Talkin’ Tables has been combating loneliness in Bolton since 2021, with free, weekly, hour-long sessions.

The Bolton News has been following the growth of the initiative as it “combats loneliness one table at a time”.

The Triangle Community Methodist Church on New Church Road has now opened its doors to the latest addition.

The new Talkin’ Table has been partly facilitated by Joyce Read, who is the manager of the Triangle Coffee Lounge.

Joyce said: “Lynne Croston, who co-ordinates the Talkin’ Tables across Bolton, came in and asked us about it.”

Joyce explained that initially, they were stuck trying to find a Table Leader, as the popular coffee lounge is completely volunteer-led.

This meant that many in the community were already busy contributing their time in different aspects of the Methodist Church.

It was therefore perfect timing when the ladies found Tina Boyle from Horwich, who was keen to get involved.

Discussing her route to becoming a Table Leader, Tina said: “I started going to St Elizabeth’s Church each week, and Marjorie suggested it.

“I’ve done counselling before, and I think that a lot of people are very lonely and haven’t got anybody.

“I wanted to be part of helping.”

Talkin’ Tables at the Triangle Community Methodist Church Coffee Lounge (Image: NQ)

Tina’s advice to anyone is apprehensive about attending is: “Just make that step, one step at a time, and you will get there.”

Given the voluntary nature of the coffee lounge, it is already well-known across the community as a wonderful spot for a coffee and a chat.

Making it the perfect place to set up a Talkin’ Table.

Joyce said through word of mouth, she expects the group to gradually grow.

She explained that the coffee lounge welcomes supported people (such as those with additional needs), who grow in confidence through the warm environment.

This falls into perfect alignment with Talkin’ Tables’ vision of bringing people together in a judgment-free space.

At the launch, we caught up with founder Marjorie Hayward, who set up the project in July 2021.

Before moving to Bolton, Marjorie previously lived in Chorley, where she launched Friends For You, a successful befriending charity.

Retired NHS ward sister, teacher, and philanthropist Marjorie has devoted her life to caring for others.

Talkin’ Tables (Image: NQ)

She told The Bolton News: “The progress we’ve made is just amazing.

“This is the twenty-sixth table in Bolton with the twenty-seventh opening on June 4 at Café Italia on the Doffcocker roundabout.”

The loneliness initiative has even stretched to India, Kenya and Hungary, as well as to more than 100 locations across the country.

Marjorie added: “We’re absolutely spreading because everyone who hears about Talkin’ Tables wants one for their community because they can see the difference it makes to people’s lives.”

Marjorie explained the challenges and vulnerability that come with feelings of loneliness and isolation.

“If you come to a Talkin’ Table, there’s always a Table Leader, always a welcome and someone to chat to.”

Each venue hosts a session for one hour each week, at the same time.

This encourages people to get to know one another and helps to build a sociable routine.

Marjorie continued: “If you’re out there on your own and feeling a bit desperate and left out, come and join a Talkin’ Table.”

A one-hour session to sit and have a chat (Image: NQ)

There are four tables alone in the town centre, and co-ordinator Lynne is on a mission to have one in every corner of the Borough.

It isn’t just the participants who benefit from the sessions; we spoke with Table Leader Kath Foster, who leads at Beechville Care Home on Chorley New Road and Retreat.

Kath said she finds it “so worthwhile” and that she gets “far more back from it” in her view

“I thoroughly enjoy it and I’m always gutted if I have to miss a session for any reason,” she said.

Coordinator Lynne is keen to set tables up in Breightmet, Little Lever and Great Lever. To become a Table Leader, email lynneccroston@gmail.com.

To find out more and to see all of the Bolton locations to join a table, visit: www.talkintables.co.uk

In a large house in Scotland, children, their parents and household staff take part in sports days, talent contests and trips to the beach.

Eight-year-old Rosie*, who lived there for seven months, says that one of her favourite days was when she watched her mum and staff member Lisa falling over the finish line doing the three-legged race.

But this isn’t just any shared home. This is a residential rehab for parents struggling with drug or alcohol problems – and their children.

Managed by the charity Phoenix Futures, Harper House in Scotland is one of two national family services the organisation operates (the other being Sheffield’s National Specialist Family Service) that enable parents to remain living with their children as they recover.

To some, this may appear controversial, but to those familiar with the concept, the potential benefits are clear.

