Find Groups and Community Activities

Think “Mountain Rescue”, and you could be forgiven for not thinking “Bolton”.
Nevertheless we’ve been providing a volunteer search & rescue service, covering an area of over 800 square kilometres since 1968. There are over 150 calls on our service each year.

We cover an area from Darwen in the north to Manchester Airport in the south, Wigan to the west and the centre of Manchester to the east. It’s true – that sounds like a mainly urban area that you wouldn’t associate with “Mountain Rescue” however our patch contains quite a lot of moors and open land which is full of walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

And that’s not the end of the story. Believe it or not many of the incidents we attend aren’t on the moors at all. Whether it’s a 10 year old child who’s fallen off a rope swing and is stuck in a stream bed, an elderly person who’s been reported missing from home, or looking after stranded motorists on snowbound motorways, you’ll find Bolton MRT working alongside the police, ambulance and fire services of Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust provides patient care in the community at health centres and clinics as well as services such as district nursing and intermediate care. We also provide services at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
Volunteers play a vital role in supporting our staff to deliver the highest quality care and improving the experience of our patients and visitors. They sacrifice their time to help provide a warm and friendly environment and help our staff by assisting with services of a non-clinical nature which enhance patient care.
There are a number of voluntary roles, from welcoming patients and visitors and helping them to find their way around the hospital, to supporting our fundraising activities.

The group supports people affected by prostate cancer. There are no meetings at present but support and advice is still available by phone.

Bolton Prostate Cancer Support Group is part of the national organisation
• Raises awareness of prostate cancer within community
• Offers support to men, their partners, families and carers.
• Offers a safe and confidential environment to talk to others with similar experiences.
• Share knowledge of treatments
• Signpost you to other organisations
• Offer information on lifestyle, well-being and use of our library.
• Meet 2nd Wednesday of month 2pm - 4pm St Luke’s Church, Chorley Old Road, Bolton BL1 3BE
• Social events, lunches, conferences.

Bolton RUFC looks after the promotion and playing of the rugby union in Bolton. Mini, junior and adult rugby are available. Please visit the website for more details and information.

The club was formed in 1954 to provide a venue for Scottish Country Dancing in Bolton. It provides an opportunity for members to learn new dances as well as enjoy the old ones and to attend weekend dances run by several clubs around Lancashire and Cheshire. It is very much a social class and the emphasis is on enjoying the dancing. We hold weekly classes at 8 pm on Monday evenings at Stepping Stones Nursery, Chorley Old Road, from August to May. The club is open to all; Scottish Country Dancing is very popular around the world and while we have some Scottish members, the majority are English.

We provide free loan of electric scooters and wheelchairs for use within the town centre, Monday to Friday. There are several free dedicated parking bays within the car park, located close to Shopmobility. We also provide a short term loan service for members at a substantially reduced daily or weekly rate. From the New Horizons Centres in Back Bark Street, Shopmobiity provides an equipment, information and advice service.

The Bolton Sports Federation (BSF) is a voluntary group covering ladies' hockey, ladies' rounders, men's over 35s football, men's tennis with a men's, ladies and junior league. The leagues organise matches and manage their own affairs. The BSF Executive Committee oversees the various leagues.

Bolton Town Centre Workplace Chaplaincy offers a listening ear and support to people who work in shops, hospitality and other businesses in Bolton Town Centre. If any staff members are going through a time of illness, bereavement, worry or concern of any kind our team are there to listen, and, when appropriate, signpost people to relevant support services in Bolton.

University of the Third Age (U3A) is a welcoming and stimulating self-help organisation, operating at local, regional and national levels, for older people – or 'third-agers' – who are no longer in full-time employment and who retain an interest in life-long learning and social recreation in the company of like-minded friends.

Across Bolton we deliver a number of programmes and projects working with a wide range of ages from 5 years old through to 95 years old. Our programmes include working with primary schools and their pupils to inspire them to learn, be active and develop important life skills. We also work with secondary school pupils to improve their employability, life skills and personal development. Through our mentoring programme we carry out interventions with identified children who require additional support; whether that is in their behaviour, English, Maths, confidence or physical literacy. We have a large youth outreach and engagement programme, working in youth settings and in areas where there are identified high levels of anti-social behaviour. We have a disability programme which aims to increase to numbers of those with disabilities playing sport and creating an active and healthy way of life. This includes offering qualifications, meaningful work placements and volunteering opportunities and increasing their social and support network. We deliver weight management programmes to men, as well as mental health programmes. We work with those aged 55+ across a number of programmes including physical activity projects, other projects that look to reduce social isolation through bringing people together, garden gate visits to their houses, making welfare phone calls, delivering a sporting reminiscence session at the stadium. We have also worked with primary schools and older members of the community to deliver an intergenerational programme of work.

Bolton Council’s Money Skills offer a range of FREE and impartial advice to Bolton residents.
The Money Advice team can help with debts including:
• Rent or Mortgage Arrears
• Council Tax
• Energy Bills
• Credit Card Bills

We can do this by negotiating affordable repayments on your behalf.
We also offer advice and assistance with court forms plus debt relief orders and bankruptcy.
The Money Skills team can help with advice on:
• Budgeting
• Making ends meet
• Savings on gas and electricity
• Energy efficiency advice
• Switching to a cheaper tariff or supplier

Due to government restrictions all appointments are via telephone

Money Advice
01204 331 965 or
01204 332 916

Money Skills
01204 331 983
or
01204 331 968

This service is for anyone who lives, works, or studies in Bolton .