News from Bolton at Home
Here you'll find our most recent news articles, from important tenant updates and new housing developments, to new community initiatives and activities.
Back to the list
Celebrating a year of success for our men’s mental health project: Bolton Manbassadors
We celebrated a year of success for our award-winning** Bolton Manbassadors men’s mental health project with a special first anniversary event this Tuesday (18 November 2025).
Bolton Manbassadors, which helps raise awareness of men’s wellbeing and aims to reduce high rates of male suicide, relaunched last year after Bolton at Home secured a £586k grant from The National Lottery Community Fund.
It provides a network of social and community-based activities across Bolton that offer safe spaces for men to talk about their emotional wellbeing and access the support they need.
In the last twelve months, over 520 men have engaged with the project, with 120 of those receiving direct support with issues such as employment, finances and housing. Over 100 local businesses have also signed up to act as men’s health advocates within the community – known as Manbassadors – including Bolton Wanderers, Bolton Community Leisure, and Elite Community Hub.
The project has raised a further £42,925 to fund a calendar of activities, such as football and cricket matches, karate classes, and ‘camp jam’ sessions.
Adam Warbrick, our Manbassadors Project Lead said:
“This past year has been an incredible journey, we’ve seen first-hand the impact that community connection and conversation can make in supporting men’s mental health.
“We’re overwhelmed with the response we’ve had from local people, businesses and organisations, and would like to thank everyone who has helped us drive the project forward. The support really highlights what Manbassadors is all about, that men don’t have to face challenges alone, there’s always someone willing to listen, offer support or even just have a kick about.
“We know there are still plenty of people out there who could use our help, whether you’re struggling yourself, or you just want to get involved, please get in touch. The more our network grows, the more people we can support.”
Kirith Entwistle, MP for Bolton North East said:
“I am so proud to have a group like Manbassadors in Bolton. 100 different organisations from across the town all working together to help support local men and letting them know that the community is here for them; that is special.
“It sounds simple, but this is literally saving lives, and I wish everyone involved all the best for the anniversary. I’ve done the training along with the team from my office, and I’d encourage any public facing company or community group in town to do the same so we can all reach more people in the years ahead.”
The project also won the Heart of the Community award at this year’s Bolton News Business Awards, in recognition for our grassroots approach to improving mental health and empowering local people, groups and businesses.
Paul Lowe, our Director of Customer and Communities, added:
“The Manbassadors project continues to be a vital support network for men in Bolton, we’re so proud of the progress made in just one year and grateful to everyone who has got involved and helped expand our reach.
“What makes the project so special is that it’s rooted in the community, it’s about local people looking out for one another, creating safe spaces, and breaking down the stigma around men’s mental health. As we look ahead, we’re committed to building on this success, reaching even more men across Bolton, and ensuring that every man feels seen, supported, and valued.”
Our special anniversary event held at Bolton Albert Halls brought together partners, volunteers, and community representatives to mark the progress made and share stories of impact from the past 12 months.
The event was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, representatives from Bolton and Wigan Council, senior colleagues from Bolton at Home, the team behind the Manbassadors project, and ambassadors from Bolton Wanderers FC.
