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Monday, 14 July 2025
HAF programme returns this summer with free activities for children
Our popular Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is returning for summer 2025.
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Wednesday, 28 May 2025
New programme brings music to the early years
Inspiring Music, our music service, has partnered with The Family Music Hub (TFMH) to launch a new training programme for early years practitioners.
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Wednesday, 7 May 2025
‘Good’ rating for children’s home in Biggleswade
Maythorn children’s home in Biggleswade has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted following a recent inspection, carried out over two days.
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Thursday, 24 April 2025
Children’s social care services rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted – with real impact for families
We're proud to announce another successful outcome from Ofsted, which has once again rated our children’s social care services as Good, following its latest inspection.
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Monday, 7 April 2025
Members of Youth Parliament head to the House of Commons
Members of Central Bedfordshire’s Youth Parliament headed to the House of Commons to join a debate with the wider UK Youth Parliament.
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Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Head of Family Help nominated as an Amazing Social Worker
Tracie Collins, our Head of Family Help, has received national recognition of her outstanding contribution to the social work profession.
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Monday, 3 March 2025
Consultation launched: proposed changes to Inspiring Music’s music centres
We're inviting residents to share their views on proposed changes to Inspiring Music’s music centres.
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Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Funding secured for exciting youth sports project in Dunstable
We are delighted to announce that £12,415 of funding has been secured from Sport England for an exciting new Youth Leisure Project in Dunstable.
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Wednesday, 22 January 2025
£100,000 of funding available to support local families through children’s centres
The Council is making £100,000 of funding available for its Children’s Centre Crisis Fund, an initiative designed to support families facing unexpected financial difficulties.
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Thursday, 12 December 2024
Make next Christmas a family Christmas for a child in care
As the festive period gets under way, councils from across the region are asking people to open up their homes and hearts and make next Christmas a family Christmas for a child in care.
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Monday, 11 November 2024
Success for Council at the National Children and Young People Awards
Staff from Central Bedfordshire Council have been recognised at the National Children and Young People’s Awards, which were held in Birmingham at the end of October.
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Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Integrated Front Door team finalists at national awards
Our Integrated Front Door (IFD) team has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Partnership Working Award at the National Children and Young People Awards.
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Thursday, 3 October 2024
Central Bedfordshire children’s centres receive My Smile accreditation
This summer, 4 of our children’s centres received the My Smile Children's Centre accreditation for 2024.
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Wednesday, 2 October 2024
Free music open days this October with Inspiring Music
Inspiring Music is hosting a series of free open days this October, inviting young people to explore the world of music at its three music hubs in Ampthill, Biggleswade, and Leighton Buzzard.
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Tuesday, 1 October 2024
HAF programme gives children a seaside treat
Families enjoyed a trip to the seaside during the summer holidays thanks to our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
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Friday, 20 September 2024
Summer activities a hit with families
Families across Central Bedfordshire made the most of a packed schedule of free and low-cost activities at our libraries, children's centres, leisure centres and outdoor spaces over the summer.
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Thursday, 19 September 2024
Central Bedfordshire’s young carers get treat at summer family festival
Young carers from across Central Bedfordshire got a fun treat at the end of the summer holidays when they attended a free summer festival, hosted by us.
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Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Data shows more families making the most of Tax-Free Childcare scheme in Central Bedfordshire
Data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has shown an increase in the number of families in Central Bedfordshire who are taking advantage of the government’s Tax-Free Childcare scheme.
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Thursday, 12 September 2024
Early years settings celebrated for dedication to children’s wellbeing
We have presented 11 early years settings with awards after they achieved our ‘Healthy Child, Healthy Workforce’ standard.
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Wednesday, 28 August 2024
New dates announced for free course supporting parents
We have announced new dates for our free Parenting Puzzle Programme, designed to support parents and carers of pre-school aged (three to five-year-old) children.
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Friday, 23 August 2024
Students across Central Bedfordshire find out their GCSE results
Yesterday (August 22), students at schools across Central Bedfordshire were discovering their GCSE results.
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Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Students learn more about democracy at Council event
We recently hosted 65 young people at Priory House to learn more about democracy.
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Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre provides school uniforms for almost 200 children
Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre has provided school uniforms for nearly 200 children at its fourth annual school uniform event.
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Monday, 12 August 2024
Council seeking feedback on its plan for young people
We are updating our Children and Young People's Plan, and are seeking feedback from children, young people, parents, carers and professionals who work with children.
