MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

Bolton Council reached out to Youth Leads UK to address the cost of living crisis, focusing on raising awareness of the support available to vulnerable young people, such as young heads of households, care-experienced individuals, and at-risk youth.

We assembled a group of young people who spearheaded ‘The Bolton Cost of Living’ campaigns. They conducted research, honed their design and marketing skills, and leveraged their lived experiences to deliver impactful social media campaigns.

RESEARCH

We kicked off the research phase with a consultation session involving key partner organisations in Bolton, including Bolton at Home, the University of Bolton, Backup North West, Fortalice, Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Bolton Youth Voice, and Bolton Council’s Youth Service and Looked After Children Teams.

During the session, we outlined the project’s goals, the current challenges, and our approach. We posed targeted questions to spark meaningful discussions, aiming to gather on-the-ground insights. These questions included: “How is the cost of living affecting the young people you serve?”, “Are the young people aware of the support available and how to access it?”, and “Which campaigns have made a significant impact on you?” The feedback collected formed the foundation of our strategy moving forward.

young people aged 14-25 engaged in the creation of the campaigns and associated materials.

young people engaged through partner consultation.

26,800

users reached on Instagram

9,000

users reached on TikTok

CONSULTATION

The consultation phase, running from June to September, led to the creation of a youth-led guide for grassroots youth organisations on how to have ‘cost of living’ conversations. Feedback from 15 organisations highlighted key priorities: ensuring access to affordable food and warm spaces, providing financial support, and teaching budgeting skills. These areas emerged as the most pressing needs for the young people they served.

Over 20 assets produced

from social media graphics and posters to leaflets and short-form films.

CAMPAIGNS

Our campaign assets were designed to be colourful, easy to read, and highly visual, covering topics like budgeting, local support in Bolton, warm spaces, and assistance from schools and universities.

To tackle rising food costs, our young people created 60-second TikTok videos showcasing low-cost, nutritious meals. Recognising the challenge of preparing affordable yet healthy meals, they used Play-Doh to represent these dishes, inspired by TikTok trends. This creative approach made the content relatable and engaging for their peers.

We also produced printable posters with detailed campaign information, featured in Youth Leads Magazine. Over 3,000 copies were distributed across Bolton, reaching a readership of 55,000 in print and online.

This work is fantastic and the young people will be
influencing our Anti-Poverty strategy. The campaigns
have undoubtedly had an impact. – Bolton Council