The Festival of Hope will take place online from July 31 to August 2, connecting people within the borough through the sharing of personal stories of hope and optimism which are based on important events in their life.

The closing date for stories is July 16, and entries need to be submitted online at https://forms.gle/efJQkiKsVtBQZhfN8.

The stories will help Bolton Library and Museum document this significant time in history and they have been collected following a callout for submissions specifically for people aged 14 and above in Bolton.

The compendium of stories, either anonymous or accredited, are to be published online for people to read during The Festival of Hope.

The young people powered programme celebrates creativity, heritage and diversity and captures this moment in time, where nothing in the world is the same as it was before Covid-19 and the festival reflects this.

The service has worked with a charity called Blaze that places young people at the heart of design, making, programming and production.

They have been working hard shaping their festivals across five sites covering Bolton, Carlisle Chester and Cheshire West, Clitheroe and Padiham, and Sefton.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member who has responsibility for Libraries and Museums, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: “We are keen to help develop young people’s talents and life skills.

“We are shining a light on the next generation of creative talent across Bolton as part of the Festival of Hope.

“It is also encouraging that our industrial history is helping give young people an outlet to be positive and express their creativity in this current changing time, and providing us all hope for the future.”

People can follow the festival on social media with #festivalofhopebolton2020.

The Festival of Hope will include online and offline events that are interactive, engaging and supports our communities. Keep your eyes peeled for ways to get involved.

The Festival is part of Hope Streets, a five-year project creating a strategic partnership between heritage and youth sectors in the North West led by Curious Minds and supported with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.