February 16, 2023
Outwood Academy Hindley have been crowned champions of this year's Premier League Inspires Challenge!
The annual event was hosted at the DW Stadium, with six cohorts of Premier League Inspires students representing their Schools at the event and presenting environmental-themed social action proposals to a panel of judges.
With representatives from Outwood Academy Hindley, Atherton High School, Deanery High School, Hawkley Hall High School, Up Holland High School and Leigh Engagement Centre, the students presented a broad variety of ideas to the judges. With ideas ranging from turning football shirts into reusable bags, recycling football boots into plant pots and a campaign to plant a tree for each season ticket holder at the DW Stadium, all the students should be applauded for their innovative ideas.
The judging panel was comprised of Wigan Athletic Chief Executive Mal Brannigan, U21 players Chris Sze and Kieran Lloyd, Trustee Cathy Robinson and Kerrell Boardman from Wigan Council.
After much deliberation, the judges opted to crown Outwood Academy Hindley the champions for their idea to create a meditative zen garden in remembrance of our late Head of Community, Tom Flower.
Outwood Academy Hindley will now go on to represent Latics in future Premier League Inspires celebration events.
Hosting the event was Wigan Athletic Community Trust's Steve Bower who said:
“It has a massive impact, seeing the pupils this morning it was clear that some of them weren't confident, but for them to be able to get up and present to a room full of people shows how confident they're becoming here.”
His thoughts were echoed by Academy Player Chris Sze, who added:
“I thought they were all good, they all had a chance of winning.
“I think it's good that all the fans and everyone who's known Tom can go and pay their respects, and be around the garden and feel like he's still here.”
To find out more about the Premier League Inspires programme, please email Wigan Athletic Community Trust's Education Officer, Steve Bower at s.bower@wiganathletic.com
By Wigan Athletic
