Get Involved

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Tell us what is most important to you.

We want everyone who lives in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes to have the opportunity to shape the services that they use.

This means making sure your voice is heard and sharing what you feel is most important.

We have worked closely with strategic partners during the pandemic. These include Healthwatch, the Voluntary Alliance, local authorities and people from communities. This has allowed us to share important public health information and use your feedback to help us communicate better.

That approach has given people the confidence to get vaccinated and tell us about their personal experiences in accessing health and care.

The next few years are going to be challenging for health and care as we recover services after the pandemic. That makes it even more important that we keep our conversations with local people and communities going. That way, residents’ voices will be at the centre of all decisions about health and care services.

Help shape how we work with local people and communities

We recently asked residents, health and care staff and partners to help us to shape our approach to working with local people and communities.

Following this, we plan to co-design our principles for engagement.

We will share these as soon as they are finished, but some of the principles we’ve heard so far include:

  • Listening to all communities and giving everyone an equal voice
  • Making it easy for people to share their views
  • Ensuring feedback leads to change

How can I get involved?

There are lots of ways that you can get involved.

You can join:

Current Consultations and Surveys

Any current consultations that are open for feedback will display in the drop down below.

  • Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment resident survey

    Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment resident survey

    Every three years, a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is completed. the next PNAs for Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes are due to be published by 1 October 2025. 

    The PNA will look at what pharmacy services each area has, where they are located and what pharmacy services might be needed in the future. 

    It is important to gather views of residents in order to better understand how residents access pharmacy services in the local area.

    If you are unable to complete the survey online please email Public.Health@bedford.gov.uk to request a paper version.

    Please return any paper versions of this survey to the return address provided on the form. 

    All responses should be received by Thursday 6 February 2025.

    There will be further opportunities for residents to comment on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment during a consultation period in Spring 2025.

    Read more

  • Central Bedfordshire Council's Children and Young People's Plan refresh (closes 8 September)

    Central Bedfordshire Council's Children and Young People's Plan refresh (closes 8 September)

    Central Bedfordshire Council is updating the Children and Young People’s Plan for 2025 to 2028 and would really like to hear your thoughts to ensure the Plan outlines the right services for our children and young people, and enables the right support at the right time.

    Survey closes 8 September 2024

  • Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Plan for a safer and fairer Bedfordshire (closes 23 August)

    Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Plan for a safer and fairer Bedfordshire (closes 23 August)

    A consultation survey has been launched for the people of Bedfordshire to share their views on the core objectives of his Police and Crime Plan.

    The people of Bedfordshire can feed back on topics relating to improving policing, reforming a broken criminal justice system, protecting victims, and addressing the social and economic causes of crime across the county and also highlight what they think should be prioritised by Bedfordshire Police.

    You can read the full list of the core objectives here.

    Link to survey

    The survey will be open from 22 July – 23 August 2024.  

     

  • Milton Keynes City Plan 2050 (closes 9 October)

    Milton Keynes City Plan 2050 (closes 9 October)

    The new MK City Plan 2050, is an important planning document that sets out how Milton Keynes will change and grow in the years ahead. It guides where future development should happen in the city until 2050, and where it shouldn’t in order to protect our environment.  

    They want to hear from people who live, work and have an interest in the city.

    Consultation closes 9 October 2024.

    Find out more here.

  • Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015 to 2035 (closes 23 September)

    Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015 to 2035 (closes 23 September)

    Central Bedfordshire Council is developing its Local Plan.  The Local plan decides where things like new homes, jobs and green spaces and communities will be provided in the future.

    They are at the start of the process. And would like to hear your thoughts now, so you can shape how they develop the Local Plan.

    Share your feedback before 23 September 2024

  • Stop smoking and healthy weight services in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes (closes 16 August)

    Stop smoking and healthy weight services in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes (closes 16 August)

    The councils are reviewing the effectiveness of their stop smoking (The Stop Smoking Service) and healthy weight (MoreLife) services in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes. They want to know what you think of them and how they can help you with your wellbeing.

    They need your input to shape a service that effectively meets your needs and those of the community.

    Have your say before 16 August 2024

     

  • Bedford Borough - Statement of Community Involvement 2024 consultation (closes 27 September 2024)

    Bedford Borough - Statement of Community Involvement 2024 consultation (closes 27 September 2024)

    Bedford Borough Council's current Statement of Community Involvement (2019) is being updated to take on board national changes to planning policies and procedures and to revise contact details. The opportunity has also been taken to make the document more concise by removing areas of duplication.

    This document sets out how and when local communities can get involved in the planning process. It explains who will be consulted, how that consultation will happen, and when it will take place - both in respect of new planning policy documents and individual planning applications.

    Further information is available on the Bedford Borough Council website 

  • Healthwatch Bedford Borough Priority Listening Survey

    Healthwatch Bedford Borough Priority Listening Survey

    At the start of each new year, Healthwatch Bedford Borough puts out a Priority Listening Survey. This survey helps to inform key priority areas of focus for local residents and key stakeholders.

    This survey is anonymous- you do not have to say who you are and we will not identify you.

    https://www.healthwatchbedfordborough.co.uk/news/2024-02-01/listening-survey-2024

     

    https://engagingcommunities.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/HBBListeningSurvey

     

Previous Engagement

Find out about previous consultation and engagement activities.

Volunteering

Volunteering with health and care organisations in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) is a great way to support your local community.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved from volunteering for your local hospital or ambulance trust, for an organisation that works with the NHS, for your local council or supporting your community.

Volunteering can be highly rewarding. To find out how to get involved, contact the volunteer managers within our Partners, visit the Volunteering web pages on Partner websites or browse the UK’s national volunteering database.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Milton Keynes University Hospital Trust

East of England Ambulance Service

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

In Central Bedfordshire and Luton, Community Voluntary Service (CVS) run volunteer centre services working with individuals and organisations. In addition, Voluntary Works is a consortium of local voluntary and community sector organisations.

In Milton Keynes, CA:MK is a hub for volunteering. They match volunteers with opportunities with local charities and community groups.

Why some local people volunteer:

Simon Patterson, Good Neighbour Scheme volunteer
Bea Scholes, volunteering at a vaccination centre.

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