In the Government’s last reporting year, there were almost 82,000 children in care in England (2024/25), while during the previous year, local authorities in England spent £13.3 billion on children’s social care.

Meanwhile,2022/23 research from the NSPCC revealed an 8% increase of children in care across the whole of the UK over the last five years. The charity, unsurprisingly, also reported that being in care can be detrimental for children. 

From traumatic separation from family members to unsuitable placements, care can negatively affect health, wellbeing and educational outcomes for many looked-after children.

However, Rachael Clegg, Head of Residentials (Women and Families) for Phoenix Futures, says that the consequences for children who remain with their parents during recovery are generally positive.

‘Using Scotland’s eight wellbeing indicators, we’ve seen some fantastic outcomes for the children who come through Harper House,’ she says, adding that this includes over a third of children feeling significantly more secure and protected, as well as enjoying better health. 

‘With these gains, children’s mental health is greatly improved, alongside their parents’ wellbeing and parenting skills, combining to create sustainable recovery for the family and breaking the cycle of trauma to create lasting change across generations.’

How does family rehab work?

Phoenix Futures’ family services aren’t simply houses where children are able to stay while their parents receive drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation. They work closely with social services, incorporating registered on-site nurseries, have close links with local schools, as well as access to local activities to build structure and meet other families. 

They also provide parenting skills development programmes, therapeutic treatments for drug and alcohol problems, and tailored support depending on the family’s need. 

For example, many women who access drug and alcohol services have a history of experiencing domestic abuse, so the relevant support is provided there too in the form of the You & Me Mum programme, which helps families in processing the impact of domestic violence. 

Each family has their own kitchen on site, and are supported to budget, meal prep and cook, alongside being given nutritional advice to help build healthy habits. Money management programmes can also be delivered and all families are supported to build a comprehensive move-on plan that includes attending groups in their local areas at home.

And then, of course, there’s the fun stuff like three-legged races and movie nights.

But perhaps most importantly, parent-child bonds remain and potentially grow, while parents are able to hold onto daily family routines, such as getting the children up, giving them breakfast and taking them to school.

‘I worried constantly about what it might mean for Rosie going into residential rehab,’ says her mother Carrie*. ‘But deep down, I also knew that if I didn’t make a change, I could lose everything anyway. So, I took the step. I was so scared, but I was determined to change.’

Carrie admits that at first she found it a struggle being around other families as she wasn’t used to people and felt reluctant to open up.

She explains: ‘When I arrived, I was angry, mistrusting, and difficult. I pushed people away because it felt safer that way. But the staff never reacted with frustration or judgement. They were patient, calm, and consistent in a way I had never experienced.’

Carrie slowly started to let her guard down and became part of a community of women who understood each other in a way nobody else could.

Breaking the stigma

There is, sadly, a reluctance for mothers experiencing drug or alcohol problems to speak out and ask for help as their biggest fear is having their children removed.

A report by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance states that mothers experiencing drug or alcohol problems are often the most judged group of women in society, and many feel unable to access the support they so desperately need.

However, there are local authority commissioners who are proactively looking at ways to address this stigma – and to fund services that help some of the most vulnerable (and often demonised) members of society: mothers facing addiction issues. 

Cllr Paul Bell, the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, has made referrals into Phoenix Futures’ National Specialist Family Service from his constinstuency in Lewisham. He tells Metro: ‘At Lewisham Council, we recognise how vital family rehabilitation services are for our residents.

‘These services keep families together, offering parents support rather than penalisation, and creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where healthy relationships can flourish.

‘Family-focused rehab isn’t readily available, which makes it even more important that we fund and protect it.’

‘I’ve remained drug and alcohol free’

In a study following 41 parents and 42 children, 70% of those who stayed at the Sheffield Family Service – which first opened its doors in 1996 – are still together in a healthy family environment up to four years later. 

And it seems that the parents who complete the rehab programme are also far more likely to remain well thanks to ongoing support for positive reintegration into their local community.

Sarah*, who self-referred for help via the organisation CGL (Change, Grow, Live), was subsequently referred to Phoenix Futures’ Sheffield Family Service. 

As a survivor of domestic abuse who has previously had children removed from her care in the past and was struggling with her mental health, the service allowed Sarah to maintain her sobriety and, importantly, learn to bond with her baby.

“I had just had my daughter and it meant the world to have her with me while I was undergoing treatment,’ she tells Metro. ‘We took part in baby massage, playgroup, craft activities, memory box making and so much more.

