BAF was originally formed in 1997 as Bedford Advice Forum, initially only covering North Bedfordshire, but it expanded its geographical boundary in 2001 to include Mid Bedfordshire.
In 2007 BAF further expanded its membership criteria to encompass South Bedfordshire thus becoming Bedfordshire Advice Forum.
Following Local Government Re-organisation in Bedfordshire in 2009, BAF now covers the Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire areas.
Further details about BAF''s development can be seen in a document outlining the history of BAF and in the 25 years of BAF report.
BAF aims to:
- Promote and support the provision of social welfare advice and information services in Bedfordshire
- Provide a forum for exchanging information on the provision, gaps and resource requirements of advice and information services in Bedfordshire
- Deliver and support training in collaboration with BAF member agencies
- Seek funding for projects to develop advice services relevant to local needs
BAF updated its Constitution in June 2014.
BAF membership is for not-for-profit organisations (from the voluntary and public/statutory sectors) that provide advice or information on social welfare, civil legal matters - either as the main function of the organisation or as an important part of its work.
BAF holds regular forum meetings to discuss issues affecting the advice sector. Click to find out more about BAF's meetings.
BAF also arranges regular training courses for its members. Click to find out more about BAF's training programmes.
BAF also organises various projects from time-to-time to support the local advice sector. Click to find out more about BAF's projects.
A summary of BAF's work is contained in its annual report. Click to read BAF's Annual Report for 2021/22.
BAF has set up a Community Interest Company, Advice Bedfordshire, that acts as the trading vehicle for the Forum.