HIDDEN away off Churchgate in Bolton town centre is an organisation that every week helps thousands of local youngsters stay healthy and safe.

The Parallel Young People’s Health Service was set up in 2003 to promote the welfare and wellbeing of local young people aged five to 19. It is run by the Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and is an unusual gem of a service that has grown – both deliberately and organically – ever since.

And, while there will be many people across the borough who have never heard of it, ask their children and grandchildren and you will probably find that they have.

For this is a service not only FOR young people but also shaped by them. They regularly offer suggestions on improvements, which are heeded, and even sit on job interview panels for the service.

The Parallel deals with around 6,000 young people each year and many thousands more through its presence in most of Bolton’s primary and secondary schools.

Its strength lies in the fact that it is an integrated health and welfare service and that its 14 full and part-time staff are not only well-qualified in their individual fields but also multi-skilled. The result is that young people can confidently access several services in a one-stop shop.

“They don’t have to keep telling their story over and over again,” explained Margaret Clugston, Lead Nurse/Advanced Practitioner. “We can refer individuals on and we have nurses and our own female GP with a special interest in adolescent health here at the centre.”

The service includes the Bolton School Nursing Team, the Immunisation Team, Family Healthy Lifestyle Team, Healthy Schools, the 360 Substance Misuse Service and the Looked After Nursing and Safeguarding Team.

Behind the titles, however, lie well-experienced individuals, supporting young people in many different ways, and a successful system that allows referrals to provide help swiftly. It offers everything from a healthy diet to help with mental health issues and from sexual health to information to practical advice on recreational drugs.

“Often, a young person will come to us with one problem and when we start to assess them and learn more about them, we find there are other problems that need addressing,” stated Margaret Clugston.

While youngsters can make appointments if they want to, they may prefer to just drop in. Opening hours are from 3.30pm to 6pm each week day apart from Tuesday when they open from 2.30pm to 6pm and on Saturday from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, with a phone number to contact them at other times.

“We also provide continuity for them during school holidays like the six weeks Summer holidays,” added Clinical Manager Nicola Monaghan,. “We’re open as usual throughout this time.”

Sensibly, they are visible on social media via Twitter and Instagram. Their website attracted more than 8,000 page views in the first six months of this year alone.

The response from the young people themselves is overwhelmingly positive, as feedback shows: “Comfortable and safe”, “Good confidential service, supportive”, “Really kind and understanding”, “It’s very helpful and (they) don’t judge.”

As well as working together with relevant health providers, The Parallel also partners with community organisations like Urban Outreach, Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme and Fortalice, the town’s refuge for women, children and young people escaping domestic abuse.

Many parents, grandparents and foster carers also rely on its services and, although its physical presence is not obvious, The Parallel’s positive influence on the lives of thousands of local young people plainly is.

* To contact The Parallel call 01204 463670 and for information go to

Bolton5-19HWBservice@bridgewater.nhs.uk