BEDFORD PARK

Registered charity 286005 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The purpose of the charity is the preservation of Bedford Park in perpetuity by the use of Bedford Borough Council as the Conservators of Bedford Park, as an Open Space for the recreation and enjoyment of the public.

Objects

PUBLIC GROUND FOR ALL THE PURPOSES OF THE RECREATION GROUNDS ACT 1859

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Amateur Sport · Recreation · Get email alerts

Latest income

£107k

Latest spending

£128k

Registered

1982

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity is loss-making, with an expenditure excess of £21,038 funded by a grant from Bedford Borough Council. Per the trustees' report, the charity has no requirement for reserves as it is wholly supported by the Council. The trustees consider the charity a going concern due to the Council's commitment to meet required funds.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: no requirement for reserves (held: £317k)

“Consequently, this charity has no requirement for reserves.” — page 5

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Note 12

“Bedford Borough Council, as well as being the Trustee also provides management, surveying, banking and administrative services for the charity. The costs incurred by Bedford Borough Council in providing these services have not been charged to the charity. Bedford Borough Council meets the deficit on running expenses of the charity.” — page 14

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Trustees · trustee networks

Mayor Tom Wootton Mayorchair
Councillor Andrea Spice · trustee of 2 other charities
Councillor John Wheeler · trustee of 4 other charities
Councillor Martin Towler

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Bedford

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£107k	£128k
31/03/2024	£108k	£129k
31/03/2023	£308k	£98k
31/03/2022	£102k	£102k
31/03/2021	£104k	£104k

Common questions

Is BEDFORD PARK financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity is loss-making, with an expenditure excess of £21,038 funded by a grant from Bedford Borough Council. Per the trustees' report, the charity has no requirement for reserves as it is wholly supported by the Council. The trustees consider the charity a going concern due to the Council's commitment to meet required funds. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with FOLKESTONE PARKS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS CHARITY.

FOLKESTONE PARKS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS CHARITY income £1.3m
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, BEDFORD PARK, LONDON income £668k
HIGHGATE WOOD AND QUEENS PARK KILBURN income £2.9m
PARKSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE income £170k
WEST HAM PARK income £1.7m
WEST WICKHAM COMMON AND SPRING PARK WOOD income £2.0m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
BEDFORD PARK	£107k	—	above	—	no doubt
FOLKESTONE PARKS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS CHARITY FY2025	£1.3m	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, BEDFORD PARK, LONDON FY2025	£668k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
HIGHGATE WOOD AND QUEENS PARK KILBURN FY2025	£2.9m	—	unclear	—	no doubt
PARKSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE FY2025	£170k	—	above	—	no doubt
WEST HAM PARK FY2025	£1.7m	—	below	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.