Elise
Her Story
Elise whilst living at the Lucas Project overcame many hurdles after the devastating loss of both her parents who died within 18 months of each…
Short video of the wonderful AGM 2022 and the views of some of the attendees.
By the Videobox.
Special Thanks to Universal Music and Warner Chappell for the permissions to use the music and lyrics for this project to celebrate 3 decades of assisting young people who are homeless. Also a massive thank you to the incredible talented Heather Small for supporting this venture, and to the magnificent Miranda Hart for being the best cheerleader ever. Finally, to all those who took part in the filming; The Mayor of Bolton Councillor Akhtar Zaman, Backup colleagues, young residents, supporters, patrons and partners. Not forgetting Harry the Hound and Che the Shorkie. Many thanks to Spice Valley restaurant in Horwich for allowing use of their premises for our film set.
Filmed by Fran and Tracy of Box TV
Produced and Directed by Maura Jackson
Thanks to all those that participated -
The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Akhtar Zaman, Claire Lindsay, Diane Eckersley, Julie Spedding, Alison Hunt, Jo Cole, Julie Barlow, Val Thomas, Janet Crompton, Melissa Hill, Phil Thompson, Julie O'Hara, Belinda Beaver, David Morgan, Jane Dixon, Craig Hardman, Andrew Dickson, Jayne Hart, Fiona Nicolson, Dorran Noel, Andrew White, Sarah Butler, Justine Rider, Carole Neales, Jon McArthur, Spice Valley, Gail Hounslea, Victoria Radford, Jacky Hopps, Paulette Campbell, Ann Howarth, Ellie Brown, Marie Passarello, Ruth Warburton, Janet Ainscow, Rachel Riches, Nichola Howard, Heather Schofield, Becky Boydell, Jon Lord, Noel Sharpe, Lisa Tulip, Rebecca Evans, Jeanette Morris, Gail Hession, Rachel Entwistle, Jay Riddle, Debbie Whewell, Jo Windle, Laura Franklin, Jay Davenport, Gina Gardner, Victoria Defraeye, Dave Schofield, Sanjeev Muttra, Tilesh, Sam Lord
Residents - Rob, Destiny, Joelle, Chris
Backup North West held it's AGM Monday 10th October, World Homeless Day. 150 people attended the event at Cineworld Cinema. The reason we held it there was to launch
on the big screen our brand new promotional video, Moving On Up featuring Heather Small and Miranda Hart who both support Backup and its work with young people who are homeless in Bolton. The music video features young residents, colleagues and supporters of Backup including the Mayor of Bolton Councillor Akhtar Zaman and CEO of Bolton at Home, Jon Lord OBE and Che, Maura’s shihtzu dog. Maura the CEO of Backup told the guests, “we’ve been planning this video since February, securing legal permission to us the M People song and the filming and editing. It’s been a long time in the making but a lot of fun! We just wanted something catchy to raise awareness on what we are doing to transform young lives. Moving On Up was the obvious choice for a song to use as that’s everything we assist young people to do, not just regarding their housing but in life.”
The main feature of the event was a longer film, stories of previous residents who moved on from Backup, or Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme as it used to be called who left the scheme in 1998, 2000, 2006 and up to 2018. But they all talked about the impact the service had on them and is still having after many years. Several ex residents talked about friendships they made and still have and that it felt like “family”.
We also celebrated the occasion with awards for young people, colleagues and stakeholders.
Thank you to the Judges and Sponsors.
Judges – Liam McBride, Mark Murray, Angela Kelly, Suzy Orr, Lauren McKechnie, Sam Evans, Bella Dures-Varle
Sponsors – Cura Accounting, Boo Coaching, Fresh Perspective, Irwell Valley, SheInspires, Stanmore Insurance, Best of Bolton, Bolton at Home
Nominees and Winners
Jon Lord – Bolton at Home
Free Cakes for Kids
Outstanding Contribution Outside Backup
Julie Lancaster
Katrina O’Sullivan
Phil Sydall
Tracy Lawless *WINNER
Diane Eckersley
Jon McArthur *WINNER
Megan Evans
Laura Franklin
Craig Fitzsimmons
Business Support Team – Jennie Hockey, Susan Donnelly, Ellie Brown, Tara Deighan, Ann Howarth, Ruth Warburton
Extra Mile Award
Current/Ex resident – Nathan Bowden *WINNER
Staff –
Paulette Campbell *WINNER
John Trevett *WINNER
Rita Standring *WINNER
Heidi Woolley *WINNER
Inspirational Young Person Awards x 3
Tyler Todd *WINNER
Lisa Shaw
James Heaton *WINNER
Marcus White
Mohammed Al Fadel *WINNER
Jess Green-Howard
Danielle Rostren
Fundraising Award
Kira Spedding *WINNER
Laurel Hounslea *WINNER
Megan Evans
Boo Coaching
Lisa Forshaw
Young Volunteer Award
Kyle Clewlow *WINNER
Linda Paxton was our colleague for 22 years, sadly she passed away in 2021. We celebrate her commitment to Backup with annual awards.
Presented by Gulnaz Brennan from She Inspires.
Diane Eckersley
Alison Hunt
Dorran Noel
Ruth Warburton
Julie Spedding
Rachel Entwistle
Backup now has the answer to Heathers question, “What have you done today to make you feel proud?”
BACKUP provide multiple services across Bolton to young people aged 16-25 years who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness. Read here about all the supported accommodation which includes emergency housing, temporary accommodation, short and medium stay supported housing. Also the non accommodation based support work that focusses on mental health, employment support and much more.
Young people can live in more than one Backup service as they make progress and develop more independence prior to moving on completely. The different services are designed to meet various levels and ranges of needs.
20 June 2025
3 July 2025