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Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

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Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

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BLCF is an independent charity that supports local community groups and charities in Bedfordshire. Began to operate as a charity from 9th May 2001. Local Focus.

Accredited Member of UK Community foundations Network. Real Change.

16/10/2026

❗𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀' 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱❗

The Luton Citizens’ Fund will provide grants of up to £3,500 to not-for-profit groups who deliver projects or services in Luton. The fund is administered by the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation on behalf of Luton Council. The main objectives for this fund are:

1. Jobs – helping people into employment, education or training, mentoring and life skills.

2. Safety and civic pride – helping people feel safer by countering anti-social behaviour, building a sense of pride and belonging, and contributing positively to the wider community. This could also include projects that improve neighbourhoods and local environments through community action and education.

However, if you have a project that doesn’t fit neatly within the above themes but could contribute to wider Luton 2040 priorities, we’d encourage you to get in touch to discuss your idea before applying.

Deadline for applications is 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 at 𝟭𝟮𝗽𝗺 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗮𝘆.

For more information, including how to apply, please visit: https://blcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/luton/luton-citizens-fund/

15/10/2026

⏪ 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀! ⏪

In 2024, Sue Hughes became our Chair of Trustees. Over the past two years, Sue has worked to support BLCF’s mission by ensuring our effective governance, strategy, and robust frameworks for operation.

With her keen eye for detail and enthusiasm for innovation and improvement, Sue works closely with our CEO and other Trustees to keep our organisation moving forward.

Through her leadership, we have seen the expansion of our board and staff, bringing a deep level of expertise in a variety of areas and a strong connection and appreciation for our local areas. Sue’s guidance has also enabled us to become a Real Living Wage Employer, achieve UKCF Quality Accreditation, and more.

13/10/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔-𝗭 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴!

This week we have R for Reach.

At Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation, we want to ensure organisations across the region have access to funding.

While many of our funds focus on Luton, others, including the Frank Branston Fund, Jane Cart Trust and SWEF Enterprise Fund, are available across Bedfordshire. In 2025–26, we awarded:

- £403,422 in Bedford, benefiting 14,110 people

- £169,742 in Central Bedfordshire, benefiting 22,429 people

- £3,093,376 in Luton, benefiting 124,046 people

From grassroots groups to established charities, we support a wide range of organisations and causes to help communities thrive.

08/10/2026

⏪ 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀! ⏪

Vital Signs is a community-driven data program developed by Community Foundations of Canada. It uses local knowledge to measure the vitality of a community and support action towards improving collective quality of life. Local data gathered through the program is used to support evidence-based solutions to improve the quality of life at the community level.

BLCF works with Sonia Bielaszewska of Social Research Builders to lead this piece of work. First commissioned in 2017, BLCF used Vital Signs to shape our work.

After this initial research, the pandemic and cost of living crisis devastated communities and the charity sector, and in 2023 BLCF commissioned a new report to provide a sense check on the state of the sector and our communities. This report brought forward three key priorities: Equality & Strong Communities, Employment & Local Economy, and Mental Health.

In 2025, we commissioned a new updated report to take a snapshot as to what has changed since our last report. We examined how we responded to the 2023 report and reflect on the community’s thoughts on the growing issues in our local area.

To read our Vital Signs Research reports, visit our website here: https://blcf.org.uk/our-impact/vital-signs/

06/10/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔-𝗭 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.

This week we have Q for Quality Accreditation.

BLCF is proud to hold UK Community Foundations Quality Accreditation. Quality Accreditation is a programme which endorses and encourages best practice by Community Foundations. This endorsement and recognition has been held by BLCF since 2010 and was renewed after a further rigorous period of assessment in 2025 for a further three years.

The process is a meticulous, thorough, and externally verified quality assessment. It includes an internal audit of our policies and procedures, submission of key documents for external review, and interviews with the independent assessor. Speaking on this accreditation, Karen Perkins, BLCF’s CEO, says: ‘Achieving this standard is a true reflection not only on the incredible hard work of the team at BLCF to ensure that we break down barriers to funding and reach and support the most vulnerable in society but to our dedicated Trustees who provide leadership and support.’

👉 Want to keep up to date and learn more about grantmaking? Make sure to follow us!

01/10/2026

⏪ 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀! ⏪

In 2022, BLCF became a member of the Funders Commitment on Climate Change, demonstrating our dedication to tackling the causes and impacts of climate change.

