Greater Manchester Refugee Welcome Programme: The Bolton Partnership
The Bolton Partnership has been announced as part of the Greater Manchester Refugee Welcome Programme, to help refugees avoid homelessness through local partnership work offering holistic support.
The Greater Manchester Refugee Welcome Programme is Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s response to the sharp increases in new refugee homelessness seen in 2023-24. Transitioning from the asylum system has long carried a high risk of homelessness. With proper resourcing, local partnership-working and national-local collaboration, we see this as entirely preventable.
We want to design homelessness out of the asylum system in Greater Manchester so that refugees in our city region can settle, live well, and thrive. Taking a targeted approach to working with people who have recently left asylum accommodation and those who are still within the asylum system, is crucial to achieving this aim. Local authorities are working in close partnership with voluntary and community sector partnerships to respond to this challenge.
The Bolton Partnership
The Bolton partnership consists of the Local Authority, Believe Achieve CIC, Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers (BRASS), Bolton Solidarity Community Association (BSCA) and Bolton Wanderers in the Community. Working with refugees and asylum seekers they will offer a holistic approach to tackle barriers to integration, stable housing, employment and good wellbeing.
The partnership will deliver structured and unstructured ESOL, employment support, a programme of wellbeing activities, one to one holistic support and opportunities to participate in Bolton’s cultural offer.
For more information, email rwp@bolton.gov.uk.