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…
The Wednesday Drop-in is closed tomorrow (July 22nd 2026) for the team's annual holiday break.
The Drop-in reopened on Wednesday, July 29th at 10am.
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.
We've just completed a five week course at our premises. Our service users were instructed in every area of bike maintenance, repair and safety.
This included mending parts of the bikes, adjusting and changing brake pads, changing inner tubes, replacing the chain and cassette, and many other techniques.
Arts, Crafts and Flowers at D.P.: Julie Pearson of "Blooming Great Bolton" and her colleague Dawn have been over the weeks instructing our ladies in:-
I was pleased to have been asked to go to this..as a Human being. It was a very moving service with people telling their individual story of how they came to be in Bolton.
The brutality and extreme awfulness of mass murder was touched upon with ultimate respect for the babies, children,women and men who became victims of Genocide.
We had our AGM on Tuesday June 5th. It was well attended with nearly 70 people, from other organisations, volunteers and some of our lovely service users.
Paul Martin took the chair and briskly moved through the agenda.
Our ladies, in conjunction with the Octagon Theatre have been having sessions, in which their dramatic talents are encouraged.
Last week they presented a dramatic piece for the whole of D.P. It was entitled "Love" and was based on the legend of Psyche and Cupid and the Candle.
On Saturday, April 21st 2018, we took 30 men women and children to watch our beloved Bolton play.
Yes the Wanderers won, but it was the opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers, who triumphed 4-0.
Nevertheless we had a great day. For most it was their first ever visit to a professional ground.
The art sessions we now have at our weekly drop-in are growing by numbers. Diana, our volunteer leader of the sessions is marvellous at encouraging the talents of our asylum seekers and refugees.
Here are a few examples. The "WELCOME" board is the first part of a triptych. The other two parts are to be finished. Attached are some of pictures.
The DP were at Red Cross Hate Crime Awareness at Victoria Hall on Monday.
Irina made a delicious cake. Photos attached below.
Last month members of our ladies English class were invited by the Mayor to attend him for a look behind the scenes, as it were.
The Mayor and Mayoress, councillor Roger Hayes and his wife were on hand to escort our group and show them the Mayor's parlour and rooms.
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.
