FOUR women were helped back into work thanks to a pilot scheme run in Johnson Fold.

The peer navigators saw Bolton at Home tenants employed by the organisation to work in their community, helping neighbours.

The scheme was piloted in Johnson Fold in March and the peer navigators won an award at the 2018 Excellence in Health Creation Awards.

Shauna Morton, head of community investment for Bolton at Home said: “Our customers are the ones who know their community best and how to encourage and support the people they live alongside.

“Their role is to listen to neighbours to understand local issues. They can then support individuals to access appropriate services, promoting self-care and behaviour change in people and the community.

“We’re looking to expand the peer navigators in other communities within Bolton and believe it has the potential to lead to better long-term health and wellbeing, as well as creating employment for the navigators.”

Peer navigators focus on families and food, employment, environment and women's wellbeing.