A social group for disabled adults
in the Bedford area
FLAG Bedford
Friendship Link and Action Group
Registered Charity No. 1165681
About FLAG
FLAG is a user-led community group, which aims to
combat social isolation for disabled adults living in the
Bedford Borough area. It is run by a Committee of
seven disabled and two able-bodied volunteers and
one part time Administrator.
We have around fifty members who are all adults with
a physical or learning disability and/or sensory
impairment, their carers, friends or volunteers.
Our members are generally on extremely low incomes,
and as disabled people ourselves we know that the
extra costs incurred towards an outing can prove
prohibitive. An outing involves hiring a wheelchair
accessible coach and paying out of pocket expenses
to our dedicated team of fully trained volunteers who
run participants to coach pick up points and offer non-
personal support at events.
FLAG Volunteers
Weekly Drop-in - While Committee members get
together to sort out the Admin side of FLAG other
members can come and have a chat, play games or
make craft items for FLAG to sell.
FLAG Events & Activities
As well as the volunteers on the Committee, we have a
few able-bodied volunteers who help with non-personal
support at events, such as pushing a wheelchair or
getting a drink from the bar.
Volunteer drivers who can spare an occasional evening
to drive a member to and from an event are 'gold dust'
for us. We can never have enough.
All volunteers complete an application form, they are
DBS checked and given any relevant training.
Volunteers receive out of pocket mileage expenses.
FLAG pays for their meals and tickets at events.
FLAG Events & Activities (cont.)
Monthly Tea/Coffee Afternoon - Members come for a
coffee and a cake and to socialise with other members.
Bi-Monthly Events/Outings - Some of the events we
have successfully run include social gatherings in local
pubs, restaurants and community halls, canal barge
trips, theatre and cinema trips, and tours to places of
interest such as the London Eye, BBC Television Centre
and Cadbury’s World. We have eleven years experience
of organizing these events.