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Monday, 12 August 2024
Discover adoption: local event to help you find out more
Families across Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes who are looking to grow, and give a child a loving home, are invited to an adoption information event in August.
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Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Sensory adventures for SEND children in libraries across Central Bedfordshire
Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being taken on a journey beyond imagination in a world of sensory wonder at their local libraries.
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Thursday, 16 May 2024
Videos to mark Foster Care Fortnight
We have launched a series of videos featuring a local couple who are foster carers, and are hosting 2 events so anyone interested in fostering can find out more.
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Tuesday, 7 May 2024
Local authorities team up to launch Music Hub
Music services from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have teamed up to launch the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Music Hub from September 2024.
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Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Council staff board autism bus to mark neurodiversity week
To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, staff immersed themselves in a virtual reality experience to help them understand the challenges that autistic people face on a daily basis.
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Wednesday, 17 April 2024
We have been selected as early adopter of a new wraparound childcare programme
We have been selected as an ‘early adopter’ of the government’s National Wraparound Childcare Programme, ahead of the national launch in September 2024.
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Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Community building renovation opens up learning opportunities for young people
Young people at risk of disengaging from mainstream education have learned new vocational skills as part of a project to refurbish the Downside Community Centre for the benefit of the community.
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Friday, 12 April 2024
Flitwick Scout community rallies together for hedge planting event
Over 80 scouts and squirrels (junior scouts) joined forces with parents and support volunteers on a sunny Sunday, for a community hedge-planting event.
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Friday, 12 April 2024
New play park opens in Meadow Way, Leighton Buzzard
We have opened a new play park in Meadow Way, Leighton Buzzard, providing a new exciting outdoor experience for children between 6 and 16 years old.
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Friday, 12 April 2024
Children’s centres are winners at Youth Sport Trust Awards
Staff from our children’s centres have won an award at the Youth Sport Trust awards.
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Thursday, 11 April 2024
New inclusive play park opens to the delight of residents
A project to install inclusive play equipment in the Grove House Gardens Play Area has created a new-look play area open to all.
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Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Additional funding available to support families over the Easter holidays
We've been allocated almost £1.5 million in government funding to support families in the area.
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Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Ofsted confirms effective sensitive support for Central Bedfordshire children and families
We've received welcome feedback for the social care services we provide to children and families, following a focused visit in February.
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Monday, 25 March 2024
Last chance for parents to have their say on proposed changes to Home to School Transport Policy
There is still time for parents and carers to have their say on proposed changes to two of our Home to School Transport policies.
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Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Have your say on new special school places in Houghton Regis
We have launched a statutory consultation on changes to Chiltern School to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have
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Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Have your say on new special school places in Biggleswade and Shefford
We have launched two statutory consultations to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have access to great education.
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Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Schools encouraged to take part in Big Walk and Wheel Challenge
Pupils, teachers, and parents across Central Bedfordshire are being encouraged to walk, wheel, or jump on their bikes and scooters for the 2024 Big Walk and Wheel schools’ challenge.
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Thursday, 15 February 2024
What’s on this half-term in Central Bedfordshire?
As the half-term holiday approaches, we're reminding families about the exciting activities available in the area that they can enjoy together.
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Monday, 29 January 2024
Have your say on our Skills for All strategy
We are inviting people to have their say on a new strategy that outlines how we will support people to access education throughout their lives.
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Thursday, 4 January 2024
Christmas fun for children at Jack and the Beanstalk
Over 300 children got a Christmas treat last Friday (29 December) when they went to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable, starring Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell in EastEnders).
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Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Central Bedfordshire’s Youth Parliament heads to the House of Commons
Members of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Youth Parliament headed to the House of Commons last week to take part in a debate about free school meals.
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Tuesday, 17 October 2023
National Adoption Week 2023
This National Adoption Week (16 to 22 October 2023), a powerful new campaign is being launched by You Can Adopt to celebrate the evolving face of adoption.
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Monday, 21 August 2023
Leighton Buzzard Children's Centre celebrates 15th birthday
Last Thursday (17 August), Leighton Buzzard Children's Centre celebrated its 15th birthday with a fun-day!
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Tuesday, 15 August 2023
Early years settings in Ampthill and Totternhoe are first to achieve new wellbeing accreditation
We have developed a new accreditation for early years settings which focusses on mental health and wellbeing.
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Friday, 7 July 2023
Free childcare boost for Central Bedfordshire families
Our families will benefit from the government’s largest-ever investment in early years childcare and wraparound childcare for primary school-aged children.
