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Events and activities for you and yours to get involved with this summer (2025)

Events and activities for you and yours to get involved with this summer (2025)

Each year, we organise and support a variety of summer activities for you and yours to enjoy.

We also support Urban Outreach’s 'Bolton Lunches' project, which provides free packed lunches to children and young people throughout the summer holidays.

Here's a look at the activities we’ve planned for the 2025 school summer holidays, along with details on how to access free packed lunches through Urban Outreach’s 'Bolton Lunches' scheme. We’ll keep this list updated as more activities are confirmed.

Please note: some sessions may require advance booking, and others are only open to residents living in certain areas. We’ve included a note for activities where this is the case.

Remember: we're here if you or someone you know could use a helping hand.

If you know someone who could use a helping hand with money matters, household bills, food support, work/training, accessing community groups, or something else — just tap here for a list of all the support services offered by us and our partners.

Tap a link below to jump to further information on this page:

Please note that the following events are open to Farnworth residents only. Tap on an event to jump to further information on this page:

How to access free packed lunches for children and young people (ages 4 to 18) during the summer holidays:

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Every summer, Bolton-based charity Urban Outreach offers free packed lunches for children and young people aged four to 18 through its ‘Bolton Lunches’ project.

During the 2025 school summer holidays, children will be able to access Bolton Lunches through Bolton’s ‘Holiday Activities and Food’ (HAF) programme of events running across the borough. 

We’ve listed the 'HAF Hub' events in Bolton's parks that we’ll (Bolton at Home) be supporting below. For a full list of HAF events, please tap here to visit Bolton Council’s Holiday Activities and Food page.

You can also tap here to learn more about Urban Outreach’s ‘Bolton Lunches’ project, which has run every summer since 2014.

The Urban Outreach logo

Every Monday, 1pm to 3pm: Age Friendly Crafty Storytelling at Gorton Community Centre

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Join us as we create art to showcase Gorton's rich history and heritage, its industrial past, and strong working class roots. Enjoy a brew and share your stories through craft with others.

Address: Gorton Community Centre, Highmead Street, Gorton, M18 8PE

For more information, please contact: info@hmhc.co.uk or phone 0161 222 3633.

Poster for the Age Friendly Crafty Storytelling sessions at Gorton Community Centre. A text-based version of this poster is available above.

 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during the summer holidays: Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) at Bolton's Parks — open to all

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Bolton Council’s HAF Hubs provide a brilliant opportunity for young people to get active, try something new, and enjoy a mix of physical and enriching activities. From fun food demos to hands-on cooking sessions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

These park-based sessions also include helpful signposts to help connect you with services such as housing, health, finance, and local Family Hubs if you need them — all offering friendly advice and useful information.

Sessions run from 11am to 3pm and are delivered in partnership with organisations including Urban Outreach, Bolton Wanderers in the Community, and the Play and Youth Service. No booking needed; just drop by and join in.

Bolton Council will be running Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Hubs at:

  • Moses Gate Park on Tuesdays during the summer holidays, 11am to 3pm (Bolton at Home's Community Engagement Team will be there to support one of the HAF Hub sessions at Moses Gate Country Park on Tuesday 5 August 2025).
  • Central Park, Westhoughton on Wednesdays during the summer holidays, 11am to 3pm (Bolton at Home's Community Engagement Team will be there to support two of the HAF Hub sessions at Central Park, Westhoughton on Wednesday 30 July 2025 and Wednesday 20 August 2025).
  • Moss Bank Park on Thursdays during the summer holidays, 11am to 3pm (Bolton at Home's Community Engagement Team will be there to support one of the HAF Hub sessions at Moss Bank Park on Thursday 14 August 2025).
  • Queen's Park on Fridays during the summer holidays, 11am to 3pm (Bolton at Home's Community Engagement Team will be there to support one of the HAF Hub sessions at Queen's Park on Friday 25 July 2025).

For more information on the HAF Hub Family Park Events in Bolton, please tap here to visit the Bolton Council website.

As mentioned above, Urban Outreach will be providing free packed lunches for children and young people at these HAF events.

Promotional banner image for Bolton's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) events in 2025.

Every Tuesday from 22 July 2025, 10am to 12pm (except Tuesday 19 August): Pond and River Dipping at Seven Acres, Breightmet — please book in advance:

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Grab your nets and join us for these fun-filled family pond and river dipping sessions: discover the amazing creatures living just beneath the surface.

Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the weather, limited wellies and beach shoes are available on request (please get in touch beforehand with any requests).

Dates:

  • Tuesday 22 July, 10am to 12pm
  • Tuesday 29 July, 10am to 12pm
  • Tuesday 5 August, 10am to 12pm
  • Tuesday 12 August, 10am to 12pm
  • Tuesday 26 August, 10am to 12pm

Address: meet in the Wildlife Trust Car Park, Bury Road, Bolton, BL2 6DS

To book a place or for more information: please message Alun using 07943541636.

Promotional poster for the Pond and River Dipping events at Seven Acres Nature Reserve, Breightmet. A text-based alternative of this image is available above.

