As we begin 2021 in yet another lockdown, it’s important that our communities continue to pull together.
It’s a very tough time for local businesses, for vulnerable people, and for families who may be struggling with money worries or the pressures of homeschooling. It’s a worrying time for jobs, and a huge strain on wellbeing and mental health for all of us.
Lowton and Golborne News is all about championing our local area – the people, places and businesses that make it great. So we’re asking everyone to support local this lockdown, in whatever way you can.
If you are involved with a local company, organisation or community group that is offering help & support during this latest lockdown, we want to hear about you.
Or, if you are a local business that is affected – we want to know how people in Lowton & Golborne can still support you.
To be included please send us details to news@lowtonandgolbornenews.co.uk – including contact details (such as email) and where people can find out more (a website or Facebook page). We will help share your messages and connect you with local people.
Here’s how you can support local during this lockdown in Lowton and Golborne
If you are in a position to do so, please consider supporting local businesses and traders first. You can find a list of them in our Local Directory.
Here are some of the ways in which our local businesses continue to trade during the lockdown.
Shop local for food and essentials
Top Nosh Queen of Catering - delivering healthy homecooked meals
Enjoy a roast dinner, chicken curry, healthy lasagne or more... delivered to your door contactlessly by Top Nosh Queen of Catering. Check out their Facebook page for more details.
Haselden's Butchers - open throughout lockdown
Try Haselden's on Slag Lane, Lowton, for all your fresh meat... you might not ever look back! With full social distancing measures in place to protect customers you can shop safely and enjoy great quality too. As well as meat Haseldens also stocks other essentials including bread and other sundries. Take a look at their Facebook page for more information.
Grange Farm, Lowton - farm shop selling local produce
Grange Farm have a range of fresh, locally sourced produce available for sale. Check their Facebook page for more details.
Morton's Dairies - milk and other essentials delivered to your doorstep
Morton's Dairies can bring milk and other essentials right to your doorstep. Due to increased demand, they are limiting the number of new customers who can sign up each day, but check their website to see the range of produce they offer and find out if you can sign up.
Listers Master Butchers - delivering meat packs
This Leigh town centre based butchers is currently selling meat packs and offering delivery to Lowton and Golborne. Choose from a family pack, lean pack or OAP pack - and more, available to browse on their Facebook page.
Tom's Fruit & Veg Delivery Service
Newton-le-Willows based Tom comes highly recommended on our Facebook page! His delivery slots are limited due to such a high demand, but if you can get a slot booked he is well worth a try. See the Facebook page for more details.
Fruit & Veg box deliveries
Book a fresh fruit and veg box delivery using this local company on Facebook. If you have a sweet tooth, they're even offering sweet hampers too!
Kenyon Hall - Farm shop selling local produce
The farm, off Winwick Link Road inbetween Lowton & Newton-Le-Willows has been open throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, providing local people with a chance to pick up fresh produce and other essentials from their farm shop seven days a week, 9am – 5pm.
They completely re-configured their farm shop, closing their cafe and doubling the floor space, creating lots of space for social distancing and safe shopping. They sell everything you would expect from a farm shop including all your essentials – fresh fruit, veg, milk, eggs, butter, bread and meat as well as a large range of dried, frozen and tinned goods and alcohol. They are also selling homemade cakes and quiches.
Read more about Kenyon Hall farm and their plans for the pick-your-own season.

