2006

• A small group of friends and colleagues form a voluntary group following the demise of Bolton and Wigan Relate, with the intention of retaining a valuable community centre for Relate and other third sector groups to continue to use as a safe and comfortable venue for their work.

• Growing demand for the centre's services leads to the formation of a limited company - SALSA Social and Life Skills Agency. Developed as a social enterprise, the company becomes a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim of developing sustainable projects that cater for the needs of the centre users, their clientele, third sector partners and the community.

2007

• Reduction in opportunities for adult learners impacts on our partners. SALSA begins to develop low-cost, high quality training packages to be delivered on site and externally. The organisation gains centre recognition status from ABC awards and NCFE to run nationally accredited training packages.

• SALSA is highly commended in the Community Award category of the Bolton & Bury Business Awards.

• Later in the year the organisation also gains Tower FM's Contribution to the Community Award

2008

• SALSA services continue to expand with the introduction of a counselling service targeting local employers and individuals. This new service creates an alliance between local private and third sector providers, offering an ethical and economical alternative to non-community based companies. We change our name to match our commitment to working with others to - SALSA Social and Life Skills Alliance.

• SALSA receives sponsorship from the Department of Health to improve and expand its range as services, and is recognised as a national Social Enterprise Pathfinder.

2009

• SALSA receives funding via the Big Lottery to run an internationally recognised Women's Development programme - Springboard. Funding will allow local women who would not usually access this type of programme, free and subsidised places.

• Due to continued expansion of services off-site and a greater investment in our training services, SALSA moves to new premises to develop and deliver services. Brunswick House, our original home, is once again a Relate centre, under the management of one of our key partners, Relate GMN, and continues to offer valuable space to groups and individuals offering therapeutic services to the local community.