Community Cohesion & Resilience Programme: Building Confidence, Safety & Understanding in the Community
OCTOBER 2025
This work has been funded through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Community Cohesion & Resilience Programme (CCRP) recently enabled four voluntary, community, and social enterprise partnerships to deliver projects that build community relationships and work to prevent and counter harmful narratives.
The groups were selected by Community Safety, a part of Bolton Council, and Bolton CVS were asked to help with distributing the funding and supporting with the connection between Community Safety and the VCSE Sector.
In September, the funded VCSE organisations met with Karl Bradley from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to share the impact of the funding directly. During the discussion, the groups highlighted the ongoing need for increased opportunities and investment in cohesion-focused initiatives. Karl welcomed continued engagement and invited organisations to contact him directly with ideas, information and updates.
Now that the projects are in motion, we wanted to share what each partnership has done so far, and the incredible impact it’s had on the community of Bolton!
Bolton Wanderers in the Community and Violence Reduction Partners
Bolton Wanderers in the Community and their Violence Reduction Unit partners in New Bury, Farnworth, have jointly designed their Community Cohesion and Resilience Fund project to address issues around integration and intercultural understanding laid bare by the civil unrest in the summer of 2024.
Their programme of activities alternated sport, trips and workshops, with the aim of improving the ability of the New Bury residents to question, resist and ultimately tackle the extremist narratives and ideologies that are driving our communities apart.
Highlights included a Q+A session with Olympian and refugee Cindy Ngamba, a trip to Bolton Wanderers’ annual Show Racism the Red Card event, their community Iftar event and a workshop on online hate designed to tackle hate speech and fake news.
Talk Changes and Zee Academy
Talk Changes partnered with Zee Academy to deliver a series of self-defence and empowerment workshops, reaching 531 beneficiaries across Bolton in a 3 month project. The project provided women, girls, and young people with vital skills in confidence, resilience, and personal safety, while also strengthening belonging, trust, and unity across diverse backgrounds.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and participants shared how the sessions not only helped them feel safer and more confident, but also more connected to their community. Many reported feeling inspired to take a more active role in community life, with some going on to volunteer or join local initiatives.
Bolton Lads and Girls Club and Bolton Community Solidarity Association
Bolton Community Solidarity Association have been working with Bolton Lads and Girls Club since March 2025, bringing together young people aged 8 – 12 from different communities within Bolton. The activities are a range of multisports such as table tennis and football, and the focus was on using sports as a way to break barriers and increase friendships and communication between our target group.
This project has allowed young people to celebrate their differences, learning from one another and building stronger community ties. Through a mix of workshops, team-building games, and discussions, they’ve explored cultures, faiths, and personal role models—helping create a real sense of belonging.
A highlight was welcoming Olympian Cindy Ngamba, who shared her inspiring journey from growing up at Bolton Lads and Girls Club as a refugee to competing on the world stage. The young people also put their learning into action, giving back to the community with litter picks in local parks and planting flowers to brighten shared spaces.
To round up the project, there will be a showcase event held in October to show the wider community and parents the work that the young people have done together as Boltonians.
Krimmz and Round4Round
The partnership between KRIMMZ and Round 4 Round culminated in a project focusing on bringing young people and families from diverse backgrounds together through inclusive activities, skills development, and positive social action. The project created safe spaces for dialogue, built mutual understanding, and strengthened relationships across communities.
Participants engaged in sport, creative workshops, and community events, and we looked to reduce isolation, challenge stereotypes, and foster a sense of belonging and resilience within our neighbourhood.
The response was overwhelming — participants shared how the sessions helped them build confidence, feel safer, and develop practical skills. Beyond that, many expressed a stronger sense of belonging and connection within the community.
This project not only empowered individuals on a personal level but also created opportunities for dialogue, mutual support, and resilience against discrimination. The feedback highlighted how valuable these initiatives are in fostering inclusion, safety, and community cohesion.
