Inside the Bedford centre supporting families for 50 years

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-04 16:27 2 min read

A wooden playground structure with a bridge and stairs in a sunny outdoor area.

Published by demoduck.co.uk on 4 August 2026, based on information from Bedford Borough Council.

The Child Development Centre at Hill Rise in Kempston is marking 50 years of caring for babies, children and young people across Bedfordshire. Its work brings assessment, therapy, educational support and family guidance together around each young person’s needs.

A special anniversary event will reunite past and present staff to recognise their shared contribution. The council’s announcement does not provide a date or public booking details for the event.

Support from infancy into early adulthood

The centre works with children from birth to age 18. Support can continue until 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), extending its reach into early adulthood for those who remain eligible.

Inside the Bedford centre supporting families for 50 years

Care is provided at the Kempston centre and within the community. The service is designed around the circumstances of each child or young person, alongside the needs of their family and the practitioners supporting them.

Three public partners coordinate the service

The Child Development Centre operates through a partnership between Bedford Borough Council, the East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust and Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

That arrangement combines healthcare, education and family support rather than treating each area separately. For families, the practical value lies in professionals working around an individual child’s developmental needs through one established local centre.

Five decades rooted in Kempston

The anniversary gathering will focus on the staff whose knowledge and experience have shaped the centre over five decades. It also marks the relationships built with families, educators and practitioners across the borough and wider Bedfordshire area.

Councillor Jane Walker, Bedford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Valuing Families: Children’s Services, said the milestone recognised the centre’s lasting effect on children and families. She reaffirmed the partners’ commitment to high-quality, inclusive care and to “continuing the Centre’s vital role in supporting children and families across the region.”

Source: Bedford Borough Council

Context & actions About this article

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This report reflects information published by Bedford Borough Council on 4 August 2026 about the Kempston centre and its anniversary.

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Confirmed the centre's Hill Rise, Kempston location.
Checked the stated age range, including extended support to age 25 for people with SEND.
Matched the three named partner organisations to the council's announcement.
Retained the council's wording that the anniversary event brings together past and present...

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