Bedfordshire

Real Bedford Ladies finished a fine season with a 4-2 League Cup final victory against Wroxham at Newmarket Town on Sunday afternoon to secure a historic treble for the club...

I am fairly new to Bedford and have so far felt it to be very welcoming, lovely and quite a safe place to live. That is until the other day, when I was innocently cycling through the town centre and was stopped...

A company has been given approval to develop a first-of-its-kind electric aircraft that can be used as an air ambulance.

We’ve had our fair share of actors who hail from Bedford.

The sound of children laughing filled the air this Friday (17 May) as Creams, the dessert parlour chain, celebrated their 16th birthday with a free scoop of ice cream for every customer at the...

A cat that went missing 11 years ago has been reunited with his grateful owner thanks to the team at Vets for Pets in Bedford.

A one-eyed camel has been helping children with special educational needs (SEN), as part of their birthday celebrations at Woburn Safari Park. Wednesday the one-eye Bactrian camel, invited students...

The next stage of a professional rugby career beckons for two hot prospects from Bedford School who signed their first professional contracts with Northampton Saints this week...

Plans to build on a patch of land in Kempston have been resubmitted after the original application was refused.

Bedford’s mayor was branded incapable of answering questions coherently or grasping facts in a scathing attack at a council meeting last night.

The Conservative Government claims to be on the side of the drivers but whether it’s the rising price of petrol or soaring car tax and insurance costs, the cost of driving has sky-rocketed while road...

Bedford Borough Council has secured the first thirteen homes under a new scheme to ensure a supply of temporary accommodation for people who are homeless. Speaking about the scheme cllr...

The council has bought homes to help the homeless as part of a temporary accommodation project.

Castle Newnham's football team beat Sandy Secondary Schools 2-0, defending their title of District Plate Champions. The year 10 boys celebrated their undefeated victory of the District Plate Championship...

There is disappointment after it was announced earlier this week that the opening of the new SEND school on the former Rober Bruce School site will be delayed and now take place in phases. Bedford Borough...

A retired Bedford Borough Council planning officer has won a two year court battle against a major car park enforcement firm after being wrongly fined - and persuaded a judge to award HIM a pay-out instead.

The tailored training is designed to address the urgent need for skilled professionals in the construction industry and will equip participants with the expertise needed to retrofit homes across Central Bedfordshire, improving energy efficiency and reducing their carbon footprint.

As part of our commitment to a sustainable future, three innovative retrofitting training courses, run by The STC Group, have been made possible through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Whether you are currently unemployed, seeking to bolster your skills, or an employer eager to invest in your workforce’s future, these courses provide a clear pathway to a thriving sustainable career.

The courses include:

• Level 2 - Understanding Domestic Retrofit (one week)

• Level 3 - Domestic Retrofit Advice (two weeks)

• Level 4 - Award in Assessing Domestic Dwellings for Retrofit (three weeks)

Councillor Mary Walsh, Chairman of the Local Partnership Group and Executive Member for Waste and Planning, said:

> > In tackling the climate crisis, we have the opportunity to create jobs that require specific skills that are currently in short supply. This initiative aims to ensure people have clear pathways to sustainable employment and are equipped with the skills needed to develop a career in the rapidly growing green sector. It will not only support our community into high-quality, well-paid jobs, but also contribute to our net zero sustainability target. > > >

Mark Eighteen, Managing Director at The STC Group, said:

> > The STC Group are proud and excited to be working with Central Bedfordshire Council in the new delivery of retrofit training programs that will be critical in supporting them towards achieving their net zero targets. The programs are open to all those currently working in the retrofit/construction industry and to those wishing to change career and enter the green construction space. > > >

For more information and to apply call 0345 565 2656, email: info@thestcgroup.co.uk or visit The STC Group website.

The programme has been made possible due to government funding of over £100,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We have been allocated £3.55M from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities UKSPF programme which is being delivered alongside their £1.06M allocation from DEFRA’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.

At 16 meters high and over 100 years old, Bedford Borough will soon say goodbye to Bedford Park's famous ‘wonky tree’ after five years of monitoring found it was no longer safe. Situated by...

Elstow NHS worker Terry Hayden and his coworkers are on the lookout for donations and volunteers to revive a rundown garden for the community and local elderly. Terry Hayden works as a Social prescriber at...

Yet another planning application to convert a former Bedford pub has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council. In the last three years, two applications have been made to change...

Popular Haprur Ward counillor, Colleen Atkins (Labour) has been appointed deputy speaker of Bedford Borough Council First elected in 1988, Colleen has served on many...

Bedford’s mayor was branded incapable of answering questions coherently or grasping facts in a scathing attack at a council meeting last night (Thursday). Lib Dem councillor Christine...

Your weekly what’s on guide for Bedford and the surrounding area from The Bedford Clanger. Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford...

Two people were treated in hospital after being injured into a collision on the M1 near Luton and Bedford yesterday (Wednesday).

