Bedford charity SEVA Trust UK has pledged to continue delivering food and essential supplies to vulnerable families and individuals experiencing homelessness across the borough.
The commitment follows the announcement by SMART CJS that the Prebend Street Day Care Centre will close on Thursday, 1 October 2026, as commissioned services transfer to Bedford Borough Council.
Volunteer effort
Read: SMART CJS announces closure of the Prebend Day Centre
The charity operates entirely through a network of unpaid volunteers, providing staple food items and toiletries to individuals contacting them directly and to visitors at the Prebend Street centre.
In addition to its homelessness provision in Bedfordshire, the organisation coordinates local community projects across education, health, social welfare, and environmental initiatives in the East of England and India.
Partner recognition
Acknowledging the regular supply deliveries and fundraising efforts provided over recent years, head of SMART CJS, Matt O’Neil-Kemp, said: “SEVA Trust has given SMART and the Prebend Centre regular support for many years.
“They provide regular deliveries of a wide range of staple food, toiletries and daily use essentials and have raised funds in the past to support our day centre for which we are incredibly grateful.
“This vital support from SEVA Trust and other organisations help us to support people during some of the most difficult periods of their lives, providing practical help, compassion and dignity when it has been needed most.
“We cannot overstate how grateful we are for everything SEVA Trust has done for us.”
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Continued service
Despite the upcoming closure of the day centre facility, leaders at the charity confirmed that direct community support across Bedfordshire will remain uninterrupted.
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Charan Sekhon MBE and Kunwarjeet Pannu, who coordinates community support projects for SEVA Trust UK, added, “Our teams have worked very hard for the past ten years to support local communities. We are pleased to offer vital support to the most vulnerable individuals and families during the most challenging times.
“Without a single paid staff member in our charity, all our volunteers are doing a great community service, and we would like to thank them all and all our supporting partners.
“We are feeling sad and disappointed to hear about the closure of Prebend Centre, but this will not stop our ongoing support work.
“We will continue to support people experiencing homelessness or hardships in Bedfordshire in line with the concept of Seva (selfless service for all).”
