![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Lisa-Nandy-and-Rachel-Reeves-at-Westleigh-Methodist-Primary-School.jpg\")
Wigan MP and culture secretary Lisa Nandy, left, with chancellor Rachel Reeves<\/p>\nThe Chancellor was in Greater Manchester todayWigan MP and culture secretary Lisa Nandy, left, with chancellor Rachel Reeves<\/p>\n
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has visited Wigan to launch a \u00a3500m fund to help vulnerable children in the town and across the UK.<\/p>\n
Supported also by the culture secretary and Wigan<\/a> MP Lisa Nandy and Makerfield MP Josh Simons, she visited Westleigh Methodist Primary School, which is being held up as a \u2018trailblazer\u2019 for how to boost the life chances of children.<\/p>\n Reeves says the Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next 10 years by bringing together Government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors and philanthropists to give children a better future.<\/p>\n The chancellor told how she had seen the work done by the charity All Child at Westleigh during her visit.<\/p>\n Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n She said: \u201cIt was about all the needs of a child, joining those up and making sure that things like school attendance are better.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we saw a project that was about \u2018learning through play\u2019. It was really powerful – children who perhaps at home don\u2019t have access to the toys and the opportunities that we would all want for our children and this project is about extending those opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cI do want children here in Westleigh, Wigan and right across the country to benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Nandy added: \u201cWestleigh is the trailblazer for how you turn around the life chances of young people who deserve so much more.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re partnering as a Government with private philanthropists and Wigan council to show how you can do this.<\/p>\n “Rachel and I have just met some incredible young people who have come on leaps and bounds since this project started here at Westleigh Methodist Primary School back in September.<\/p>\n “We believe that it’s a scandal that in some parts of the North West there are 50 per cent of children growing up in poverty without the life chances that they deserve. This Government will never rest until that is changed.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Nandy-Reeves-and-Simons.jpg\")
From left, Lisa Nandy, Rachel Reeves and Josh Simons, chat to staff at Westleigh Methodist Primary School<\/p>\n