In 2025 the Bolton Guild of Help is celebrating 120 years of providing help to the Bolton Military Family.
The Guild was formed in 1905 when poverty was rife in the town and people had little or no support available to them. There was no National Health Service or state pensions and the Welfare State had not yet been established.
The incumbent Mayor of Bolton is, by tradition, the Guild’s President and officiates at its annual general meetings. The current Mayor, Andy Morgan, is an Army Air Corps veteran
During World War I the Guild provided much needed help to those serving in our Armed Forces and, also, their families back at home in Bolton.
By 1924 the Guild had become the administrators for the Bolton branch of a number of other charitable organisations including the British Legion Relief Fund, the United Services Fund, and SSAFA in Bolton.
By 1940, when the nation was again at war the Guild managed the local needs of an ever increasing number of other organisations including:
- The Emergency Help Committee
- The British Legion and United Services Benevolent Fund
- SSAFA (Bolton Branch)
- The Soldiers and Sailors Help Society
- Earl Haig Remembrance Trust
- British Legion Officers Association
- Royal Naval Benevolent Trust
- A number of regimental welfare associations
- The Royal Patriotic Fund
The Guild operates exclusively within the Borough of Bolton and provides help and support in many ways including:
- The provision of emergency food and clothing vouchers
- Assistance with electrical and building repairs
- Information, advice and guidance regarding benefit entitlements, debt, and other financial matters
- The provision of white goods (washing machines, cookers and fridge/freezers), carpets and furniture
- Access to mental health support teams
- Access to addiction support teams
- Assistance with housing gift vouchers and toys for children
- School uniforms
- Assistance with energy costs
- Referrals to military charities, eg, SSAFA The Armed Forces charity and the Royal British Legion
- Access to our Veterans / Community Support Drop-In Centre every Thursday morning at the Bridge Café in Bolton
- Opportunities for veterans and their families to join in our comradeship events.
Our Veterans’ Support Drop-In Centre at the Bridge Café in Bradford Street was launched, in the presence of the then Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Linda Thomas, on the 30th September 2021. The Centre, which is now open every Thursday from 09.00 – 13.00, provides a relaxed social environment within which our clients can seek the help that they need.
In 2023, the Guild, supported by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, embarked on a year-long project to identify and engage with Bolton’s ex-National Servicemen. These are some of the ‘forgotten’ veterans who are now in their 80s and 90s.
During 2025 we are providing engagement opportunities for our military family and those organisations that can provide support to them if they need it. This work, ‘Sharing and Caring’, is also supported by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. As part of our Guild 120 celebrations we are holding a major Share to Care event on Friday the 28th of February at the Bridge Conference Centre, Bradford Street, Bolton, BL2 1JX. The event will run from 10.00 until 15.00 and at least forty support organisations will be in attendance. Anyone involved in military welfare will be made most welcome. If you can’t come along please remember that the Guild is here to provide support to your veterans, their families, those still serving and their families and our reserve forces. Please remember – we only operate within the Borough of Bolton!
For more information about this event please contact Becky Campbell on 01204 524858 – e-mail Becky@boltonguildofhelp.org.uk
