Corporate volunteering can be a great first step — but what comes next?

This quick, lunch-time session is for VCSE organisations looking to grow deeper, more meaningful relationships with local businesses. We’ll explore how to turn short-term volunteering into longer-term support and what corporates are looking for from their long-term VCSE partners. We invite you to share your own experiences and will leave you with practical ideas to help your partnerships grow.

When: 15th July, 2025 12:30 PM through 01:30 pm Where: Online via Zoom

Safeguarding is everyone’s business, and it is important that we all work together to protect people who need help and support. Staff and volunteers in voluntary organisations have a key role to play in making sure that people using their services are protected and kept safe from harm. This session is suitable for staff and volunteers, including committee members and trustees, who are responsible for safeguarding good practice, as well as anyone responsible for volunteers and who support volunteers and staff as part of their role.

 

This session will help you to: 

Understand what safeguarding is and your role in safeguarding adults at risk

Recognise an adult who may be in need of safeguarding and how to take appropriate action

Understand how to raise concerns about someone

Understand dignity and respect when working with individuals

Be aware of the policy, procedures and legislation that support safeguarding adults processes

Be able to identify how you can take learning from the session and use it in your organisation.

When: 17th July, 2025 10:00 AM through 12:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

Join us for some networking with a difference – a catalyst conversation exploring all things social impact.

The format for this catalyst conversation is simple – we all bring one issue/idea/question we have about social impact in our organisation. Maybe it’s how to gather data, how to draft reports or how tell our impact story to our partners and stakeholders… We share our issues and get the benefit of everyone’s input in the room and are hopefully catalysed to think a bit differently.  Plus we’ll be joined by social accountant Karen Smith, who can guide us and offer insight and ideas to help us move through any sticky issues.

This will be a great opportunity to come together, support each other as social enterprise peers, whilst getting to know one another and exchanging knowledge.

We’re also being hosted by the fabulous Recycle-IT – so it’s a great chance to check out their Digital Den too.

Hope to see you there!

When: 17th July, 2025 1:30 PM through 03:00 pm Where: Unit 10A The Market Place Knowsley St Bolton, BL1 2AL

Help Shape a New Pilot to Support Economically Inactive Residents Bolton Council is set to receive funding from the Economically Inactive Trailblazer programme. The programme in Bolton is to engage 400 residents who are economically inactive or out of work due to ill-health and to move them further towards good employment. This session will be to explore with each other, and alongside council colleagues, how a pilot of ‘Intensive Cohort Commissioning’ of VCSE sector support could work in practice to engage 110 residents. This idea is that VCSEs identify residents who, with their support, would engage with employment services. VCSEs would be funded to support the individuals alongside the specialist employment support they receive.

If your VCSE has an employment programme or could easily add on employment support, we’d be pleased to have your point of view at the session.

 

When: 17th July, 2025 3:45 PM through 05:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street BL1 1LS

Want to set up a Community Group but don’t know where to start? Join us to explore your ideas and discuss the key steps to set up a group with a strong foundation. This session is aimed at individuals who want to learn how to set up a community group, including defining its purpose, awareness of different legal structures and assigning roles. You will leave with the knowledge and confidence to take the first steps toward building a successful group. When: 22nd July, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:30 am Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Have you got a query about your social business or idea? Wondering where to start, who to talk to or what to do next? Then come and have a chat with Karen Smith, Director of Turn up the Value.

This session offers a space to explore ideas and queries with an experienced coach, social accountant, and business owner. There’s no need to book for this, just drop-in to the Business Zone at Bolton Central Library any time between 10am and 1pm.

When: 23rd July, 2025 10:00 AM through 01:00 pm Where: Bolton Central Library Le Mans Crescent Bolton, BL1 1SE

A snap shot of how procurement works and steps your VCSE can take towards having contracts with schools arounds Alternative Provision of education. When: 23rd July, 2025 12:00 PM through 12:30 pm Where: Online via Zoom

Thinking about volunteering and changing lives?  Don’t know where to go? No idea where to start from?  Searching for the right roles to volunteer for?

