Key Points:
- Event Purpose: Bolton Carers Support hosted a major celebratory event during Carers Week to recognise the vital, often hidden contributions of unpaid carers and the networks supporting them.
- Date and Location: The celebration took place on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at the Bolton Carers Support centre located on Thicketford Road.
- Organisational Milestone: The registered charity, Bolton Carers Support, marked more than 30 years of providing confidential support and information to adult unpaid carers across the borough.
- National Theme: The event aligned with the UK-wide Carers Week (8–14 June), which focused on building "carer-friendly communities" through enhanced recognition and resources.
- The Nominations: Unpaid carers explicitly nominated local organisations, businesses, and individuals who went "above and beyond" to offer them strength and guidance.
- Judging Panel: Nominations were evaluated by a joint panel consisting of Georgette Kay (Chief Officer of Bolton Carers Support), a representative from The Bolton News, and Helen Clayton (Interim CEO at Bolton CVS).
- Award Recipients: Top honours and runner-up accolades were presented to Bluebells Pottery, Cutters Hair Salon, The Oaks Family Practice, De La Rue, Asian Elders Resource Centre, Georgina Ejeagwu, and Feroza Lulat, alongside numerous special recognition awards.
- Political Presence: Councillor Sean Fielding, the executive cabinet member for Adults and Community Housing Services, attended to hand out awards and commit to tailoring future council support.
Bolton (Bolton Today) June 18, 2026 - Unpaid carers across the borough have stepped forward to publicly celebrate and reveal the exceptional individuals, local businesses, and community organisations that provide a critical lifeline to them. In a large-scale celebratory gathering hosted on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the registered charity Bolton Carers Support transformed its centre on Thicketford Road into a hub of appreciation. The event was held to coincide with the broader, UK-wide Carers Week initiative, which ran from 8 June to 14 June 2026. This annual awareness campaign remains strictly dedicated to highlighting the massive, yet frequently invisible, impact that unpaid carers have on society, with this year's central theme heavily focusing on the urgent development of carer-friendly communities.
The gathering served as a dual-purpose platform: it allowed the local charity to mark more than three decades of continuous service in the borough, whilst giving vulnerable or overworked carers a formal voice to honour their independent support systems. As part of the festivities, attendees who look after loved ones were invited to submit heart-felt nominations detailing who goes "above and beyond" for them daily. The final winners were selected through a rigorous process by a dedicated panel featuring Bolton Carers Support Chief Officer Georgette Kay, an official representative from The Bolton News, and Helen Clayton, the Interim Chief Executive Officer at Bolton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS).
What is the true impact of unpaid carers in the Bolton community?
To fully comprehend the weight of the celebrations on Thicketford Road, it is necessary to examine the sheer scale of unpaid care within the region. As reported by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, an unpaid carer is officially defined as anyone who provides vital, uncompensated assistance to a friend or family member who cannot cope independently due to an ongoing illness, physical or learning disability, mental health struggle, or addiction.
The responsibilities often fall upon individuals silently, altering their career trajectories, educational pursuits, and personal wellbeing. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Bolton Carers Support Chief Officer Georgette Kay stated that “we know that carers care every day of the year.” This relentless, 24-part commitment forms a parallel social care system that saves local authorities and the National Health Service (NHS) millions of pounds annually.
In her address during the presentation ceremony, Georgette Kay expanded on the multi-layered pressures that these residents face on a regular basis. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Georgette Kay stated that
“Carers Week allows us to put a spotlight on carers, taking time to recognise and celebrate the incredible contributions of unpaid carers in our communities.”
The chief officer highlighted that on any given day, millions of individuals across the nation are quietly providing care to a relative, neighbour, or close friend who would simply fail to manage without that dedicated intervention.
Who were the local heroes honoured at the presentation ceremony?
The core focus of the afternoon eventually shifted to those external entities that make a measurable difference in reducing the isolating pressures of caregiving. Rather than focusing strictly on corporate scale or clinical metrics, the selection panel emphasized that the recipients were chosen entirely on the emotional depth and thoughtfulness of the carers' personal nominations.
