Bolton CVS is pleased to be able to offer Free Training and a funding opportunity for VCSE organisations. Conversations about vaccination can sometimes be challenging. People may have questions, concerns, conflicting information, or previous experiences that influence their views. Knowing how to respond in a way that builds trust and keeps conversations open can make a real difference. Join the interactive Moving Conversations workshop to develop practical skills and tools for having meaningful, person-centred conversations about vaccinations.

Bolton CVS and our partners at Public Health are pleased to be able to offer a free two-hour training session for staff or volunteers from Voluntary and Community organisations who work in Bolton.

The training will provide the skills, knowledge and resources to enable attendees to have confident, informed conversations with local residents about vaccines. It will:

• Offer a great personal development opportunity for staff and volunteers.
• Boost organisations’ ability to deliver well informed and impactful work supporting better health for local people.
• Enable your organisations to apply for small grant funding to deliver vaccine awareness activities in your community,

In recognition of the time organisations commit to the training, we will be able to offer a grant payment of £150 per attendee at the training. The grant payment will be made to the constituted group who the person works or volunteers for.   

Who is the Training For?

The training will provide resources to groups and individuals within the community. The training will be ideal for:

• People who work face-to-face with the community in Bolton who can help the community to understand more about vaccines.
• People from organisations who have existing trusted relationships with the communities they serve.
• People who plan and deliver projects which can promote positive health for our communities.

Moving Conversations Workshop

This workshop is designed for voluntary and community sector staff and volunteers acting as community champions. It is not about persuading people or providing clinical advice. Instead, you’ll learn how to:

• Listen without judgement
• Understand what matters to people
• Explore concerns respectfully
• Build confidence and trust
• Support informed decision-making

Why attend?

By the end of the session, you’ll have greater confidence, practical tools, and a conversation framework that you can use immediately when discussing vaccination within your community, leaving you with the skills, knowledge and resources to have informed conversations with local residents about vaccines. 

As well as these skills, attending the training will enable your organisations to apply for small grant funding to deliver vaccine promotion activities in your community. In recognition of the time organisations commit to the training, we will be able to offer a grant payment of £150 per attendee at the training. The grant payment will be made to the constituted group who the person works or volunteers for. 

We are particularly interested to hear from groups who are working with:

· People from low-income households,

· Eastern European communities.

· Somali communities

· Residents living in areas of high deprivation

These groups have been identified as facing health inequalities locally. But this is not an exclusive list – we also want to involve organisations who work with other groups who face health inequalities.

 

Training Booking Information

· An organisation can apply for up to 2 places for its staff/volunteers.

· There will be grant payments of £150 per attendee at the training. The grant payment will be made to the constituted group who the person works or volunteers for.

If you want to apply for a place on the training, please complete this Microsoft Form as soon as possible: Winter Vaccination Conversations Training Booking Form – Fill in form

We will inform people if they have secured a place by the Thursday 12th of November 2026. Please note that applying for a place does not guarantee that you will get a place.

When

16th November, 2026 from  2:00 PM to  4:00 PM

Location

The Bolton HubBold StreetTown CentreBolton, BL1 1LS

Contact

Email: nataliet@boltoncvs.org.uk

Email: nataliet@boltoncvs.org.uk

This work is being funded through the NHS Greater Manchester Vaccine Access and Inequality Funding. We are delivering this training in partnership with colleagues from the Public Health Directorate, Bolton Council and Collaborate Out Loud.

When: 16th November, 2026 2:00 PM through 04:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold street Town Centre Bolton, BL1 1LS

Whether you’re just exploring an idea or have recently started your social enterprise journey, this practical workshop will help you understand what it takes to build an organisation that creates lasting social impact.

We’ll explore what makes a social enterprise different from other business models, how to define the social or environmental change you want to create, and how to build strong foundations for long-term sustainability.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Understand what a social enterprise is and the different legal structures available.
• Clarify their purpose, vision and values.
• Identify the problem they are trying to solve and who benefits.
• Explore different income models and funding opportunities.
• Consider how to measure and demonstrate social impact.
• Connect with other aspiring social entrepreneurs and share ideas.
• Leave with practical tools and clear next steps to move their idea forward.

The workshop is interactive, practical and suitable for anyone at the early stages of developing a social enterprise, community business or purpose-led organisation.

This workshop is delivered by Karen Smith from Turn Up the Value, an expert in social enterprise support. The session has been funded by the E26 / Our Business programme. 

When: 17th November, 2026 1:00 PM through 04:00 pm Where: The Hub Bold Street Bolton Bolton, BL1 1LS

We have developed a Volunteer Passport scheme in partnership with Bolton College which will provide potential volunteers with a suite of basic training session. The Volunteer Passport will demonstrate that individuals are ‘volunteer-ready’ to move into a wide range of volunteering opportunities. It explains what organisations usually expect from volunteers and what volunteers can expect in return.

The workshop will cover:

•        What is volunteering and what are the benefits?

•        Getting Ready to Volunteer

•        Safeguarding and Confidentiality

When: 19th November, 2026 1:00 PM through 02:00 pm Where: 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: 20th November, 2026 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.

