If you're based in Bolton or Wythenshawe, here are some great support resources available to you.
Food Support
What it is: An independent food bank, based in Horwich Business Park.
What they do: They provide essential food items, baby care products and pet food to local families.
Contact them here.
What it is: A food bank for customers in the BL1 area.
What they do: Their goal is to alleviate food poverty and tackle the root causes. They offer immediate food relief as well as guidance and resources to help members of the local community to rebuild their lives.
Contact them here.
What it is: A not-for-profit partnership project which offers affordable food and essentials
What they do: Through a low-cost weekly subscription, Pantry Members (who are approved based on foodbank and residency criteria) can select items from shelves stocked with supermarket surplus and donations. Members also receive tailored support, with regular one-to-one reviews to help address underlying causes of hardship and avoid long-term dependency.
Contact them:
Email: admin@urbanoutreach.co.uk
Phone: 01204 385848
What it is: Lucie’s Pantry provides a sustainable and affordable source of food and household essentials to members of the Bolton community struggling to make ends meet through debt, illness or low income.
What they do: People who want to use the social supermarket become a member of Lucie’s Pantry. Usually, members pay £2.50 per week and are able to choose items to the value of approximately £15 each week. Lucie’s Pantry is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Contact them:
Phone: 01204 398056
Children's Essentials and Activities
What it is: Wood Street Mission is one of Manchester's oldest children's charities and has run for over 155 years.
What they do: They provide free daily essentials to low-income families, including children's clothing, bedding, towels, toiletries, toys, books and baby equipment. They have a dedicated monthly outreach service at Brownley Green Baptist Church in Wythenshawe.
Contact them here.
What it is: Run by two mums, Helen Norwood and Angela Barry, Breightmet Community Locker serves as a hub for struggling families to buy school essentials for their children without breaking the bank.
What they do: They sell heavily discounted uniforms, shoes, coats, trainers, PE kits, maths sets and calculators, stationery, lunch boxes, water bottles and backpacks.
Contact them:
Email: breightmetcommunitygroup@gmail.com
Join their Facebook group here.
What it is: A community initiative supporting young people from diverse backgrounds.
What they do: They offer weekly physical, social, and confidence-building activities, like sports, sewing, cooking, and workshops, helping improve wellbeing and personal development.
Contact them here.
Financial Advice
What it is: A drop-in offering free support to help people manage money and deal with financial challenges.
What they do: They provide expert guidance on debt, budgeting, benefits, Universal Credit, and tax credits. Support is tailored to individual needs.
Contact Amina to make an appointment:
Email: amina.ali@endeavourproject.org.uk
Phone: 07495 321751
Support for over 50s
What it is: The Over 50's Club are a non-for-profit community group that meet to tackle social isolation for the over 50s. Everyone is welcome to attend.
What they do: They meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month 12.30pm-2.30pm at Horwich Community Centre. Activities include darts, table tennis, dominoes, board games and friendly conversation. They charge £2 pp to attend, and this includes cakes and unlimited refreshments. You don't need to live in Horwich to attend and no appointment is needed, just turn up.
Contact them:
Email: over50sclub@mail.com
Phone: 0800 804 43 43
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/horwichcommunity/