Cleaner Safer Summer
It Starts With Listening and Action
What if a cleaner neighbourhood could do more than improve appearances?
What if cleaning up communities could also help rebuild confidence, create opportunities and give young people a sense of purpose?
That is exactly what the Cleaner Safer Summer Campaign aims to achieve.
Led by Clean Futures, a youth-led initiative developed by Genuine Futures CIC, the campaign brings together young people, residents, housing providers, businesses and community organisations to create cleaner streets, safer shared spaces and stronger neighbourhoods across Bolton.
For us, this is about much more than litter picking or cleaning bin stores.
It is about creating opportunities.
It is about listening to communities.
And it is about proving that young people want to be part of the solution.
Young People Care About Where They Live
Too often young people are spoken about rather than spoken with.
Through our Our Bolton. Our Future. survey and conversations at pop-up events, car washes and community clean-up days, we hear the same messages repeatedly.
Young people tell us they want:
- Cleaner streets
- More pride in their communities
- Safe places to spend time
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Chances to gain experience and learn new skills
- Trusted adults who believe in them
The Cleaner Safer Summer campaign has been designed around those conversations.
Because meaningful change starts with listening.
And lasting change happens when communities and young people work together.
What Does Cleaner Safer Summer Involve?
Throughout the summer, the Clean Futures team will be supporting communities through activities including:
Community litter picks
Bin store deep cleans
Environmental improvement projects
Youth-led surveys and consultations
Pop-up engagement events
Donation car washes supporting young people
Volunteering opportunities
Employability and enterprise experiences
These activities help young people develop practical skills, confidence, teamwork and leadership while making a visible difference in their neighbourhoods.
People Make Places
We believe places do not become safer simply through enforcement.
Places become safer when people feel connected.
When residents know each other.
When young people feel valued.
When communities have pride in where they live.
Cleaner shared spaces can encourage people to spend time outdoors, reduce fly tipping, improve perceptions of safety and help strengthen relationships between residents.
As our campaign message says:
People Make Places
And together we can make those places better.
A Social Enterprise with Purpose
Clean Futures grew from Boss Your Future, Genuine Futures’ flagship employability and enterprise programme supporting young people aged 15–24 who are NEET, care-experienced, socially isolated or facing barriers to employment.
Many of the young people involved in Clean Futures have progressed from participants to volunteers, ambassadors and community leaders.
They are proving that with the right opportunities and support, young people can achieve incredible things.
Join Us This Summer
Whether you are a resident, housing association, school, business or community group, we would love to work alongside you.
Together we can create:
Cleaner Streets
Safer Spaces
Stronger Communities
Brighter Futures
Get Involved
Have Your Say
Take part in our Our Bolton. Our Future. Survey and help shape a better future for young people and communities across Bolton.
Cleaner Safer Summer