Bedford Borough Council

Join BDAP & Friends this April to help raise awareness of Stalking 1 in 5 women and around 1 in 11 men aged 16 years and over has been a victim of stalking Estimated 709,388 stalking cases year ending March 2023 – England & Wales Home Office/ONS Office of the PCC Bedfordshire Bedford Borough Council Central Bedfordshire Council

Night closures at the Embankment are scheduled to begin this week. From Thursday 3 April, between 8pm-5am the Embankment will be closed between Newnham Road and High Street. This is to carry out works to enable traffic to turn right onto the Embankment from the Town Bridge. The work will end on Wednesday 7 May. A diversion route will be signposted during closure hours. To find out more about the St Paul’s Square public realm project, including key dates and milestones, visit https://lnkd.in/dVXRNmZ9 The Bedford Town Deal projects are funded by the Towns Fund grant.

The latest email from The Jobs Hub has just been sent, if you're interested in a new career, volunteering or training opportunities do make sure you subscribe. Vacancy of the week is Care Team Leader with Bedford Borough Council, other roles include: Yard Operative, Bar and Waiting staff, Warehouse Coordinator, Retail Travel Advisor, Exam Invigilator, Security Officer, Department Manager, IT Support Apprentice, HGV Apprentice and many more. Volunteering roles include Social Media Officer, Winter Night Shelter, Community Food Pantry and Lifeguard. Find out more in the comments.

We think this video of the Book Fairies at Bromham CofE Primary School is fantastic! Families, schools, and book lovers across the borough are encouraged to join in the excitement by keeping an eye out for hidden books and sharing their discoveries online using #BBYearOfReading2025, #ibelieveinbookfairies and #bookfairiesinschool. Find out more about the year of reading and how you can take part at https://lnkd.in/eXjz-UGc

Bedford Borough Council is calling on residents, businesses, and visitors to share their thoughts on proposed new Public Spaces Protection Orders. These aim to help tackle persistent anti-social behaviour in Bedford town centre. A Public Spaces Protection Order is a tool available to local authorities to address anti-social behaviour in specific areas. Its aim is to ensure that public spaces can be enjoyed by everyone, free from anti-social behaviour. The proposed three-year Public Spaces Protection Order for Bedford town centre seeks to consolidate two existing orders and introduce new measures to tackle a range of issues regularly reported to the Council and its partner agencies. These include drinking alcohol, aggressive begging, spitting and littering in public spaces, and using these places as toilets. Further issues covered include people accessing stairwells or rooftops in public places to commit anti-social behaviour and riding a bike in the pedestrianised area of Bedford town centre between 9am-6pm, or a skateboard or e-scooter at any time. The existing order, restricting the use of cycles, e-scooters and skateboards, will end on 8 June 2025, and the alcohol-related Public Spaces Protection Order ends on 15 December 2026. The new Public Spaces Protection Order aims to create one unified town centre order to improve clarity and enforcement. In addition, the Council is seeking views on extending the existing Public Spaces Protection Order for dog control for a further three years, with potential additions of new locations. The dog control Public Spaces Protection Order covers four key issues, dog fouling, the exclusion of dogs in some areas, and areas where dogs must either be always kept on a lead or are to be put on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer. The consultation period runs from Monday 17 March and all responses must reach the Council by 11.59pm, Sunday 13 April, 2025. The feedback received will be compiled into a comprehensive report, which will be presented to the Council's Executive Committee on Wednesday 18 June, 2025. To have your say, please visit www.bedford.gov.uk/PSPO Paper copies of the survey will be available for collection from Bedford Central Library on the third floor, near the staff desk.

