Believe Square

File:Face of Wigan sculpture, Wigan.jpg erected in 2008]]

The square is the site of the "Face of Wigan," a 2008 sculpture by artist Rick Kirby.{{Cite web |date=27 November 2024 |title=Take the road to Wigan and find an historic town packed with fascinating people |url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/lancashire/24660158.ultimate-guide-wigan-lancashire/ |website=Great British Life}}{{Cite web |date=13 December 2008 |title=Sculpture makes every passer by the face of Wigan |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/sculpture-makes-every-passer-by-the-face-of-wigan-trkwtnjhbbl |website=Thetimes.com}} The piece features a steel face, with facets reflecting the Wigan community and its hinterland.{{Cite web |title=The Face of Wigan - Rick Kirby (b.1952) |url=https://batch.artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-face-of-wigan-314608 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=ArtUK.org}}

The Wigan Life Centre on the square is a hub for education, the arts, and leisure, as well as the site of civic offices.{{Cite web |last=Fulcher |first=Merlin |date=16 February 2012 |title=AStudio and LCE complete £50m Wigan Life Centre |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/astudio-and-lce-complete-50m-wigan-life-centre |website=ArchitectsJournal.co.uk}}{{Cite web |date=12 December 2024 |title=Memories should come flooding back with these pictures of the former Wigan International Pool |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/heritage-and-retro/retro/retro-splash-pictures-from-the-early-days-of-wigans-old-international-pool-4904300 |website=Wigan Today}}{{Cite web |date=1 September 2010 |title=Wigan Life Centre: northern verve |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/wigan-life-centre-northern-verve-01-09-2010/ |website=NewCivilEngineer.com}}

The Life Centre adjoins Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, on the site of the former Wigan International Pool.{{Citation |title=Wigan International Pool 1966–2008 |url=http://www.wigan-best.org.uk/uploads/105_08.pdf |access-date=7 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305101355/http://www.wigan-best.org.uk/uploads/105_08.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead |publisher=Wigan-Best.org.uk}} Opened in 2011, as a consolidate public services hub.{{Cite news |date=16 September 2011 |title=First Peek inside Life Centre |url=http://www.wigantoday.net/news/first_peek_inside_life_centre_1_3779746 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927072553/http://www.wigantoday.net/news/first_peek_inside_life_centre_1_3779746 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |access-date=26 November 2011 |work=Wigan Observer}} The Life Centre consists of two main buildings: the North and South sites. The North site houses a library and neighbourhood support facilities, the South site's "Healthy Living Zone", focuses on leisure and health services, including a {{convert|50|m|ft|adj=mid}} swimming pool,{{Citation |title=25 things you never knew about Wigan |url=http://www.wigan.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5FBC47BC-7E3B-4A42-947F-03C722E09FB4/0/final25thingsyouneverknewaboutwigan.pdf |access-date=2 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327151850/http://www.wigan.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5FBC47BC-7E3B-4A42-947F-03C722E09FB4/0/final25thingsyouneverknewaboutwigan.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2009 |url-status=dead |publisher=Wigan.gov.uk}} a gym, and fitness studios.{{Cite web |title=Wigan Life Centre - Services and Facilities |url=https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Libraries/Wigan-Life-Centre.aspx |access-date=2 March 2025 |publisher=Wigan Council}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025}}

The hub is used for education, employment, and healthy-living programs.{{Cite web |last=Hyland |first=Bernadette |date=31 August 2012 |title=Wigan stakes its claim to be the home of Socialism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/aug/31/unite-labour |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=11 September 2024 |title=Labour Market Information ahead of upcoming events in Wigan this month |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/community/labour-market-information-ahead-of-upcoming-events-in-wigan-this-month-4778479 |website=WiganToday.net}}{{Cite news |date=5 September 2011 |title=New Wigan Life Centre Opens to the Public |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/new-wigan-life-centre-opens-869235 |access-date=2 March 2025 |work=Manchester Evening News}}{{Better source needed|date=June 2025}}