Are you thinking about volunteering but not sure what it is or how to go about it? Come along to  session Benefits of Volunteering session led by our Bolton Volunteer Centre, to find out how what you can get out of volunteering and how you can impact  your local community and  across the town of Bolton

Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new.  It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

When: 30th July, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:00 am Where: Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

The forum is a great opportunity to connect and share learning with other people and organisations around Bolton.

Agenda to be confirmed.

When: 31st July, 2025 10:30 AM through 12:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

An invitation to join Lisa and other social enterprise leaders and allies for an informal walk and chat round Queens Park.

Meet us at The Bolton Hub for a gentle, chat-focused walk to, and around, Queens Park. This will be an opportunity to connect with our network in a really informal way, whilst still investing some time in your business or organisation. Hopefully we’ll be blessed with some August sunshine and we can take a pause under some trees too.

Lisa will be there to chat to you about Proper Good and all the support we have on offer and hopefully some movement and connection will fuel some ideas and collaboration. 

When: 13th August, 2025 12:00 PM through 01:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Are you thinking about recruiting volunteers, new to volunteer management or would like a refresher on best practice? Then join us for this introductory session.

This session will –

outline good practice in volunteer management

explore volunteer motivation and barriers to volunteer recruitment

help you to recognise which policies and procedures are recommended to effectively manage volunteers

help you to understand best practice to retain volunteers and improve their experience. 

When: 19th August, 2025 10:00 AM through 12:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold street Bolton, BL1 1LS

This session is suitable for any current Trustees wishing to refresh their knowledge and for those considering becoming a Trustee.

The session will cover:

– The role of the Trustee board and the six main duties as stated by the Charity Commission

– Trustee liability

– Conflicts of interest

– Eligibility 

When: 19th August, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:30 am Where: Online via Zoom

Thinking about volunteering and changing lives?  Don’t know where to go? No idea where to start from?  Searching for the right roles to volunteer for?

Are you thinking about volunteering but not sure what it is or how to go about it? Come along to  session Benefits of Volunteering session led by our Bolton Volunteer Centre, to find out how what you can get out of volunteering and how you can impact  your local community and  across the town of Bolton

Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new.  It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

When: 27th August, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:00 am Where: Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

This interactive course will enable participants to obtain basic knowledge about safeguarding children and young people and share learning and good practice. This course is suitable for anyone with responsiblity for ensuring children and young people’s safeguarding in their voluntary group or organisation. It is suitable for those new to the role or those wishing to refresh their skills and knowledge.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify different types of abuse
• Be aware of procedures to be followed when they believe a child or young person has been, or is at risk of being abused.
• Record information and know how to share it properly
• Understand how to raise a concern with Bolton Safeguarding Children's Partnership 

When: 28th August, 2025 12:30 PM through 03:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Have you got a query about your social business or idea? Wondering where to start, who to talk to or what to do next? Then come and have a chat with Karen Smith, Director of Turn up the Value.

This session offers a space to explore ideas and queries with an experienced coach, social accountant, and business owner. There’s no need to book for this, just drop-in to the Business Zone at Bolton Central Library any time between 10am and 1pm.

When: 3rd September, 2025 10:00 AM through 01:00 pm Where: Bolton Central Library Le Mans Crescent Bolton, BL1 1SE

Would you like to understand the key principles of a solid cashflow forecast, and be supported to develop a framework for your own? If so – this is the session for you!

Join Adrian Ashton – social enterprise and charities consultant for over 15 years – to explore cash flow forecasting for your social enterprise. 

“I found the session with Adrian very interesting. He managed to keep my interest whilst talking about finances and spreadsheets so he must have been good!”

 

The key to operating a successful social enterprise is a diverse and robust model of income generation; including trading, investment and some grant funding. Key to developing that model is a solid plan – a cashflow forecast. 

Investors and funders alike need to see that your business has a forecast that makes sense – Adrian can talk you through the best approach to achieving this, ensuring your forecast complements and builds on your business plan.

This will be a small group workshop, providing lots of opportunity for chat, both with Adrian and other social enterprise peers.

When: 11th September, 2025 1:00 PM through 04:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Wondering which is the right legal structure for your Social Enterprise? These sessions will explore the options available and, using real world examples, help you to evaluate what might be the right legal structure and governance for your organisation.

