We have identified our principles (as lived through our practice) as:

• Resourceful
• High Quality
• Inclusive
• Collaborative
• Participatory
• Temporary but with lasting positive impact
• Community building

We are proud to announce that we are now working in partnership with Stimpsons Eves Chartered Surveyors who are working with us to identify and access empty retail units in the town. Stimpsons Eves Chartered Surveyors believe that We Are Bedford has a very positive and productive approach to the empty shops dilemma currently faced in Bedford.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside We are Bedford, seeing new projects brought to life in empty retail units in the town, benefiting existing traders and landlords alike” confirmed Giles Ferris BSc (Hons) MRICS, Managing Director of Stimpsons Eves.

We believe that this is one of the first (if not the first) partnership between an empty shop community group and an estate agency.

When making your application please be aware that we have no control over the units made available to us. Part of the charm and challenge of WAB is that we are flexible and responsive to the available resources. The deadline for round 1 is noon on May 7th

For an application pack please contact Kayte Judge on Kayte@goodthingsltd.com

Now the bad news is we didn’t win. But the good news? We gave the judges a hard time making that decision! They emailed to let us know that we almost made the cut,  ” We considered a long list of events – many of them impressive and deserving praise, including yours, which was included on our final shortlist.” Well, it wasn’t about the winning, and we were pleased to get that far.

Well done to all who made it happen!

“The Castle Quay Weekender was a tremendous success and showcased exactly what can be done when people get together and work hard to improve their local community. Featuring music, art, comedy, workshops and much more it provided a superb outlet for local people and groups to showcase what they are all about to a wider audience.

“Of course, since the weekend took place a number of new businesses have moved into the once empty units at Castle Quay. These new additions to the town centre are helping to create a vibrant new district in Bedford Borough which we can all be proud of and enjoy. I have no doubt that the superb community spirit which the Castle Quay Weekender helped to achieve was a contributing factor to these new additions choosing to come to Bedford.

“I look forward to continuing to work with We Are Bedford and many other local groups to improve all areas of Bedford Borough and by working together we can help to make the borough a better place to live, work and visit for many years to come.”

Christina Rowe, Director BedfordBID (Business Improvement District) representing 564 town centre businesses who have voted to invest collectively in local improvements to enhance their trading environment said:

We were so impressed with the work of We Are Bedford in reaching out to consumers and the young entrepreneurial arts audience that we nominated the founders for an award which we sponsored in conjunction with our local newspaper. The Castle Quay Weekender helped to bring attention and raise interest in a new development on the riverside of town and that same network has continued to drive footfall in that direction, enhancing the reputation of the town centre

As an organisation representing businesses, we were delighted to see We Are Bedford and the Castle Quay Weekender blossom into motivational group for good in Bedford.

Steve Judge (Director of Bonfire CI, corporate sponsors of the CQW):

What started out as a small scale pop-up empty shop initiative erupted into a weekend long arts festival due to the spirit in which it was embraced; by the many members of the public and the organisations that helped out, supported it and took part.

As corporate sponsors providing design and marketing services we were amazed how each week more acts and events were added to the weekend’s growing schedule. The Castle Quay Weekender (CQW) proved one big lesson to the community of Bedford and that is with the right ideas, ethics, people, enthusiasm and perseverance you can make things happen. Over 4000 people turned up over the weekend to an otherwise little used part of the town, but these weren’t just people, they were Bedford and they came to what turned out to be a major local event – run by the people for the people. Since the CQW the local creative networks have expanded massively and long-term friendships have been forged, awareness of the local businesses in the area has been raised and it has encouraged other groups to embrace ‘pop-up culture’ locally; and more importantly it’s raised awareness of Castle Quay, Bedford’s cultural quarter, and helped fill those 7 empty shops!

Jacquie Manners (Manners PR):
We Are Bedford and the Castle Quay Weekender captured the hearts and minds of many, particularly younger, people and brought them together under one community-led banner. We Are Bedford and the CQW gave people from all sectors of the community a rallying point at which they clearly felt they could become “involved” and make a difference in the town.
Using social media as a way of capturing that enthusiasm, We Are Bedford showed how a fast-moving community-led project can succeed where other structure-bound organisations have failed to get Bedford moving.
The legacy is an actively connected group who openly share ideas for future projects, and have encouraged others to follow their example by setting up social media-led groups for specific areas. I include myself here, on behalf of clients in Tavistock Street, who have set up TavToffs on Twitter and are working in partnership with local authorities and a local branch of the youth group, UpRising, to enliven this area. The first event occurred on February 16th. The parties were brought together by Erica Roffe of We Are Bedford.”

Lady K

Since the Castle Quay weekender we have seen the area thrive from just three full units (Pensieri, Lady K’s and Ocal leather) into what is now a variety of shops and restaurants. This now bustling little quarter has become one of Bedford’s hidden gems to shop, eat and relax. The very successful weekender raised much awareness to the area that is the gateway between the town centre and the Castle Quarter.

Erica Roffe

With thanks to The Bedford Clanger for permission to use this article

Behind the scenes we are offering business workshops to all sellers and each vendor must man the shop for a few shifts each. This means there is incredible energy around the project and a huge amount of learning is taking place that we hope will leave a lasting legacy from the project. We are also bringing a bit of life and colour to an otherwise empty shop unit, always a good thing in our book.

