Bolton West and Atherton MP Chris Green has been announced as the first patron of a charity in Blackrod.

Mr Green says he was "delighted" to be asked to become the patron of Blackrod Sports and Community Centre.

Ann Cunliffe, chair of trustees of the Blackrod Sports and Community Centre charity, said: “I warmly welcome our MP Chris Green as the first of our charity patrons."

Mr Green added: “I was delighted to be asked to be a patron of Blackrod Sports and Community Centre. 

"I have seen first-hand the excellent work they do for the local community providing Blackrod, Horwich and surrounding areas a comprehensive health and well being programme. 

READ MORE: Blackrod Sports and Community Centre gets £10,000 Jubilee grant

"I am proud to be able to champion these vital programmes in Bolton and in Parliament.

"I look forward to supporting Blackrod Sports and Community Centre any way I can to ensure the work of the charity continues to flourish as it supports local people from its local community centre.”

Blackrod Sports and Community Centre has been run by people for the benefit of our community for the last five years. 

READ MORE: Blackrod Sports and Community Centre receives Football Foundation grant

Mrs Cunliffe added: "We are ending our first phase of work which was to show Bolton Council and funders that local people could run this building and playing fields for the Blackrod people as a community asset transfer. 

"This work has been successfully proven and so we are now moving into our next phase, with new trustees, new funding, new programmes and introducing new patrons.”

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