In a festive hall in Bolton, tinsel glitters and the smell of traditional northern pies fills the air, masking the profound stories of struggle and resilience beneath the Christmas cheer. This is the annual party for BAND, a project celebrating three decades of providing critical support to adults facing mental health challenges and crippling social isolation.
From Coffee Mornings to a Community Lifeline
Born 30 years ago from the vision of a small group of volunteers, BAND began by tackling loneliness in Bolton with simple coffee mornings in church halls. A volunteer would even collect attendees from their homes using a minibus. The service has grown substantially, forming a partnership with the national charity Family Action in 2018 to expand its reach.
Today, it works alongside the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust and Bolton's MhIST to offer specialised services. These include The Listening Lounge, an out-of-hours crisis support line, and the Living Well service for those who need mental health support but don't qualify for statutory Community Mental Health teams.
Personal Stories of Transformation and Hope
For 55-year-old grandmother Alison Byrne, BAND's intervention was nothing short of lifesaving. Having experienced domestic abuse and coercive control, she reached a point where she couldn't open her curtains or leave the house. "Someone from BAND came to my house," she recalls. With their support, including transport to the centre, her confidence grew. She learned to trust again, undertook college courses, and rebuilt her life, though she still turns to BAND when anxiety resurfaces.
The project's impact is echoed by others. Zuber Ahmed, 53, found BAND a decade ago after family bereavements led to substance misuse and isolation. "If it wasn't for BAND, I would have been suicidal," he states frankly. Now, after completing courses, he hopes to find employment. For Dylan Cookson, 26, who has autism, BAND provides a vital social community that stops him from becoming "depressed in my bedroom, alone with no friends."
A Christmas Sanctuary for the Isolated
The need for such services is starkly highlighted during the festive season. BAND will remain open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, serving a traditional dinner. For many, it will be the only place they see other people. This is a crucial service, as a recent Family Action survey of 2,000 people found that 31% feel isolated at Christmas and 38% report someone in their household experiencing mental health difficulties.
Michelle, 53, who met her husband Stephen at BAND and married in 2015, will be having her Christmas dinner there this year while Stephen is in hospital. Dave Coleman, one of the original volunteers who drove the minibus and is now a staff member, emphasises the ongoing need: "Bolton is deprived, there isn't much out there especially on Christmas Day. This service is a lifeline to so many."
From its humble beginnings with 40 people at a coffee morning, BAND now supports over 100 individuals, proving that community-led action can forge powerful pathways out of loneliness and despair.
