Community Volunteering Opportunities
Want to spend more time outdoors and help to improve the
environment? Use the links below to find out more about
environmental volunteering opportunities in Bedford;
On this page you can find out more about the different
volunteering opportunities Bedford Borough Council offers, click on
the opportunity form in each section to find out further
details.
To register your interest in any of our volunteering
opportunities please complete a volunteer registration form
. By completing the form your details will be added to
the volunteer database to automatically receive regular updates on
volunteering opportunities.
Volunteer
Registration Form
(Forms can be sent back via email or post- see form for
details).
Or alternatively fill in the online form
here.
Frequently asked questions- click the link on the left hand side
menu.
Click here to download the latest Community
Volunteering Newsletter (published April 2013)
Previous newsletters;
Winter
Edition- published January 2013
Autumn
Edition- published October 2012
Summer Edition-
published July 2012
Spring
Edition- published April 2012
Click to download the event diary
for April - June 2013.
In Parks
Priory Country Park
The Priory Country Park Rangers hold a monthly volunteering
session in the park carrying out a variety of practical
conservation tasks from building new steps to coppicing willow and
invasive species control. the volunteer days are open to everyone,
but under 17's need to be accompanied by an adult.
For a programme of events and more information please refer to
their website at www.priorycountrypark.co.uk.
Download the Priory Country
Park Opportunity Form for more details.
Harrold Odell Country
The Harrold Country Park Rangers also hold monthly volunteer
conservation days and weekly volunteer sessions. For a
programme of events and more information please refer to their
website at www.hocp.co.uk.
Bedford Park
Bedford Park Rangers hold a monthly volunteer day in the Park on
the first Sunday in every month. All equipment is supplied, for
more information please contact the Park Ranger Team on 01234
227363.
Addison Howard Park
A new community garden is currently being developed in Addison
Howard Park called the Green Man Community Garden. The
garden is situated in a disused area at the back of the Park,
and it is hoped that the garden will be developed into
a wonderful resource for the local community. If you would
like to find out more about the garden or how you can get involved
in this exciting new project for Kempston, please refer to the
Green Man Community
garden web page or contact Larissa on email larissa.clarke@bedford.gov.uk
or (01234) 227407 or Laura on email: laura.dawkins@bedford.gov.uk
or (01234) 227363.
Putnoe Woods and Mowsbury Hillfort
Join in conservation volunteer sessions held on Wednesday and
Saturday afternoons. The friends group have their own
website
and newsletter.
Park Champions
Park Champions is a brand new scheme the Parks Team
are piloting in 2013. Park Champions is similar to the Street
Champion Scheme, where Champions are issued a starter pack
detailing how to report issues they may see. Champions will also
have access to equipment to use in their park. If you would like to
help us pilot this new scheme please fill in the registration form
at the top of the page.
Download the Park Champions
Opportunity Form for more details.
Everywhere else...
Pride in Bedford Community Events
The Pride in Bedford Team have a year long calendar of events
that volunteers can attend. From community litter picks, river clean ups, daffodil bulb planting, community
painting/art projects and other volunteering
opportunities. Details of the events can be found on the separate
pages at www.bedford.gov.uk/prideinbedford.
Download the Rivercare
Opportunity Form for more details.
Download the Community
Clean Ups Opportunity Form for more details.
Street Champions
Street Champions is a volunteer scheme headed by the Pride in
Bedford Team to encourage residents to take a more active role in
their community. by signing up they get an A-Z handbook which
details how to report environmental issues and an equipment list
which enables residents to have equipment such as graffiti wipes,
posters and litter pickers. Champions can give as little or as much
time as they want and cover as many streets as they wish. For more
information on the scheme please refer to the Pride in
Bedford web pages and click on the Street Champion page. A Junior scheme is
also open for young people aged 5-16, more details can be found on
the dedicated Junior Street
Champion webpage.
Download the Street
Champion Opportunity Form for more details.
Download the Junior Street
Champion Opportunity Form for more details.
'In bloom'
In Bloom is one of Europe’s largest horticultural campaigns in
which over 1,000 cities, towns and villages participate each year
in order to show off their achievements in environmental
responsibility, community participation and of course,
horticulture. Bedford has it's own entry along with other separate
entries for areas such as Brickhill, Cauldwell & Kingsbrook,
Kempston, Queen's Park and Turvey. Each entry is run by various
members of the community and help is always welcome.
Golden Gardens
Originally two disused garage sites, the plots at Milburn Road
and Elliott Crescent in Goldington are now two thriving community
gardens. There is always plenty going on in the gardens and
help is always appreciated in the maintenance and ongoing
development. If you are interested in getting involved in the award
winning gardens please contact Kim Norris on 01234 221219.
Community Speed Watch
In partnership with Bedfordshire Police and Neighbourhood Watch,
Bedford Borough Council are offering residents concerned with
speeding in their area to join Community Speed Watch. The Speed
Watch initiative is designed to educate drivers about their speed
and reduce speeding in areas where there is an identified feeling
of being unsafe or a high risk of accidents. Training will be given
before volunteers can use a Speed Indicator Device (SID) to monitor
traffic. In conjunction with this, volunteers can also assist
in the distribution of ‘Watch your Speed’ information leaflets and
stickers for wheelie bins.
Download the Community
Speedwatch Opportunity Form for more details.
Rights of Way
There are over 900 kilometres of public rights of way throughout
the Borough of Bedford and volunteer help is invaluable in helping
to keep this network clealry marked and accessible for all
users.
Help the Rights of Way Team to carry out condition surveys
and help fix issues that have identified from the survey. All
volunteers will be given training, support and the materials
needed.
Download the Rights of Way
Survey Opportunity Form for more details.
Dog Watch
The Dog Watch scheme is about local dog walkers working in
partnership with Bedford Borough Council and the police to reduce
anti social behaviour and promote responsible dog ownership.
Volunteers are encouraged to keep an eye out for issues on their
daily dog walks looking for issues such as dog fouling, vandalism,
graffiti, mini motorbikes and litter. Volunteers are supported with
a welcome pack and regular feedback and advice. Refer to the
Dog Watch page for more
details and contact deatils.
Download the Dog Watch
Opportunity Form for more details.
Event Support
A number of events are held throughout the year by the
Environment and Sustainable Communities Team. volunteers are
welcomed to support these events by getting involved in planning,
setting up, taking photographs, running stalls, serving
refreshments, meet and greet, delivering flyers and leaflets. If
you are able to help at events please tick the relevant box on the
registration form and the Pride in Bedford Team will get in touch
to let you know about local events you could volunteer at. Refer to
the main Pride in Bedford page for
contact details.
Download the Event Support
Opportunity Form for more details.
Contact Details
Pride in Bedford Team
Tel: 01234 718276 / 718277
Email: prideinbedford@bedford.gov.uk.