The Harpur Trust

The Harpur Trust Using the legacy of Sir William Harpur, our founder in 1566, we offer support exclusively in the Bedford area. We are one of the top 100 charities in the UK.

We've been here for the people of Bedford for over 450 years; supporting the local community through our grantmaking, through almshouse and other accommodation for older people, and by providing and promoting education. Over the past ten years we have awarded over £8.875 million in community grants to groups and individuals in the Borough of Bedford. Supporting our community by giving grants to local projects is core to what we do. The grants we offer to projects based in and around Bedford help local organisations and individuals to make a difference to their own lives or those of others. Our grants to organisations are split into two categories:

* Our responsive programme – approximately £500,000 is awarded from this programme every year. Grants within this category cover education, relief and recreation.
* Our themed grants programme – an additional £500,000 a year is available from this programme. These enable us to focus resources on topics of particular interest which still fit within our three objects of education, relief and recreation. Although most of our grants are given to organisations we also offer a very small number of grants to individuals; these are all education focused. We own, manage and support the four independent Harpur Trust Schools:
* Bedford Girls’ School – a day school for girls aged 7-18
* Bedford Modern School – a day school for boys and girls aged 7-18
* Bedford School – a boarding and day school for boys aged 7-18
* Pilgrims Preparatory School – a nursery and prep school for boys and girls aged 3 months to 7 years

Thousands of children across Bedford Borough will benefit from a £0.5 million investment through The Harpur Trust's Acce...
07/10/2026

Thousands of children across Bedford Borough will benefit from a £0.5 million investment through The Harpur Trust's Accelerator Programme, helping children from lower income families thrive in school.

Working with 21 primary schools and two nursery schools, the programme is funding evidence-led support including tutoring, literacy initiatives, language development and family support interventions to help improve outcomes for disadvantaged children.

Building on the strong progress already achieved, the investment reflects a shared commitment to closing the educational attainment gap and ensuring that more children thrive both educationally and in every way.

Find out more at: www.harpurtrust.org.uk/accelerator-programme

The Harpur Trust is delighted to announce our latest 9 grant recipients funded to run projects in the Borough of Bedford...
07/10/2026

The Harpur Trust is delighted to announce our latest 9 grant recipients funded to run projects in the Borough of Bedford for the benefit of local residents. Congratulations to all, we look forward to working with you. .
Adoptionplus
Bedford MS Therapy Centre
CANter Equine Assisted Learning & Psychotherapy
Elisabeth Curtis Centre
Fermynwoods Contemporary Art
Food etc - Bedford
Origami Wings CIC
Q:alliance
Queen's Park Community Organisation

We’re delighted to announce that Victoria Reed is now Head of Grants & Commissioned Programmes for The Harpur Trust and ...
05/10/2026

We’re delighted to announce that Victoria Reed is now Head of Grants & Commissioned Programmes for The Harpur Trust and Bedford Giving.

Many of you will already know Victoria from her work managing our grants programme. In her new role, she’ll lead this important area while taking on a broader remit, including developing and overseeing programmes for Bedford Giving, which we host.

Together, this work will help create more opportunities for Bedford’s next generation and improve lives across our community.

Congratulations, Victoria!


We're pleased to see The Brilliant Club's Parent Power project, which is supported through The Harpur Trust's grants pro...
05/10/2026

We're pleased to see The Brilliant Club's Parent Power project, which is supported through The Harpur Trust's grants programme, featured as a case study in the Fair Education Alliance's latest report.

The report highlights how Parent Power brings together parents and carers from communities where access to higher education has historically been lower, helping them build connections, share experiences and advocate for change. Through a community-led approach, families work alongside schools, local organisations and decision makers to tackle barriers facing young people and help shape solutions to local challenges.

The case study also highlights the importance of listening to families, building trust and creating strong relationships between parents, schools and communities. By empowering parents to have their voices heard and take action on issues that matter to them, Parent Power is helping to strengthen communities, increase opportunities for young people and improve future outcomes.

We're proud to support initiatives like Parent Power that put families at the heart of creating positive change.

