A CHARITY that helps vulnerable women has been given a cash boost.

The Well Woman Centre, in Church Street, Leigh, was given £500 after being nominated by Astley General Practice’s Patient Participation Group (PPG).

SSP Health, which manages Astley General Practice and 41 other practices across the north west, asked them to nominate a charity they thought worthy of the donation.

Centre manager Lynn Addison said the money will help to raise awareness of what the centre offers.

She added: “We are a registered women’s charity run by women, for women.

“We run free counselling sessions and all the councillors are matched to the women’s needs.

“We have a women’s support group and help women with depression and other mental health issues, and women who have come from domestic violent backgrounds.

“We also have courses for confidence building, motivational courses and job courses, to support and empower them to improve their lives.”

The service is run by 30 volunteers with a minority of paid staff and relies on funding from a range of sources, such as Wigan Council, Criminal Justice, People’s Health Trust and Lloyds TSB.

A bid for funding from the Big Lottery Fund has also recently been submitted.

Lynn added: “With the donation we are going to buy a new photocopier and scanner so we can make our information more widely available.

“We need to remind women that we are here and remind doctors and GPs to use us.”

As well as supporting women the centre has an outreach programme in high schools, so can cater for females aged 11 and over.

Lynn said: “We are recruiting more councillors and don’t put a time frame on how many weeks a woman can be seen for. It is based on their situation.

“We ask for a donation to use the centre services, which is a minimum of £5, but if someone can’t pay it will not affect their counselling or use of the service.”

The centre holds a women’s group on Wednesdays from noon to 2pm.

To book a counselling session call the centre on 01942 681411.