A timeline of our history
1998–1999
During his tenure as High Sherriff of Bedfordshire, Geoffrey Farr MBE DL held two large Receptions for Volunteers at both ends of the county. It was here that he learned that many small charities could not attract core funding. Geoffrey approached Sir Samuel Whitbread KVCO (who was serving as Lord Lieutenant at the time) and Bishop John of Bedford to help him set up a Community Foundation for the area. Together they developed a robust Board of Trustees.
3rd August 2000
The Trustees came together for their first meeting. Here it was discussed if a Community Foundation would be the best route to serve our community.
13th November 2000
The Trustees came together for a second meeting to discuss the Community Foundation's charitable aims and objectives. They then formally set out to register Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation as a charity.
May 2001
The Trustees were successful in their pursuit and Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation was founded as a charity with the Charities Commission.
2002–2003
In the years that followed, BLCF was able to distribute our first funds from an endowment fund.
November 2002
The Trustees hired a Director of Administration, Mark West.
2005
Mark West became our first CEO.
2008
BLCF received the Grassroots Grants Contract, which stabilized our core costs and meant we could appoint our first Awards Manager.
2013
Two contracts were secured with London Luton Airport, the expansion and development of the Foundation.
2014
BLCF secured further funding from London Luton Airport for our Luton Youth Fund. Three additional funds were also granted to the Foundation from other sources, namely the Big Local, School Uniform Fund and the LuDun Fund. Since 2014, a number of new funds have been placed with the Foundation including from Whitbread plc, London Luton Airport Operations Limited and the Jane Cart Trust. In addition some national funding streams from Comic Relief to Home Office funds have also been distributed through the Foundation in recognition of its local expertise and efficient grantmaking.
2017
BLCF launched our initiative 'INSIGHT,' which was established to help small grassroots groups build partnerships, network and enable peer support, as well as giving access to free training and workshops. The Foundation also undertook our first 'Vital Signs Research,' which provides holistic, locally informed data on fluid social issues to inform and shape our work.
February 2021
Karen Perkins became CEO of the Foundation.
2021
In 2021, the Foundation started contributing to the FREA racial justice audit and became a member of the BAOBAB Foundation. Collectively, these demonstrate BLCF's commitment to addressing the levels of inequality experienced by global majority communities and those experiencing racial injustice.
2021
2021 also saw the launch of the Luton Citizen's Fund, in partnership with Luton Borough Council.
2022
BLCF became a member of the Funders Commitment on Climate Change to to play our part in tackling the causes and impacts of climate change.
2023
2023 saw the launch of our second Vital Signs Research. This brought forward three key priorities (Equality & Strong Communities, Employment & Local Economy, and Mental Health) and highlighted how all three priority issues for Bedfordshire are understood to be intrinsically connected.
Jan 2024
Sue Hughes became our Chair of Trustees after Vivane Vayssieres stepped down from the role in December 2023.
2024
BLCF secured a three-year contract with Luton Rising.
2025
2025 saw a period of real growth in the team with five new members of staff recruited. BLCF also proudly became a Real Living Wage Employer.
2026
BLCF turns 25!
Formation Objectives
The founding members of BLCF developed key charitable objectives for the Foundation, which were:
- The Promotion of any charitable purposes for the development of the community in the geographic County of Bedfordshire and in particular the advance of education, sport and recreation, social and racial harmony, the protection of good health both mental and physical and the relief of poverty, sickness and social deprivation.
- Other exclusively charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and elsewhere which are in the opinion of the Trustees beneficial to the community including those in the area of benefit.
Geoffrey Farr
I was born in Luton and have lived all my life in Bedfordshire. Educated at Bedford School and Leeds University, I became involved in the Local Community from the age of 24 and was Chair of Education in Luton at 28.
Having lost my Father when I was 27, I became Chairman and MD of G.F Farr & Sons Ltd (later Farr & Daughters Ltd) which I ran until 2020, when it closed after 112 years.
It was as High Sheriff in 1998/9 that I realised the need for a Community Foundation! Holding two large Receptions for Volunteers at both ends of the County brought starkly to my attention that many small Charities could not attract core funding . The work to start what is now BLCF started in March 1999 and with the help of Sir Samuel Whitbread and the Bishop of Bedford, the Foundation was formed.
I believe the creation of the Foundation was my life’s prime achievement.
Honorary Patrons
His Grace the Duke of Bedford
HM Mrs Susan Lousada, Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
Rt.Rev’d Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford
Geoffrey Farr, MBE, DL, founding Trustee