The "Believe" mantra has been associated with the local sports teams of Wigan since the early 2010s.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2021 |title=Serie B Confirm Wilshere Can't Register In Italian Second Tier Due To Non-EU Passport |url=https://independent.ng/serie-b-confirm-wilshere-cant-register-in-italian-second-tier-due-to-non-eu-passport/ |website=Independent.ng}} In 2013, Wigan Athletic F.C. won the 2012–13 FA Cup,{{Cite news |last=White |first=Jim |date=11 May 2013 |title=FA Cup final 2013: Wembley dream comes true for Ali Al-Habsi, the hero of Oman |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wigan-athletic/10050065/FA-Cup-final-2013-Wembley-dream-comes-true-for-Ali-Al-Habsi-the-hero-of-Oman.html |url-access=subscription |work=Telegraph.co.uk}} and the Wigan Warriors rugby league club won the Super League Grand Final.{{Cite web |date=8 November 2024 |title=Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man - 'It's time to believe again and come out fighting...' |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/wigan-athletic-the-12th-man-its-time-to-believe-again-and-come-out-fighting-4858752 |website=Wigan Today}} The "Believe" slogan developed from then.{{Cite web |title=#BelieveImOnlyHuman |url=https://wigan.gov.uk/Council/Believe/index.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708061543/https://wigan.gov.uk/Council/Believe/index.aspx |archive-date=2017-07-08 |website=Wigan.gov.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Believe Talent Fund |url=https://www.wigan.gov.uk/BeWell/Support-for-athletes/Believe-Talent-Fund.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415233425/https://www.wigan.gov.uk/BeWell/Support-for-athletes/Believe-Talent-Fund.aspx |archive-date=2021-04-15 |website=Wigan.gov.uk}} A related town square, Civic Square in Leigh, Greater Manchester is also the site of "Believe Stars".{{Cite web |date=29 May 2015 |title=Sixties pop legend Georgie Fame honoured in Leigh |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-32931942 |website=BBC News}}{{Cite web |date=19 May 2023 |title=Olympic star Keely honoured with 'Believe' Star on row with former coach |url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/23533418.keely-hodgkinson-honoured-believe-star-leigh-town-hall/ |website=Leigh Journal}}

Individuals and groups awarded stars on Believe Square include:

• John Winnard MBE (2012) - Co-owner of Uncle Joe's Mint Balls{{Cite web |title=Believe Stars - Recognizing Wigan's Finest |url=https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/The-Deal/Deal-Communities/Awards-Recognition/Believe-Stars.aspx |access-date=2 March 2025 |publisher=Wigan Council}}
• Stuart Maconie (2012) - Writer and broadcaster
• Billy Boston MBE (2012) - Rugby league legend.{{Cite news |date=15 January 2024 |title=Believe Stars - Wigan's Walk of Fame |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/believe-stars-which-famous-faces-and-organisations-feature-on-the-walks-of-fame-in-wigan-and-leigh-4615762 |access-date=2 March 2025 |work=Wigan Today}}
• Jenny Meadows (2012) - middle-distance runner
• Dave Whelan (2013) - Former owner of Wigan Athletic F.C..{{Cite news |date=27 March 2015 |title=Wigan Athletic Owner Honored at Believe Square |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32085218 |access-date=2 March 2025 |work=BBC News}}
• Sir Ian McKellen (2015) - Acclaimed actor.{{Cite web |title=McKellen gets star on Wigan walk of fame |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-33055213 |website=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=27 March 2015 |title=Sir Ian McKellen: Wigan honours Gandalf and Magneto star |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32085218 |access-date=2 March 2025 |work=BBC News}}
• NHS and Key Workers (2021) - Following the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Joseph's Goal (2022) - Non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) charity.{{Cite web |date=3 March 2022 |title=Efforts of two charities to be recognised with stars on Wigan's walk of fame |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/two-charities-to-be-recognised-with-stars-on-wigans-walk-of-fame-3594943 |website=Wigan Today}}
• Joining Jack (2023) - Duchenne muscular dystrophy charity.
• Wigan Youth Zone (2023) - A boys and girls club.{{Cite web |date=1 June 2023 |title=Wigan Youth Zone gets its own walk of fame star in its 10th anniversary year |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/wigan-youth-zone-gets-its-own-walk-of-fame-star-in-its-10th-anniversary-year-4166095 |website=Wigan Today}}
• Keely Hodgkinson (2023) - Olympian{{Cite web |date=11 March 2023 |title=New stars announced in borough's International Women's Day celebrations |url=https://www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2023/March/New-stars-announced.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311075718/https://www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2023/March/New-stars-announced.aspx |archive-date=2023-03-11 |website=Wigan.gov.uk |via=Wayback Machine}}

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{{Buildings and structures in Wigan Borough}}

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Category:Wigan

Category:Squares in England

Category:Tourist attractions in Greater Manchester

Category:Buildings and structures in Wigan

Category:2012 establishments in England