Why not try a takeaway roast dinner from The Queen Anne in Golborne?
Support our local hospitality businesses
The Travellers Rest - Takeaway home-cooked meals
The Travellers Rest on Newton Road, Lowton, is offering takeaway home-cooked meals on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Details of the latest menu and available times can be found on their website.
Love Lee Parties - book a Zoom birthday party for your child
If your child has an upcoming lockdown birthday, they don't need to miss out on a birthday party.
Book a Zoom birthday party with Love Lee Parties, choose your child's favourite theme, then sit back and relax as the the children are kept entertained with games and fun.
Everything you need for the party will be delivered in advance in colourful party bags.
Choose from:

Robin Hood, Pennington - delivering home cooked meals to heat at home
The Robin Hood pub, near Pennington Flash, is delivering home cooked comfort food - which you can keep in the fridge and eat at a time to suit you.
They are also offering meal deals - including 2 main meals and a bottle of wine for just £20. A perfect way to recreate a pub meal out at home, without any hassle.
Call the Robin Hood to place an order on 01942 261313, or see their Facebook page for more details.
The Queen Anne, Golborne - Takeaway Sunday Rost
Don't miss out on your Sunday Roast - pick one up from the Queen Anne! They're trialling a Sunday dinner takeout service, and are taking orders for meals to be collected or delivered to you between 12-5pm.
Roast chicken or beef dinners are available for £8.95 - piping hot and delicious, with no hassle!

Take some time to check in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours or relatives.
Show someone you care
Check in on a neighbour or vulnerable relative
Take some time to contact people in your neighbourhood who might be struggling - whether that's in getting essential food and supplies, or just with loneliness.
A phone call and a chat can make a big difference to someone's day.
Clap for Heroes - Thursday nights at 8pm
The old 'Clap for Carers' is being revived, but this time the idea is to clap for all those who are out working and supporting people during the lockdown - this includes NHS workers and carers, but also teachers, nursery workers, refuse collection workers, social workers, delivery drivers... all those people we rely on for help.
Let someone know you appreciate them
A simple thing. But it will mean a lot.
If your child's teacher has been really supportive, or your postman has been a real lifeline lately... tell them!
Send a quick email, leave them a note, or tell them face to face (from a distance, of course!) It's a simple gesture which will go a very long way.

Food is available for families who are struggling.
Sources of support and help
Ashton Churches Together Foodbank
Ashton Churches Together (ACT) Food Bank are able to help with emergency deliveries of food for families in need.
To get help, you'll need a referral from your GP, Job Centre, Start Well, social worker, health visitor or local minister of religion. Schools can also contact the foodbank to get referral forms for families in need.
If you would like to donate to the ACT Foodbank, there are collection boxes at Asda in Golborne, All Saints Church in Golborne and Haseldens Butchers in Lowton.
Donations can also be dropped off at All Saints Church in Golborne between 10am - 2pm from Monday to Friday. Leave any food outside the presbytery door, ring the bell and it will be collected.
You can also bring donations to the food bank, which is based out of St Thomas’s Church in Ashton town centre. A collection takes place in the car park every Friday morning, and there is a box for donations made at other times.
You can email actfoodbank@gmail.com for more information.
Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre - support for carers of all ages
If you look after a family member, friend or neighbour who cannot manage without your support, then you are a carer. The Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre is here to support you - whatever your age.
The centre is still offering help and advice throughout the lockdown, too.
Call 01942 705959, email info@wlcccarers.com or visit their website www.wlcccarers.com.
Emotional Wellbeing Group - Free relationship and mental health counselling
Lowton-based Emotional Wellbeing Group are a not-for-profit organisation who are offering free relationship and mental health counselling to people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are offering a weekly online 'drop-in' service and can signpost you to other sources of information and support, too. Read more.
Visit the Emotional Wellbeing Group website for more information and to find self-help tools as well as details of their counselling services. You can also find them on Facebook.
Right at Home - home care for elderly or vulnerable people
If you, or a loved one is in need of extra help or care, the care givers from Right at Home North Cheshire and Leigh can make a big difference.
Whether its companionship or round-the-clock care, there's a service to suit everyone. Read more about the care options provided by Right at Home.Â

