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.
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.
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This Saturday, our amazing walkers take on the Fells Walk Challenge! 🏔️
Every step counts, could you donate just £1 per kilometre?
Our children from refuge have been doing arts and crafts in our Oftsed registered nursery. They are asking if you are able to please donate £10 to support our walkers and keep Fortalices services going.💜💜
Did you know it costs £15 for a call to our emergency phone line, which is often the first lifeline for someone in crisis. Your support helps us be there when it matters most.
Last year, Fortalice supported over 2,200 individuals affected by domestic abuse. With your help, we can reach even more.
👉 Donate today. Sponsor a walker. Help save lives. We truly couldn’t do this without you. 🙏
#FellsWalkChallenge #SupportSurvivors #Fortalice #EveryStepMatters #DonateToSaveLives #CharityChallenge
Are you empathic, resilient, passionate and self-motivated?
Do you have experience of working to support families, children and young people and are looking for a challenging and rewarding career within the domestic abuse sector?
If so, Fortalice wants to hear from you!
The posts will be community based, working from our Children and Young People’s Hub in Bolton with sessions held both within the Centre and in the community.
Bromley’s Solictors contacted us earlier in the year to ask how they could support our residents.
We suggested they might consider putting together some baskets of essentials for residents moving on. We met with them last week and they kindly donated 10 hampers.
We’re very grateful for their generosity and ongoing support 💜💜
Are you emotionally resilient, compassionate and committed to empowering others?
We have an exciting opportunity to recruit an ISVA to join our experienced and supportive team.
If you have a background in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, particularly those affected by sexual violence please either contact us for a chat or ask for an application pack.
We look forward to hearing from anyone who feels they could make a difference in this difficult but rewarding work.
Are you interested in becoming a frontline volunteer? Do you have the skills needed to work in partnership alongside Greater Manchester Police?
As a frontline volunteer your role is crucial in supporting victims, ensuring they feel safe and empowered when reporting incidents of domestic abuse.
If this is something you are interested in get in touch!
Our Children and Young People’s Team are delivering drop-in sessions on a Thursday lunch time at the Team Around the School Secondary Schools.
This is an opportunity for any young people and staff at these schools to come and talk to the team about any concerns they may have about arguments at home or behaviours within their own relationship. These drop ins are well attended and our team have some really important conversations with these young people, providing them with strategies to try and signposting to appropriate services such as counselling, health services, youth clubs and listening services.
If you would like any more information, please email the team cyp@fortalice.co.uk
An excellent opportunity is available for a motivated Children’s Support Worker to join our highly experienced team in the Refuge.
The post is based within the Refuge setting and will involve various duties to meet the needs of the organisation. If this post interests you, please ring for an informal chat and ask for Lyndsey Whitaker.
On Monday 26th May 2025 some of Fortalice’s IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) and the DAT (Domestic Abuse Team) from Bolton District Police Station took on the mighty challenge of climbing Mount Snowdon and conquered it!
The two dedicated teams came together showing unbelievable strength, resilience, and teamwork to raise funds to support victims of domestic abuse.
A huge congratulations to everyone who took part in the sponsored walk your commitment and spirit are truly inspiring!
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.