‘You Decide’- Communities In Charge

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Welcome to our You Decide – Communities in Charge Area

What is it all about ?

Thanks to National Lottery players, Bolton Together has received almost £350,000 of life-changing funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will be used to support children who are disadvantaged, who have experienced domestic abuse or who have additional needs living in Bolton.

Working closely with Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Fortalice and Breaking Barriers, they will empower young people and families in Bolton to design a grant-giving programme and become the decision makers in who receives funding.

This has been awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s new ‘You Decide’ programme – involving communities directly in decisions about funding good causes. You Decide is key to the funder’s efforts to put community power, agency, and control at the heart of its funding in England – supporting communities to live happier, healthier lives. This truly life-changing funding has been made possible by National Lottery players.

Would your service be interested in supporting the Children, Young People and families of Bolton by receiving a grant to offer support design by and for young people?

In 2027, You Decide Grant Makers will release a series of project ideas following co-design with Children, Young People and families from three target groups in Bolton.

They will be promoted on this website, via social media and LinkedIn. We would like Bolton Together members to consider how their organisation could meet the needs outlined in the proposal. You will be asked to create a project proposal which will deliver those needs.

You Decide Grantmakers are involved in all phases of the project – including making the final decision around which project proposals are successful and monitoring afterwards.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the Children, Young people and families of Bolton to feel that their voices have not only been heard but have led to the support they want to receive and the change they want to see.

Currently, the You Decide Grantmakers are designing the project proposals and application process. Watch this space for more developments

1. Gather Voice/ Thoughts
Needs Assessment Nov 26 – Jan 27

You Decide Grant Makers will explore this question with CYP and families from the three target groups: ‘In your target group, what would make life better for you and your family that isn’t currently available in Bolton? ‘

2. Design Grants Projects
Feb – Apr 27

Using the insights gathered, You Decide Grant Makers will design project briefs to meet the needs identified by their target community.

They will design the process for how Bolton Together members can apply to deliver the projects

3. Promote / Applications Open
May – June 27

You Decide Grant Makers will promote the projects across Bolton Together’s membership via social media, newsletters and e-shots. They will invite ‘Expressions of Interest’ from Bolton Together members.

4. Award Grants to Members
July 27

You Decide Grant Makers will drive the decision-making process of which Bolton Together members are awarded grants to deliver the desired outcomes.

5. Grant Delivery / Monitoring & Quality Assurance
Aug – Oct 27

Project delivery will be monitored and quality assured by Bolton Together, with ongoing input from the You Decide Grant Makers. This is an opportunity for them to monitor that the needs of their target group are being successfully addressed and met.

6. Learning & Celebration
Nov 27 – Jan 28

Our youth-led approach to grant delivery will be evaluated, and lessons learned for future projects. Our aim is that the work of the You Decide Grant Makers and Bolton Together members will lead to positive change within the target communities. That will be celebrated!

Messages from our partners:

Emma Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer at Bolton Lads and Girls

“We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with our sector colleagues to deliver this exciting new project. As a Charity that has young people at the heart of everything we do, it is wonderful to able to support them make their own decisions about investment into young people. ”

Laken Reid, Senior Manager at Breaking Barriers North West

“Through this project, Breaking Barriers will create meaningful opportunities for children with SEND and their families, including children who are non-verbal, have developmental disabilities and high support needs, to shape funding decisions within their own communities. At Breaking Barriers, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to influence the decisions that affect their lives. We are incredibly proud to be part of a project that allows inclusion, lived experience and community empowerment to make lasting change.”

Dr Gill Smallwood MBE, Fortalice

“We are delighted to be a partner on this project; the children and young people Fortalice works with are often working through the trauma of domestic abuse and trying to gain confidence to make changes that will improve their lives. By having the opportunity to shape, identify and develop new ideas, it will not only help them develop new skills, but it will also empower them to believe in themselves as they see the work they undertake with us come to fruition. This is a brilliant opportunity to continue the excellent partnership work with other organisations and to have the children and young people’s voice at the heart of future developments.”

‘You Decide – Communities in Charge’ Further Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What is You Decide - Communities in Charge?

You Decide – Communities in Charge is a community-led grant programme funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Children, young people and families from three target groups will shape funding priorities and decide how funding should be invested to improve lives in Bolton:

  • Families affected by domestic abuse
  • Families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
  • Children and young people experiencing disadvantage
How much funding is available?

Bolton Together has received almost £350,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund through the You Decide programme.

