Key Points
- Better Days Bolton launches April 1, 2026.
- Waythrough leads with Community Led Initiatives.
- Commissioned by Bolton Council for recovery.
- Targets alcohol, drugs with holistic support.
- Builds on GMMH for seamless user transition.
Bolton (Bolton Today) February 24, 2026 – A groundbreaking alcohol and drug support service named Better Days Bolton will commence operations on 1 April 2026, spearheaded by the national charity Waythrough in collaboration with Community Led Initiatives CIC (CLI CIC). Commissioned by Bolton Council, the initiative aims to address health inequalities by providing tailored assistance to residents grappling with substance challenges across the borough. This development marks a pivotal shift in local recovery efforts, building directly on the foundations laid by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH).
What Is Better Days Bolton?
Better Days Bolton represents a comprehensive new endeavour designed to mitigate health disparities through targeted support for individuals facing alcohol and other drug-related difficulties in Bolton. As detailed in the official announcement from Waythrough, the service embodies a person-centred philosophy, eschewing rigid categorisations in favour of flexible pathways that accommodate diverse needs.
The initiative's scope encompasses a broad spectrum of interventions, including education and awareness campaigns, harm reduction strategies, care coordination, clinical treatments, therapeutic interventions, sustained recovery support, and innovative digital tools such as the DrinkCoach application. Residents with lived experience of substance support have actively co-designed the service's identity, from its visual branding to the layout of its physical spaces, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility at every level. This collaborative ethos extends to forging robust partnerships with statutory and voluntary sector entities throughout Bolton, amplifying the reach and efficacy of existing support networks.
Furthermore, the service commits to a holistic community-wide strategy, extending assistance not only to primary users but also to their families, thereby addressing the ripple effects of addiction on broader social fabrics.
Who Leads the Better Days Bolton Service?
The stewardship of Better Days Bolton falls to Waythrough, a prominent national charity renowned for delivering free health and wellbeing guidance, information, and support via an expansive network of community-based services across England. Formed in October 2024 through the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship, Waythrough adopts a holistic stance on intertwined issues like mental health, substance use, gambling, housing, and poverty alleviation, supporting approximately 125,000 individuals annually with nearly 3,500 staff and volunteers.
In partnership, Community Led Initiatives CIC brings invaluable lived-experience perspectives to the table.
As articulated by Peter Atherton, Chief Executive Officer for Community Led Initiatives (CLI), as reported by Waythrough News, “As a lived experience recovery organisation, CLI is committed to supporting people from all communities to overcome their challenges and build a life in which they can flourish. We are excited to be working alongside Waythrough in the new Bolton service and we are committed to making recovery a reality in Bolton.”
CLI's model, pioneered by those with direct personal histories, delivers person-centred aid and group programmes nationwide, targeting socially excluding behaviours such as offending and substance misuse. Their philosophy hinges on empowerment, fostering belief in individual change potential, team-driven opportunities, and collaborative ties with public, voluntary, and private sectors to fortify communities. Notably, at least seven in ten clients engaging with CLI report reduced recidivism risks.
Rachel Savchenko, Director of Services for the North West at Waythrough, as reported by Waythrough News, emphasised continuity and compassion: “We are proud to be building on the work of the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, the previous provider of substance use support services for the people of Bolton. At Waythrough, we know that people and their problems don’t fit into neatly labelled boxes. We’ve developed prevention advice, treatment and recovery pathways and models that allow us to welcome people through our doors without judgement, no matter how messy life may feel. We’ll be here, ready to meet them, whenever they feel ready to meet us, to face their challenges together.”
Why Was Better Days Bolton Commissioned in 2026?
Bolton Council commissioned Better Days Bolton to confront entrenched health inequalities exacerbated by substance misuse, a pressing concern amid stable yet elevated local prevalence rates.
Cllr Jackie Schofield, Executive Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Bolton Council, as reported by Waythrough News, underscored the multifaceted impacts: “Alcohol dependency and drug addiction not only cause challenges for people directly involved in consuming the substances, but also affects their family, friends, and people in the local community. This new service offers support to raise awareness around the complexities that people experience, providing advice that prevents escalating problems and negative impacts, facilitating long term recovery so those affected can live healthier and happier lives. If you are affected by this issue, please ask for help – it is a free and accessible service for all adults from across Bolton, so a simple phone call or reach out for help could make all the difference.”
