LEIGH'S main shopping centre has won another award for its "exceptional contribution" to charity.

After winning its sixth international Green Apple award for Environmental Best Practice last year, Leigh's Spinning Gate shopping centre has now won another award for its commitment to charitable projects.

The town centre shopping hub was put forward for an International Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) excellence award earlier this year and recently received recognition of its Bronze Award.

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The shopping centre offers free commercialisation space for charitiesThe shopping centre offers free commercialisation space for charities (Image: Spinning Gate Shopping Centre)
The award was granted to Spinning Gate after the shopping centre donated thousands of pounds worth of free commercialisation space to charities and community interest companies to help them promote their organisations.

The centre has also helped charities raise a total of £4,213 by assisting with fundraising activities in the centre, and has donated 38,287 items to charities and community groups worth an estimated £19,871.

The shopping centre's CSR awardThe shopping centre's CSR award (Image: Spinning Gate Shopping Centre)
Many of these items are everyday essentials and the centre matches items to charities and groups like Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Compassion in Action, Lancashire Mining Museum, as well as local youth hubs, care homes, and community groups.

The donated items also fall in line with Spinning Gate's environmental and waste management commitments, as they would often be disposed of and processed through the centre's waste streams.

Centre manager Karen CoxCentre manager Karen Cox (Image: Spinning Gate Shopping Centre)
Karen Cox, Centre Manager of Spinning Gate Shopping Centre said: "It is important for Spinning Gate as a key stakeholder within Leigh town centre to give back to our loyal community wherever and however we can. 

"We are incredibly proud of the centre cleaning and security team for their dedicated hard work in not only achieving this award, but ensuring the centre remains clean, safe and secure every day for our shoppers to enjoy.

"This award recognises our charitable giving achievements [and] and belongs to the team, as without their efforts this award would have not been possible."

Spinning Gate has now won seven awards over the past seven yearsSpinning Gate has now won seven awards over the past seven years (Image: Spinning Gate Shopping Centre)