Bolton Lads and Girls Club (BLCG) is a charity providing educational support to children and young people living in Bolton, Greater Manchester. They have continuously supported the children and young people in their community since 1889.
Having attended one of British Safety Council’s free Keep Thriving webinars, BLGC became one of five successful recipients of up to £10,000 of Keep Thriving funding from British Safety Council.
As a charity, BLGC know all too well the impacts that the COVID pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have had on the communities that they support. These same challenges have seen their employees impacted by burnout, increased financial worries, and post-pandemic mental health struggles.
These challenges were the driving force behind BLGC’s attendance at a British Safety Council wellbeing webinar and they have been at the heart of both their short-term wellbeing strategy and their wellbeing interventions.
They have used a part of their Keep Thriving award to organise two staff wellbeing days, allowing colleagues to step away from their work, re-connect with nature and each other, and strengthen inter-team and inter-departmental relationships.
BLGC invested its own funds, alongside Keep Thriving funding to provide employees with access to a healthcare package which included access to free counselling.
Data collection methods have been built into BLGC’s long-term wellbeing strategy, allowing them to understand the impact of their wellbeing interventions and integrate employee feedback into future interventions and activities.
BLGC plan to integrate an annual staff survey into their business plan, allowing them to build on the 93% positive feedback they received from employees throughout 2024.
On their Keep Thriving Award, Emma Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer of Bolton Lads and Girls Club said:
"The support from the British Safety Council’s Keep Thriving Fund has been a game-changer for BLGC. It has enabled us to prioritise the wellbeing of our staff, who are the backbone of everything we do for the young people in our community. By investing in staff wellbeing days and access to vital healthcare support and training we've not only strengthened our team but also set a foundation for sustainable, long-term wellbeing initiatives. This funding is helping us ensure that our employees feel supported, valued, and equipped to continue making a difference."