You can stay fit and active – at home!
Stay active and look after yourself during lockdown
Chalk and Steel Gym, Lowton - offering online training and nutrition packages.
Chalk & Steel Gym is closed during the lockdown, but is offering online training and nutrition packages with head coach Paul Mason.
So if your New Year's resolution was to get in shape, you don't need to put off your plans because of the lockdown.
To find out more, send a WhatsApp message to Coach Paul Mason on 07960 231178, or search for @chalk_and_steel_gym or @coachpaulmason on Instagram or Facebook.
Tumbles Academy - running online gymnastics classes
Tumbles Academy of Gymnastics, based on the Moss Industrial Estate in Lowton, are doing all they can to keep their young gymnastics active during the lockdown.
They have been running online classes to help keep the young people fit and happy - and for those gymnasts who hope to be entering competitions this year, to help keep their standards high!
Paula Brown 1:1 Diet Consultant - helping you lose weight during lockdown
It's too easy to turn to the fridge when lockdown bites and boredom, or anxieties kick in.
Instead, why not enlist the help of Paula Brown and the 1:1 Diet to help you shed the pounds, rather than pile them on.
The 1:1 Diet is a meal replacement plan, which makes cooking and shopping so much easier, too!
Gemstone Cheer - virtual cheerleading classes
Gemstone Cheer are a local cheerleading troupe. They can’t currently meeting in person to rehearse due to social distancing regulations but are working hard on their routines and fitness from home, instead!
Now you can join in!
Gemstone Cheer are running free online dance classes for 12-16 year olds - you'll find details on their Facebook page.
They are also taking names for a new Starter classes for cheerleading, pom dance or lyrical, which will begin as soon as restrictions allow. With limited spaces per class 'bubble', the classes will take place in adherance to social distancing at a venue to be confirmed.
If you are interested in joining after lockdown, contact them now via Facebook to get your name on the list.
Jessica Siobhan - personal trainer offering free exercise and nutrition advice
Jessica Siobhan, who usually runs beginners yoga and legs bums and tums classes at the Broadmead Centre, is offering free exercise & nutrition advice during lockdown.
The personal trainer says she knows how hard it can be to motivate yourself to exercise at thome, but has set out on a mission to help you look after your fitness and wellbeing during this time. So, for advice or support with exercise or nutrition or even someone to talk to you can get in touch via her Facebook page.
Zumba Feel the Heat - online Zumba classes
Zumba Feel the Heat classes, which usually take place at Lowton Social Club on Wednesdays, are now taking place on Zoom!

Help is at hand if you’re trying to help your children with their remote learning!
Get help with home schooling
If you, or your child, is struggling with homeschooling – know that you are not alone! Your first port of call should be your child’s school, who will be able to offer help and support.
You may also find the following helpful:
Kumon tutoring - Free registration for new students
If your child needs a little extra help with their schoolwork, the Kumon Centre in Lowton is offering online lessons at the moment. Currently, registration is free, saving you £30 per subject per child.
After that, you pay a flat monthly fee of £60 per subject – and for that, your child will receive weekly classes and daily worksheets, all tailored to your child’s individual ability.
For more information, contact Instructor Elizabeth Forrester on 07585 667518, email lowton@kumoncentre.co.uk or visit the centre webpage. You can also follow the centre on Facebook.
Monkey Maths - free online help for pupils - and parents!
Monkey Maths tutoring are offering a free maths club on Zoom for primary children (aged 5 – 11) on Thursdays at 2pm.
Email monkey.maths.tutor@gmail.com to register your child.
They also have helpful videos on their YouTube channel for parents who are struggling to support their children with maths work – you'll also find them on their Instagram account @monkeymaths.
What else should we add to this article?
If you run a local business that is still operating during the lockdown, or are involved with a community group supporting others, email us details so that we can add you here. Send info (and pictures, if possible) to news@lowtonandgolbornenews.co.uk.
2 comments
Hi I have some tinned foods I would like to donate to anyone that may need them it’s mainly Heinz soups, I clinically extremely vulnerable so unable deliver them in person but if anyone needs or would like them they can collect socially distanced of course
Hi Jannette, thank you for your kind offer. We’ve updated the article now with some details of our local food bank – ACT Food Bank, which has drop off points in both Lowton and Golborne. Hopefully this helps.