The comprehensive list of primary winners and runners-up showcased a diverse mix of medical practices, cultural hubs, independent commercial shops, and individual advocates. The formal list featured:
- Bluebells Pottery
- Cutters Hair Salon
- The Oaks Family Practice
- De La Rue
- Asian Elders Resource Centre
- Georgina Ejeagwu
- Feroza Lulat
Beyond these primary titles, a substantial group of local citizens stepped forward to accept special recognition awards, proving that even minor acts of communal kindness ripple positively through the lives of vulnerable families.
The presence of organisations like the Asian Elders Resource Centre highlights the necessity of culturally tailored outreach in a diverse borough like Bolton, ensuring that language barriers or cultural stigmas do not prevent families from accessing vital resources. Similarly, primary medical institutions like The Oaks Family Practice were lauded for navigating the administrative complexities of the healthcare system on behalf of overwhelmed relatives, effectively treating the carer's logistical needs with the same urgency as the patient's medical condition.
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Why does Bolton CVS maintain a deeply personal connection to carer support?
The emotional resonance of the afternoon was further amplified by the reflections of the judging panel, particularly those of Helen Clayton, the Interim CEO at Bolton CVS. For Clayton, the event was not merely a standard civic duty, but a reflection of a journey she has personally walked across multiple stages of her life.
As reported by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Helen Clayton stated that
“Bolton Carers Support has a special place in my heart.”
She openly shared her historical and current ties to the care sector, revealing that she had initially served as a young carer looking after her mother, and today continues to act as a carer for her own daughter. This dual perspective gave her an intimate understanding of the systemic challenges and emotional exhaustion associated with the role.
Clayton used her platform to stress that the community must look closer at the quiet infrastructure keeping society intact. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Helen Clayton stated that
“as a young carer for my mother and now a carer for my daughter, I feel a real synergy, empathy and connection to their work.”
She further added context to the selflessness observed across the borough. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Helen Clayton stated that
“It’s a privilege to be part of recognising the incredible work that supports carers across our community. Carers give so much of themselves, often quietly, selflessly and without expectation. They really are the backbone of so many lives.”
Clayton concluded her address by pointing out that a carer rarely operates entirely in a vacuum; survival in the role almost always depends on an underlying framework of dependable allies. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Helen Clayton stated that behind every carer, there is often a network of dedicated individuals and services who “stand beside them, offering guidance and strength.”
How does the local government plan to adapt services for unpaid carers?
Representing the local authority at the event was Councillor Sean Fielding, the executive cabinet member for Adults and Community Housing Services. His involvement went beyond simply presenting physical awards; it provided a direct line of communication between grassroots family units and municipal decision-makers who control social care budgets and housing frameworks.
In an interview regarding the civic importance of the event, Councillor Fielding acknowledged that the contributions of these residents frequently slip beneath the radar of mainstream public awareness. As reported by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Councillor Sean Fielding told the publication that “carers do a huge amount for some of the most vulnerable people in our borough and it often goes unrecognised.”
Fielding mirrored Helen Clayton’s assertions regarding the secondary networks that prop up household settings. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Councillor Sean Fielding stated that
“Behind carers, there’s also often a range of organisations and individuals that do something extra special to make a carer’s life that little bit easier.”
He explained that the true intent of the ceremony was to celebrate these auxiliary pillars just as intensely as the primary caregivers themselves.
Looking forward to the future of council policy, Councillor Fielding expressed an explicit desire to utilize Carers Week as an active listening period rather than a simple public relations exercise. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Councillor Sean Fielding stated that he was keen to be out and about during Carers Week, actively engaging directly with carers and external organisations. He noted that this hands-on approach was vital
“to better understand the world that carers experience and how we as a council can tailor what we do to ensure that everybody feels supported.”
What long-term support can residents find through Bolton Carers Support?
How long has the organisation been active?
For over 30 years, the registered charity has functioned as an essential, independent safety net within the town, offering entirely confidential advice, information leaflets, emotional counselling, and recreational workshops.
Who qualifies for their confidential services?
The charity's operational mandate covers any unpaid carer who is over the age of 18, provided they either reside within the boundaries of the Bolton borough or are actively caring for a vulnerable individual who lives there.
How can someone get in touch with the charity?
Organisers encourage anyone currently struggling with the pressures of looking after a relative to reach out for assistance. Further information regarding peer support circles, emergency planning tools, or benefit entitlement checks can be accessed directly by visiting their official website at boltoncarers.org.uk.