This project has been made possible by a Catalyst fund awarded by the RSA, and the support of Bedford Borough Council.

Come and visit… oh and bring your money, you’ll be needing it

Seventy Christmas trees were on display between the 30th November and the 4th December in an immersive Christmas experience that launched you headlong into the festive season. Each tree is different as each was sponsored by a different organisation, from lacemakers, schools, and businesses. The entry fee is donated to charity and the overall experience is simply magical.

We are Bedford entered for the first time this year decorating our tree with handmade donations from anyone who dropped them in to our Pop Up Emporium. The overall effect was charming, a patchwork of origami, exquisite needlework and some quite impressive use of glitter glue. We would urge anyone to enter next year.

We are working with Sue to run another workshop or two before Christmas but we may need to find a new home as our pop up shop is popping up next weekend. Watch this space for more information.

Ukuleles and books can be purchased at the Pop Up Shop from the 19th November and are available in pink and purple.

“I found the whole experience humbling and heartwarming. It was the way the children let their imaginations spill out un-editied onto the page that impressed me, there’s a truth, a beautiful purity in the simplicity of that. I think as an artist this is what I strive to do in my work every day and they did it so effortlessly. It just shows how art can bring community together regardless of who you are, what you do and what age you are. It was great to see how much adults enjoyed the experience too, letting their boundries fall away, they too became kids again for the day in creating their monsters. One lady said to me, ” It reminds me of those lovely days at primary school where you had nothing to worry about and just played with art.” I love the idea that art is playful and not only brings people together but enables you to forget your worries – there’s a lovely symmetry in that – just for the day, creating a monster helped people forget their Monsters.”

Prizes were awarded to those who showed skill, ingenuity and high levels of silliness.

The photo above shows us in front of the Monster map of Bedford and was provided courtesy of Andrew Foster (far left)

Opening its doors on 19th November, the We Are Bedford Pop-Up Emporium will showcase the very best in Bedford’s crafters, makers, designers and musicians in time for Christmas. This weekend we blew out the cobwebs with a Ukulele workshop while we prepared the shop for our big opening next weekend.

MangoJam, Sideshow Designs, David Litchfield, Rebecca De Winter, XBlox, Artisan Furniture and a host of others will all get a chance to experience a retail environment and it is hoped that the knowledge gained may lead to them taking the decision to open their own shop in the town.

“We are passionate about enhancing Bedford town centre and promoting the wealth of creativity here on our doorstep,” explained Kayte Judge, co-founder of We Are Bedford. “The Pop-Up Emporium will not only bring customers to the area but also highlight the immense talent that is in our town.”

Trading until mid December and manned by the makers themselves and other volunteers, the shop will have an ‘Enchanted Forest’ theme. Creative sponsors Bonfire CI have worked alongside visual merchandiser Sam Schobs to bring the concept to life, and it’s hoped that it works its magic on the people of Bedford.

“All our independent retailers depend on Bedfordians spending in the town – especially at Christmas – rather than in Milton Keynes or Cambridge,” said Kayte. “We have worked with local retailers to ensure that our products are not available anywhere else in the town centre, therefore giving locals greater choice among all the small shops that make Bedford unique.”

The Pop-Up Emporium will signal the last large-scale project from We Are Bedford until mid 2012. Each of We Are Bedford’s events have been funded by a Catalyst Fund from the RSA and have received great support from the Borough Council and many local businesses.

Said Kayte: “We’ve proved that with hard work and dedication there is a great community spirit that can be harnessed for the good of the town. We have achieved so much over the last 12 months and hope that people of Bedford will continue to use the We Are Bedford social media forums to build lasting community initiatives in the town.”

We will be opening a pop-up shop in Castle Quay in the run up to Christmas and we are looking for a dedicated group of crafters and makers to come on board.

This is a development opportunity. We are looking for people who are willing to muck in, collaborate and problem solve to create something special in Bedford. You will need to dedicate some time and lots of hard work. In return you will have the opportunity to sell your work directly to the people in Bedford, to develop your product and business and to create a lasting network of like-minded creatives. We will provide opportunities for you to work with Bedfordshire based designers, branders, buyers and business support services.

We will make this happen together.

If you would like to take part please email kayte@goodthingsltd.com for criteria and an application form. Deadline for applications is the 31st October.

As part of the Big Draw 2011, people of all ages are invited to join professional Bedford illustrators Katy Dynes, Alasdair Bright, Rachel Lovatt, Marisa Straccia, Scarlett Tierney, Andrew Foster and David Litchfield in a day of fun and informal drawing.

Taking inspiration from the creatures that have existed in the area from prehistoric time to the present day, people are invited to create their own monster drawings.

Illustrators will be on hand throughout the day to demonstrate a wide range of drawing techniques ranging from the use of pen and pencil to chalk and stitch. Participants can add their creations to the ‘Monster Map’ of Bedford which we will create on the walls of The Drawing Room.

This is a drop-in event and is open to all. Children are very welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Attendance is free but donations towards materials are welcome.