We are keen to work with communities, and listen to their views and experiences to help better our services.
We engage with residents, voluntary sector groups, and community groups in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to) the various forums that we facilitate:
- Community Network – Voluntary sector organisations, community groups, and faith groups are invited to join us along with the CVS to share learning and network.
- Community Forum – We are planning on launching a new forum where residents and organisations can share concerns and views on local issues, to be heard by the Council, police, fire service, and NHS (ICB) .
- Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority Groups Forum – A forum of local organisations allowing residents from ethnic minority groups to come together and influence decisions that they are passionate about, raise concerns, and celebrate moving forward with anti-racism at the heart of service delivery and engagement.
- Citizens Panel – Residents are able to sign up and be part of the Citizens Panel, where consultations and surveys are circulated, as well as opportunities to participate in engagement events and/or processes
- Parish and Town Councils Network – Open to all Town and Parish Councils within the Borough to share information and support.
Please email communities@bedford.gov.uk if you are interested in finding out more about any of the community forums above.
Community Network
Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire CVS work in partnership to bring the voluntary sector together through the Community Network events are held three times a year in spring, summer, and autumn.
Over the past 12 months, these events have successfully brought together more than 200 participants from the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors to discuss local challenges such as volunteering, the cost of living, and health inequalities.
With a robust community voluntary sector comprising more than 750 charitable organisations in the Borough, these events have significantly enhanced partnership working across the area, fostering greater collaboration and collective impact.
They’ve also helped inform several key strategies for the Council including the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and the Community Engagement Strategy. You can read about previous events here:
- Engaging with Young People (March 2025) – Hearing from Bedford Borough Youth Cabinet and discussing how to involve youth voice in shaping activities, services, and policies.
- Volunteering (February 2024) (PDF)
- Inclusive Community Engagement (June 2024) - developing a Community Engagement Strategy for Bedford Borough Council.
- Climate Change (October 2024) – what actions small organisations can take in response to the climate change emergency.
The next Community Network event will take place in June 2025.