A proportion of this funding will be used to support a co-production process, including engagement activities, training and development opportunities for children, young people and families, facilitating their involvement and specialist support from the programme’s delivery partners, Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Fortalice and Breaking Barriers. This support will help ensure that participants are equipped and empowered to identify priorities, make informed decisions and shape the grant-giving programme.

As with all National Lottery-funded programmes, a proportion of the funding is also allocated to the costs of administering and delivering the programme. This includes a dedicated Funding Officer role hosted by Bolton Together, programme coordination, governance, monitoring and evaluation, and the practical support needed to ensure the programme is delivered effectively and transparently.

The remaining funding will be invested in projects and activities identified and prioritised by local children, young people and families through the You Decide process.

How much of the funding will be used to deliver the programme?

For You Decide – Communities in Charge, this includes the costs of facilitating the co-production process, training and supporting children, young people and families to be involved in the project, programme management, governance, monitoring and evaluation, and a dedicated Funding Officer role hosted by Bolton Together.

These costs were included within the funding application approved by The National Lottery Community Fund and are essential to ensuring the programme is delivered safely, effectively and in line with the funder’s requirements.

The majority of the funding will be invested in projects and activities identified and prioritised by children, young people and families through the You Decide process.

Bolton Together is committed to ensuring that all funding is used responsibly, transparently and for the benefit of the communities the programme is designed to support.

How are children, young people and families helping to make funding decisions?

The people most affected by local issues are often best placed to identify what support is needed.
Through this programme, children, young people and families will work with their peers and communities to explore local needs, identify priorities and shape where funding will make the greatest difference.
Participants will receive training, guidance and support throughout the process.

How will funding priorities be decided?

Children, young people and families from the three target groups will engage with others who share similar experiences, helping to identify common challenges, gaps in support and opportunities for change. These findings will be used to inform future funding opportunities.

Why are these three groups the focus of the programme?

The programme is funded specifically to support the following groups, who generally have had the fewest opportunities to influence their own lives:

  • Families affected by domestic abuse
  • Families of children and young people with SEND
  • Children and young people experiencing disadvantage

These groups are the focus of the funding awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund and form the basis of the programme’s objectives.

Why have Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Fortalice and Breaking Barriers been chosen to support the programme?

Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Fortalice and Breaking Barriers were identified by Bolton Together during the development of the funding application to The National Lottery Community Fund.

Each organisation has significant experience of working with one or more of the programme’s target groups and brings valuable expertise, trusted relationships and insight into the needs of local children, young people and families.

Together, they represent the three groups at the heart of the programme:

  • Fortalice supports individuals and families affected by domestic abuse.
  • Breaking Barriers works alongside families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
  • Bolton Lads and Girls Club has extensive experience supporting children and young people, including those facing disadvantage.

Bolton Together worked with the three partners to shape the partnership bid. Each already have a breadth of experience and skills in engaging children and young people with decision making. With projects such as Safer Lives (Fortalice), Pots of Gold (Bolton Lads and Girls) ,0-19 engagement and SEND Mapping (Breaking Barriers Northwest).

Since the funding was awarded, all three organisations have played an active role in shaping the programme and delivering the engagement and co-production activities that will enable children, young people and families to influence funding priorities and decision making.

Their role is to support and facilitate the process. Decisions about funding priorities and grant awards will be shaped by the lived experiences, views and aspirations of the children, young people and families involved in the programme.

Will only children and young people benefit from the funding?

No.

While the programme focuses on improving outcomes for children and young people, the priorities identified through the co-production process may include support for parents, carers and families if this is considered important in improving children’s lives and wellbeing.

The projects funded will be determined by the needs identified by local people throughout the programme. The programme will also improve outcomes for the children and young people who are taking part. They will each generate their own goals for self-development which may include; increasing confidence, presenting to an audience, as well as increasing their feelings of self-worth by being able to use their own voice and contribute to project that will make a difference to their community.

How can organisations express an interest in delivering a project?

Opportunities to apply for funding will be advertised through this website and local networks once funding priorities have been agreed.

Details of eligibility, application processes and timescales will be published as they become available.

We encourage organisations, community groups and other potential partners to keep checking this page for updates.

Please note; Funding applications will only be accepted from organisations that are members of Bolton Together at the point of application.

My organisation is not a Bolton Together member. Can we still apply?

Funding applications will only be accepted from organisations that are members of Bolton Together at the point of application.

