Research

At Bedford Giving, everything we do starts with listening by asking local people what they need. Research is at the heart of every programme we create — it’s how we make sure we’re tackling the issues that matter most to Bedford’s young people. It’s how we decided to focus our efforts on young people in the first place.

Here’s how it works:

We listen to the community - first, we find out what’s important to you. Whether it’s through conversations, feedback, or hearing directly from young people, we focus on the issues that need attention.
We dive into the research - once we’ve got a topic, we dig deep — gathering data, stories, and insights to understand what’s really going on at a national and local level.
We build task & finish groups - these are small teams made up of local experts, community members, and people delivering activities or support in the area we’re researching. Together, we brainstorm and shape potential programme ideas to tackle the issue head-on.
We create real solutions- using the insights and ideas from the group, we design programmes that make a real difference — tailored to our research and the challenges we face in Bedford.

Why It Matters

By starting with research, we’re making sure every programme we create is relevant, impactful, and directly connected to what Bedford’s young people and families need.

And here’s the best part: feel free to download our research and use it! Whether you’re writing a funding application, preparing a conference presentation, or planning your own projects, our findings are here to help. Just click on the report image above to access, all we ask in return is you credit Bedford Giving and the report in any research you quote.