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Friday, 9 June 2023
Two parent governors appointed to Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Two new parent governor representatives have taken up their posts on our Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Council hosts event to help parents understand exploitation
We are hosting a free event for parents to help them understand more about exploitation.
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Monday, 6 March 2023
Shefford and Stotfold Children’s Centre supports families with free, hot meals
In the first two months of 2023, a club run by Shefford and Stotfold Children's Centre has provided food for 13 adults and 25 children.
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Thursday, 2 March 2023
Children’s Centre offers free half term fun for children
Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre, on East Street in Leighton Buzzard, ran a free activity session during half term, which was attended by 18 families with almost 36 children.
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Monday, 13 February 2023
Flitwick Children’s Centre has supported over 1,500 families in the past year
Through weekly outreach sessions in the community, staff at Flitwick Children’s Centre have supported 1,528 families over the past year.
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Thursday, 9 February 2023
Kingfishers Children’s Home rated ‘good’ after Ofsted inspection
Our children’s home in Houghton Regis has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, for the fourth time in a row.
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Friday, 6 January 2023
Increase in funding to feed vulnerable children this Christmas
On Tuesday 6 December, our Executive agreed to increase the value of its school holiday food vouchers as well as championing the need to improve the free school meals offer.
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Tuesday, 3 January 2023
Parents praise free Parenting Puzzle programme
Parents have praised a free course for parents and carers of children between two and five years old, which is delivered from six of our children’s centres.
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Wednesday, 28 December 2022
Local business donates presents to families at Children’s Centre
A small business based in Silsoe has donated 29 Christmas presents to a Central Bedfordshire Council run children’s centre.
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Friday, 23 December 2022
Children’s centre teams up with local charity to deliver food parcels to families
A children’s centre we run has teamed up with a local charity to pack and deliver food parcels to families in time for Christmas.
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Wednesday, 21 December 2022
400 children get panto treat thanks to our holiday programme
Almost 400 children between the ages of 5 and 12 got a special treat yesterday (Tuesday) after they went to see Cinderella – this year’s pantomime at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable.
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Friday, 2 December 2022
Free activities for children during the Christmas holidays
Our holiday activities and food (HAF) programme is returning over the Christmas holidays, providing fun, free activities for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals.
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Wednesday, 9 November 2022
Double winner at the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2022
On Friday 4 November 2022, Kirstie Baughan, who works for Central Bedfordshire Council’s Children’s Services team was crowned a winner not once, but twice at a national awards ceremony.
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Friday, 4 November 2022
Last chance to have your say on the funding approach for SEND short break leisure activities
Make sure you have your say on our consultation to gain views on the funding approach for SEND short break leisure activities.
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Thursday, 13 October 2022
Council’s Children’s Centre provides school uniforms for 150 children
A Central Bedfordshire Council Children’s Centre has helped provide school uniform to almost 150 local children.
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Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Children’s home rated ‘good’ by Ofsted for fifth year in a row
Maythorn Children’s home in Biggleswade has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted for the fifth year in a row. The home has achieved a ‘good’ rating in every inspection conducted since 2017.
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Friday, 23 September 2022
Young carers keep busy this summer
Young carers from Central Bedfordshire have had a ball this summer, getting stuck into a whole host of activities laid on by our Early Help team.
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Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Parenting Puzzle - free courses to help parents and carers of children under 5
We all need a little support at times when it comes to looking after children, which is why it’s worth bearing in mind that across Central Bedfordshire there are FREE courses available.
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Wednesday, 3 August 2022
Fun filled day at free family fête (in Flitwick)
Over 80 young carers from Central Bedfordshire had a fun-filled day in Flitwick on Wednesday (27 July).
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Monday, 25 July 2022
We've launched a free booklet full of fun summer activities for parents and children
The free booklets can be collected from our children's centres.
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Thursday, 14 July 2022
Support for families during the summer holidays
We're outlining how we will support families and children over the six-week summer holidays this year.
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Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Roman remains revealed on Houghton Regis site set for new school
Completion of the new state-of-the-art Houstone School in Houghton Regis will be delayed after the archaeological discovery of Roman, Neolithic and early Bronze Age remains dating back 4,500 years.
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Friday, 13 May 2022
We're seeking opinions to help refresh our Children and Young People's Plan
We're asking children, young people, parents, carers and professionals who work with children for their thoughts to help shape and refresh a Children and Young People's Plan for 2022 to 2025.
