peer support!
Thematic Networks
You asked for networks and better ways to connect with the people working around you, so we’ve tried to make that happen. We’ve set up the Green Spaces Network, the Children and Young People Network, the Womens Network and supported others like the Interfaith Network!