Sarah Elam "“ 450th Anniversary Harpur Trust Projects

Here for 450

“A host of exciting events planned for the people of Bedford in 2016”

2016 promises to be an action packed and exciting year for Bedfordians with a whole host of events being organised by The Harpur Trust to celebrate its 450th anniversary, honouring the remarkable legacy left to the people of Bedford by Sir William Harpur.

To kick start the celebrations, the Trust is running a major Art competition for schools which will culminate in a 2 month exhibition of pupils’ work at The Bedford Higgins and a series of other venues across the Borough.  To support the competition, the Trust is funding a team of artists to run a series of workshops within participating schools.

Other events will include a Run and Fun Day at Priory Country Park with two fun runs and a host of free and heavily subsidised sport and fitness activities including climbing, a variety of water sports and orienteering.  With musical performances by the Philarmonia to look forward to and a specially commissioned play about the history of Bedford, 2016 promises to be a year to remember.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Trust has joined forces with the Bunyan Museum to offer a writing competition.  It is also funding 6,500 special edition copies of The Bedford Chronicles, an exciting history book for children which will bring Bedford’s past to life.  Copies will be distributed to all schools and every Year 4 and 5 pupil in the Borough will receive a free copy.

This financial year the Trust has given over £1.5 million in grants to projects based in and around Bedford. This money has helped local organisations and individuals to make a difference to their own lives or those of others in the local area. As part of its anniversary celebrations, the Trust has set aside an additional £45,000 to distribute in small grants of up to £1,000 in 2016. The aim of the programme is to make grants more accessible to small, inexperienced groups who are not ready to apply to existing grants programmes.

All of the 450th events are open to the general public and are either heavily subsidised or free.  To find out more, see below or find us on Facebook or Twitter #herefor450.

Sarah Elam

450^th Anniversary Celebrations Project Manager

Email selam@harpurtrust.org.uk

Vote of Thanks: Rotarian Richard Gage

Sarah Elam gave a very interesting summary of many of the activities the Harpur Trust, founded 450 years ago, supports within the Bedford Borough.

The Harpur Trust is one of the larger charities employing 1,100 staff.

The Charity is celebrating its anniversary by organising numerous activities for the benefit of the local community, including Art and Writing competitions for schools, publication of a book on the history of Bedford, a Run and Fun Day, the production of a play celebrating the 850 years since the granting of the Borough's Charter, a schools concert with the Philharmonia, grant aid to small organisations and various other activities.

It appears there will be something for everyone in their programme.