We're here to help you thrive in your community. We work with local partners to create neighbourhoods where you can feel safe, supported, and connected. Here are some examples of what we’ve been doing over the last year.

Building stronger communities together

Building stronger communities together

We're here to help you thrive in your community. We work with local partners to create neighbourhoods where you can feel safe, supported, and connected. Here are some examples of what we’ve been doing over the last year.

Tackling food poverty and homelessness

When times are tough, we’re here to help. Working with partners like Urban Outreach and Bolton Solidarity Community Association, we want to make sure no one in our community goes without.

  • We’ve supported 445 households at our pantry locations – offering low-cost food, drinks, and essentials, plus help with money advice and talking therapies.
  • We’ve contributed to important food initiatives like Christmas Dinner On Jesus, serving 226 households.
  • We’ve provided 9,871 free packed lunches through Bolton Lunches, for some of our most vulnerable residents.
  • We’ve partnered with others to provide 5,850 tickets for Bolton Wanderers Community Matches, 629 discounted tickets for the Octagon Theatre plus free activities and meals during school holidays for children on free school meals through Bolton Council’s Holiday Activities and Food Fund.

Creating spaces where you can thrive

We're investing in the spaces and projects that matter most to you and your community. Over the last year our work has:

  • Supported 166 community groups and organisations to apply for external funding, bringing £310,000 into your neighbourhoods to provide local projects and initiatives.
  • Developed flagship environmental projects at Willow Hey, Farnworth and Red Lane, Breightmet, offering you peaceful spaces to grow your own food, meet your neighbours, and enjoy year-round family events.
  • Supported 20 other outdoor sites across our communities.

Here’s what Danielle, a local parent, said after visiting Willow Hey Community Project with her children:

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the incredible bushcraft session at Willow Hey. The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. “The venue itself was beautiful – such a peaceful, inspiring space – and we were made to feel so welcome by the volunteers. The activities, including wood whittling, fire lighting, and of course, s’mores, were exciting, hands-on, and skill-building.
“Alun was absolutely brilliant – so knowledgeable and supportive. He pitched the session perfectly for the children, adapting the activities to suit different ages, abilities, and needs. His ability to engage with all the children, including mine who are neurodiverse, made a real difference. They felt seen, welcomed, and valued, which meant the world.
“My children came away with smiles, confidence, and a real sense of achievement. Experiences like this are so valuable, especially for neurodiverse teens, and there’s a real for more opportunities like this in the community."
  • We also support four Men in Sheds projects at these outdoor sites. These initiatives provide safe, friendly, and inclusive spaces where men can share tools, ideas, and conversations while working on projects they enjoy.
  • Plus, we’ve delivered land redevelopment projects at Mossfield Meadows in Kearsley and Daisy Dell in Deane, Bolton, we’ve organised several environmental ‘clean-up days’ in targeted areas, and we’ve carried out projects – like tree planting sessions - that promote biodiversity.

None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers who bring our communities together through a range of events, key festivals, and local traditions.

For more information on volunteering in the community, please contact our Community Engagement colleagues using ceteam@boltonathome.org.uk.

Volunteers

Volunteer hours