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Friday, 29 April 2022
Hundreds of children take part in free Easter holiday activities
Hundreds of children across Central Bedfordshire took part in fun, free activities during the Easter Holidays as a result of our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
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Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Free course to support parents of pre-school aged children
We're running a free programme to support parents and carers of pre-school aged (three to five-year-old) children.
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Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Support for families this Easter
We're supporting families of children eligible for free school meals over the upcoming Easter holiday period.
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Friday, 4 March 2022
Vital children’s social care services rated Good by Ofsted
We have been rated Good for the social care services we provide to children and families, following an inspection in January.
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Friday, 11 February 2022
Over 400 new families signed up for our winter holiday programme
Over 400 new families signed up to our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme over the Christmas holidays, bringing the total number of families registered to over 1,600.
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Thursday, 9 December 2021
Council’s free holiday activities for children returns this winter
During the Christmas holidays, we are once again offering free holiday activities to children entitled to free school meals.
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Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Be safe, be seen – we're keen to help keep students safe when cycling this winter
A new road safety initiative will see over 500 young people across Central Bedfordshire become safer when cycling to and from school this winter.
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Monday, 25 October 2021
Get involved in a week of inclusive half-term activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
We're partnered with SNAP PCF to offer a free swimming session for families of children with SEND this half-term, as part of a wider programme of inclusive activities taking place throughout the week.
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Thursday, 21 October 2021
We're supporting local families with food vouchers in October half term
We'll be supporting the families of over 7,000 children with food costs during the October half term.
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Tuesday, 19 October 2021
National Adoption Week champions the voices less heard
Monday 18 October 2021 marks the launch of National Adoption Week 2021, which aims to educate and inform people on the process of modern adoption today.
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Friday, 17 September 2021
Music centres in Central Bedfordshire re-open, to start the new term on the right note
After a year of distribution caused by the pandemic, Inspiring Music (our music service) announces the re-opening of its three music centres for face-to-face music making, playing and performing.
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Friday, 17 September 2021
Praise. following review of early years programme
We've been praised by not-for-profit organisation Parents As First Teachers, after a review of our training programme which supports families from pregnancy until their children are three years old.
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Thursday, 16 September 2021
Over 900 families benefit from our summer holiday programme
This summer, 961 families signed up to our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, providing free activities for children eligible for benefit related free school meals.
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Friday, 10 September 2021
Our holiday activities programme proves a hit with young people
Our holiday activities and food programme has proved a hit amongst young people and their parents after a fun filled week at Woburn Safari Park!
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Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Support available for young people who are expecting their exam results
We have a number of services available to support young people who will be receiving their exam results this week.
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Wednesday, 28 July 2021
We'll help disadvantaged families with food costs and free children's activities over the holiday period
We'll support the families of 7,000 children with food costs over the summer holidays, after receiving further funding from the government to help disadvantaged families.
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Tuesday, 27 July 2021
We've been awarded government grant to support education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children
We've been awarded a government grant of over £200,000 to help support the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people.
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Friday, 9 July 2021
Central Bedfordshire’s young carers team up with Bath Philharmonia for concert
Young carers in Central Bedfordshire put on a concert for parents and council representatives after being taught to play instruments by the Bath Philharmonia during half term in June.
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Wednesday, 7 July 2021
Maythorn residential home praised for outstanding features as it receives ‘Good’ Ofsted rating with no recommendations
Following a two-day inspection at the end of May 2021, the inspectors recognised the children make excellent progress because of their experiences of living at the home.
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Thursday, 8 April 2021
Two weeks left: have your say on our home to school transport policies
There are two weeks left to give your views on proposed changes to our home to school and college travel assistance policies.
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Wednesday, 3 March 2021
New campaign launched to support children’s early years development
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council have launched a campaign to help parents support their child’s communication skills during their early years.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Council supports families of more than 5,000 children with food and fuel bills this half term
We have distributed food vouchers to the families of 5,560 children this half term, along with additional support to help them with their winter fuel bills.
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Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Huge donation helped us buy bikes for over 70 looked after children
Thanks to an anonymous donation, specifically for looked after children, we've been able to gift bicycles and non-motorised scooters to over 70 children and young people.
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Monday, 12 October 2020
National Adoption Week aims to raise awareness about who can adopt
Adoption Connects is aiming to challenge myths and misconceptions about the adoption process and increase understanding about who is eligible to adopt.
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Friday, 24 July 2020
Holiday Picnic initiative aims to keep kids healthy and active this summer
A pilot project to improve the health and wellbeing of children (4-12) and families in Central Bedfordshire is expecting to distribute at least 1,250 meals a week over the school summer holidays.