Bolton Community Rail (Bolton Station Partnership and Bolton and South Lancs Community Rail Partnership) has donated 40 festive gift bags to Bolton families who are supported by charities Bolton City of Sanctuary and Bolton Nice (Neighbourhood Initative for Community Enterprise).

Bolton & South Lancashire Community Rail partnership officer, Dr. Steph Dermott, secured ‘festive funding’ from Bolton Community and Voluntary Services (BCVS) to help local families in need. This was then matched by Bolton City of Sanctuary.

Further funds were then sought. Julie Levy, chair of Bolton Station Community Partnership applied for additional Bolton CVS funds and this was then matched by funding from the Station Community Partnership. 

The combined amount of £800 allowed Steph and Julie to go on a mammoth shopping spree to create 40 family gift bags which will hopefully bring a little extra happiness to some of our Bolton families.

Professor Paul Salveson, chair of the Bolton & South Lancs. Community Rail Partnership said: “It has been a wonderful opportunity to brighten up the Festive Season with these donations. Steph and Julie did a great job together to secure the funding and pack up all the bags. This initiative shows that ‘community rail’ is about a lot more than trains!”