‘Importantly,when I was leaving to go into my own accommodation, the Service team helped me put together a timetable to keep me well. We planned regular swimming sessions, welfare checks and regular catch ups with my mum.’

Today, Sarah feels like she’s had a second chance. ‘I’ve never had this before. Staying with my daughter this time has been a wakeup call,’ she admits. ‘I’ve remained drug and alcohol free and the future feels much more hopeful. If this service was offered to me in the past things would have been very different for me.’

Following Carrie’s time in Harper House with daughter Rosie, she says being kept together as a family has also changed everything. ‘We went from a home with no structure to one full of warmth, routine and love. We rebuilt our bond from the ground up,’ she says. ‘It didn’t just change my life, it gave me confidence, hope, and the tools to build a safe, loving home for Rosie.’

Meanwhile, Phoenix Futures is keen to similar services expand across the UK, but acknowledge that this requires sustained commissioning, long‑term funding commitments, and the political will to challenge stigma around addiction and parenting.

‘Despite their proven impact, Shefield Family Service faced the risk of closure as recently as last year,’ says Rachael. ‘At a time when record numbers of children are entering care and local authorities face mounting financial pressure, it would be devastating if family‑focused residential rehab was allowed to disappear.

‘If we are serious about breaking cycles of trauma, reducing the number of children entering care, and supporting recovery in a meaningful, lasting way, these services must be protected – and replicated.

‘The question is no longer whether family rehab works, but whether we are prepared to invest in solutions that keep families together and change lives for the long term.’

*Names have been changed.

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The school said the introduction of VAT on school fees and other financial changes meant running the school was no longer viable

A private school in north Wales is set to shut its doors due to “a period of sustained financial pressure”. St Gerard’s School in Bangor has been teaching pupils for more than a century.

However, on Thursday evening, May 21, they sent a letter to parents notifying them the school would close at the end of term.

A statement has been issued on behalf of FRP Advisory and the school. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The statement said: “St Gerard’s School, the independent school in Bangor, North Wales, is set to close at the end of the current academic year following a period of sustained financial pressure.

“The school, which was founded in 1917 – has faced increasing financial pressure. Recent changes, including the introduction of VAT on school fees, loss of charitable status, rise in national insurance alongside other rising costs and the ongoing challenge of maintaining pupil numbers, mean that the school is unfortunately no longer viable,” reports North Wales Live.

St Gerard’s currently has 107 pupils from reception through to Year 13, and employs 30 staff members. The school has maintained a long-established relationship with military families stationed at nearby RAF Valley.

The statement continued: “The school will continue to operate as normal until the end of term on 3rd July 2026, with all public examinations taking place as scheduled. Trustees and management are working closely with families to support pupils in finding suitable alternative provision for September.

“Regrettably, the majority of staff will be made redundant at the end of term. The school is committed to supporting those affected in finding new roles.”

A spokesperson for St Gerard’s School Trust said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and one we have not taken lightly. St Gerard’s has been part of the Bangor community for well over a century, and the school’s caring ethos and strong values have shaped the lives of generations of pupils.

“Like many independent schools, we have faced sustained financial pressures in recent years. Despite significant efforts to secure the school’s future – including initiatives to strengthen pupil recruitment and exploring options for external investment – it has not been possible to achieve a viable way forward.

“Our focus now is on supporting our pupils and their families through this transition, ensuring examinations proceed as planned, and helping our dedicated staff find new opportunities. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of the St Gerard’s community over the years.”

Mancini, backed by Adam Chetwood on guitar, Marco Ninni on drums and Ben Simon on bass, showed an easy command of a space filled with a crowd who were, tellingly, 30% mods, 20% skins (or possibly bald mods) and 50% young and cool rock girls. What You Doin’ melded bright pop with garage rock, while one of her standout singles Undo the Blue was a reminder that all the best psychedelic-psych tunes had melancholy laced through them, as if knowing that the love revolution was going to fail somewhere in Altamont.

The six men and six women at York Crown Court took more than seven and a half hours to reach their verdicts at the end of a two-week trial.

Tobias Sampson, 35, of Harrowby Street, Stafford, was formally discharged. 

He denied seven charges of rape, four of voyeurism and two of sexual assault, alleged to have taken place in York and elsewhere in the country.

He joined the Army when he was 17 and a half years old.