Bedfordshire

Lina Nielsen, 28, was diagnosed with MS aged 17 and initially believed that her athletics dreams were over due to her lack of education around the chronic disease.

Athletes from Bedford and County Athletics Club were celebrating in the winner's enclosure on Saturday (8 February) as the club secured overall victory in the Chiltern League...

Art from the 18th century right up to the present day will be on display at The Higgins Bedford in its new exhibition, exploring the fascinating relationship between Colour and Light. Opening this Saturday (15 February) and...

Police are searching for a teenage boy who went missing from Bedford nearly one month ago.

Victims and witnesses are now able to report stalking and harassment to Bedfordshire Police using a new online form.

This independent review has been undertaken with all of the agencies across Central Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk that had any involvement with Isabella and her mother. 

The full report is available on the Central Bedfordshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk Children’s Safeguarding Partnership websites, along with a statement from the three partnerships.

Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children and Families at Central Bedfordshire Council said: 

I share the public’s concern about the tragic and unnecessary death of Isabella Wheildon. My thoughts remain with her family and all those affected by this devastating loss.

The expert review of professional practice across the various agencies in Central Bedfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk that had contact with Isabella and her mother is thorough, and there are clear learnings to take forward.

My focus is on ensuring that the learning from Isabella’s story makes a real difference here in Central Bedfordshire and beyond, and on doing our utmost to keep children, especially young children, as safe as possible. I know officers in Central Bedfordshire have been deeply saddened by Isabella’s death and have already implemented many of the recommendations.

I will also contact my counterparts in Suffolk and Norfolk to see how we can, together, ensure Isabella’s story brings real change across our areas to better protect children.

Following a successful retender bid, voice and rights charity VoiceAbility, has been reappointed as a trusted partner in delivering an enhanced range of advocacy services to communities across Central Bedfordshire. VoiceAbility provides free advocacy services to support and empower individuals to communicate their views and wishes, understand their rights, and make informed decisions.

Advocacy services include support in critical areas such as:

• representation in Mental Health Act tribunals
• communication with health and social care professionals
• assistance in making formal complaints in relation to health and social care services

Councillor. Mark Smith, our Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said:

Advocacy is about ensuring people have a voice, speaking for them when they can't and supporting them to speak for themselves when they can regardless of their circumstances. It also defends and safeguards their rights, and ensures their views and wishes are genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives.

The advocacy service makes a positive difference not just to the people we are referring but the professionals they are working with because having advocacy involvement is helping them to understand that our clients have the right to be heard and to be as independent as possible.

Sally Hazeltine, VoiceAbility’s Team Leader for Central Bedfordshire, said:

It’s fantastic news that our team can continue to provide advocacy support to the people of Central Bedfordshire.

We’ll continue to work closely with Central Bedfordshire Council and other organisations across the area to reach as many people who need our services as possible.

If you think you or a friend or family member would benefit from independent support to be heard in decisions about health or social care, you can call us for free on 0300 303 1660 or refer yourself for support on our website.

Find out more about advocacy for you or someone you know, including information about the different types of advocacy available in Central Bedfordshire.

To make an enquiry or referral, please email [email protected] or call free on 0300 303 1660.

Rising Bedford actor AJ Donnelly is hoping to take Hollywood by storm after landing a role which he describes as “nothing short of incredible”.

Rummage round your loft, search the cupboards, and hunt high and low in your garage – because BBC One's Antiques Roadshow is coming to Shuttleworth this spring.

The police along with licensing and trading standards closed a vape shop today (Tuesday) over illegal vapes.

New figures have shows fewer assaults took place at Bedford prison.

A thought-provoking exhibition display and festival are part of this year's LGBT+ History Month celebrations at the Higgins Bedford this February. This year’s theme, “Activism...

The highlight of Bedford Hockey Club’s performances over the weekend must surely be that of the Ladies’ Masters Over 45s. The squad had a trip to Broxbourne on Sunday for the...

The number of sexual offences recorded by Bedfordshire Police has more than quadrupled since 2010, new figures show.

A Year 11 student from Bedford Girls' School is celebrating being appointed as a First Sea Lord Cadet (CCF RN/RM) for 2025, marking a significant moment in her cadet career. Emily Borner is one of only three appointments awarded...

Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston, is stepping away from his work for the coming days due to a close family bereavement.

The Labour government is making significant strides in modernizing the home buying process and supporting aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers. These transformative changes aim to save time, reduce stress, and put...

The first 60 pupils crossed the threshold at a new SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) school in Kempston today (10 February), as Rivertree Free School opened its doors. The new school, built on the site of the former Robert Bruce...

Exactly 45% would rather cuddle up on the couch with their four-legged friend than pursue a potential romance

Once again, the team from Living It Up Performing Arts Centre are taking to the stage to bring their joy-filled annual theatrical extravaganza to the people of Bedford. Following year-on-year five-star reviews from the Bedford Clanger, this year’s show promises to be just as entertaining and tickets are on sale now. At the Quarry Theatre […]

Work starts on Monday (February 17) to improve Harpur Square and St Paul’s Square as part of a £4.98 million investment.

Central Bedfordshire Council is updating its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy – and is inviting children, young people, parent carers, and professionals to share their views.

Acclaimed Irish singer/songwriter, Gavin James, has been announced as the latest addition to the TK Maxx Presents Bedford Summer Sessions this July. The former busker and global sensation will be joining Rag’n’Bone Man in Bedford Park on Saturday, 5 July. From the streets of Dublin to selling out arenas worldwide, Gavin James has become a global sensation, […]

A debate over special area charges saw a majority of Bedford borough councillors reject a Lib Dem objection calling for a rethink on how open space maintenance costs are allocated across the borough. At the Full Council meeting on...

A prolific shoplifter was arrested in Bedford on Friday (February 7).