Staff from The Bedford College Group swapped the office for running shoes at the weekend as they took on the Bedford Running Festival, raising £1,600 for local charity Bedford Giving.

The Bedford College Group team, which included Robin Webber-Jones, Deputy CEO & Executive Director of Curriculum, and Sarah Baxter, Executive Director of Strategy & External Affairs, joined runners from across the local community for the popular festival, raising vital funds to help create more opportunities for children and young people in Bedford Borough.

Taking part in the festival is one of a number of ways The Bedford College Group supports Bedford Giving throughout the year, with staff and students getting involved in a range of fundraising events and activities for the local charity.

The Bedford College Group has been a coalition partner of Bedford Giving since 2024, forming part of a growing network of organisations working together to make a positive and lasting difference for Bedford’s younger generation.

Bedford Running Festival

Putting partnership into action

Bedford Giving is a community-powered movement bringing together local organisations, businesses, charities, schools and individuals to help children and young people in Bedford thrive. By mobilising the community’s money, time, skills and ideas, it supports projects that respond to the needs of younger people across the Borough.

For the Group’s runners, the Bedford Running Festival offered the perfect opportunity to put that partnership into action while enjoying one of the town’s biggest community events.

Robin said:

“It was amazing to take part in the Running Festival. It brought so many people together and there was a real sense of triumph for everyone crossing the finishing line.

“It was wonderful to raise money for Bedford Giving, who we love working in partnership with to support people from Bedford.”

The Bedford Running Festival brought together runners of all abilities for a weekend of events in Bedford, from shorter distances through to longer running challenges.

Taking on the festival was not only a personal challenge for the team, but another opportunity to support Bedford Giving and the work it does in the local community.

Lucy Bardner from Bedford Giving said:

“Bedford Giving have been cheering on the fantastic Bedford College Group fundraisers since they joined us as coalition partners in 2024. Every year the team raise several thousand pounds for Bedford Giving, all of which goes directly on projects which meet the needs of children and young people in the Borough.

“We are so lucky to have them as one of our growing group of partners. They really live our core principle of mobilising Bedford’s collective resources, people, money, ideas and time, for the benefit of Bedford’s younger generation.

“The money they raised will fund projects providing free activities, supporting mental health and giving young people a say in what happens in the Borough.

“What a great way to kick off the new term, keep on running Team Bedford College!”

A wider commitment

The partnership with Bedford Giving reflects The Bedford College Group’s wider commitment to the communities it serves, building on its work in education and training by supporting local initiatives that make a difference to people across Bedford Borough.

For the team, crossing the finish line was a fitting way to start the new academic year, taking on a challenge together while raising £1,600 for a cause that makes a real difference locally.

Find out more

To find out more about The Bedford College Group, visit https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/

For more information about Bedford Giving, visit https://bedfordgiving.org.uk/

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