Published: Monday, 20th Dec 2021

Bolton’s Humanitarian Hub extends its vital support to the local community over winter.

In October 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed the introduction of a Household Support Fund (HSF).

Bolton Council has been awarded £2,780,000 and this will be used to provide a range of services through the winter months.

The fund has already been used to support families with children who are eligible for free school meals over the October half-term and Christmas holidays, and further support will be provided to cover February half-term. 

Household support, provided as part of the Council’s Local Welfare Provision Scheme, and additional funding for Bolton’s care and repair service for boilers are just some of the ways residents struggling financially will be helped though the funding.    

More information can be found on the council’s website.

The support is in addition to the existing work carried out by Bolton’s Humanitarian Hub which supports the borough’s most vulnerable.    

The response hub was set up in March 2020 with staff from departments across Bolton Council to help run the service alongside our partners and community volunteers.

The team is made up of council employees from customer services, finance, public health, libraries, youth and sport.

Along with running the helpline, the team make weekly check-in calls to residents and arrange food packages and other essential supplies.

The support helpline has helped thousands of people either directly or by pointing them in the right direction for support.

The helpline is open Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm and Saturday 9am – 1pm (closed Bank Holidays) for anyone needing support. The number is 01204 337221

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Martyn Cox, said “This national funding recognises the vital role local authorities play in supporting the most vulnerable residents.

“It will enable the council to continue to provide much-needed support to low-income households at risk of poverty and financial hardship throughout the winter.”