Important update on UCAN centres: summer opening hours and possible future changes (June 2024) | News

Our UCAN centres’ opening hours will change for the summer months of July and August 2024. From September, the way we offer some UCAN services could change as part of a review to ensure we’re focusing our resources where our customers need them most. Please read on for details.

Summer opening hours

From 1 July to 30 August 2024, our UCAN centres will have new opening hours. These arrangements will allow our teams to support free holiday activities for children and families in our neighbourhoods, and the BL Lunches project, which provides packed lunches for school age children over the summer break.

Here are the details for each centre:

• Deane UCAN Centre: Tuesday, 9:30am to 3:00pm, and Wednesday morning only, 9:30am to 12:00 noon.
• New Bury UCAN Centre: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 9.30am to 3:00pm.
• Tonge Moor UCAN Centre: Monday and Thursday, 9:30am to 3:00pm.
• Withins UCAN Centre: Tuesday, 9:30am to 3:00pm, and Thursday morning only, 9:30am to 12:00 noon.

All centres will be closed for lunch between 12 noon and 12:30pm.

Our Pop-Up UCAN centres will also be available throughout summer 2024. Find more details here: www.boltonathome.org.uk/ucan.

Possible changes ahead

We’re currently reviewing all our UCAN centres and Pop-Up UCAN centres to ensure they continue to provide the best outcomes.

This review is happening for a few reasons. One is the ongoing financial challenges across the social housing sector. Because of this, we’re reviewing services to ensure we can continue prioritising repairing and improving homes, building new homes, and bringing empty homes back into use.

Another reason is the changing way people contact us and use our services. Lots of UCAN centre users now prefer phone or online methods, especially since the pandemic. Low footfall was the main reason we decided to close our Johnson Fold UCAN Centre earlier this year, and it’s also why we’ve decided to close our Brazley Pop-Up UCAN Centre with immediate effect.

What might change?

Our aim is to make sure our support is where it’s needed most and that our tenants get the most benefit from our UCAN service. Some of our venues are used frequently by people who aren’t our tenants, and while we’re still open to this, we want to make sure we’re meeting our tenants’ needs first and foremost.

As we go through our review, there are still decisions to be made. It’s possible that our current network of UCAN centres and Pop-Up centres might change a bit in terms of when and where we’re open. We’re also considering expanding our network by opening a new UCAN centre in Bolton town centre, which could be a convenient location for many of our tenants.

We want to reassure you that our main goal is to ensure our services are accessible and beneficial to our tenants. We promise to keep you informed of any changes and explain why they’re happening.

Our commitment to you

Our teams remain dedicated to providing you with a warm welcome and personalised support. From our UCAN venues, you can continue to expect a range of services, including:

• help in finding employment,
• free use of the internet and computers, and phone,
• training courses,
• access to social activities and community groups,
• assistance with housing issues and benefits,
• health and wellbeing support and advice,
• support with money matters.

You can find more information at: www.boltonathome.org.uk/ucan.

Your feedback matters

We value your feedback. If you’ve any comments, concerns, or suggestions, please email us at info@boltonathome.org.uk or phone us on 01204 328000.

We’ll keep you updated on any further changes after the summer.