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A warm welcome to the Live Well Fund Bolton plans

Bolton CVS and Bolton Public Health team are trying something new to distribute funding to Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisations and groups (VCSE) in Bolton Central South to tackle health inequalities and enable people to Live Well.

This pilot project kicked off in early 2025 and will run until summer 2026. There is £80,000 Live Well funding from GMCA, to invest in VCSE sector activity.

Here’s how it works: Residents and community development workers will team up to create a Design Group that will figure out what the key priorities are for the area, what’s missing, and which VCSEs are already doing great work. With half of the funding, they’ll decide which VCSEs to fund based on what they feel is most needed.

The second step is to invite VCSEs to come up with solutions for the gaps in support identified by the Design Group. We plan to pay the VCSEs for their time and expertise in creating a solution. Volunteer Community Grant Assessors will then decide how the remaining half of the VCSE sector funding is invested.

This approach gives people who know the community best—residents, supported by people who work there—a real say in how funding is invested, ensuring it’s used in the most impactful way possible. We hope that by handing over decision-making power to the local community, who know their area and the experiences of people living there, we will develop the best solutions to support people to live well.

Target areas:

We’re looking for people who work within the community to get involved in this exciting pilot program to join our Design Group. Your expertise and local knowledge will help shape how £80,000 in funding is distributed to VCSE sector organisations and groups in Bolton Central South. By joining the Design Group, you’ll help identify community priorities and spot gaps in support. It’s a chance to make a real difference and ensure the funding goes where it’s needed most. We’d love to have your input.

You will be invited to an online meeting in the next month to hear our plans and then to a meeting in late spring to join local residents to create a Design Group who will identify what is working well and which VCSEs to fund.

Please do pop us an email if you are interested in helping us distribute this funding.

 

Pic of Gemma (left) Gemma@boltoncvs.org.uk 07922 423 576
Pic of Helen (right) helenc@boltoncvs.org.uk 01204 546 003

What is this?

Bolton CVS and Bolton Public Health have money to help local charities and community groups (VCSEs). This money will help people in Bolton Central South Live Well.

  • The project started in early 2025.
  • It will run until summer 2026.
  • There is £80,000 to share with local VCSE groups.

How does it work?

  1. Finding out what is needed
    • Local people and community workers will talk about what is helping in the area.
    • They will look at what is missing.
    • They will decide which VCSE groups are already doing great work.
    • Up to half of the money can go to these groups.
  2. Finding new ideas
    • Local VCSE groups will share ideas to help fill the gaps.
    • They will be paid for their time and skills.
  3. Choosing where the rest of the money goes
    • A team of residents, who are trained as Community Grant Assessors, will decide how to share the rest of the money

Why is this important?

  • Local people know their area best.
  • They will help decide where the money goes.
  • This will help find the best ways to support people to live well.

How will I know what to do?

  • We will bring people together to hear the plans and you can decide if you would like to be involved.

If you do, you will:

  • Receive free training to help you make decisions for your community
  • Have the option to train as a volunteer Grant Assessor (we will thank you for your contributions with a voucher when this training ends.)

 

How will I get there?

  • The sessions will be local to you, or we will reimburse your travel costs
  • If you have any other barriers to attending (including childcare or other costs) please ring us for a chat as we might be able to help out

 

We’d love to hear from you please pop us an email or give us a call:

Pic of Gemma (left) Gemma@boltoncvs.org.uk 07922 423 576
Pic of Helen (right) helenc@boltoncvs.org.uk 01204 546 003

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