9 November 2026

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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.

Can you help reunite these happy holidaymakers with this photograph?

A street photographer has appealed for the help of the Bedford Independent to identify a group of friends that he photographed while on holiday in Portugal...

Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice Asks for Help to Improve Care for Patients

Sue Ryder St John's Hospice in Moggerhanger is calling on its service users, their family and friends to provide feedback on the care it provides, in a bid to enhance the services it offers...

Bedford homeless charity raises over £50k to support vulnerable locals

SMART, a homeless charity based in Prebend Street, Bedford, has announced that it has raised over £50,000 to help support those facing hardship over the winter months...

40 years of empowering people with MS thanks to local charity

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable disease that only 40 years ago sufferers were told to, “Go away and live the best life you can”. That is until a group of volunteers, whose friend had the...

Podcast shares memories of Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to Bedford

On 7 April, 2000 Nelson Mandela came to Bedford to rededicate the bust of his friend and mentor Trevor Huddleston who was born in Bedford in 1913. The visit...

Marathon efforts as ‘Team Goddo’ begin year of fundraising for Children with Cancer UK

A fundraiser who received a 'highly commended' award at last year's Bedford Independent Everyday Heroes awards is taking on more challenges this year to celebrate...

Opinion: Was Nelson Mandela’s visit the most joyful half an hour in Bedford’s history?

Next Friday marks the 23rd anniversary of one of the most significant days in the history of Bedford. It was the day that the former president of South Africa and...

Three Bedford care homes win awards for interactive therapy treatments

Puttenhoe, Rivermead and Brookside care homes in Bedford have all received awards for their use of interactive therapies to enhance the well-being of their residents...

Bedfordians have until end of March for Coronation street party applications

Bedfordians across the Borough have just a few days left to apply for a street party to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. The Coronation will take place on...

Local estate agent, auctioneer and charity fundraiser installed as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire

Russell Beard has been installed as The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire for 2023/2024, being sworn in at a ceremony at Bedford Modern School this afternoon (Friday). Bedfordian, Russell...