What’s on the agenda? 

The forum is a great opportunity to connect and share learning with other people and organisations around Bolton. For the next VCSE Sector Forum, we will be joined by Peter Camm from Age UK Manchester to raise scam awareness.Karen Arkwright, our Senior Development Officer will give a membership update and will be introducing some of Bolton CVS’s new members.We will be joined by Lucy Clarkson and Bushra Hasan from Bolton Council to engage with you around the Housing Strategy Development.  At the start of the meeting, we will be giving you an opportunity to network with other organisations.Please note an early start time for this meeting.If you like further information, please do not hesitate to contact Bolton CVS by e-mail on info@boltoncvs.org.uk. 

When: 26th November, 2026 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: 26th November, 2026 12:30 PM through 02:30 pm Where: The Bolton Hub 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 online workshop 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 workshop will give you helpful advice and tools to guide you. Suitable for all VCSE groups, small or large.

This workshop 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.

Please note that the Zoom link to access the online workshop will be sent to you on the morning of the session at the email address that you use to register for the event.

When: 1st December, 2026 1:00 PM through 02:45 pm Where: Online via Zoom

Are you an organisation or group who recruits volunteers or thinking about recruiting volunteers? Have you ever faced any barriers? And are you struggling to overcome them? Then this session is definitely for you.

 

This session will cover:

 –To understand the existing barriers to volunteering from the organisation’s perspective as well as volunteers.

– To build confidence when accepting non-traditional volunteers.

– Insight of the journey of the volunteers who might need extra support.

– Evaluation of your recruitment process and what can be possibly changed.

– Peer-to-Peer Support.

By the end of the session, you will be able to understand how to overcome some of the barriers to working with volunteers who might need extra support.

When: 2nd December, 2026 10:00 AM through 12:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

Delivered by nurse trainers from Cancer Research UK, the interactive training will equip and empower you to raise cancer awareness in your community.

Bolton CVS and our partners at Public Health are pleased to be able to offer a free training course for staff or volunteers from Voluntary and Community organisations who work in Bolton.

The training will provide the skills, knowledge and resources to enable attendees to have confident, informed conversations with local residents about cancer. It will:

• Offer a great personal development opportunity for staff and volunteers.
• Boost organisations’ ability to deliver well informed and impactful work supporting better health for local people. 
• Enable your organisations to apply for small grant funding to deliver cancer activities in your community, 

In recognition of the time organisations commit to the training, we will be able to offer a payment of £200 per attendee at the training. The payment will be made to the constituted group who the person works or volunteers for.   

 

Talk Cancer Training Content

There are two versions of the Training: 

• Core Talk Cancer Workshop 
• Extended Talk Cancer Workshop 

You can request a place on either the Core or Extended version of the training. 

To apply, please complete this Microsoft Form as soon as possible:https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/f2xHwkQCka

 

Core Talk Cancer WorkshopOur main workshop covers reducing cancer risk, early diagnosis, and screening.

This workshop is for people who are in positions to talk about health and wellbeing in their community.

It will help you by: 

• Increasing your knowledge of key messages around reducing your risk of cancer, the national cancer screening programmes, and spotting cancer early. 
• Building your confidence to talk to the public about cancer. 
• Helping you to encourage people to make healthy changes, access local services and visit their GP promptly with any concerns. 

This will run from 10am – 1:45pm. (working lunch provided from 1 – 1:45pm) 

When: 2nd December, 2026 10:00 AM through 01:45 pm Where: Friends Meeting House 50 Silverwell Street Bolton, BL1 1PP

Delivered by nurse trainers from Cancer Research UK, the interactive training will equip and empower you to raise cancer awareness in your community.

Bolton CVS and our partners at Public Health are pleased to be able to offer a free training course for staff or volunteers from Voluntary and Community organisations who work in Bolton.

The training will provide the skills, knowledge and resources to enable attendees to have confident, informed conversations with local residents about cancer. It will:

• Offer a great personal development opportunity for staff and volunteers.
• Boost organisations’ ability to deliver well informed and impactful work supporting better health for local people. 
• Enable your organisations to apply for small grant funding to deliver cancer activities in your community, 

In recognition of the time organisations commit to the training, we will be able to offer a payment of £200 per attendee at the training. The payment will be made to the constituted group who the person works or volunteers for.   

 

Talk Cancer Training Content

There are two versions of the Training: 

• Core Talk Cancer Workshop 
• Extended Talk Cancer Workshop 

You can request a place on either the Core or Extended version of the training. 

To apply, please complete this Microsoft Form as soon as possible:https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/f2xHwkQCka

 

Extended Training: Including ‘Train the Presenter’

This covers the Core Talk Cancer Workshop (10:00 – 1:45pm) and then from 1:45 – 4:30pm, you can stay on for an additional Train the Presenter element, where you can:

• Learn how to deliver a scripted cancer awareness presentation. 
• Practice managing audience questions and discussions. 
• Get presentation skills training from our experts.

This is ideal or people who wish to present this information to local groups.

