Lowton Community Hub is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisation built for the benefit of the local community. It brings together people with different skills, experience and backgrounds who give their time to create a place where others can train, recover, meet, learn and belong.
From trustees and volunteers to coaches, practitioners, community groups and partners, everyone plays a part in making the Hub what it is. Together, they help shape its future while keeping the needs of the people who use it at the heart of what we do.
Hub Trustees
Luke brown Bsc (Hons) pGdIP
Everyone should have a place where they feel they belong; a place where they can build confidence, find support, develop skills and form meaningful connections. That's the vision behind the Hub — a platform for lifelong development, providing the opportunities and environment for people to discover what they are truly capable of, fulfil their potential and lead active, healthy and fulfilled lives.
A former Great Britain international judoka and 5th Dan black belt, Luke is the Founder Trustee of Lowton Community Hub, Head Coach of Leigh Judo Club and Director of the award-winning Lowton Rehab & Sports Injury Clinic.
The idea for the Hub grew from a belief shaped through a lifetime in judo: that everyone deserves the opportunity to belong, learn, grow and contribute. Luke saw the potential to create a platform where sport, health, family support, volunteering and community could connect, giving people opportunities to develop throughout their lives. This became the foundation of the Lowton Model.
Luke led the planning, fundraising, design and construction of the Hub, managing the project from its earliest ideas through to the building you see today. Drawing on his experience in sport, health, rehabilitation and community development, he created something that went beyond a traditional sports facility.
His work has been recognised through honours including Champion of Health and Wellbeing by the University of Salford Alumni and Innovation by Sheffield Hallam University.
Today, as a volunteer, Luke continues to oversee the Hub’s day-to-day operation and long-term development, working across its activities, partnerships, facilities and future projects.
The Hub began as an idea. Today, it is a place the community can use, shape and make its own.
Richard Massey BSc FCA
“My role is to help ensure that the vision is supported by good governance, sound decisions and a sustainable future, so that what has been created can continue to benefit people for years to come. I want to help make sure that this continues to grow in a way that is sustainable and benefits people for generations to come.”
Richard is a trustee of Lowton Community Hub, Chairman of Leigh Tennis & Cricket Club and Corporate Advisory Director at Christian Douglass Chartered Accountants.
A chartered accountant and keen tennis player who competes on the regional circuit, Richard brings experience across finance, business, governance and community sport. His involvement with Leigh Tennis & Cricket Club gives him a strong understanding of the role local clubs and community organisations can play in bringing people together.
As a trustee, Richard helps provide the financial and strategic oversight needed to ensure the Hub remains well governed, sustainable and focused on its purpose. He brings a considered approach to decision-making, helping to balance the ambition for the Hub with the practical considerations needed to maintain and develop it for the future.
Richard is particularly committed to ensuring that the opportunities created through the Hub remain accessible to the wider community and that its different activities and organisations continue to connect and complement one another.
The Hub has the foundations to become something that serves the community not just today, but for generations to come.
Kath Houlton
"The place is utterly fantastic. “I’ve always believed that the best things happen when people come together, have a voice and take pride in where they live. The Hub gives Lowton a place to do exactly that.”
Kath is a trustee of Lowton Community Hub, former councillor for Lowton East and Secretary of LENDF. Having represented local residents on Wigan Council since 2015, she brings many years of experience in local government, community work and working alongside local organisations.
With deep roots in the area and many years of experience working with local residents and organisations, she brings a strong understanding of the community and the issues that matter to local people.
Kath supported the Hub from its earliest days, helping to ensure that the voice and needs of the local community remain central to its direction. Her experience in local government, together with her longstanding community connections, provides a valuable perspective as the Hub continues to develop.
She is particularly passionate about creating opportunities for people to connect, participate and feel that they have a place within their community.
The best things happen when people come together, have a voice and take pride in where they live. The Hub gives Lowton a place to do exactly that.
the hub is bigger than one person
Lowton Community Hub works because people and organisations bring their time, skills, experience and ideas together. From local clubs and community organisations to professional partners and volunteers, each contributes to what the Hub can offer.
The people behind the hub
Lowton Community Hub is built and run by volunteers. From the trustees who provide its direction and oversight to the people who open the doors, run activities, organise events, maintain the building and support the many projects taking place here, everyone gives their time because they believe in what the Hub can offer the community.
Volunteering at the Hub takes many forms. Some people give their time every week, while others help with a particular project, event or task when they can. Their skills and experience are equally varied, but what connects them is a willingness to contribute. It is this collective effort that allows the Hub to offer more opportunities, support more people and continue developing without losing sight of its purpose.
Being volunteer-led also shapes the way the Hub works. Decisions are made by people who have a genuine connection to the community and who care about what happens here. The Hub is not simply a building that provides services; it is something people have helped create, continue to develop and take pride in.
Every hour given, every job completed and every idea shared helps make the Hub a place where other people can belong, participate and grow.