BOLD - Bedfordshire Opportunities for Learning Disabilities Bedfordshire Opportunities for Learning Disabilities has been a part of the Bedford community for over 20 years during which time it has evolved into a very comprehensive organisation, providing a wide range of services for people with a learning disability and challenging behaviour along with a diverse range of additional needs and disabilities.
BOLD has established a very successful model which the trustees would like to expand and develop further. Owing to the size and layout of our present building we are frustrated in the restricted numbers of members we can have at any one time and are limited in the scope of services we can provide.
The new building’s design will enable us to develop further our current programmes and extend into a wide range of inclusive beneficial services and activities that are currently limited in provision or just not available.
The new centre will be purpose-built allowing us to provide support for over 300 adults, young people and many more under 18s. There will also be increased respite for parents/carers with a greater number of people being able to access our social activities and the centre’s facilities. The centre will allow a 3 fold increase in person days provided from currently under 10,000 to over 29,000.
Our intention is that the new centre will be much more community inclusive. It will include a wide range of facilities that will complement our services to people with a learning disability.
The ultimate beneficiaries will be the people with learning disabilities, Autism, challenging behaviour and mental health problems that train, work and socialise both within and outside the centre. They will have greater employability and volunteering skills, increased independence and an enhanced social life. All will have a greater quality of life.
