Charges proposed for Bolton at Home run UCAN Centres

Earlier this year Bolton at Home said it was considering bringing in charges for the groups that use its UCAN Centres, which provide services to deprived communities across the borough.

Now, the Bolton News has seen documents laying out how much could be charged for different groups, with charges ranging from free use of space to £30 a session or £20 an hour.

Bolton at Home group director of customer and communities Gemma Parlby said: “We’re always looking at ways to ensure our services provide value for money for our tenants as this enables us to continue investing in our homes and communities.

“Finding other ways to fund our community centres is something we’re exploring. 

The now closed down UCAN Centre in Johnson Fold (Image: Newsquest)

“No decisions have been taken and we’ll communicate further on this when we’re able to do so.”

According to the proposed community centre charges document seen by The Bolton News, some community groups will continue to be able to use centres for free.

But those with higher incomes will need to pay costs of between £10 a session or £10 an hour to £20 a session.

The proposed charges breakdown (Image: Public)

Non-profit organisations like the NHS will need to pay £15 an hour or £30 a session, while private businesses that deliver activities for the community will pay the most at £20 an hour.

Bolton at Home, which will soon be rebranding as Be One Homes after a merger with Trafford based Arcon Houses, runs more than 18,000 homes all around the borough.

It also runs a network of UCAN Centres, in Tonge Moor, on Tonge Moor Road, in Farnworth on George Street, New Bury, in Breightmet on Kentmere Road and in Deane on Oriel Street.

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Further "pop up" UCAN Centres can also be found elsewhere around the borough.

They run services that include helping people find jobs as well as helping people use the internet and computers to access training courses.

But just before last Christmas the group announced that the Johnson Fold UCAN centre would also be closing due to falling demand and "no longer delivering value for money."

When Bolton at Home first announced earlier this year that the group was thinking about bringing in charges it said it hoped this would ensure services continued investment in homes.

It also said that it hoped this would help to provide value for money for its thousands of tenants.