Family Friendly

Mission One

Family‑friendly: where every child matters

Every child in Bolton deserves to feel safe, supported and able to reach their full potential. We’ll give families the right help at the right time, reduce poverty, and make sure children can do well in school and in life.

Early help Reduce child poverty Achieve potential

This mission is about working with families earlier so small worries don’t become big problems. We’ll make it simple to get the right support locally, help parents into good work and secure homes, and make sure every child has what they need to thrive from the very start.

For children who need extra support, services will be built around their needs and aspirations, with stronger links between schools, health and community partners so families don’t have to repeat their story.

What success looks like

Families benefit from an integrated family help approach

 

By 2030

  • Families across Bolton will have easy access to local, community‑based support through a family network offer.

By 2035

  • Families at risk receive proactive, tailored support to prevent challenges from escalating.

By 2040

  • Bolton will be a regional leader in family help, with a system that ensures families thrive and childhood trauma is greatly reduced.

Less families are experiencing poverty

 

By 2030

  • Families across Bolton can easily identify and access all of the support according to their needs.

By 2035

  • Families will have access to stable, Living Wage employment and secure, permanent housing as the norm, not the exception.

By 2040

  • Bolton will be a place where child poverty is significantly reduced, and families are empowered to thrive through maximised income, good housing, and strong communities.

Every child is achieving their potential

 

By 2030

  • All children who require extra support will benefit from robust school services, targeted intervention and early career advice.

By 2035

  • Young people will have access to a wider range of education and training opportunities, with strengthened transition support to help them move confidently into adulthood.

By 2040

  • Bolton will be a place where all children, regardless of background, achieve their potential and are equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to succeed in adulthood.

How we’ll deliver it

  • A joined‑up Family Help model with simple local access points.
  • Targeted work to tackle child poverty through income, education and housing support.
  • Strengthening early years and school readiness.
  • Improving attendance, inclusion and transitions.
  • Using shared data and evidence to spot issues earlier.

Programmes & initiatives

Local Family Network Offer

Community‑based support hubs for parenting, finances, and health/education connections.

Early Years & School Readiness

Support for early development, speech & language, and readiness pathways.

Transitions to Adulthood

Careers, life‑skills, training, apprenticeships and wider post‑16 routes.

Who we’ll work with

Parents & families Schools & colleges Health services Voluntary groups Housing & employment partners

Downloads

Bolton Family Friendly Graphics Pack

Graphics to support the Family Friendly missions.

Download

Case study (Ladybridge High School)

TBC

— Ladybridge High School, 2026