This will run from 10am – 4:30pm. (working lunch provided from 1 – 1:45pm) 

Please note that this is Train the Presenter not a Train the Trainer format. You will be trained to deliver a scripted cancer awareness presentation to the public.

When: 2nd December, 2026 10:00 AM through 04:30 pm Where: Friends Meeting House 50 Silverwell Street Bolton, BL1 1PP

We’re hosting another dedicated National Lottery funding advice day for VCSE groups.

This is a chance to book a one-to-one appointment with a representative from The National Lottery where you can ask questions, and get tailored guidance on two key funds: Awards for All and Reaching Communities.  Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or need support with an application, this session is designed to help your organisation access the funding it needs to grow and thrive.

Find out more about the two funds here:  

National Lottery Awards for All England | The National Lottery Community Fund

Reaching Communities England | The National Lottery Community Fund

In these sessions you will be able to get personalised support and feedback.  Suitable for VCSE organisations that are interested in Awards for All or Reaching Communities Grants because they have a idea, are currently putting an application together or already have National Lottery Funding and want to discuss continuation funding.

Appointments are limited and will be between 10am and 2pm at The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton.  Following registration for this event you be contacted and allocated a specific appointment time.  If you would like to specify am or pm when you register, please do so in the adjustments box.  We will do our best but cannot guarantee that you will be allocated your preferred time.  

We plan to host these sessions quarterly so look out for new dates announced on our Training and Events page.

When: 4th December, 2026 10:00 AM through 02:00 pm Where: The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

Join us for the launch of Bolton’s State of the VCSE Sector 2026 Report and our new Bolton CVS Strategy 2027–2030!

Bolton CVS is delighted to invite you to the launch of Bolton’s State of the VCSE Sector 2026 report and our new Bolton CVS Strategy 2027-2030.

Every few years, the infrastructure organisations across Greater Manchester come together to undertake research to better understand the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across Bolton. The report provides a valuable snapshot of the VCSE groups and organisations, volunteers and communities that make such an important contribution to life in the borough, as well as the opportunities and challenges they face.

As the local infrastructure organisation for Bolton’s VCSE sector, Bolton CVS works to support, strengthen and connect VCSE groups and volunteers. Understanding the state of our sector helps ensure that we, alongside our partners, can respond to emerging needs, champion the contribution of local VCSE groups and organisations, and help create the conditions for a strong and thriving community sector.

The findings of the report have informed the development of Bolton CVS’s new three-year strategy. At this event, we will share key insights from the research, explore what they mean for the future of the sector, and outline how Bolton CVS plans to support and work alongside VCSE groups and organisations, volunteers and partners over the coming years.

The event will also be an opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the VCSE sector, public services and community organisations who share a commitment to strengthening Bolton’s communities.

We hope you will be able to join us. 

When: 10th December, 2026 1:30 PM through 03:00 pm

Are you working or volunteering in Bolton’s VCSE sector and wondering how Live Well is taking shape locally?

We host a monthly online session to share the latest updates, unpack what’s changing, and look ahead at what this could mean in practice for Bolton. 

We’ll talk through the shift towards prevention and community-led support, what’s emerging so far, and how VCSE organisations might fit into the evolving picture. There’ll be space to ask questions, share reflections, and hear about ways to get involved as things develop.

Whether you’ve been part of the Live Well journey already or are just starting to get a sense of what it’s about, come along and be part of the conversation.

When: 15th December, 2026 11:00 AM through 12:00 pm Where: Online via zoom

Join us IN PERSON at the Volunteer Development Network at Bolton CVS, Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS on Tuesday 19th January 2027 10:00 – 12:00.

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.

This is an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions and discuss the headaches, highlights, and horizons around volunteering through an open discussion facilitated by Bolton CVS.  Agenda to follow

When: 19th January, 2027 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: 24th February, 2027 10:00 AM through 11:30 am Where: The Bolton Hub 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 explores how it applies to the VCSE sector.

The session is aimed at volunteers and members of staff who want to know more about equity, diversity, inclusion 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 be able to think about what this looks like in their own organisation and what more can be done.

When: 11th March, 2027 1:30 PM through 03:15 pm Where: The Bolton Hub, 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 online workshop 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 workshop will give you helpful advice and tools to guide you. Suitable for all VCSE groups, small or large.

This workshop 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.

Please note that the Zoom link to access the online workshop will be sent to you on the morning of the session at the email address that you use to register for the event.

When: 6th May, 2027 1:00 PM through 02:45 pm Where: Online via Zoom

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: 23rd June, 2027 12:00 PM through 01:30 pm Where: Online via Zoom

This session explores the basics of what is meant by equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, looks at related legislation and explores how it applies to the VCSE sector.

The session is aimed at volunteers and members of staff who want to know more about equity, diversity, inclusion 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 be able to think about what this looks like in their own organisation and what more can be done.

When: 29th September, 2027 10:00 AM through 11:45 am Where: The Bolton Hub, 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 workshop 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 workshop will give you helpful advice and tools to guide you. Suitable for all VCSE groups, small or large.

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: 27th October, 2027 10:00 AM through 11:45 am Where: The Bolton Hub Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS