A “climate café” in Bolton town centre has been backed with a new funding source to help continue promoting environmental issues.

The café has been run by the Bolton branch of Extinction Rebellion at the Albert Halls since September last year.

Since then it has already attracted a devoted band of attendees.

Wendy Maycraft, of Bolton XR, said: “We try and do something for the third Saturday of every month and the purpose of these cafes is to get people together and have a bit of a chat about anything green or environment related.”

She added: “They're open to everyone and a lot of people are really interested but we know not everyone can be an activist so this is really about giving people who are concerned about the environment to hear a bit more about the issues involved.”

The events take place at the Albert Halls in Bolton town centreThe events take place at the Albert Halls in Bolton town centre (Image: Newsquest)

Previous talks at the café events have focused on topics like fast fashion, food waste and environmentally friendly gardening techniques.

Ms Maycraft said: “My personal favourite was a talk called ‘have a crap free Christmas’, that was a really lively one because we got everyone talking about how you can still have a great Christmas without all the crap.”

This ranged from talking about reducing packaging to how gifts can be found at charity shops.

The café events have been boosted by funding of £1,134 from Bolton Council’s Queens Park and Central ward’s area working budget.

In turn this came from the ward’s social value budget, known as “growing the good work.”

Cllr Richard Silvester, of Queens Park and Central, said: “I am very happy to support the Bolton Borough group of Extinction Rebellion with their monthly Saturday morning Climate Café in Bolton town centre, as they are promoting to all residents of the Borough who wish to attend, the effects of Climate Change on people, other species and our environment.

“They have also arranged conferences and events with discussion groups on how we can mitigate and reduce and prevent the effects of climate change with practical and individual changes that we can all make.

“I see what they are doing locally as a group as a very welcome and good thing for our borough and I see them as a partnership group and as a critical friend to the present Labour administration.

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“We both share the objective of reducing carbon emissions in the borough.

“I would encourage residents to go along to the climate café events that they are holding because they are informative, and they are a good group of people.

“They are one of a number of local groups who meet in Queens Park and Central ward who have applied for ward funding through the ‘Growing the Good’ application process, and they have met the criteria set for contributing positively to the community.”

The café events are open to all between 10am and 11am at the Albert Halls on the third Saturday of every month.