Bolton CVS Visits Genuine Futures: Unlocking Potential for Young People in Bolton
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We were delighted to welcome Helen Clayton, Interim Deputy CEO of Bolton CVS, to the Genuine Futures Hub at The Scrappers in Boltonfor an inspiring visit focused on how we are working to unlock the potential of local young people.
During the visit, Sam Smith, Founder of Genuine Futures CIC, shared the vision and delivery model behind our programmes, outlining how early intervention, trusted relationships, and real-world experience can transform outcomes for young people who feel stuck, disconnected, or overlooked.
Helen later described the visit as inspiring, highlighting how important it is for Bolton to have organisations committed to practical, long-term solutions for young people.
Unlocking Potential, Not Just Managing Problems
At Genuine Futures, we believe that young people do not lack ability — they lack access to opportunity, belief, and pathways that feel achievable.
Our work focuses on:
- Building confidence before career choices
- Providing trusted adult support
- Offering hands-on work experience
- Creating realistic routes into employment, training, and enterprise
This approach allows young people to discover what they are capable of, rather than being defined by past experiences or labels.
A 360-Degree Approach to Youth Support
During the visit, Helen was introduced to our 360-degree support model, which brings together wellbeing, employability, and enterprise through live operating environments including:
- Boss Your Future – personal development and employability pathways
- We Shine Any Car – youth-run car wash, valeting and light vehicle repairs
- We Scrap Anything – recycling, depollution and vehicle dismantling pathways
These are not simulations. They are real businesses where young people build confidence, responsibility, and transferable workplace skills.
Partnership with the Voluntary and Community Sector
We are proud to be working in close partnership with organisations across Bolton’s voluntary and community sector, and visits like this are vital for building strong, joined-up support pathways for young people.
Helen’s visit reflects Bolton CVS’s ongoing commitment to understanding what is happening on the ground and how local organisations can collaborate more effectively to reduce duplication, strengthen referrals, and improve long-term outcomes.
“We’re Lucky to Have Sam and Mike in Town”
Following the visit, Helen shared her support for the work being delivered and the importance of having locally rooted leaders committed to supporting young people in Bolton.
That encouragement means a great deal — not only to our team, but to the young people who benefit when organisations work together around their needs, rather than expecting them to navigate complex systems alone.
Why Visits Like This Matter
When sector leaders, commissioners, and community partners take time to see youth work in action, it helps:
- Strengthen trust between organisations
- Improve referral pathways
- Align services around real needs
- Secure sustainable opportunities for young people
Most importantly, it ensures that young people are not invisible within wider systems.
Looking Ahead: Working Together for Young Futures That Matter
We look forward to continuing conversations with Bolton CVS and partners across the borough as we expand our programmes and deepen our impact.
With rising levels of youth disengagement, mental health challenges, and barriers to employment, it is more important than ever that communities come together to provide early, consistent, and practical support.
At Genuine Futures, we remain committed to unlocking potential — not just today, but for the long term.
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