Guide to organisations in Bedfordshire with opportunities for those wanting to address environment and climate change issues.
Climate Change / Green issues:
Community Group working to restore nature, minimise waste and reduce the carbon footprint Ampthill.
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum
A group of people who share a deep concern about the climate crisis and the threats to people and to biodiversity. Interested volunteers can email: bedsclimatechangeforum@gmail.com
CPRE The countryside charity Bedfordshire
Passionate about making the Bedfordshire countryside a better place for everyone to live, work and enjoy.
Volunteering opportunities on Simply Connect:
Parents for Future Bedfordshire
Campaigning groupfor information, events, actions you can take and a book club you can join.
South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth
Part of a movement to create a safer climate, flourishing nature, and healthy air, food and water. We want to improve the local environment for everyone in our community to enjoy – as well as supporting local and global efforts to protect the planet.
An environmental community group in Bedford and surrounding areas with links to:
- Sustainable Bedford
- Plastic free Bedford - Volunteer Opportunies on Simply Connect:
- Refill Bedford
- Volunteer Opportunity on Simply Connect: Social Media Volunteer
- Refill Luton
Conservation:
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Community development agency working across Bedfordshire with projects in green infrastructure planning. Beds RCC offers opportunities to volunteer at Ivel Valley Conservation Volunteers, Warden Abbey Community Vineyard, and Ridgemont Station Heritage Centre.
Central Bedfordshire Council People, Projects and Partnership (P3)
Groups to improve access to the local countryside and encourage others to enjoy it. There are a number of conservation groups that have been set up through P3 – Biggleswade, Dunstable, Flitwick, Leighton Buzzard and Shefford.
Planting trees and using woodlands to make life better for people and wildlife in the Marston Vale
There are regular practical tasksfor volunteers on Thursdays, just book and turn up.
- Volunteering opportunity on Simply Connect: Event Support Volunteers
An independent environmental charity that works with local communities and landowners to conserve and enhance the distinctive landscape, wildlife and history of the Greensand Ridge and wider area, improving access, understanding and enjoyment for the benefit of everyone.
There are volunteering opportunities at Rushmere Country Park on Simply Connect:
- Practical and Conservation volunteer – regular working parties with countryside ranger
- Visitor Information volunteer – providing information to visitors, litter picking, selling items
- Warden volunteer – assisting to create a better nature reserve
- Education volunteer supporting the delivery of varied educational sessions and events to young people
National charity with headquarters in Sandy, focussing on working together with members and partners to collectively change the fate of nature.
Search their own system to find RSPB volunteering opportunities.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Bedfordshire
Working to protect and enhance the environment across not only our home county, but also areas of Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.
Volunteering opportunities on Simply Connect:
- Weekday conservation team
- Bradgers Hill - looking after habitats at Bradgers Hill in Luton (this role is currently awaiting renewal. Look out for it soon)
- Volunteer officer - planning and leading practical conservation tasks
- Harlington Pond Restoration Group
Creating a wilder future by protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire, for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
- Volunteering opportunity on Simply Connect conservation work parties
Opportunity to volunteer for the council in the Parks and Recreation department. On Simply Connect:
Food & recycling:
Working across the East of England to create stronger, healthier communities, responsible business and greater prospects for local people. committed to shining a light on the incredible community climate action taking place in our towns and cities across the East of England to put local people at the heart of a global conversation.
- Volunteer opportunity on Simply Connect Community Food Hub volunteer
Housing and support charity with projects including a community larder, upcycling and reuse of furniture and domestic appliances. Volunteer opportunities on Simply Connect:
Food etc uses cheap and nutritious food to provide cookery workshops that show people how to shop, prepare meals and eat better.
Volunteering opportunities on Simply Connect:
Aiming to eradicate food poverty in Luton, and supporting people so that they can take steps to overcome the problems that brought them to the Foodbank. The foodbank provides free, nutritionally balanced, and culturally appropriate food to people in hardship or distress who are referred by a network of partner agencies
- Volunteering opportunity on Simply Connect: Warehouse Volunteer
We are a charity who help people to help themselves. Our dedicated teams work alongside people affected by drug and alcohol use, and those who find themselves homeless.
Volunteering opportunities on Simply Connect:
Transport:
Restoring canal heritage and promoting full use of waterways Volunteering opportunities on Simply Connect:
East Regional Transport Association
Campaigning group for better public transport
Volunteering opportunities on Simply Connect:
- Local Government liaison officer - organising meetings, campaigning and courting support for schemes
- Project officer for Ampthill Station – head up campaign for re-opening the railway station
Community Clean ups:
Bedford Borough Council Community Volunteering
Environmental volunteering opportunities such as Community Cleanups - supporting around 100 community litter picks each year and an annual River Care event.
Not for profit looking after local environment through litter picks in Central Bedfordshire and raising awareness surrounding the environment.