Bedford Credit Union Champions Community Support at First-Ever Cost of Living Fairs

Friday 25 April 2025

Bedford Credit Union (BCU) has demonstrated its commitment to supporting local people through practical, community-based initiatives, hosting its first-ever Cost of Living Fairs in March and April 2025.

The events, which took place in Bedford and Ampthill, brought together more than a dozen local organisations to offer advice and support on budgeting, saving, and building financial resilience during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Founded in 1998, BCU has grown to serve over 2,000 adult members and continues to build on its founding mission of improving financial wellbeing in Bedfordshire. The first fair, held on Saturday 29 March at the Harpur Suite in Bedford, was followed by a second on Saturday 12 April at Parkside Hall in Ampthill. Together, the events welcomed over 20 community partners and over 300 attendees from across Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire.

More than just a public information event, the fairs provided a valuable opportunity for community organisations to connect, collaborate, and strengthen a county-wide network of support. Local councillors also took part, collecting resources and insights to share with their constituents, ensuring the fair’s impact continues to grow in the coming weeks.

“These events are exactly what credit unions are all about—bringing together like-minded partners to support our community,” said Katrina Allen, Marketing Manager at Bedford Credit Union. “We know that people are facing difficult times, and we want them to know they’re not alone. The Cost of Living Fair was about showing what’s available locally and building bridges between the services that are here to help.”

Feedback from attendees highlighted the importance of these gatherings. One local councillor shared: “A really useful Cost of Living Fair today. So many organisations both offering services, support and advice as well as listening to the many different challenges a lot of people are facing.”

With the success of these first two events, Bedford Credit Union is exploring future opportunities to continue its work in uniting the community and strengthening financial wellbeing across the region.