Peer Navigators

Emily Barrow is our Peer Navigator for Halliwell:

Emily will finish her role as a Peer Navigator in: September 2025

"Before I started this job in April 2024, I was frustrated with not being able to participate in the community due to ill health. I had lots of ideas and wanted to make a change to help people, who were in a similar situation.

"I have now - with the help of my colleagues - started to do this and hope to improve the environment in the local area.

"I am currently working on creating a community garden plot, which I hope will inspire local residents to come and grow their own produce, and that it will improve their wellbeing and confidence in a green and relaxing space.”

Likes: Cooking, gardening, travelling, fashion design, and music.

Dislikes: Wasabi, horseradish, football, waiting for buses.

A look at Emily's story before she started as our Peer Navigator for Halliwell:

Emily is a Bolton at Home tenant who was being supported by a Disability Employment Advisor at the Job Centre to find work when we met her. 

Emily felt she’d benefit from an Adult Work Experience Placement, saying: "I really wanted to work and had been job searching for years. It was becoming very despairing for me, as I felt that now I had gotten myself better, but I was becoming more isolated.

“I felt left-out of society. I’ve always been a hard worker, but I felt like nobody would believe this anymore because now I had a health condition.”

After chatting with Emily and her Advisor, we thought that one of our long-standing opportunities on Bolton CVS’ reception would be a great fit. Emily met the staff at CVS and was nervous but happy to start. 

At first, Emily was concerned about her health, how she would manage her diabetes, and how this would be accepted by staff in a work environment, but she said: "During my placement everyone was very accepting – but most importantly it was the right environment for me and the right people to be around, for which I am so grateful." 

Alongside the work placement, Emily was provided with Life Coaching sessions, CV support, application support, and given one-to-one preparation for an interview she had later secured.

"This opportunity has helped me get a job and it has helped me to build my confidence. I now know I can hold down a job with my health conditions. I feel less isolated and less vulnerable after volunteering and working with Niki (Volunteer Coordinator for Bolton at Home)." 

After completing her work experience placement, Emily secured a part-time, paid 18-month contract as a Peer Navigator. This role continues to support her and helps her prepare for her next job. Emily says she’s eager to find “a full-time job with exciting prospects!”

We caught up with Emily three months into her role as Peer Navigator for Halliwell:

“I have been busy getting stuck into projects; this includes trying to improve some of the housing estates grounds and green areas that are local to me. And the really exciting part is that my health is continuing to improve, and I am not getting too tired! Also, for the last four weeks I have had enough energy to walk without my stick.”

After being taken ill by a strange virus leaving her close to death - and then battling long term health conditions and being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes - we're so proud of how hard Emily has worked to rebuild her strength and her life to get where she is today. 

“I have gained so much confidence, as being so unwell strips your confidence and this has enabled me to be hopeful again and looking forward to what the future may bring!”

“I am not entirely sure what I would like to go onto do next, just that I would like a good salary and enjoy my job, with prospects that mean it is not like the old days prior to becoming sick where I had jobs that were not careers, but dead-end and low paid. This made life very hard!”

Stuart Fletcher is our Peer Navigator for Farnworth:

Stuart will finish his role as a Peer Navigator in: September 2025

"I'm looking forward to participating in future projects on estates in Farnworth."

Likes: Walking, cycling, and generally getting out into nature.

Dislikes: Litter, pollution, and food waste.

Milly Zlabyte is our Environment Peer Navigator for North Bolton:

Milly will finish her role as a Peer Navigator in: May 2025

“In the Peer Navigator role, I am focused on creating a series of collaborative projects; an environmental after school activity at Hall'i'th'wood, Red Lane Community Garden with Alun (Climate Change Apprentice), undergoing plans for a more sustainable building at Bolton CVS and seeing where else I can help.”

Likes: Parks, doggies, family time, crafts and art, sporting adventures, friendly faces.

Dislikes: Staying in one place too long, early mornings, gloomy weather, Brussels sprouts.

