A CHARITY which helped hundreds of families through the pandemic is being turfed out its premises by Bolton Council with less than two weeks notice.

Bolton Nice ­—Bolton Neighbourhood Investment in Community Enterprise ­— moved into the Quest Centre on Brownlow Way last May, a building it asked the council for in 2017.

The keys were handed over to the organisation, which provides a wide range of services for those who have fallen on hard times.

On Wednesday, the charity received a hand-delivered letter telling them that Bolton Council is selling the building, meaning that it will no longer be able to provide its services.

Martin McLoughlin, 70, of Bolton Nice, said: “It feels like a slap in the face – well more like a knife in the back really.

“I’m absolutely devastated after everything we’ve done over the past year.

“That building was donated to the council by the Government. Why are they selling it instead of letting it stay with a charity to provide a public service?”

The group’s services include aid with homeless people as well as recycling and rehoming furniture.

A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “When Bolton Nice entered into an agreement with Bolton Council to use the Quest Building rent free, it was made clear at every stage that this was on a strictly temporary basis.

“This arrangement was extended as the charity was assisting with the humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have always been committed to helping Bolton Nice find permanent premises and have been clear that we would not let the charity close because of a lack of facilities.

“The group has also received one-to-one support from Bolton CVS around financial strategy and developing a business plan to become sustainable.”

According to Bolton Nice, 35 volunteers have worked for no pay for 10 years helping families and individuals struggling to survive in Bolton.

A charity spokesperson added: “The council’s decision to close down a charity whose volunteers have worked for free every day of the Covid-19 emergency is just nuts.

“We have been on the front line putting our lives at risk every day of the year to give aid to families and individuals struggling to survive in our town.”