Bolton DP Destitution Project
Seeking to provide a safe environment where Refugees and Asylum Seekers can find friendship, food and practical help.
Helping to create new futures for Bolton’s asylum seekers and refugees…
Due to a severe shortage of storage space, at the moment DP is unable to accept donations of clothing and household goods.
For further information and updates on the situation please contact us at info@boltondp.org Please note this does not apply to food and toiletries. We are still accepting donations of toiletries and non-perishable food. The Food Team can advise what we are most in need of. We are very grateful for all your support and will advise when we are able to accept donations once more.
The little write up below was written by Thomas, a 10 year old, who visited us on Wednesday 28th August 2019. He is the grandson of one of our volunteers - Mary. He very kindly donated his pocket money to Bolton Destitution Project.
"I was invited to visit Victoria Hall because I donated some of my pocket money for food! I enjoyed my visit and found it very interesting."
In July the Destitution Project were invited by Bolton Library to stage an exhibition showcasing the artistic talents of our service users.
Paul Barnes and his team of volunteers drawn from our service users assembled our stands.
One of our volunteers, Paul, returned from a recent trip to Tanzania with a lovely traditional hand made shirt.
He kindly held a free raffle for all our lovely service users.
One happy winner joyfully obtained a piece of Africa. Photos can be viewed below:
James has been an invaluable member for over three years of the Triage team assisting our DP Casework Team. He has accepted a teaching position and we all at D.P. are sad to see him leave.
Members of the Triage team presented him with a pen and other volunteers made a cash presentations.
Our AGM took place on May 21st. We invited all our service users and dignitaries and others who have kindly supported us.
The chair, the Rev. Paul Martin gave his overall report highlighting our many achievements throughout the year.
On April 10th we bid a sad farewell to one of our longest-serving volunteers - Margaret McCann.
She will be dearly missed at the Destitution Project. Margaret has helped to teach English to asylum seekers and refugees and has been such a ray of sunlight to us all over the years.
We at DP were delighted to welcome the present Mayor of Bolton (Councillor Elaine Sherrington) to visit us on the 9th January.
She was only available for an hour as she is such a busy lady, but during that hour she was able to visit various areas of the Project.
DP ended the year with a Christmas party held at the Drop in Centre in late December.
Volunteers and well-wishers kindly brought in items to share at the food table, and our friendly team from Bolton Mutual Aid also prepared a delicious soup for everyone.
On 22nd November, the Destitution Project (DP) took part in a lantern procession at the Bolton Light Festival.
The group showed off many of the hand-painted decorative lanterns they made as part of a project called- ‘Building Beacons of Hope and Love’.
To run its weekly Drop-In for asylum seekers and refugees and provide casework support, the Destitution Project relies heavily on the help and dedication of its volunteers.
Because we are a thriving organisation with much work to be done, we are looking for volunteers who are able to give us at least one day per week for a minimum of 6 months. If you are recently retired, part-time employed or otherwise able to give us this level of commitment, we would love to hear from you!
You can email us at: info@boltondp.org and send us a CV or details on your relevant experience and availability. We will then arrange for you to visit the Drop-In on a Wednesday so that you can have a guided tour and we can explain a bit more about what volunteering with us will involve.
Particular skills we are currently looking for are:
General admin skills and experience: You will need to be able to come in on different days (e.g. on Wednesdays and Fridays) when needed. We will work with you to find times that suit both you and the team.
IT and computer skills: we often need help on a Wednesdays (9.00am - 3.00pm) and sometimes on other occasions when needed.
DP Reception Team: you will need to be able to come in from 9.00am to 3.30 pm each Wednesday and help with the sign-in system, welcoming service users and visitors and managing access to the Drop-In.
Drop in Team: you will need to be able to come in from 9am- 3.00pm on Wednesdays. It may involve General Hall Duties including the setting up and putting away of furniture and games equipment or supporting in the Food or Clothes Room with managing stock and assisting our Service Users. You will need to be able to work well as part of a team.
English Teaching: to teach English at a basic or intermediate level in small groups on a Wednesday each week. No formal qualifications required but some background in English teaching/education may be helpful.
Thank you for considering volunteering with us!
A single point for refugees to find information and for NGOs to provide it. The Refugee Aid App mobile app shows migrants, refugees and aid workers where services are closest to them on a map with a very simple interface.
A web based content management and communication system allows official aid organizations to manage and update their services and to get their critical aid to where it is most urgently needed.