This on-line workshop will be led by Adrian Ashton, an award-winning Charity and Enterprise consultant. Drawing on over 15 years of experience in the sector, Adrian will inform, inspire and support you to explore the different options available for your organisation.

You can expect:

 – A potted history of Social Enterprise (and why it’s important)

 – The ‘Select-a-Structure’ quiz – What do you need from your legal structure, what legal structures are available and what are their pros and cons

 – Governance – what is it, why is it important and what might be right for you

The workshop will be interactive, with lots of opportunity to discuss your business, in a forum with peers from the local Social Enterprise sector.

The Zoom link to join us will be sent out to you a few days before the session.

When: 16th September, 2025 10:00 AM through 12:00 pm Where: Online via zoom

This interactive workshop is designed especially for VCSEs to explore the difference between social impact and social value – and why understanding both is key to strengthening your organisation’s future.

Join us for an engaging and practical session where we will:

Understand the Basics: Unpack the difference between social impact and social value, and why both matter.

Social Value Matters Now: Discover why demonstrating social value is more important than ever – especially in the current commissioning landscape.

Measure What Matters: Learn practical ways to measure and communicate your organisation’s social impact and social value.

 

 

When: 17th September, 2025 9:30 AM through 11:30 am Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street BL1 1LS

Safeguarding is everyone’s business, and it is important that we all work together to protect people who need help and support. Staff and volunteers in voluntary organisations have a key role to play in making sure that people using their services are protected and kept safe from harm. This session is suitable for staff and volunteers, including committee members and trustees, who are responsible for safeguarding good practice, as well as anyone responsible for volunteers and who support volunteers and staff as part of their role.

 

This session will help you to: 

Understand what safeguarding is and your role in safeguarding adults at risk

Recognise an adult who may be in need of safeguarding and how to take appropriate action

Understand how to raise concerns about someone

Understand dignity and respect when working with individuals

Be aware of the policy, procedures and legislation that support safeguarding adults processes

Be able to identify how you can take learning from the session and use it in your organisation.

When: 24th September, 2025 10:00 AM through 12:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

Thinking about volunteering and changing lives?  Don’t know where to go? No idea where to start from?  Searching for the right roles to volunteer for?

Are you thinking about volunteering but not sure what it is or how to go about it? Come along to  session Benefits of Volunteering session led by our Bolton Volunteer Centre, to find out how what you can get out of volunteering and how you can impact  your local community and  across the town of Bolton

Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new.  It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

When: 24th September, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:00 am Where: Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Partnership working involves collaboration to achieve shared goals. It allows each organisation to use its strengths to make a bigger impact. Strong partnerships are built on clear communication, trust, and shared values. When done well, they can benefit everyone involved and the communities they support.

This session will help you think about what to consider before starting a partnership. We’ll look at how to choose the right partners, set clear goals together, and build a strong, effective working relationship. Whether you’re new to partnerships or want to improve an existing one, this session will give you helpful advice and tools to guide you.

This session will cover:

– A definition of partnership working and the types of partnership working. 

– What to look for in a partner organisation. 

– Completing your due diligence. 

– Charity Commission Expectations. 

– Recording how will you work together.

When: 30th September, 2025 10:30 AM through 12:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Join us IN PERSON at our next Volunteer Development Network at Bolton Adult Autism Support 1st Floor Nelson House Bolton BL1 1JT

Does your organisation have volunteers? Would you like an opportunity to meet other volunteer managers and share good practice? Then book a place at our Volunteer Development Network!

This forum will give you the chance to connect, collaborate and cultivate new relationships with other organisations in Bolton that are recruiting and managing volunteers.

 

When: 30th September, 2025 11:00 AM through 12:30 pm Where: 1st Floor Nelson House Nelson Square Bolton, BL1 1JT

This session explores the basics of what is meant by equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, looks at related legislation and includes time to discuss what this looks like in your organisation and what more could be done.

The session is aimed at volunteers and members of staff who want to know more about  equity, diversity and belonging.  

By the end of the session attendees will be able to define what equality, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging means, why it is important and understand what this looks like in their own organisation and what more can be done.

