Help us to shape local services
We’re here to help make health & social care work better for you. It’s our job to listen to what matters to you and to make sure your views are heard by those that commission & run local services. Find out how your views help to shape services in Central Bedfordshire.
Can we help?
We can give you the information and advice needed to help you make the right decision, whether it’s finding a NHS dentist, making a complaint or where to go for some extra support. Watch our video to find out more.
Festival for Older People 2024
Our annual Festival for Older People is proving to be more popular each year, with almost 400 visitors this year.
Many older people and their Carers, friends and colleagues, were able to visit all the stands, have their blood pressure taken and enjoy a hand massage, plus take part in the live entertainment. We have received many positive comments about the Festival.
Take a look at our full video of the day which shows what a popular and informative event the Festival for Older People is:
Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire
Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire volunteers have shared their thoughts and opinions on the services they use, how they feel the service is provided and delivered, and how it affects them.
Young people accessing health and care services may not often be given the opportunity to comment on the service they receive however, learning from feedback received is an essential part of improving service provision.
Speaking up about the service you receive should be something that everyone does and is encouraged to do, and the young people featured have a shared commitment to speaking up and sharing their experience, and are motivated by a desire to ensure that health and care services improve for other young people.
If you would like to speak up about your experience, please contact Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire at info@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk or call direct on 0300 303 8554
Health & Wellbeing Conference for Young People 2023
Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire held a Health and Wellbeing Conference for young people on Tuesday, 24th October at Centre Parcs in Woburn. Comedian and author of “Weight Expectations”, Dave Chawner gave a keynote speech at the conference and talked about his own experiences of living with anorexia. The video also features a series of interviews with young people on how the Covid pandemic affected their lives and how mental health services could be improved.
Watch the video here:
The Festival for Older People 2023
The Festival for Older People, now in its 10th year, was held on 6th October 2023. We had over 300 visitors who were able to visit all the stands, have their blood pressure taken, enjoy a hand massage, plus take part in the live entertainment.
Watch the video here:
Young Healthwatch busting the myths
Volunteers from Young Healthwatch created videos to help BLMK CCG to bust the myths around the COVID-19 vaccination. Not only did they put the questions to themselves, but they also asked some Healthcare Professionals:
A Carer shares their experience
JA shares her experience of caring for her mother after she had been discharged from hospital.
Volunteer with Healthwatch
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, from talking to people about their experiences of local health and social care services and helping at our community outreach events.
Young Healthwatch volunteers
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire wants to hear from children and young people under 25 who have something to say about the health and social care services they use – that’s everything from your school nurse or GP to your local hospital and support services.
Festival for Older People 2021
We were delighted to welcome over 200 people to the event this year, including over 30 stall holders from local health and social care services, as well as some local businesses offering their hand made goods.
Festival for Older People 2020
In 2020 the Festival for Older People (FOP) was delivered via virtual recordings during the week of 28th October to 1st October, culminating in a ‘Live’ Zoom event on 2nd October. The daily programmes are still available to view, and will remain on our YouTube channel indefinitely.
Festival for Older People 2019
We had another very successful Festival for Older People this year. Once again we have put together a video of some of the highlights from the day. Meryl Dolling, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, opened the festival and spoke with passion about older people and the importance of wellbeing. Also hear the views of both the exhibitors and the many visitors.
Festival for Older People 2018
Did you visit the Festival for Older people this year? We’ve put together a video of some of the highlights from the day. Julian Polhill, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, opened the festival. Listen to him talking about the event “I think it’s an absolutely brilliant event as it brings together so many different sides of life, from the fun side of being an older person to the needing help side, just a great place to come and gather all the information you could possibly want” and hear the views of both the exhibitors and the many visitors.
Help us make care better
This short 30 second video illustrates how your stories can help us make care better. It is ideal for showing on display screens in public settings such as GP surgeries, Dental Practices & hospitals.
Please get in touch if you would like to display our video.
Just a minute animation
We’ve created this short video to explain how your stories help us to influence decision makers when planning and delivering health and social care services.
Festival for Older People 2017
The 2017 Festival for Older People took place at The Rufus Centre in Flitwick on 6 October. We have put together some highlights from the day. Watch Elvince in action, listen to the comments of some of the visitors and hear the thoughts of stallholders.
