Bedford Borough Council has said it will not pay £160 towards this year’s Totally Locally independent retail event, despite the support it gives to local businesses.
Fiver Fest is a national event run locally in Bedford by volunteer Helen Patterson since 2019. This year the annual event has been rebranded ‘Magic Tenner’ and the campaign will take place on 7 – 21 October 2023.
Its aim is to demonstrate that spending £10 with a local independent business can mean up to £50 going back into the local economy.
Helen (Town Centre Champion) dedicates around 90 hours to organising each event and has been recognised by the Totally Locally organisation for the enormous success she has made of the Bedford events, which see dozens of businesses take part.
To help promote the participating businesses, Helen produces a map, designed by local illustrator, Katie Allen. Changes to this year’s map – including changing the name to Magic Tenner – will cost around £160.
Previously, Bedford Borough Council has financially supported the event through the government-funded post-Covid Town Centre Priority Fund.
However, this year they have pulled the plug on funding.
A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson said, “In recent years, we have provided three separate grants to support the delivery of these events in the town centre.
“At this time, the grant scheme that they would like to apply to is currently closed, which means we are unable to accept applications. However, if they wish to submit an application, we will consider it as soon as the fund reopens.”
Helen told the Bedford Independent: “I spend around 90 hours in total organising and promoting each Totally Locally event which I don’t begrudge as I enjoy it.
“I do however begrudge asking the council for funding as I’m made to feel like Oliver Twist asking for another bowl of gruel. I only wish the current team at the council were as supportive as the previous team were.
“If previous Fiver Fest events had been unsuccessful I would appreciate the council’s hesitance at paying £160 for the map to be updated for Magic Tenner. But that’s not the situation so I’m left feeling rather miffed at the lack of support.”
Helen gave thanks to Bedford Radio for stepping in and providing the funding for the Magic Tenner event and updated map, saying that once it became clear the money from the council was not forthcoming, Bedford Radio’s Martin Steers stepped in.
“He kindly offered to fund it as he knows just how successful such events are.”
Former portfolio holder for the town centre, Cllr Henry Vann told the Bedford Independent: “Our town centres need urgent support and this is quite simply not good enough.
“In his own manifesto, Mayor Wootton claimed to care about our wonderful town centre – but instead, all we have had is months of inaction and an attempt to scrap the River Festival.
“I urge him to back this outstanding local initiative which is backing our independent businesses and town centre.”
Magic Tenner
This October, you can do your bit to support Bedford’s indepedent retailers by getting invovled in the Totally Locally Magic Tenner event.
“Generating £50 from £10 seems a bit far-fetched, but it’s because most local indie businesses choose to spend their money in lots of other local businesses, so the money goes round and around your town’s economy,” said Totally Locally founder, Chris Sands.
“We’ve had some totally locally businesses who have over 200 local suppliers, so you see spending with them means a huge impact for your town, region or area, compared to when you spend online, with big corporates or supermarkets where most of the money goes to shareholders and central offices.”
More info on how to get invovled in this year’s campaign coming soon.