Jonathan Hurst is our Environment Peer Navigator for South Bolton:

Jon will finish his role as a Peer Navigator in: May 2025

“At the moment I'm enjoying working on Bankfield Allotment. The site has lots of potential and great facilities such as poly tunnels and a shelter.

"Unfortunately, the site has been neglected for some time, so has become unsafe for the public. There is however, one regular volunteer using the site and lots of interest from the surrounding community and local groups to use the space.

"I’m currently in the process of bringing the site up to a reasonable standard, so that the community can begin to enjoy the site again and hopefully, it will have a bright future.”

Likes: Every morning, I like to wake up early and go to the gym before work. I feel like it sets me up for the day, putting me in a positive frame of mind.  I also enjoy coaching a kids rugby team; Westhoughton Lions U11's. Great set of kids, and I love to see them develop and have success on and off the field.  Another thing I love is travel. Having lived and worked in a few different countries around the world, I love to experience the different cultures and (try to) learn new languages.

Dislikes: My dislikes are cats (as I'm allergic to them), and eggs. I've always wanted to eat eggs because I know they're good for me, I just can’t stand the smell.  Lastly, I dislike negativity. I like to consider myself a positive person, so I enjoy being around people who are positive.

Originally published in June 2020, here's a short 'day in the life' piece from Stevie, our former Peer Navigator for Farnworth:

"My role mainly revolves around the pantry and working on the database side. Working in a community where you're well known can be hard work, but it's very rewarding.

"Seeing people and the day to day struggles they face hits home, but it's amazing when you know you can help them. I've found that helping others also helps me (without even knowing I needed it).

"Starting the job was very nerve racking as I hadn’t worked in years due to starting a family. But the other Peer Navigators supported me through it and we all helped each other along the way. We're a Peer Navigator family..! 

"The job itself is absolutely amazing and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to be a part of the Bolton at Home team!

"Here are some of my top tips for Peer Navigators:

• Be flexible.
• Always check your diary.
• Attend all training opportunities.
• Love your community.
• Keep in touch with the other Peer Navigators.
• Never be afraid to push for your goals.
• And enjoy every last minute, as it goes by in a flash!"

Originally published in December 2018, here's a look back at when our Peer Navigators project won the 'Trojan Mice Award':

A new community wellbeing project launched in Bolton has been praised after winning a top health award.

The ‘Peer Navigators’ project has seen us employ Bolton at Home tenants to work in their community, helping neighbours access support to make positive changes and live healthier lives.

The scheme has been piloted in Johnson Fold and saw four local women, all Bolton at Home tenants, gain employment in March 2018.

So far, they’ve helped 104 local families access support from community projects and public services, as well create new groups to encourage healthy eating and better mental health.

Peer Navigators has now won a ‘Trojan Mice Award’ at the 2018 Excellence in Health Creation Awards, being described as “inspiring” and “amazing” by the judges.

Shauna Morton, Head of Community Engagement for Bolton at Home said: “Peer Navigators is all about valuing what local people can offer. Our customers are the ones who know their community best and how to encourage and support the people they live alongside.

“Their role is to listen to neighbours to understand local issues. They can then support individuals to access appropriate services, promoting self-care and behaviour change in people and the community.

“We’re looking to expand the Peer Navigators in other communities within Bolton and believe it has the potential to lead to better long-term health and wellbeing, as well as creating employment for the navigators themselves.”

Managed by Bolton at Home staff, in partnership with Bolton Council, the Placed Based Integration (PBI) Team and Bolton Community and Voluntary Services, the Peer Navigators have focused on four themes – families and food, employment, environment and women’s wellbeing.

So far, they have helped organise drugs awareness talks for parents and children and developed a crèche facility alongside women’s wellbeing groups to allow more women to attend them.

A healthy lifestyles group, promoting healthy eating and positive mental health, has also been set up in direct response to requests from people who wanted to lose weight and boost their confidence. There have also been cookery demonstrations using fruit and vegetables from local food growing sites.

The ‘Trojan Mice Awards’ are so-called because they recognise small changes in practice that have had a large positive change on people or communities. The awards are organised by the NHS Alliance.