Bedfordshire

Almost a dozen children were waiting for a home after being awarded an adoption placement order as of March in Central Bedfordshire, new figures show.

If you have the surname Bonney, Branson, Brown, Davison, Foster, Johnson or Millward, the curator of Moot Hall in Elstow is hoping to find out if you could be a living descendant of John Bunyan. Clive Arnold began researching the Bunyan...

From ‘boy racers’ and anti-social behaviour to drug dealing and shoplifting, so-called ‘silent crime’ is something that affects people across Bedfordshire.

Proposed modifications to facilities in Wixams, such as sports hubs, community centres, and play areas, were rejected by councillors last night. The two reports presented to last night’s Wixams Joint Development Control...

Expect some buffering on Netflix 😬

Don’t get caught out! ⏰

Proposed modifications to facilities in Wixams, such as sports hubs, community centres, and play areas, were rejected by Bedford councillors last night.

Do you let your kids play Roblox 🎮

Bedfordshire’s temporarily retired chief constable said he has "no plans" to leave the force after he returns to policing next month. Trevor Rodenhurst will return to his post on November 4 following...

A video report details how a burglar responsible for a spate of cafe and shop break-ins has been jailed, after a community tip-off helped police to crack the case.

The Mayor of Bedford and the leader of the Lib Dems have clashed over the progress in building GP surgeries in the borough. Councillor Henry Vann (Lib Dems, De Parys) told the mayor...

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...

Drivers are being warned over the closure of the A421 in Bedfordshire over the first two weekends of November.

In total, there are 4 surveys: one for parents and carers, one for early years settings, one for childminders, and one for wraparound childcare providers. By collecting data from all these groups, we aim to better understand how well current childcare services meet the needs of families in Central Bedfordshire.

Among other things, we would like to understand how many hours of childcare families use during term time, the childcare that families currently use, whether their children have any additional needs and information about any barriers faced by families who want to access childcare locally.

Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

We encourage all families to share their thoughts and experiences by taking part in our survey, which should only take between 5 and 10 minutes. It’s essential that we hear from as many people as possible, as their input will help us ensure that our communities have the right support in place for children and families.

The survey is open until Sunday 10 November.

Fill in the survey

They could be real game-changers! 📱

The Bedford Independent has learned that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, has been asked to join a police investigation...

Poundstretcher is celebrating Hallowe’en by giving away £10 vouchers this weekend.

People have lost thousands to these scams 😰

People are being told ‘not to come’ to the airport 🚨

The IFD team supports children, young people, and families by providing a single point of contact for reporting concerns about child safety and wellbeing. It brings together various agencies, including social workers, health professionals, schools, and the police. This collaborative approach allows agencies to share information and support each other, focusing on the needs of the child and helping families access the support they require at the right time.

Before being chosen as a finalist, members of the team were interviewed by a panel and were asked to provide examples of how partnership working has benefited children, young people and families. One of the panel members remarked on how the examples demonstrated ‘a real emphasis on working with families.’

The Partnership Working Award is open to an organisation who can demonstrate excellence in multi-agency working, breaking down barriers to ensure the best interest of children, young people and families.

Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

The team’s nomination recognises their hard work and dedication in supporting families in Central Bedfordshire; they have worked tirelessly to keep improving the service and make sure it’s the best it can be. The Integrated Front Door may only step into a family’s life for a short period to provide support, guidance and compassion, but for many families, this is exactly what they need.

It's crucial that we remember that the needs of the child come first. The IFD shows that when everyone collaborates, we can better support children and families. The nomination reinforces the importance of partners across Central Bedfordshire working together to ensure that every child and family gets the help they deserve.

The National Children and Young People Awards celebrate excellence in care for children, young people and families, and pay tribute to individuals or organisations who excel in quality care provision. The team will find out if they are winners at an awards ceremony at the end of October.

With hardly a spare seat in St Paul’s Church in Bedford, Ian Smith, Bedford Sinfonia’s guest conductor, opened the Bedfordshire Orchestral Society 2024/5 season on Saturday night (19 October). He brought an ambitious and joyous programme...

Bedfordshire's temporarily retired chief constable said he has "no plans" to leave the force after he returns to policing next month.

New figures show rent rose 7% in the past year in Bedford.

As the police and council deal with the aftermath of Saturday’s explosion and subsequent fire, residents are being told to avoid certain footpaths.

Three second half goals saw Real Bedford fight back to beat Potton Utd to progress to the second round of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night (22 October)...