Yet another planning application to convert a former Bedford pub has been submitted to the borough council.

The Rapid Relief Team UK (RRT) charity has served 2,100 meals to nurses at Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital during 'appreciation lunches' to say "thank you" for dedicating...

Bedford Borough Council said care services remain a priority following research claiming eight in ten councils are considering cutting spending on community services to pay for care services.

Applications for the second round of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Community Grants Fund will close on Friday 19 July 2024. Each applicant can request between £3,000 and £40,000 to invest in community projects that help improve Central Bedfordshire. Projects will need to evidence the spending of the funds by the end of December 2024, with a matched funding requirement of 20%.

Projects must meet one or more of the following objectives:

• invest in capital assets that support local arts, cultural and creative activities, such as venues, equipment, or materials
• capital funding to Improve buildings, facilities or green spaces, and increase resilience to natural hazards such as flooding
• develop green spaces and woodlands for recreational and environmental benefit and community wellbeing
• support to develop capacity and infrastructure, such as sports and other equipment, tools for better engagement, or improved facilities

Organisations thinking of collaborating on a joint project are especially welcomed for this round of funding, with a lead organisation nominated as the designated representative of the project. Individual applications are still welcome if they meet community needs which are not already being met.

Councillor Mary Walsh, Chairman of the Local Partnership Group, said,

> > The response to our first round of grants was inspiring and I have been delighted to have visited many of the completed projects and see for myself the impact the previous funding has made to local communities. We are looking forward to working in partnership with many more community groups and I urge anyone interested to take a look at all of the support available and get applying! > > >

Read more about the funding – application forms will go live from 10am on Monday 10 June.

In May, we will partner with Community Voluntary Service to deliver 2 ‘meet-the-funder' workshops to help community groups understand the grants process and provide support with the completion of the application forms.

The sessions will be held online via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:

• Tuesday 28 May: 6pm to 7pm
• Thursday 30 May: 11am to midday

To book onto a session, email ukspf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

This capital grant scheme is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) programme, which provides a total of £4.6 million of government funding for local investment in Central Bedfordshire.

Debbie and Geoff have been foster carers for four years, and are currently caring for a teenager. In the three videos, they talk about why they decided to become foster carers, and clear up some common misunderstandings about foster care.

The couple also describe one of their proudest moments as foster carers, which was when a 10-month-old boy they were fostering took his first steps and said his first words in their care.

Geoff said:

> > Foster carers come in all shapes and sizes […] and I’m really proud to be a foster carer. You don’t have to be a certain type of person; you just have to be kind and open with your family. Your family have to be on board, as the children will be part of your family. > > >

To coincide with the video launch and Foster Care Fortnight, we are hosting two events to give others who are interested in becoming foster carers an insight into the process. Being held at Leighton Buzzard library on Tuesday 21 May, from midday to 2pm, and at Biggleswade library on Wednesday 22 May, from 10am to midday, attendees will have the opportunity to find out more about what’s involved in becoming a foster carer.

Councillor Hayley Whitaker, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children,

> > Fostering a child is more than providing a home; it's about offering stability, love, and opportunities. When people become foster carers, they make a real difference in a child's life. Foster Care Fortnight is a chance to celebrate amazing people like Debbie and Geoff who open their hearts and homes to children and young people who need them. We hope their videos will inspire more people to think about fostering and supporting children and young people in Central Bedfordshire. Please do head along to our events if you’d like to find out more. There is no need to register, and it’s free to attend. > > >

The three videos featuring Debbie and Geoff are available to view on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/centralbedfordshire

There is also more information available at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/foster Anyone who can’t make it to the drop in sessions can request an information pack through the website, or call 0300 300 8181 to have a chat with one of the team.

With one more Championship game to go, against Champions Ealing, Bedford Blues have begun preparations for next season already and have this morning announced their new forwards...

Nursing and midwifery students at the University of Bedfordshire have described their financial struggles after loan payment dates to help cover costs were changed.

A dangerous driver has been jailed after he killed a family’s beloved horse on the M1.

More needs to be done to ensure Bedfordshire residents have a better understanding of the police and crime commissioner’s role in policing the county, the new PCC has said. The low turnout for last week’s...

The patients and staff of Sue Ryder St John's Hospice in Moggerhanger were excited to be greeted by two very special guests recently, when Teddy and Mouse, a pair of ‘cuddle therapy ponies’ came for a visit...

If you see more officers in the area, don’t be alarmed.

Do you recognise this woman?

A man who was running a drugs line from a property on Shakespeare Road in Bedford has been jailed for more than three years. A police investigation revealed Amir Mgari had been running the so-called...

Homeowners in Great Denham and Kempston West can look forward to having an additional council charge removed within two years. This followed a Bedford Borough Council committee saying that it...

Family passes, online booking and coaching programs are among the changes made to Bedford's municipal tennis courts, which have been upgraded thanks to £370,000 funding...