Good News for Bedford Borough Foster Carers! In partnership with GLL (also known as BETTER), we have announced a new initiative offering free gym and swim access to all our valued foster carers, members of their households, and foster children. Foster carers are now able to register and take advantage of this scheme at one of the following BETTER Leisure facilities: - Robinson Pools & Fitness - Kempston Pool - John Bunyan Sports & Fitness - Bedford International Athletic Stadium To register, carers must present a letter (which will be sent to them) along with proof of ID and address at one of the participating locations. This initiative is part of Bedford Borough’s ongoing commitment to supporting our foster carers, recognising their invaluable contribution to the community and ensuring they have access to health and wellbeing opportunities. Councillor Jane Walker, Portfolio Holder for Valuing Families: Children’s Services, said: “We are incredibly grateful to our foster carers for the dedication and care they provide to children in our community. This scheme is a small way of showing our appreciation and supporting their wellbeing. We hope it will make a real difference to them and their families. Gillan Kelly, Partnership Manager at GLL, said: “We recognise and value the vital role that carers undertake to support and improve the lives of others. As a charitable social enterprise that works to improve local communities, we’re delighted to launch this initiative and hope many will take advantage of the wellbeing and health benefits available to them at our leisure centres.” For more information about this initiative, foster carers are encouraged to contact fostering@bedford.gov.uk

The Bedford Credit Union Local Cost of Living Fair is this Saturday at the Harpur Suite, Bedford. Learn more from Bedford Credit Union about the event here -https://lnkd.in/e6pVjezW

We are encouraging residents to come together and celebrate two major community events this year—the 80th Anniversary of VE Day and The Big Lunch 2025—by hosting local street parties. To support these celebrations, we are waiving the usual road closure fees for both occasions, continuing our commitment to strengthening community connections across the Borough. Elected Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, said: “Both the 80th Anniversary of VE Day and The Big Lunch are brilliant opportunities for people across Bedford Borough to come together. These events help foster stronger connections, reflect on our shared history, and celebrate the communities we live in. I’m proud that the Council supports residents by waiving street party fees and making it easier to bring neighbours together.” To organise a street party for either VE Day or The Big Lunch, simply email road.closures@bedford.gov.uk with the following details: - Event date (VE Day or Big Lunch) - Road name and time of the closure - An emergency contact for the day Find out more in the comments.

We're proud to announce that Natalie Marfleet has received a nationwide award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the social work profession. The Amazing Social Workers campaign, run by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW UK), champions the exceptional work happening across the UK’s social work profession. The awards highlight the achievements of individuals and teams while raising awareness of the critical role social workers play in supporting communities and changing lives. This year, over 400 individuals and teams were nominated by colleagues, spanning frontline practitioners, students, managers, leaders, educators, and newly qualified social workers. BASW will celebrate their achievements throughout March, showcasing their contributions as part of World Social Work Day. Harmesh Bhogal, Director of Children's Service, said: "I’m delighted to see Natalie receive this well-deserved national recognition. Her dedication, professionalism, and compassion truly make a difference to the lives of children and families in Bedford Borough. Natalie has put her all into her placements with us in Bedford Borough Council! Natalie is child and family centred, takes every learning opportunity in her stride and has completed some transformative relationship based direct work with her children and young people!” BASW UK Vice-Chair Lewis Roberts added: " Congratulations to everyone who has been deservedly nominated for recognition this year. We look forward to sharing and championing your achievements as part of our World Social Work Day celebrations."

We're Hiring: Head of Regeneration, Property and Local Economy Bedford Borough Council is looking for an ambitious leader to drive forward our regeneration agenda. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our town centres, ensuring that both residents and businesses benefit from sustainable growth and investment. This new role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, will lead a pipeline of major regeneration projects, secure external funding, and oversee the Council’s estate and income generation. You’ll also work closely with developers, the Department for Work and Pensions, and key partners to influence the government’s Devolution agenda. We’re looking for a results-driven professional with a strong track record in regeneration and economic development. You will have the opportunity to build and develop a high-performing team, making a lasting impact on the borough’s future. Bedford is at a pivotal moment, with once-in-a-generation projects on the horizon. If you’re passionate about delivering transformational change, we’d love to hear from you. Closing date: Thursday 17 April For more details and to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/eHdbkiDR