Could a friendly UCAN centre help you open new doors?
For more than 20 years, our UCAN (Urban Care and Neighbourhood) centres have been at the heart of our communities: welcoming hubs that are here to help people grow in confidence and find new opportunities.
To see this support in action, we spoke to one of our community managers about her work and the valuable services available at our UCAN centres.
Meet Vanessa Hamnett from our Bolton UCAN Centre (in Bolton town centre):
For Vanessa, every day at our town centre UCAN hub (called Bolton UCAN Centre) offers a chance to make a real impact.
After more than 12 years working for Bolton at Home, Vanessa’s enthusiasm is as strong as ever. Her drive comes from a commitment to support others and make a lasting difference in their lives.
Vanessa started as a UCAN Centre Manager and now works as a Community Engagement Locality Manager. She leads the Bolton UCAN Centre in The Market Place Shopping Centre, right in the heart of Bolton.
Her team supports people with training, job searching, wellbeing, community connection, and much more.
The entrance to our Bolton UCAN Centre in the Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton town centre.
Small acts, big impact:
“In small ways, I hope to help people feel seen and valued,” says Vanessa. “Sometimes it’s just being there to listen, sharing a smile, or helping a colleague, little things that can make a big difference.”
No two days are the same. One day Vanessa may be supporting frontline colleagues; the next she’s meeting partners or leading multi-agency projects that tackle poverty, like the recent Pension Credit campaign with Citizens Advice, DWP, and the local authority.
Vanessa Hamnett, our Community Engagement Locality Manager meets with partners at Bolton UCAN Centre.
Learning and growing with the community:
Before joining Bolton at Home, Vanessa worked at Salford Council for eight years. So what’s kept her here for more than a decade?
“It’s the people,” she says. “You’re always learning – from both colleagues and customers.”
For Vanessa, success isn’t about quick fixes. “It’s not a Hollywood movie,” she says. “Things don’t happen overnight. But when someone gets a job, builds their confidence, or even just opens up about a problem – that’s huge.”
Empowering people:
Vanessa sees the UCAN Centre as part of something bigger:
"We’re part of a wider Bolton at Home team. We’re all pulling in the same direction. And if we don’t have all the answers, we know a partner organisation who will – we work closely with others in the community who can offer specialist support.”
“Ultimately, our role is to empower and support people – to help them build their own opportunities, with us walking alongside them.”
How UCAN centres can help you:
UCAN centres have become part of everyday life in Bolton. Whatever your background, you’ll find friendly teams here ready to help with training, employment, wellbeing, and much more.
A customer sits with Natalie (right), our Community Engagement Project Officer at Bolton UCAN Centre.
Skills, jobs, and confidence — support that changes lives:
At every UCAN centre, there’s a strong focus on employment and training as a route out of poverty and towards better health, confidence, and opportunity.
You’ll find:
- Tailored one-to-one coaching, including CV building and mock interviews.
- Taster courses in partnership with the National Careers Service – subjects like cake decorating or nail art often help people ease back into learning before moving on to longer-term training.
The Bolton UCAN Centre also houses our Working Wardrobe, providing customers with good-quality clothes for job interviews. You can learn more about Working Wardrobe by tapping here: www.boltonathome.org.uk/working-wardrobe
Donations come from local residents and businesses, including Slater’s Menswear and Boohoo. When someone gets a job, they receive a capsule wardrobe to keep, helping them look and feel the part from day one.
Help with debt, cost of living, and essentials:
UCAN centres also provide vital support for those struggling financially. Through our Money Advice service, our team works one-to-one with customers to manage debt and financial worries.
If you’re facing food poverty or need basic household essentials, we can refer you to food pantries, charities that provide white goods, or partner organisations who supply safety equipment and tools for work.
Our in-house energy adviser is also available to help with understanding tariffs, switching suppliers, and budgeting: practical support that makes a big difference as household costs continue to rise.
Reducing isolation and building community:
UCAN centres play an important role in reducing isolation, especially for older residents. Working closely with Age UK, Citizens Advice, and other partners, our teams run social activities, events, and support groups that keep people connected, active, and supported at any age.
Here’s just some of the help and support you’ll find at UCAN centres:
- Help finding a job
- Use of the internet and computers
- Training courses and tasters
- Social activities and community groups
- Advice on housing issues and benefits
- Health and wellbeing support
- Help with money matters and budgeting
- Use of the phone
- And lots more
Where to find your nearest UCAN centre:
For the addresses, contact details, and opening times for your nearest UCAN centre, just tap: www.boltonathome.org.uk/ucan.
