The UCL are currently undertaking a study to test a co-designed digital self-management toolkit.

The toolkit aims to support people living with multiple long-term health conditions, including mental and physical health conditions, particularly those who may experience social and economic disadvantage.

Want to take part?

Participation involves using the toolkit over an 8-week period, alongside brief questionnaires conducted remotely by the research team, to which participants would be compensated for their time (£50 voucher in total). UCL are hoping to explore the feasibility of this toolkit, and if useful, to test on a larger scale and rolled out in routine NHS settings.

Find out more below:

Come along to Vision Zone’s 2026 event – and find out more information about Assistive Technology, Support, Services, Groups and more… 

Blue Sky Carers Support is running a fundraising raffle with some great prizes, kindly donated by local businesses and supporters.

All funds raised will go directly towards supporting unpaid carers access activities and events across Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

There are over 20 prizes available, including restaurant vouchers, beauty treatments, family experiences, bowling vouchers, a £300 laser treatment voucher, and much more.

How much to enter?

Ticket prices:

🎟️ £1 per ticket

🎟️ £4 for a strip of 5 tickets

When is the draw?

Raffle Draw:

📅 Monday 6th July, 10:00am

📍 CVS, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2AA

How to buy a ticket

Tickets can be purchased by:

• Calling 01234 673810
• Emailing info@blueskycarerssupport.uk
• Visiting us at Blue Sky Carers Support, CVS, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2AA
• Scanning the QR code on the attached poster

Every share, ticket purchase, and conversation helps make a difference.

On 26 June, we will say goodbye to Debbie, our Digital Communications Officer, who is taking early retirement after seven and a half years with Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

Throughout her time with us, Debbie has helped shape our digital communications, to engage with local people, share important information, and raise awareness of our work across the community. Her dedication, creativity, and commitment has helped us make positive impact, and she will be greatly missed by colleagues, volunteers, and partners alike.

Reflecting on her time with Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire, Debbie said:

“After 7.5 wonderful years, the time has come for me to begin a new chapter and take early retirement. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate team, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together for our community.”

Debbie also expressed her heartfelt thanks to her colleagues, the Board of Directors, and our volunteers, whose dedication and commitment have helped make a real difference to local people.

“The relationships, experiences, and memories I have gained during my time here will stay with me for years to come. Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey. I leave with immense gratitude, great memories, and excitement for the adventures that lie ahead. While I’m retiring from work, I’m certainly not retiring from life—the next adventure starts now!”

We would like to thank Debbie for her outstanding contribution and wish her a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement.

We are also delighted to welcome Joanna Harvey, who has now taken over the role of Digital Communications Officer. Debbie said,

“I know she will do a fantastic job, and I wish her every success as she leads the next stage of this important work.”

We look forward to Joanna building on Debbie’s excellent work and supporting our communications in the years ahead.

Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire is currently seeking local business sponsors and community partners for the Festival for Older People 2026, due to be held on 2^nd October 2026 at The Rufus Centre in Flitwick.

Now in its 13th year, the Festival has become one of the largest and most well-established events celebrating older people across Bedfordshire. The event brings together hundreds of older residents, carers, families, health and care organisations, charities, volunteers, and local businesses for a day focused on wellbeing, inclusion, community connection, and support.

The 2025 Festival welcomed over 400 visitors from across Central Bedfordshire and neighbouring areas, alongside more than 47 organisations providing information, advice, health checks, wellbeing activities, entertainment, and community services. Take a look at our video from the event: https://youtu.be/jDdI2Scvk0o

As demand for the Festival continues to grow, sponsorship support is now more important than ever. Rising event costs mean that external funding and business sponsorship are essential to help keep the Festival free, accessible, and inclusive for local older residents.

Supporting the Festival offers businesses a valuable opportunity to:

• demonstrate commitment to the local community
• support older and vulnerable residents
• raise brand awareness with hundreds of attendees and partner organisations
• gain positive publicity across social media, printed materials, and event promotion
• strengthen local corporate social responsibility activity
• align with a respected and much-loved community event

Sponsorship contributions help fund:

• venue and accessibility costs
• transport for vulnerable attendees
• wellbeing and preventative health activities
• community engagement and entertainment
• event promotion and resources

The Festival for Older People is more than just an event, it helps reduce loneliness and isolation, improves access to support and health information, and creates meaningful community connections for older people across Bedfordshire.

If your business would be interested in becoming a sponsor or community partner for the Festival for Older People 2026, we would love to hear from you.

To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

info@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk or directly via alison.newnham@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk

Tel: 0300 303 8554

For more information about Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire visit: https://www.healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk/

Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College are hosting the following courses:

• Movement for Wellbeing from April through till 12 August at 1.30pm-3.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG
• Let’s Talk Depression on 19 May at 10.30am-12.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG, Luton Central Library LU1 2NG and Online
• Let’s Talk Bereavement & Loss on 20 May at 1.00pm-3.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG and Online
• Let’s Talk Bereavement & Loss on 20 May at 1.00pm-3.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG and Online
• Three Calming Techniques for Anxiety on 21 May at 12.00pm-2.00pm
  Available at:
  Bedford, MK40 1EG, Luton Central Library LU1 2NG and Online

To book your place on any of these courses, enrol here.

You can also find out about other courses, here.

The NHS Modernisation Bill will change how patients and people who use social care services are listened to.

Under the proposed new law,  Healthwatch England’s responsibilities will move to the Department of Health and Social Care. Local Healthwatch roles will be absorbed by NHS Integrated Care Boards and local councils.

We don’t yet know when these changes will take place. The Department of Health and Social Care will provide more details as the legislation moves through Parliament.

What does this mean for the public?

For now, nothing is changing. We’re still your independent voice for health and social care, and we will keep:

• Listening to your experiences of care.
• Offering free, confidential advice and information to help you make the most of local services.
• Speaking up so NHS and social care providers know what’s working and what could be better.

Your voice matters. By sharing your feedback, you help improve support for everyone in your community.

What does this mean for our partners?

We value our strong relationships with partners and stakeholders. We will continue to share our evidence with you and work together to improve NHS and social care support.

What happens next?

We’ll keep you updated as soon as we know when any new law will come into force and the work of Healthwatch will end.

We would like to share that Pippa Nightingale MBE will become the new CEO of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from August 2026.

Pippa Nightingale MBE

Pippa brings more than 25 years of NHS leadership experience and is currently Chief Executive at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, where she has led major improvements and service changes across a large and diverse population.

The Trust says she’ll be joining a strong executive team that has already delivered stability, good operational performance and major investment programmes across both hospital sites.

With current CEO David Carter stepping down on 8 May, Deputy Chief Executive Cathy Jones will take on the role of interim CEO until Pippa starts in August, helping ensure a smooth handover and continuity across the Trust.