BOLTON is to benefit from government money to support people and businesses.

The Government has designated 100 areas across the UK as ‘priority places’ to receive a cash boost from the UK Community Renewal Fund, of which Bolton is one

Eight organisations across Greater Manchester will share more than £4m of funding, with Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale also set to benefit.

The fund has been awarded to a range of projects which help people aged 16-25 find employment, schemes to connect young people to jobs in the green economy, initiatives to upskill self-employed individuals and new business start-ups as well as mentoring programmes to help people build their confidence.

The eight selected projects are run by the Good Things Foundation, One Manchester, GMCVO, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Positive Steps, Growth Company, Growth Company, InspirED Associates

Cllr Bev Craig, combined authority skills lead, said: “These eight projects have been selected due to their work in assisting communities most in need in the city-region, as well as their efforts to support people with finding jobs and building new skills.

“The (fund) has been created to support innovation and new ideas, and these organisations will be working in a variety of different ways to help people in need find employment opportunities – ranging from support for young people to find employment in Greater Manchester’s growing green economy to connecting our communities to new digital jobs.”

The scheme was introduced last November by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

He said then: "We are levelling up in every corner of the United Kingdom, backing locally-led projects that will make a real difference to communities and help to deliver our net zero commitments.

“There is incredible talent spread right across our great country and this investment will unlock the opportunities to match.”