News from The Higgins, Bedford

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Dementia Action Week

daw21

Dementia Action Week is a national event that sees the public coming together to take action in supporting people that are affected by dementia. We’ve been working alongside our partners to provide an action packed programme of free online events.

The Higgins Knitting and Crochet Group

Tuesday 18th May, 11am

Bring your own knitting projects and listen to some fact-filled talks from guest speakers at Tibbs Dementia Foundation and Alzheimer’s Society.

Down by the River Reminiscence Session

Thursday 20th May, 2pm

Join Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History at The Higgins Bedford to share your memories and explore some old photographs of Bedford’s River Great Ouse.

What’s that Mystery Object?

Friday 21st May, 2pm

Vicki Blair, Wellbeing Co-ordinator at The Higgins Bedford, will be challenging you to take a guess at some of the mystery objects in the collection and to ask you to bring along one of your own.

See the full programme of events here.


Half Term Family Activities

science labs

Join Little Science Labs this half term for fantastic online science experiments. Workshops will be online via Zoom and last for approx. 30 to 45 mins. Each workshop is limited to 15 places.

Food Chains

Wednesday 2nd June

Workshops start at 10am and 11am
Cost £5 per place (Little Science Labs will be donating 50p from each booking to the Raptor Foundation)
Dissect real owl pellets and discover what owls like to eat!

Wonderful Whistles
Thursday 3rd June
Workshops start at 10am and 11am
Cost £5 per place
Discover the physics of sound and make your own whistles.

Rainbow Towers
Friday 4th June
Workshops start at 10am and 11am
Cost £5 per place
Discover the chemistry of solutions and densities and create a stunning rainbow tower.

More information and online booking will be available on our website from Tuesday 11th May.


More Upcoming Events

storytelling sunday

Storytelling Sunday

Sunday 9th May

2pm – 3:30pm

Free, Virtual Event

This Sunday we will be looking in to this rather dreamy landscape called ‘Garden House on River Yare’, sketched by a pupil of John Sell Cotman in the early 1800s.

Join us for a friendly discussion about the sketch and to find inspiration to put together some of your own words in response to it.

Please email vicki.blair@bedford.gov.uk to receive more information and to access the Zoom link.


papercut letters

Craft Club – Papercut Letters

Thursday 13th May

10:30am – 12pm

Free, Virtual Event

Treat yourself and join Katie Allen for this relaxed craft session for adults. In this month’s session we will be designing and cutting illustrated letters.

Equipment Required:

  • a cutting mat a sharp craft knife with a new blade. We recommend a small craft knife-a Stanley blade will be too cumbersome and dangerous.
  • a pencil and rubber
  •  A4 coloured card- any bright colour of your choice!

*If you do not have a craft knife, or do not feel confident with a knife, you can use a pair of scissors to create a similar effect.*

As part of Refugee Week, you will be invited to display your artwork alongside other craft clubbers at St. Paul’s Church in Bedford. Refugee Week is an invitation to extend your hand to someone new. Someone who is outside your current circle, has had an experience you haven’t, or is fighting for a cause you aren’t yet involved in. This year’s theme for Refugee Week is ‘We Cannot Walk Alone’.

See our programme of Refugee Week events here.

Please email gemma.hutton@bedford.gov.uk for more information and to access to the zoom link.