Volunteering benefits local communities and helps volunteers build confidence, meet new people, learn new skills and gain useful experience.
For all volunteering opportunities, visit the Volunteer Centre website or the Do-it website.
Contact the team
Tel: 0300 300 8302
Email: community.safety@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Volunteering organisations
Voluntary Works is a consortium of local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations including Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) and Voluntary and Community Action (VCA).
Street Watch
Street Watch is a group of local residents who support their neighbourhood by patrolling their streets. They liaise with local police and provide visible reassurance.
Community Speed Watch
Speed Watch is a scheme that helps residents combat traffic speeding. Town and village Speed Watch groups are formed of local volunteers who are police trained and insured, with the aim of making the community safer.
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Good neighbours make safer neighbourhoods. If there’s someone near you who is vulnerable and alone, you may be able to do some shopping for them or take their bins out. This can help to reduce feelings of isolation, avoiding exclusion and helping everyone feel safer.
If you’d like to join (or start) a local good neighbour group, Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity can help.
You can help elderly residents by getting involved with Silver Line – a helpline for older people.
Neighbourhood Watch
All Neighbourhood Watch schemes are voluntary community initiatives, which are supported by the Police. Members remain alert to criminal or suspicious behaviour, and report incidents to the police.
To find out more visit the Bedfordshire Neighbourhood Watch website or email centralbedsnhw@outlook.com.
Nominated Neighbour Scheme
The Nominated Neighbour Scheme helps protect elderly and vulnerable residents against rogue traders. When cold callers arrive on their doorstep, they are directed to talk with the Nominated Neighbour.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
The Service’s community volunteers help keep local communities safer through sharing information, supporting the Home Fire Safety Visits team, and enabling vulnerable people to access online help to heat their home adequately and safely. Get in touch to find out more.
Police Cadets
Bedfordshire Police Cadets are open to young people aged 16 to 18. It gives young people the chance to experience the full spectrum of policing.
Special Constables
Bedfordshire Police Special Constables help keep our communities safe. As a Special Constable you will develop valuable skills, and may decide you would like to pursue career in the Police.
Bedfordshire Police are keen to recruit people from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Emergency Planning
Central Bedfordshire Council Emergency Planning work to ensure we are able to effectively respond to emergencies, working in partnership with emergency services, NHS and the voluntary sector.
For more information visit Bedfordshire Prepared (formerly Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum).
Victim Support
Victim Support is an independent charity that helps people affected by crime without the involvement of the criminal justice system.
Street Pastors
Street Pastor are trained volunteers and members of the church community with concern for society – in particular young people who feel excluded or marginalised. Their role is not one of preaching religion, but one of listening, caring, and helping.
For more information visit Dunstable Street Pastors or Leighton Buzzard Street Pastors.