Local people are the very foundation of strong, secure communities.

Without those local people who give their time, knowledge and their willingness to work together, neighbourhood policing – the core of Greater Manchester Police's work – would be redundant.

Local volunteers are the unsung heroes of our society and Bolton proudly has more than its fair share.

Last month I brought together active citizens from across Greater Manchester for the start of a big conversation.

This conversation is about how we can harness all the good will and work and — with the support of Greater Manchester Police, the local Council and others — encourage more residents to get involved in building better, resilient communities, in the face of deep cuts to public services.

It was a showcase of the great work being done by inspirational people across the region.

So as we mark National Home Watch week I want to take this opportunity to thank the army of Boltonians who are doing innovative work to improve their neighbourhoods, making them better places to live.

Whether you’re a Home Watch member, part of a residents’ group or take pride in your neighbourhood in other ways, you all deserve recognition, respect and a massive thank you for the valuable work do.

You are all united by passion and commitment, attributes I saw in action in Bolton just last week, when I met members of Sunnyside Residents Association in Great Lever.

Here is a group of people who have invested hard work and dedication to transform their estate into a safer, more welcoming and cohesive community. At its heart lies a thriving community centre - a hub for residents to come together, learn new skills and build new friendships.

It’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people work together and take pride in where they live – I want others to take inspiration from this story.