News

In our short film, you'll get a flavour of some of the 'Family Fun Food' activities that took place in Tonge Moor, Breightmet, Westhoughton, Daubhill, and Johnson Fold- all whilst kids and adults enjoyed free packed lunches (regardless of whether they were entitled to free school meals)

The importance of achieving net zero, our work and plans to make Bolton and other places greener, and the support we can offer if you're worried about rising energy prices.

Challenge Poverty Week (11-17 October) is a national week of action designed to highlight the issue of poverty in England and Wales. We're highlighting what we’re doing with our partners and communities to alleviate poverty in Bolton and across Greater Manchester, and the different ways to get in touch with us if you need some support.

In this short film, Craig Hardman (our Head of Homefinder Services), Steve Lyons (our Housing Support Manager), and some of the partners we've worked alongside will tell you how we made sure those in crisis or at risk of homelessness had a home that was safe, warm, and comfortable as the pandemic shifted the circumstances for many. Read on if you'd like to give it a watch.

We stand together with others this National Hate Crime Awareness Week (9 to 16 October) to encourage victims to report incidents in confidence and to remind offenders that we won’t accept this behaviour. More information on hate crime and how to report it here.

It's World Mental Health Day this Sunday, 10 October. If you’re struggling with your mental wellbeing, please remember that you're never on your own.

To make it easier for those that might need them, we've gathered together some of the professional support services and information hubs available in and around Bolton. Read on for the details.

We round off this National Customer Service Week (4 to 8 October) by saying thanks, outlining how to contact us if you need or to give us feedback, and highlighting customer service training coming soon if you’re interested.

Today (1 October) is the 31st International Day of Older Persons. It's led by the United Nations and is a day for awareness of wellbeing, contributions to society, safety and reconnecting. Here's a quick update on activities, getting involved, being 'eyes wide open' to signs of abuse and a reminder of how to get in touch with us if you need. 

We've been shortlisted for the UK Housing Awards (25 November) in the Homelessness Partnership of the Year category. It’s for emergency housing efforts led by our Homefinder Services, which allocates housing and provides tenancy advice.

Many households are facing a financial squeeze this autumn. Energy prices are increasing and the £20 uplift to Universal Credit, introduced by the government during the pandemic, ends on 6 October. We're here to support you if you're worried about keeping on top of finances and paying bills. 

This week (from 13 to 19 September) is Gas Safety Week. Gas safety is important all year round of course. Gas Safety Week is led by Gas Safe Register, which is the official gas registration body for the UK. It provides a gentle reminder, if needed, of what steps we should all be taking to protect ourselves and keep our loved ones safe.

Today, Friday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day and the start of Greater Manchester's Month of Hope, which runs until World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

Now in its third year, the month is about raising awareness of suicide by encouraging everyone to have open conversations about and play a role in preventing suicide, while inspiring hope across the Greater Manchester region.

We’re delighted to say that Eunice Rowley has won the Tenant Lifetime Contribution Award at the annual Housing Heroes Awards.

Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in July, we’ve gradually been reopening more of our non-emergency services. We’re now pleased to confirm further positive changes taking place from Monday 13 September 2021.

We’re highlighting the difference that supported housing makes to people as part of today’s Starts at Home Day (3 September).

The Starts at Home campaign, now in its fifth year and led by the National Housing Federation (www.housing.org.uk), recognises how supported housing helps hundreds of thousands of people each year to regain their independence and confidence.

Read on for some local examples of how vital supported housing services can be.

There's just ONE WEEK to go until our Employment and Enterprise Team arrives at Bolton's Learning and Employment Fair on Victoria Square, Bolton. It'll run from 8 to 9 September, 10am to 4pm.

Bursting with expert employment and learning advice from names like Bolton College, the University of Bolton, Connexions, the National Careers Service, and us- why not make it a pit stop on your next visit into the town centre?

Just one more sleep until Bolton Food and Drink Festival (Friday 27 to Monday 30 August). Roll on a bank holiday weekend of food, drink, fun, entertainment and live music.

You can read here why we're a proud event partner and how we’re supporting both the festival and a young persons supported housing scheme.   

You may remember that in June we shared news that volunteers from the Willow Hey Community Project would be honoured with the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

They’ve now received their Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service award from Karan Lee, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

David (name changed) had been a rough sleeper for years when he reached out for support to help turn his life around. Dependant on drugs, the countless nights spent sofa surfing or sleeping on the streets had taken their toll on David’s health and wellbeing.

David was put in touch with a keyworker from Greater Manchester Housing First (GMHF). Read what happened next here, with insight from Gemma Parlby- our Group Director of Housing and Customer Services.

A retail park on the edge of Bolton town centre is set to be rejuvenated to help position Greater Manchester as a centre of green innovation. Greenworks is a Bolton at Home project delivered in partnership with Bolton charity Urban Outreach. It's the new name for a site transformation at Trinity Retail Park, based off the A666 (St Peter’s Way).

The latest stage in England’s lockdown easing is due to go ahead from 19 July, so we want to update you on how we’ll deliver services after this date and what you can expect from us.

Together with Irwell Valley Homes, we’re planning to build affordable new homes on the Rivington Chase development after planning was approved by Bolton Council as part of the regeneration of the former Loco Works in Horwich.

This week, we became an Accredited Member of DAHA (www.dahalliance.org.uk). Read on to see what this means for us going forward.

A community group in Bolton that’s “helped and healed” hundreds of people across the town has been honoured The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Willow Hey Community Project, based in Farnworth, encourages the local community to come together to reduce social isolation through its food growing and woodworking sessions.

If you’re an EU citizen, or know someone who is, you need to apply for EU Settled Status before the deadline 30 June 2021. Make sure you (and your children) don’t miss the deadline to prove your right to live, work and study in the UK.

Click here for more information on the EU Settlement Scheme.

Tenants, residents, and stakeholders- now it's your turn to influence the future of housing in Bolton and the wider Greater Manchester region.

We're working with Salix Homes to encourage people like you to complete a short online survey.

This Easter, we teamed-up with our friends at Asda Bolton and Farnworth, Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, Seddon, and Maxmedia Communications Ltd to help the Easter bunny donate an egg-straordinary 500 eggs to Urban Outreach Bolton.