Charity Voting for 2025-2026 Now Open
Thank you to all members who nominated a charity in the last few weeks. It’s always a humbling experience when we read how many charities we have in Bedford and how so many in our community are doing their best to help others. We are always in admiration of how many charities we have in Bedford and how many people are doing such wonderful things to support others in our community.
We are pleased to now share this year’s shortlist; please see below in reverse alphabetical order. Voting opens on the 1st August and will close at midnight on the 5th September and the two charities with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be the ones selected for our support in 2024-2025: this will be announced in mid-September. All adult members get up to two votes each, and these must be cast for two different charities. You cannot vote for the same charity twice.
Members – please send your votes through to [email protected] by midnight on the 5th September.
Wooden Spoon Bedfordshire (326691)
Wooden Spoon has a mission to transform the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children and young people across the UK and Ireland through the power of rugby. From sensory rooms, specialist playgrounds and sports activity areas to respite, medical and community care, they fund around 70 projects each year that support disadvantaged and disabled children. Since their founding in 1983, they’ve distributed in excess of £24 million, helping over 1 million young people.
Samaritans (219432)
Bedford Samaritans was founded in 1963 and support anyone struggling to cope – day or night, 365 days a year. They take action to prevent people reaching crisis point, helping them find ways to cope and learn the skills to be there for others. They campaign to make suicide prevention a priority.
Mind BLMK (1068724)
Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. They offer a range of activities from wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Their aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.
IMPAKT (801035)
Impakt recognises the trauma caused by homelessness and provides a safe and aspirational place for people to live, and the skills and support to enable long term independent living.
Fun 4 Young People (1198194)
Established in 2015, Fun 4 Young People focuses on helping and supporting children in the local community from Year 1 up to Year 11 by overcoming barriers they may be facing in their lives through the delivery of after-school and holiday programmes. Whether they are experiencing bullying, isolation or struggling socially, Fun 4 Young People aims to provide the help to promote positive wellbeing, communication and relationship building.
Friends for Life (1165730)
Friends for Life works to address the social isolation of residents within Bedford Borough care homes. They recognise the negative impact loneliness can have on a person’s wellbeing and address this by recruiting volunteers to become personal befrienders, offering friendship and company to care home residents who have few or no external visitors. Founded in 2007, they have grown from a small local initiative to a charity with around 70 volunteers, supporting 30 care homes primarily in Bedford Borough.
Foodbank (1179538)
Bedford Foodbank’s volunteers work with referral partners to provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in our community.
Embrace (formerly Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society) (1156447)
Established in 1954, Embrace is a small charity based in Bedford(shire), with a mission to provide support to families living with disabilities. They offer support for the whole family from helping parent carers find a voice at meetings; offering advice and assistance and helping at home in times of need, to a vast array of parent-carer wellbeing sessions, family sessions and activities for children and young people all the way from babies to adults.
Emmaus Village (1083113)
Emmaus Village Carlton aims to offer not just temporary shelter, but a stable home, meaningful work, and a supported route toward independence for people who’ve experienced homelessness.
Country Days (1181833)
Country Days is an educational charity providing outdoor learning in a beautiful nature reserve for primary school children in years 3 -6 who live in Bedfordshire. Country Days gives children in Bedfordshire the opportunity to explore the wonders of nature, reconnect with the wild and discover the world around them.
Cats Protection Bedford Branch (203644)
This charity supports cats and kittens in Bedford & Biggleswade. Run by a small team of dedicated, cat-loving volunteers, they are passionate about improving the lives of cats and kittens in Bedford & Biggleswade, working to find loving new homes for local cats in their care, and lost and found cats, as well as providing general education and awareness within the local area. Their vision is a society where every cat has their best possible life because they are protected, cared for and understood by everyone.
Carers in Bedfordshire (1135507)
Founded in 2004, their mission is to provide carers with access to the support, information and skills they need to enhance their wellbeing, enabling them to remain in a caring role for as long as they choose. They provide their services to help unpaid carers of all ages, right across Bedfordshire, with information, support and advice, and giving voice to their concerns.
BedfordGiving (1066861)
BedfordGiving is a community-powered movement with one shared goal: to empower Bedford’s children and young people to thrive. From local schools, businesses, families, charities, and volunteers, they unite people, ideas, and resources to spark change and build a brighter future. They ate a movement driven by the community, for the community.
Autism Bedfordshire (1100722)
Autism Bedfordshire was founded in 1991 and is the only voluntary organisation in the county that specialises in supporting autistic adults and children. They help break down the barriers to social participation for autistic people and their families by providing places where they can go and feel comfortable, accepted and not judged by society.
Amicus Trust Ltd (268639)
Amicus Trust | Homelessness Support in Bedfordshire & East England
Amicus aims to ensure everyone has a life free from homelessness and a place in their community. They offer a safe, supported place to live, where they can help residents develop everyday life skills and interests with the aim of helping them to move on into a home of their own.
Above and Beyond Cancer Foundation (1173983)
Founded in 2013, the foundation’s core purpose is to support individuals diagnosed with cancer, along with their carers and family members, by offering personal, one-to-one support, guided by personal experience. It also provides complementary and holistic therapies—such as reflexology, reiki, massage and relaxation techniques to support well‑being through treatment and recovery.
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