As Rare as Rubies

Is this the best advice centre in Britain?

The local housing association, Bolton at Home, thinks the service it gives to residents from its UCAN Centre on one of the town’s more challenging estates is ‘as rare as rubies’.

It’s a bit of a mouthful: Urban Care and Neighbourhood Centre. The name was no doubt chosen because ‘UCAN’ sounds positive and aspirational. And that’s pretty much what this blog is about.

The caring, individual support given by just three members of staff is tailored to the multiple needs of each person who walks through their UPVc front door.

As a photographer and writer, I’ve been commissioned to tell the stories of this UCAN, its staff and its customers.

They know they haven’t got everything right but are keen to share their approach with others.

Len Grant