Our History and Background
The Bolton Guild of Help (the Guild) was formed in 1905 when poverty was rife in the town and people had little or no support available to them. There was no National Health Service or state pensions and the Welfare State had not yet been established. The Guild was launched by Sir James Scott and his friend, the then Mayor of Bolton, Mr G W Hesketh, and thirty one leading townspeople formed the governing body. In the early years more than four hundred people volunteered as helpers and operated as visitors to needy people, providing help and assistance as, when, and where required.
The incumbent Mayor of Bolton is, by tradition, the Guild’s President and officiates at its annual general meetings.
Much has changed over the last 120 years but, sadly, many parts of our town are still locked into a vicious circle of poverty. Bolton is the third most deprived borough in Greater Manchester.
In 1905 the key objectives of the Guild were:
To unite citizens of all classes, both men and women, irrespective of political or religious opinion, for the following purposes:
- To provide a friend for anyone in need of help and advice
- To secure timely aid for the suffering and needy
- To bring about, if possible, lasting improvement in the condition of each case by patient study and wise methods of help
- To prevent overlapping and waste of charitable efforts
In 1905 the Guild operated from a rented office in Mawdsley Street and, in its first year of operating, provided support to more than 600 families. In 1907 almost 1200 families were helped.
During World War I the Guild provided much needed help to those serving in our Armed Forces and, also, their families back at home in Bolton.
By 1924 the Guild had become the administrators for the Bolton branch of a number of other charitable organisations including the British Legion Relief Fund, the United Services Fund, and SSAFA.
In 1926, Scott House was donated to the Guild in memory of Sir James Scott, Bart, a co-founder of the Guild, and his wife Anne Lady Scott, by their sons, Sir Samuel H Scott, Bart and Francis C Scott Esq.
In 1940, when the nation was again at war, the Guild managed the local needs of an ever increasing number of other organisations including:
- The Lawrence Brownlow Charity
- Bolton Poor Protection Society
- The Emergency Help Committee
- British Legion and United Services Benevolent Fund
- SSAFA (Bolton Branch)
- The Soldiers and Sailors Help Society
- Earl Haig Remembrance Trust
- British Legion Officers Association
- Royal Naval Benevolent Trust
- A number of regimental welfare associations
- The Royal Patriotic Fund
During the last 85 years we have continued providing support to our fellow townspeople during the:
- Difficult years of austerity following World War 2
- Challenges caused by the economic hardships and high levels of unemployment during the 1960’s and 1970’s
- Recent COVID pandemic
- Now, seemingly, ever ongoing cost of living crisis
After 120 years our aims and objectives have changed little but can be re-summarised as being:
- The relief of individuals and families in the Bolton community in financial distress
- The prevention or relief of poverty
- To provide support, as and when needed, to the Bolton military family
- Facilitate co-operation between organisations and other charities to further their better co-ordination
- To provide effective financial, material and pastoral support to the local community
- To help give the poorer children of Bolton the best possible start in life