This approach helps ensure that funded organisations are part of a trusted local network that works collaboratively to support Bolton communities, this ensures robust governance and due diligence. It also prevents duplication as organisations will already have gone through the ‘on boarding’ process for Bolton Together.  

If your organisation is not currently a member, we would encourage you to explore joining Bolton Together. New members are always welcome, provided they meet the membership criteria.

You can find information about the benefits of membership, eligibility requirements and how to apply on the Bolton Together homepage.

Can organisations that support adults apply for funding?

Potentially, yes.

Funding opportunities will be shaped by the priorities identified through the co-production process. If local people identify a need for services that support parents, carers or families, organisations working with adults may be eligible to apply where their work contributes to better outcomes for children, young people and families.

Any organisation applying for funding would also need to be a member of Bolton Together at the point of application.

How will you ensure that funding decisions are fair?

A clear and transparent decision-making process will be developed for the programme.

Everyone involved in making decisions will receive appropriate training and support. Funding criteria will be published, and decisions will be based on agreed priorities and evidence gathered through the co-production process.

How will conflicts of interest be managed?

We recognise the importance of ensuring decisions are fair and transparent.

Clear conflict of interest procedures will be in place throughout the programme. Anyone involved in decision making who has a connection to an application or organisation being considered will be required to declare this and will be excluded from discussions or decisions where appropriate.

Will organisations involved in running the programme be able to apply for funding?

Yes. Strong governance arrangements will be put in place to ensure fairness and transparency.

Any organisation applying for funding will be expected to follow the same published process and meet the same criteria as all other applicants. Appropriate safeguards will be used to manage actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

How will you make sure different voices are heard?

The programme is committed to hearing from a diverse range of children, young people and families.

The expertise of the three specialist partners will ensure that participation is tailored to diverse needs to facilitate inclusive engagement; such as taking a Trauma Informed approach, and shaping activities, and tools for those with SEND, gaining views sensitively and considerately with a focus on listening to children, young people and families first.

We will actively seek views from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, including those whose voices are often underrepresented or less likely to be heard through traditional consultation methods.

What if young people choose projects that professionals do not agree with?

This programme is designed to place decision-making power in the hands of people with lived experience. Children, young people and families will be supported to make informed decisions through training, guidance and clear funding criteria.

Professionals will provide support and oversight where required, but funding decisions will be community-led and based on the priorities identified through the co-production process.

Why aren't funding priorities being decided by professionals?

The programme is built on the principle that people with lived experience should have a genuine say in decisions that affect them.

Professionals bring valuable expertise and support, but children, young people and families understand first-hand the challenges and opportunities within their communities. By combining professional knowledge with lived experience, we can make better-informed decisions that reflect what matters most to local people.

What happens if someone disagrees with a funding decision?

The funding process will be transparent, with clear criteria and decision-making procedures in place.

While not every application can be successful, we are committed to ensuring that decisions are fair, evidence-based and aligned with the priorities identified through the co-production process.

How will you know whether the programme has made a difference?

We will work with children, young people, families and funded organisations to understand the impact of the programme.

This will include gathering feedback, share learning and celebrate successes. We will use this information to demonstrate how funding has helped improve outcomes for local people and communities.

Bolton’s ‘You Decide- Communities in Charge’ is a pilot programme for The National Lottery, Bolton Together will share our learning throughout the programme. By doing so we will share our journey, identify successes while offering potential solutions to any challenges. This learning will be shared with The National Lottery and within Bolton. We hope our learning will inspire and support other organisations to engage youth voice in securing meaningful community change.

Where can I find out more?

We will continue to share updates, opportunities and key milestones on this webpage as the programme develops.

If you would like to stay informed, please check back regularly for the latest news, opportunities and ways to get involved.

Crisis Support

Urgent Mental Health Support (Greater Manchester)

If you need urgent mental health support but it is not a 999 emergency:

NHS 111 (Press 2)
Available 24 hours a day
Free from mobiles and landlines

This will connect you to the local urgent mental health service.

Samaritans (All Ages)

If you are feeling overwhelmed or distressed:

Call 116 123
Available 24 hours a day
Free and confidential

CAMHS Crisis Support

If your child is already open to CAMHS, you can:

Contact your CAMHS team directly

Ask for the CAMHS Duty Worker

If you are unsure who to contact, NHS 111 (Press 2) can guide you.

Support for Young People

If a young person would prefer to speak to someone confidentially:

Childline – Call 0800 1111
Available 24 hours
Free and confidential

Online chat is also available at childline.org.uk