As a member, we recognise that the growing climate emergency is a serious risk to the pursuit of our charitable aims. We believe that we can all play a part in addressing the causes of climate change and supporting adaptation to its effects.

To do this, we are committed to the following six principles in our work:

1. Educate and learn - We will make opportunities for our trustees, staff and stakeholders to learn more about the key causes and solutions of climate change.

2. Commit resources to accelerate work on climate change - We will commit resources to accelerate work that addresses the causes and impacts of climate change.

3. Integrate climate change impacts - Within all our existing programmes, priorities and processes, we will seek opportunities to contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a post carbon society, and to support adaptation to climate change impacts.

4. Steward our investments for a post-carbon future - We will recognise climate change as a high-level risk to our investments, and therefore to our mission. We will proactively address the risks and opportunities of a transition to a post carbon economy in our investment strategy and its implementation, recognising that our decisions can contribute to this transition being achieved.

5. Decarbonise our operations - We will take ambitious action to minimise the carbon footprint of our own operations.

6. Report on our progress - We will report annually on our progress against the five goals listed above. We will continue to develop our practice, to learn from others, and to share our learning.

For more information about the Funders Commitment on Climate Change, please visit: https://fundercommitmentclimatechange.org/

29/09/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔-𝗭 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴!

This week we have P for Partnerships.

BLCF works with a variety of partners in different ways to create long lasting impact in our local area. Our business partnerships, for instance, are key to addressing the challenges facing communities across Bedfordshire. At BLCF, we help businesses turn their ambition into real impact — using our local knowledge and trusted networks to channel support where it’s needed most. By connecting businesses with community-led solutions, we ensure every investment delivers meaningful, lasting change.

Alongside our business partnerships, we foster partnerships in the community to ensure a collective approach. BLCF and the High Sheriff have worked together for several years developing initiatives, promoting each other’s priority areas of interest and work. BLCF and the High Sheriff also support each other in the promotion of campaigns and shared programmes through their marketing channels as well as provision on data and information relating to the ever-changing needs of the county’s communities.

The Jane Cart Trust is another example of the ways we can work with others to widen our reach. The Jane Cart Trust focuses on providing support to Church of England Clergy and their dependants, where that member of the clergy has worked in the Diocese of St. Albans. The Almshouse Trust supports the housing costs of poor single women near Dunstable. BLCF manages the day-to-day operations of the Jane Cart’s Trust and provides all administrative support.

BLCF also works in partnership with the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector through our INSIGHT initiative. This was established to help small grassroots groups build partnerships, network and enable peer support, as well as giving access to free training and workshops.

Partnerships are integral to our work. Through our partnerships, we can work together to meet key areas of need in our community and ensure we are reaching a wide range of causes.

Interested in learning more? Visit our website: https://blcf.org.uk/

24/09/2026

⏪ 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀! ⏪

In 2021, BLCF became a member of the BAOBAB Foundation, demonstrating our commitment to addressing racial inequalities in funding.

The BAOBAB Foundation works to scale resourcing to Black and Global Majority communities in the UK to challenge experiences of underfunding and marginalisation.

At BLCF, we are committed to listening to and learning from our communities so that our grant programmes represent the communities we serve. Through our INSIGHT initiative, Vital Signs Research, and FREA Racial Justice Audit, we ensure to hear local voices and work to make access to funding more equitable.

22/09/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔-𝗭 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴!

This week we have O for Objectives.

Each grant programme that we manage has its own objectives and aims to address local needs. Whether addressing health inequalities, financial resilience, environmental challenges, employability and skills, or more, our grant programmes target specific areas to bring lasting change to our community.

For businesses, this means that we can help you meet your CSR goals and make a real impact in our local area by using our local knowledge to reach these specific areas of need. Want to know more about how we can help? Email our Head of Business Development, Dawn Bainbridge ([email protected]), to learn more.

For charitable organisations, this means we have a range of grant programmes that could align with your mission. To find out which programmes align with your projects best, please make sure to check each individual criteria document on our website for the fund you want to apply to. Each criteria document lists the grant programme’s objectives to help you know whether your organisation would be eligible for that round of funding.

Address

Room 314, Endeavour House, Wrest Park
Silsoe
MK454HR

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441525306690

Website

http://www.blcf.org.uk/

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