When: 14th October, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:30 am Where: The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Effective safeguarding is more than just having a safeguarding policy, particularly in the current climate. This face to face session will look at the wider issues that come under the safeguarding umbrella, including recruitment, health and safety, and much more. 

This session will help you to:

• Be more confident in understanding the wider context of safeguarding within the sector.
• Be aware of best practice, current issues and policies and how they can be embedded within your organisation.
• Reflect on current practice and identify areas of development.
• Share knowledge and experience.

This is a face to face session, we look forward to seeing you at The Bolton Hub.

When: 21st October, 2025 1:00 PM through 03:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Thinking about volunteering and changing lives?  Don’t know where to go? No idea where to start from?  Searching for the right roles to volunteer for?

Are you thinking about volunteering but not sure what it is or how to go about it? Come along to  session Benefits of Volunteering session led by our Bolton Volunteer Centre, to find out how what you can get out of volunteering and how you can impact  your local community and  across the town of Bolton

Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new.  It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

When: 30th October, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:00 am Where: Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

This session is suitable for any current Trustees wishing to refresh their knowledge and for those considering becoming a Trustee.

The session will cover:

– The role of the Trustee board and the six main duties as stated by the Charity Commission

– Trustee liability

– Conflicts of interest

– Eligibility 

When: 4th November, 2025 1:00 PM through 02:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

This interactive course will enable participants to obtain basic knowledge about safeguarding children and young people and share learning and good practice. This course is suitable for anyone with responsiblity for ensuring children and young people’s safeguarding in their voluntary group or organisation. It is suitable for those new to the role or those wishing to refresh their skills and knowledge.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify different types of abuse
• Be aware of procedures to be followed when they believe a child or young person has been, or is at risk of being abused.
• Record information and know how to share it properly
• Understand how to raise a concern with Bolton Safeguarding Children's Partnership 

When: 11th November, 2025 12:30 PM through 03:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Thinking about volunteering and changing lives?  Don’t know where to go? No idea where to start from?  Searching for the right roles to volunteer for?

Are you thinking about volunteering but not sure what it is or how to go about it? Come along to  session Benefits of Volunteering session led by our Bolton Volunteer Centre, to find out how what you can get out of volunteering and how you can impact  your local community and  across the town of Bolton

Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new.  It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

When: 26th November, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:00 am Where: Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Partnership working involves collaboration to achieve shared goals. It allows each organisation to use its strengths to make a bigger impact. Strong partnerships are built on clear communication, trust, and shared values. When done well, they can benefit everyone involved and the communities they support.

This session will help you think about what to consider before starting a partnership. We’ll look at how to choose the right partners, set clear goals together, and build a strong, effective working relationship. Whether you’re new to partnerships or want to improve an existing one, this session will give you helpful advice and tools to guide you.

This session will cover:

– A definition of partnership working and the types of partnership working. 

– What to look for in a partner organisation. 

– Completing your due diligence. 

– Charity Commission Expectations. 

– Recording how will you work together.

When: 9th December, 2025 1:00 PM through 02:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Thinking about volunteering and changing lives?  Don’t know where to go? No idea where to start from?  Searching for the right roles to volunteer for?

Are you thinking about volunteering but not sure what it is or how to go about it? Come along to  session Benefits of Volunteering session led by our Bolton Volunteer Centre, to find out how what you can get out of volunteering and how you can impact  your local community and  across the town of Bolton

Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new.  It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

When: 18th December, 2025 10:00 AM through 11:00 am Where: Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

This session explores the basics of what is meant by equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, looks at related legislation and includes time to discuss what this looks like in your organisation and what more could be done.

The session is aimed at volunteers and members of staff who want to know more about  equity, diversity and belonging.  

By the end of the session attendees will be able to define what equality, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging means, why it is important and understand what this looks like in their own organisation and what more can be done.

When: 24th February, 2026 1:00 PM through 02:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

This session is suitable for any current Trustees wishing to refresh their knowledge and for those considering becoming a Trustee.

The session will cover:

– The role of the Trustee board and the six main duties as stated by the Charity Commission

– Trustee liability

– Conflicts of interest

– Eligibility 

When: 12th March, 2026 1:00 PM through 02:30 pm Where: Online via Zoom