Family Action Celebrates one year of the Bolton Listening Lounge

18 August 2024

Family Action is thrilled to celebrate the first anniversary of the Bolton Listening Lounge, a vital service offering support to individuals experiencing mental health distress.

The anniversary event, held at The Bolton Listening Lounge on Deansgate, brought together community members and partners to highlight the essential services provided by the charity.

The Listening Lounge provides immediate support for individuals experiencing mental distress, unhelpful thoughts, feelings of being overwhelmed or feelings of being unable to cope, due to a range of life stressors like bereavement and financial issues, and other well-being challenges.

Over the past year, The Bolton Listening Lounge has become a sanctuary for many, and the service ensures those needing clinical support can access appropriate care through partnerships with local organisations.

Since starting the project last August, the Listening Lounge has focused on building its team and the anniversary event showcased the progress made and introduced the Lounge as a crucial community resource.

Family Action Service Manager, Michelle Del Rosso, tells us,

We’re dedicated to making the Listening Lounge a safe space for everyone in Bolton, where people can talk openly and honestly about how they are feeling and the challenges they are facing. Our anniversary event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with key stakeholders and partners, strengthening the support network and referral pathways for those in need.

The Bolton Listening Lounge is delivered by Bolton Mental Health Alliance, made up of Family Action, MhIST (Mental Health Independent Support Team), and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), forming a robust support network for the community. The event underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration to provide timely and effective support.

Bolton’s Listening Lounge is a fantastic service based in the town centre open to anyone who may be struggling. The service is open between 3pm and 10pm daily, and is a genuine alternative to A&E. This service has been made possible thanks to a lot of hard work from Family Action, MhIST and GMMH to really shape something that meets the needs of Bolton people. If you are struggling and need to speak to someone, please reach out to Bolton’s Listening Lounge for help.

Hannah Carrington, Senior Project Manager

As the Listening Lounge enters its second year, Family Action remains committed to fostering community ties and ensuring those in crisis have a safe place to turn for help.

Find out more about the The Bolton Listening Lounge here.

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