Key Points
- Creative Initiative: Bolton artist Jen Marie has launched the "Colour Community Project" to paint charity shop windows completely free of charge.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Local businesses are stepping up to sponsor individual window displays, ensuring charitable organisations do not incur any costs while giving sponsors local exposure.
- Rapid Expansion: The grassroots project has spread beyond Bolton into neighbouring areas such as Hindley, attracting individual patrons and corporate sponsors alike.
- Key Beneficiaries: Participating organisations include Heaton Preschool, The Children's Society on Market Street in Westhoughton, and a cat charity based in Hindley.
- Grassroots Business Origins: Jen Marie operates the creative venture Me and the Paint, a business she built independently after her personal window painting went viral on social media two years ago.
- Broader Community Impact: Alongside commercial and charitable window artwork, Marie runs creative "sip-and-paint" mindfulness workshops across the North West, including monthly sessions at The Grey Man in Daisy Hill.
Bolton (Bolton Today) August 15, 2026 — A compassionate gesture by a local Bolton artist who volunteered to decorate a charity shop window for free has rapidly evolved into a thriving, community-wide campaign backed by businesses across the region.
What initially began as a simple enquiry by artist Jen Marie on how she could assist a newly opened charity shop in Westhoughton has snowballed into the "Colour Community Project." Under this initiative, local commercial enterprises step forward to sponsor hand-painted window designs, ensuring that non-profit organisations receive bespoke artistic makeovers without spending a single penny.
The 40-year-old creative, who was born and raised in Bolton, runs the local venture Me and the Paint. Reflecting on the speed at which her idea gained traction, Isobel Forbes, a news reporter for The Bolton News, cited Marie as explaining the motivation behind the initiative:
"It got traction quicker than I ever thought it would. I would love to offer free windows to everybody, but practically I can't do that, so I thought, 'What could I do to encourage people to donate and work together?'"
How Does the Colour Community Project Support Local Charities?
The core mechanism of the Colour Community Project relies on local business involvement to bridge the financial gap faced by non-profit organisations. By connecting corporate sponsors with charitable causes, Marie delivers custom artwork that brightens high streets while providing mutual promotion.
As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Marie highlighted the reciprocal nature of the campaign, noting:
"Charity shops are already giving back to the community, and they don't always have the biggest budgets. It's nice to be able to give something back to them while also giving the local business sponsoring it some publicity. It's has this really good domino effect."
The economic design allows charity shops to choose a visual theme suited to their specific branch or cause. Meanwhile, sponsoring businesses gain brand recognition directly on the storefront displays as well as across dedicated digital and social media campaigns.
Which Organisations Have Benefited From the Campaign So Far?
Despite its recent launch, the campaign has already reached several community hubs and non-profit organisations across Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.
Among the earliest beneficiaries is The Children's Society branch located on Market Street in Westhoughton, alongside Heaton Preschool. The initiative’s reach has also extended beyond the immediate boundaries of Bolton; Marie recently travelled to Hindley to craft a dedicated display for a local cat rescue charity.
The momentum of the campaign has attracted private donors alongside corporate entities. According to reporting by The Bolton News, one local woman personally sponsored four separate window displays to support the effort.
Explore More Westhoughton News
Harworth Rejects £583M Peel Land Takeover Offer in Bolton 2026
New Westhoughton Traffic Restrictions Plan in Speed Proposal 2026
What Drives the Public's Response to the Window Displays?
The visual transformation of formerly plain retail windows has drawn widespread praise from local residents and shoppers. For Marie, the visible reaction from passers-by remains one of the most fulfilling aspects of the endeavour.
Speaking to reporter Isobel Forbes for The Bolton News, Marie remarked on the public's reaction:
"The amount of people who stop and say, 'That looks lovely', 'Well done' or 'How pretty is that?' is amazing. Even if it just makes somebody's day when they're walking past and puts a smile on their face, for me that matters."
How Did Jen Marie Start Her Business, Me and the Paint?
The Colour Community Project represents the latest chapter in a business venture that began almost by accident two years ago. Marie, a self-taught artist who has maintained a lifelong passion for arts and crafts, initially hand-painted the windows of her own home during her free time.
After sharing photographs of her personal home decorations on social media platforms, she experienced an unexpected flood of enquiries from local residents requesting custom hand-painted window displays for their own properties.
In her interview with Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Marie recalled the origin of her enterprise:
"That's pretty much how my business started. I'm completely self-taught."
What Other Services Does Me and the Paint Offer?
Beyond decorative commercial and residential window murals, Marie’s business, Me and the Paint, conducts community-based creative workshops throughout the North West.
She regularly collaborates with independent local establishments to deliver structured social painting events. A notable example is her ongoing partnership with The Grey Man, an independent public house in Daisy Hill, where she hosts monthly "sip-and-paint" sessions.
Why Are Sip-and-Paint Sessions Focused on Mindfulness?
Marie views these group sessions as valuable therapeutic exercises rather than formal art instruction. She emphasizes that the primary goal is mental relaxation and taking time away from daily stressors.
As reported by Isobel Forbes in The Bolton News, Marie explained the philosophy behind her workshops:
"For me, it's a mindful activity. It's your time to come along, enjoy a drink, it doesn't always have to be alcohol – and just have a pause for yourself. That little bit of stopping time and filling your own cup can make such a difference."
What Are the Future Plans for the Colour Community Project?
With the campaign continuing to gather momentum, Marie is actively inviting additional independent companies, corporate patrons, and local charity shops to participate in future collaborations.
Her long-term vision is to expand the footprint of the initiative across the entire region, turning high-street windows into colorful public displays.
Outlining her ambitions to The Bolton News, Marie stated:
"I'd love there to be a bit of colour in every borough."
Members of the public, shop owners, and potential corporate sponsors interested in supporting or joining the initiative can track the campaign's progress via Instagram under the handle.