Statistical insights from regional needs assessments illuminate the urgency. In Bolton, Salford, and Trafford combined, illicit drug use affects around 18% of 16-24-year-olds, equating to over 5,600 young adults in Bolton alone, with cannabis remaining the most common substance at roughly 10% lifetime prevalence among adults aged 16-59. Alcohol-specific hospital admissions persist at concerning levels, with Bolton rates showing fluctuations but remaining above England averages, particularly for males. These figures, drawn from surveys like the 2014/15 Crime Survey for England and Wales extrapolated regionally, highlight a younger, poly-drug using demographic increasingly sourcing substances online, including novel psychoactive substances.
The 2026 timing aligns with contract cycles, succeeding GMMH's tenure amid Greater Manchester's evolving mental health landscape. GMMH, a key provider of district mental health and addiction services across the region, has managed Bolton's substance support, but this handover signals a community-led pivot.
Ensuring uninterrupted care is paramount in the shift from GMMH to Better Days Bolton.
Emma Deering, Head of Operations for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Addiction Services, as reported by Waythrough News, affirmed: “We are working closely with local partners and Waythrough to ensure a smooth and well-planned transition, with continuity of care as our highest priority. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our service users in Bolton for engaging with our service. It has been a privilege to support you, and we wish you every success in your ongoing recovery journey.”
GMMH's involvement spans broader mental health provisions, including partnerships for child and adolescent services, underscoring their established footprint in Bolton. The new service pledges to honour this legacy through meticulous planning, preserving access points and user relationships while integrating fresh, inclusive methodologies. No disruptions are anticipated, with joint efforts focusing on data transfer, staff familiarisation, and service user notifications well ahead of 1 April 2026.
What Services Does Better Days Bolton Offer?
Family-inclusive provisions recognise addiction's communal toll, offering parallel counselling and resources. A whole-community lens amplifies impact via alliances with voluntary partners, embedding recovery within Bolton's social ecosystem.
From inception on 1 April 2026, entry points prioritise convenience and discretion. The brick-and-mortar base at Queen Street entrance, Le Mans Crescent, will host in-person consultations, groups, and walk-ins as capacity allows.
Free for all Bolton adults, no barriers to entry exist, aligning with Cllr Schofield's call to action. Digital and physical modalities accommodate varied preferences, with outreach planned for underserved locales.
Bolton Council's community alliances framework complements Better Days, promoting grassroots solutions to local woes. Area Working Co-ordinators facilitate connections among residents, voluntary groups, and statutory bodies, mirroring the service's ethos. CLI's track record in forging such bonds, evidenced by recidivism reductions, positions it ideally.
Waythrough's national scale ensures best-practice infusion, while local co-design guarantees cultural resonance. This synergy counters isolation in recovery, leveraging Bolton's voluntary sector vibrancy for sustained outcomes.
What Challenges Does Substance Misuse Pose in Bolton?
Beyond individual harm, substance issues strain Bolton's NHS, social care, and economy. Regional data peg alcohol costs at £300,000 annually across comparable districts, with hospital burdens disproportionately high in areas like Salford but mirrored in Bolton. Poly-drug trends among youth signal evolving risks, demanding adaptive responses like Better Days.
Alcohol-specific admissions, stable yet elevated, affect families profoundly, as Cllr Schofield noted. GMMH's departure underscores the need for innovative providers amid static prevalence. In Greater Manchester, substance treatment engages thousands, with Bolton contributing significantly to regional figures. Oldham's opiate treatment rate exemplifies borough variations, but Bolton's profile cannabis-dominant with rising synthetics necessitates tailored interventions. Waythrough's holistic merger heritage positions it to navigate these dynamics effectively.
GMMH's expansive footprint, including beyond Bolton, ensures regional cohesion during transition. Better Days thus advances devolved health agendas, prioritising equity.
What Role Did Lived Experience Play in Design?
Bolton residents with direct substance support histories shaped Better Days' aesthetic and functional elements. This participatory process, led by Waythrough, instilled authenticity, from branding to venue adaptations. CLI's lived-experience core amplifies this, proving efficacy in client transformations.
Such involvement fosters trust, vital for engagement in stigmatised services.
Launch on 1 April 2026 heralds full rollout, post-rigorous transition protocols. Phased elements may include digital precedence, followed by site activation at Le Mans Crescent. Ongoing collaborations promise scalability, adapting to demand spikes.
Pre-launch outreach via Bolton Council channels will prime awareness.