Vision and purpose

The Trustees have approved a Strategic Plan for the period 2004 to 2009.

Over 18 months, the Trustees have discussed the issues facing the Charity at several meetings and seminars and considered options and briefing papers prepared by the staff. They have also consulted with other charitable foundations tackling similar challenges.

The Plan will give rise to a considerable amount of detailed work, which will be taken forward by small groups of Trustees and staff. It is inevitable that some of this activity will take time to complete and not all aspects of the Plan will be taken forward at the same speed. Nevertheless, it is hoped to make a start on the more pressing matters this summer.

The trustees' vision for the Charity in 2009 and the Charity's Statement of Purpose follow; the full Strategic Plan is available as a PDF file from this page.

Vision

The trustees' vision for the Bedford Charity in 2009 is:

The Bedford Charity will continue to serve the residents of the Borough of Bedford.

• First through an increasing, creative and constructive grants programme, which recognises the importance of education as a means of improving the life chances of all in society and in particular the disadvantaged.

• Second, the Charity’s schools will continue to provide excellent independent education, whilst widening access and enhancing their existing ethos of valuing public service.

• Third, the Charity will provide accommodation to cater for those whose needs can best be met by the Charity’s almshouses.

Statement of Purpose

The Bedford Charity is a large, local charity which exists to apply the income from the endowment of Sir William Harpur, its founder, in pursuit of its three objects, which may be summarised as:

The promotion of education

The relief of poverty, hardship or distress

The provision of recreational facilities with a social welfare purpose

This work will be undertaken largely within the Borough of Bedford but the Charity may pursue the promotion of education, which it defines in the widest terms, without geographical constraint.