As Chief Executive, working for this organisation is a huge privilege. We have a fantastic dedicated staff team who pull out all the stops to ensure each and every person has their needs met. We aim to help people make positive changes in their lives. Educating children and young people is a key part of the service producing excellent outcomes in behaviour change.
Fortalice are a Bolton based charity providing frontline services for people who are, or have been, affected by domestic abuse and violence.
Our support includes refuge accommodation, local community services, education and accredited training for professionals.Â
In our refuges we offer wraparound support to the women and children who stay with us. In the community, we provide individual and group work for adults and young people, healthy relationships courses in schools and an IDVA and ISVA service. Our team work with Bolton GP’s to raise awareness of domestic violence and encourage referrals.Â
Our Services
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We recently returned to St Matthews Primary School Little Lever to deliver our Healthy Relationships sessions with Year 5, after previously completing our Hate Crime sessions with them.
When we arrived, we were so pleased to see that the pupils had created a fantastic display showcasing all the work and activities from the Hate Crime sessions. It’s not often we get the opportunity to see the impact of our sessions displayed so proudly around school, so this was special for us.
Our Hate Crime sessions are available to all Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. During these sessions, we explore:
• What protected characteristics are
• How to recognise and report hate crimes
• Where to get support
• The importance of tolerance, respect and acceptance in today’s society
It was wonderful to see how engaged the pupils had been and how their learning has been celebrated within school. A huge well done to the Year 5 pupils and staff for creating such a thoughtful and meaningful display!
A few of our best sellers all sold within 24 hours!
A massive thank you to everyone who donated items and to everyone who purchased them. Your support means so much.
Every penny raised goes directly to Fortalice đź’ś
We truly couldn’t do this without you!
Our Children and Young people`s team have been raising awareness for Comic Relief this week.
This year`s theme is `Take it funny for money`, how funny do you think we look? đź”´
#RedNoseDay #ComicRelief #FortaliceBolton
It`s Friday Night- Join us for a Modern Texas Party Night 🪩✨🎸
Friday 8th May 2026 - Haigh Barn
🪩Live Country Act
✨DJ - Pop & Modern Country
🪩Supper
✨Raffle
🪩Silent Auction
Night out with friends, colleagues, or the girls all welcome for an evening of fun whilst supporting local charity Fortalice and the families we support daily.
Book today by heading to our website! Tag your friends
Huge thanks to Ryan and Park Cakes for spoiling everyone at Refuge, what a treat!
This Mother’s Day, we honor mothers who are courageously rebuilding their lives after domestic abuse.
Your strength, resilience and love for your children are seen and valued. You are not alone.
This week, nursery children created some lovely cards for their mums, full of bright colours and heartfelt messages, celebrating the love and care that mothers give every day.
If you need support, we are here to listen and help.
A huge thank you to Chantelle, who despite loving Chinese food decided to give it up as part of our Month of Good challenge! 🎉
Chantelle raised an amazing ÂŁ390. In a fantastic show of support @mingschinesewhitefield matched the amount raised, donating an additional ÂŁ390.
That brings the total to a brilliant ÂŁ780 raised! đź‘Ź
We’re so grateful for your commitment and generosity — what an incredible achievement!
Can your organisation help us continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of the families we support?
We’re currently seeking sponsors. Could your organisation, business, or community group get involved?
Throughout the year, we run a range of events and appeals that your business could take part in, helping us sustain our vital life-saving services.
We’d love to explore how we can work together. To arrange a chat and discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Grace Wood at grace.wood@fortalice.co.uk. We hope to hear from you!
Feedback on our services…
Chief Executive
The service has given me time to think and plan for my future. It has given me more confidence to know that I can manage on my own and live independently. More than anything, when I was feeling low, staff always helped me to see the positive side and gave me strength and hope. I could not have done it without them.
I cannot thank you enough for the help and support you provided for my children and I. Although our stay was short, it’s impact and influence on us will empower us to turn our situation around and find our happily ever after. Lewis House is an amazing, healing place.
Being in Fortalice has really changed my life for the better. Me and my daughter have had so much support from all the fantastic staff. I have had time and help to fix myself and feel so much better in myself. Seeing my daughter blossom from a shy, quiet little girl into a bright, talkative and confident girl has made every second worth it.
Thank you so much for the support and willingness to take me on board. I really appreciate the valuable skills and experience that I have gained from volunteering at Fortalice.
Each volunteer contributes in their own unique way by supporting children either on a one to one basis, through group work or in one of the many positive activity sessions we provide. Their dedication, care and passion when working with the children enhances the support we are able to offer to children who are clearly traumatised and need time to heal.
I count it a privilege to travel 20 miles to be a Volunteer at Fortalice’s Refuge. The Refuge is an amazingly well run and well organised establishment. I chose to volunteer because in the past, when my family needed refuge, there was none available. The reciprocal rewards for me of giving something back are immense
It has been absolutely wonderful being able to work for Fortalice and I have gained so much valuable experience. Thank you so much for your help!
I have worked as a volunteer at Fortalice for 20 months now, initially on placement and now as a qualified counsellor. The counselling service is run extremely professionally, and there is a great collaborative approach to working as a team. It means so much to me to be able to offer something back and provide a safe and non-judgemental space for our clients.