 Every Tuesday from 22 July 2025, 2pm to 4pm: Summer Activities at Red Lane Growing Project — open to all

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Get involved with a range of outdoor activities at Red Lane Growing Project in Breightmet. Expect:

  • Beekeeping
  • Woodland Walks
  • Children's Entertainer
  • Building Blocks (Lego)
  • Crafts
  • Sand Pit and Paddling Pools
  • Stone Painting
  • S'mores
  • and more.

Address: Red Lane Community Growing Project, 8 to 10 Red Lane, Bolton, BL2 5BL

For more information, please contact: alun.morris@boltonathome.org.uk or call Alun on 07943541636.

Poster advertising the summer 2025 activities taking place at Red Lane Growing Project, Breightmet. A text-based alternative is available above this image.

Tuesday 19 August 2025, 2pm to 4pm: Games, Crafts, and Activities at Red Lane Growing Project — open to all

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Head down to Red Lane Growing Project for:

  • A children's entertainer
  • Sandpit and paddling pools
  • Outdoor games
  • Crafts
  • S'mores
  • And more

There's no need to book. Just turn up.

Address: Red Lane Community Growing Project, 8 to 10 Red Lane, Bolton, BL2 5BL

For more information, please contact: alun.morris@boltonathome.org.uk or call Alun on 07943541636.

Poster for the event at Red Lane Growing Project on Tuesday 19 August. A text-based alternative is available above this image.

Tuesday 19 August 2025, 6pm to 8pm: Free Bike Checks at Red Lane Growing Project — open to all

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Come down to the Red Lane Growing Project for a free bike safety check - with minor repairs carried out where possible.

Address: Red Lane Community Growing Project, 8 to 10 Red Lane, Bolton, BL2 5BL

For more information, please contact: alun.morris@boltonathome.org.uk or call Alun on 07943541636.

Poster for the Free Bike Checks session at Red Lane Growing Project on Tuesday 19 August. A text-based alternative is available above this image.

Wednesday 20 August to Wednesday 27 August 2025: Side by Side Arts Festival, Rochdale — open to all

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A festival made by the people of the Rochdale borough, for everyone. To see the full Rochdale Side by Side Arts Festival programme, please tap: issuu.com/link4lifetrust/docs/side-by-side_festival_2025_programme 

Address: Rochdale Town Hall Square, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AZ

Poster for the Side by Side Arts Festival in Rochdale. A text-based alternative of this poster is available above.

Wednesday 20 August 2025, 1pm to 3pm: Bug Hunt at Ashton's Fields — open to all

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Meet us at New Bury UCAN Centre before we make our way to Ashton's Fields for a Bug Hunt and Foraging.

Address: meet at New Bury UCAN Centre, 59 George Street, Farnworth, BL4 9PU

For more information, please contact: kirsty.peake@boltonathome.org.uk or call Kirsty on 07789031573.

Wednesday 27 August 2025, 10am to 12pm: Pond Dipping at Doffcocker Lodge — open to all

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Grab your nets and join us for a fun-filled family pond dipping session: discover the amazing creatures living just beneath the surface.

There's no need to book onto this event, just come down. Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the weather.

Address: meet at the entrance to Doffcocker Lodge near Ripon Avenue, Bolton, BL1 5PF

To book a place or for more information: please call or message Alun using 07943541636.

A copy of the poster for the Pond Dipping sessions at Doffcocker Lodge, Bolton (for the second date in August). A text-based alternative of this image is available above.

Resident Fun Days from our Farnworth Focus Team (open to Farnworth residents only)

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Organised by our Community Engagement Team, these fantastic family events will be packed with games, activities, and that lively community spirit you know and love.

These events are being delivered as part of our Community Engagement Team's Farnworth Focus Team project. You can learn more about our Farnworth Focus Team by tapping here.

Please note that all of the events listed below are open to Farnworth residents only.

Wednesday 20 August 2025, 12pm to 2pm: Fearnhead Close Summer Event

For residents of Fearnhead Close.

Address: Fearnhead Close, Farnworth, BL4 8BX

For more information, please contact: sarah.cuniffe@boltonathome.org.uk 

Thursday 21 August 2025, 12pm to 2pm: Balmoral Road Summer Event

For residents of Balmoral, Albert Road, Blofield Court, Debenham Court, and Ravenscar Walk.

Address: Back of Balmoral Flats, Balmoral Road, Farnworth, BL4 9HR

For more information, please contact: sarah.cuniffe@boltonathome.org.uk 

Thursday 28 August 2025, 12pm to 2pm: Princess Grove Summer Event — open to Farnworth residents only

For residents of Princess Grove, Regent Walk, Cross Street, King Street, Queen Street, and Barncroft Road.

Address: Regent Walk, Farnworth, BL4 7RA

For more information, please contact: sarah.cuniffe@boltonathome.org.uk

Poster to promote the Resident Fun Days delivered by our Farnworth Focus Team. A text-based alternative of this image is available above.