The team supporting Bolton residents struggling with the rising cost of living has been recognised at a prestigious national event celebrating achievements in local government.
Bolton’s Cost of Living Partnership was a finalist in the “Innovation in Partnerships” category at the MJ Awards in London today.
The Bolton Cost of Living Partnership is made up of more than 30 different companies, charities and voluntary organisations, with the council taking a coordinating role.
Partners got together at regular meetings to plan and deliver a series of support packages, advice sessions and events including:
- Distributing food parcels and supermarket vouchers to households
- More than 15,000 Bolton families supported with the cost of food, especially during school holidays
- £855,000 of household essentials and food distributed via Bolton’s Fund
- Help with energy payments, travel costs and other essential household items
- A network of Warm Welcome centres set up across the borough
- Advice on everything from debt and mental health to legal issues and cooking on a budget
- Cost of living drop-in advice sessions where dozens of organisations provided support and guidance to hundreds of residents
Speaking after the event, Bolton Council Leader Cllr Nick Peel said:
“Like any town or city in the country, Bolton residents have been hit hard by the rising cost of living as households have struggled with energy bills, food bills and other essentials.
“But Bolton is lucky in that we have a very strong and well organised volunteer and charity sector.
“As a council, we wanted to bring together all the amazing work these groups do, to create a fully comprehensive package of support for our residents.
“The nomination was recognition of the generosity, hard work, and commitment of the whole Bolton community.”