Community & Charity

All the latest community and charity news from across Bedford Borough. Everything you need to keep you up to date with what’s happening in Bedford Borough on your mobile or desktop via the Bedford Independent.

The Bedford Independent was founded to provide the people of Bedford Borough with a modern news desk that would give them easy access to genuine and unbiased Bedford news. We are independent in ownership and opinion.

Our mission is to inform and inspire the people of Bedford. To do this we will work hard to bring them the news that matters to them from our town centre to the most rural of the Borough’s villages.

Our editorial team are NCTJ trained and follows a standards code set out by the independent press regulator IMPRESS Standards.

Gallery: Forest of festive colour marks 25 years of St Paul’s Christmas Tree Festival

St Paul’s Church in Bedford marked 25 years of its award-winning Christmas Tree Festival with 70 decorated trees, 46 choirs, competitions, a café and a photo gallery, all in support of...

Bedford organisations work together to offer ‘Men Get Active’ community programme

Hawaa Empower, GLL and Beds RCC have collaborated to bring new community sporting sessions for men as part of a 'Men Get Active' scheme, beginning at Bedford International Athletics Stadium...

Songs of Praise films Advent special to spread ‘Joy to the World’ with local choir and Hope in Bedfordshire

BBC Songs of Praise has filmed a special Advent episode in Bedford, highlighting Hope in Bedfordshire, a town centre flash mob in the Harpur Centre and prayers at St Paul’s Church...

Street Relief Winter Appeal launched to keep Bedford’s homeless warm this winter

SMART CJS has launched its Street Relief Winter Appeal to raise £145,000 to keep Bedford’s SMART Prebend Centre open through winter, providing daytime food, rest and support for people...

“It still hasn’t sunk in”: Bedford’s Christmas Tree Festival returns following Everyday Heroes Award win

The Bedford Christmas Tree Festival returns for its 25th year, beginning this coming Wednesday (6 December), with a new theme of Christmas present, past and future to celebrate the milestone...

Bedford Club remembrance dinner raises £1,000 for local Poppy Appeal

A remembrance dinner at The Bedford Club has raised £1,000 for the Bedford and Kempston Poppy Appeal, with volunteers praised and plans already under way for next year’s fundraising events...

Bedford School’s MoBros raise over £24,500 with 120km run and Britpop parody

Bedford Prep School teacher Paul Dennis has run 5k every hour for 24 hours as part of Bedford School’s Movember campaign, which includes a new “Parklife to Tachelife” parody film and has already...

Mocha the three-legged Bedford street kitten thriving after miracle recovery

Mocha, a five-week-old stray kitten found injured on the streets of Bedford, has had a leg amputated and is now recovering in foster care. Cats Protection Bedford & Biggleswade has launched...

Column: Bedford Blues Foundation – Giving young people a new perspective through sport

Giving young people a new perspective through sport. After five years in operation, Bedford Blues Foundation is more determined than ever to help young people thrive. Since launching operationally...

Bedford charity shop needs builders and DIY heroes to open in time for Christmas

Bedford charity Madad is calling on local builders, contractors and volunteers to help fit out a new town centre shop, offering low-cost goods and small grants to residents hit by the cost of living crisis...

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