Debbie Parkinson proudly represents Standish With Langtree ward and is extremely honoured to be the first citizen of Wigan Borough for 2024/25.
Debbie was born in Hammersmith, London and moved to Standish in 1976 when she married. Having three children, Nichola, Christopher and Robert, who all attended St Wilfrid’s Primary School and Standish High School, she is an Authorised Lay Minister of St Wilfrid’s Church in Standish where her children joined church organisations and were all altar servers.
Debbie left school and went straight into work in London, working in a busy solicitor’s office. Following her move to Wigan, she worked for a local solicitor for several years.
Gaining work at Standish High School in 1991, she worked with both pupils and adults mentoring and teaching IT and First Aid. With the support of the then Headteacher, Hugh Crossan, Debbie undertook studies and completed her Certificate in Teaching and achieved a BA (Hons) in Education and Training from Huddersfield University.
On completing her degree she was offered a role within the PSHE and C Team as a School Adviser within Wigan Council specialising in Citizenship, Healthy Schools and Mental Health.
After leaving the Council in 2010, Debbie worked within the NHS Academic Health Science Network (now Health Innovation Network) as Patient and Public Involvement Lead. With her team and volunteers, they won the national HSJ Award for ‘Community Collaboration’ in 2021.
Debbie was first elected to Wigan Council in 2019, being re-elected in 2023 and appointed as Wigan’s Older Person’s Champion. She is on the Board of Trustees of Wigan’s Citizens Advice Bureau, a role she has held since March 2024. Debbie has been active as a volunteer in Standish since the 70s and is a member of the Christmas Market Committee, Joint Churches Together Committee and has volunteered as a bereavement support worker for Wigan and Leigh Hospice since 2011. She supports the bereaved in and around Standish.
In her spare time, Debbie loves knitting, crochet and being involved in the Standish community.