Professionals from across Wigan’s education, health and community sectors are invited to come together for the Experts at Hand Business Support Event, taking place at The Edge, Riveredge, Wigan (WN3 5AB) on Tuesday 16 June 2026, from 8am until 1pm. This important workshop forms part of Wigan Council’s ongoing commitment to improving early support, inclusion and outcomes for children and young people across the borough.
The event marks the official launch of the Best Start in Life Strategic Plan, setting out the next steps in supporting families and strengthening early years provision. Attendees will also hear key highlights from the first submission of the borough’s Inclusion and SEND Plan, developed through extensive consultation and co production with partners, schools and community organisations.
At the heart of the workshop is the development of the Experts at Hand model, a new approach designed to bring timely specialist support directly into everyday settings. The session will explore how this model can work in practice, how services can collaborate more effectively and how new funding can be used to strengthen early intervention and mainstream capacity.
Throughout the morning, participants will work together to:
build a shared understanding of local needs, strengths and gaps
align and maximise existing resources across services
co design a model that strengthens early support and inclusion
agree priorities, governance and next steps for implementation
The workshop brings together a wide range of professionals including headteachers, principals, SENCOs, early years leads, therapy services, outreach teams, health colleagues and wider partners. It is a valuable opportunity to influence system change and help shape a more responsive and sustainable support offer for children and families in Wigan.
The event is organised by Wigan Council and offers a collaborative space for discussion, planning and shared learning. With the borough’s SEND reforms moving forward, this workshop provides a key moment for partners to contribute their expertise and help shape the future of support across Wigan.