Read the full Fair Education Alliance report here: https://www.faireducation.org.uk/report-card-2026

Last week, after 21 years, we said goodbye to Lucy Bardner, our Community Programmes Director.Lucy joined The Harpur Tru...
02/10/2026

Last week, after 21 years, we said goodbye to Lucy Bardner, our Community Programmes Director.

Lucy joined The Harpur Trust in 2005, back when we were still the Bedford Charity. A lot has changed since then, and Lucy has been at the heart of so much of it.

During her time with us she helped distribute millions of pounds in grants to improve people’s lives, developed programmes supporting young people and students, built lasting partnerships and championed our communities at every turn.

Many of you reading this will know Lucy. Over more than two decades, she has worked with an extraordinary number of the organisations, charities and professionals that make up Bedford’s community, building relationships, connecting people and helping to make a difference locally.

Thousands of local people who have benefited from the programmes, partnerships and opportunities she has helped to create. Many of the initiatives and relationships Lucy helped establish are still going strong today, and she leaves behind a fantastic legacy.

Thank you for everything Lucy – we will miss you! Watch this space for news about what comes next.

We're sharing this event on behalf of local organisation Invisible Walls, which supports people working with children an...
01/10/2026

We're sharing this event on behalf of local organisation Invisible Walls, which supports people working with children and young people affected by parental imprisonment.

This important conference will explore how professionals can better identify, understand and support children living with the challenges of having a parent in prison. Attendees will also learn more about the services Invisible Walls offers and the role trauma informed practice can play in supporting families.

If you work with children, young people or families in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, this is a valuable opportunity to build knowledge, connections and understanding.

Today, on International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we're shining a spotlight on Food Etc Bedford, one of t...
29/09/2026

Today, on International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we're shining a spotlight on Food Etc Bedford, one of the fantastic organisations supported through The Harpur Trust's grants programme.

Food etc - Bedford is a CIC which empowers people to make healthier, more affordable food choices by teaching them how to cook nutritious meals from scratch. Through their cookery workshops, they help people build confidence in the kitchen, make the most of their food budgets, and reduce food waste.

Working with schools, families, young people, carers and community groups across Bedford, they're creating lasting positive change by equipping people with skills that can benefit their health, wellbeing and future.

We're proud to support organisations like Food Etc Bedford that are helping build healthier communities and a more sustainable future.

You can hear more about the great work of Food etc in a recent episode by The Bedford Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LWxIOGOTqBrYEgX8XZHZF?si=fDDr21qCRBetPaNhCP5cXQ

This week is International Week of the D/deaf and we're proud to shine a spotlight on Access Bedford, a local deaf led c...
22/09/2026

This week is International Week of the D/deaf and we're proud to shine a spotlight on Access Bedford, a local deaf led charity that works tirelessly to break down barriers for deaf and hard of hearing people across Bedfordshire.

Through information and advice services, BSL interpretation support, Deaf Awareness training, community activities and advocacy, they help create a more inclusive community where everyone can access the support and opportunities they need.

We are pleased to support Access Bedford through our grants programme, helping them continue their important work to improve accessibility and opportunities, reduce isolation and empower deaf and hard of hearing people throughout our community.

During this International Week of the Deaf, we want to highlight the value of inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunities for all, and celebrate the organisations working every day to make a difference.

Today, on World Alzheimer's Day, we're shining a spotlight on Tibbs Dementia Foundation, a charity we're proud to suppor...
21/09/2026

Today, on World Alzheimer's Day, we're shining a spotlight on Tibbs Dementia Foundation, a charity we're proud to support through our grant funding.

Their work helps people living with dementia and their families access support, connection and understanding, making a real difference in our community every day.

Find out more about their work at - tibbsdementia.co.uk

We're looking for a Billing Manager to join our Finance Department at The Harpur Trust.This is an exciting opportunity t...
17/09/2026

We're looking for a Billing Manager to join our Finance Department at The Harpur Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of billing operations across our schools, lead a small team, and contribute to delivering an outstanding service to our school communities and families.

If you're detail oriented, highly organised, and experienced in billing or financial operations, we'd love to hear from you!

Closing date: 30 September 2026
Find out more and apply online: www.harpurtrust.org.uk/work-for-us

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Princeton Court, Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive
Bedford
MK417PZ

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