People talking about their experiences of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire
Young People relate their experiences:
Some older residents give their thoughts on healthcare
In February 2016, we held a Health & Wellbeing Event for Young People
As part of the event, we made a short film of them talking about their experiences:
Help us to shape local services
We’re here to help make health & social care work better for you. It’s our job to listen to what matters to you and to make sure your views are heard by those that commission & run local services. Find out how your views help to shape services in Central Bedfordshire.
Can we help?
We can give you the information and advice needed to help you make the right decision, whether it’s finding a NHS dentist, making a complaint or where to go for some extra support. Watch our video to find out more.
Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire
Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire volunteers have shared their thoughts and opinions on the services they use, how they feel the service is provided and delivered, and how it affects them.
Young people accessing health and care services may not often be given the opportunity to comment on the service they receive however, learning from feedback received is an essential part of improving service provision.
Speaking up about the service you receive should be something that everyone does and is encouraged to do, and the young people featured have a shared commitment to speaking up and sharing their experience, and are motivated by a desire to ensure that health and care services improve for other young people.
If you would like to speak up about your experience, please contact Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire at info@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk or call direct on 0300 303 8554
Health & Wellbeing Conference for Young People 2023
Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire held a Health and Wellbeing Conference for young people on Tuesday, 24th October at Centre Parcs in Woburn. Comedian and author of “Weight Expectations”, Dave Chawner gave a keynote speech at the conference and talked about his own experiences of living with anorexia. The video also features a series of interviews with young people on how the Covid pandemic affected their lives and how mental health services could be improved.
Watch the video here:
The Festival for Older People 2023
The Festival for Older People, now in its 10th year, was held on 6th October 2023. We had over 300 visitors who were able to visit all the stands, have their blood pressure taken, enjoy a hand massage, plus take part in the live entertainment.
Watch the video here:
Young Healthwatch busting the myths
Volunteers from Young Healthwatch created videos to help BLMK CCG to bust the myths around the COVID-19 vaccination. Not only did they put the questions to themselves, but they also asked some Healthcare Professionals:
A Carer shares their experience
JA shares her experience of caring for her mother after she had been discharged from hospital.
Volunteer with Healthwatch
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, from talking to people about their experiences of local health and social care services and helping at our community outreach events.
Young Healthwatch volunteers
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire wants to hear from children and young people under 25 who have something to say about the health and social care services they use – that’s everything from your school nurse or GP to your local hospital and support services.
Festival for Older People 2021
We were delighted to welcome over 200 people to the event this year, including over 30 stall holders from local health and social care services, as well as some local businesses offering their hand made goods.
Festival for Older People 2020
In 2020 the Festival for Older People (FOP) was delivered via virtual recordings during the week of 28th October to 1st October, culminating in a ‘Live’ Zoom event on 2nd October. The daily programmes are still available to view, and will remain on our YouTube channel indefinitely.
Festival for Older People 2019
We had another very successful Festival for Older People this year. Once again we have put together a video of some of the highlights from the day. Meryl Dolling, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, opened the festival and spoke with passion about older people and the importance of wellbeing. Also hear the views of both the exhibitors and the many visitors.
Festival for Older People 2018
Did you visit the Festival for Older people this year? We’ve put together a video of some of the highlights from the day. Julian Polhill, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, opened the festival. Listen to him talking about the event “I think it’s an absolutely brilliant event as it brings together so many different sides of life, from the fun side of being an older person to the needing help side, just a great place to come and gather all the information you could possibly want” and hear the views of both the exhibitors and the many visitors.
Help us make care better
This short 30 second video illustrates how your stories can help us make care better. It is ideal for showing on display screens in public settings such as GP surgeries, Dental Practices & hospitals.
Please get in touch if you would like to display our video.
Just a minute animation
We’ve created this short video to explain how your stories help us to influence decision makers when planning and delivering health and social care services.
Festival for Older People 2017
The 2017 Festival for Older People took place at The Rufus Centre in Flitwick on 6 October. We have put together some highlights from the day. Watch Elvince in action, listen to the comments of some of the visitors and hear the thoughts of stallholders.
People talking about their experiences of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire
Young People relate their experiences:
Some older residents give their thoughts on healthcare
In February 2016, we held a Health & Wellbeing Event for Young People
As part of the event, we made a short film of them talking about their experiences: