Rise together in Bedford for Real Bread Week

The bakery, based in the Art Centre on Howard Street, will be trying to bring Bedford's different ethnicities together around bread on Saturday, February 22 - the start of Real Bread Week.

Staff and volunteers from the social enterprise, which supports ex-offenders with work experience and training, are inviting residents to drop in to the Harpur Centre’s new events area between 11am and 2pm, ideally with a sample of their favourite bread to add to a display of the ‘Breads of Bedford’.

There will also be a demonstration of how Companions make their own sourdough, and an opportunity to take away some of their sourdough starter to use to make your own bread at home.

Companions’ Board Member, Maggie Rich, said: "As a social enterprise, we’re trying to build a more resilient and cohesive community in Bedford.

"Bread is pretty much a global food, so it really is something we should be able to gather round to celebrate our town’s rich diversity.

"At the same time, we want to ensure that all of Bedford’s residents are aware of what we have to offer – a helping hand for people who’ve made wrong choices in the past and are now struggling to get back on track for a more positive future."

The bakery is also considering extending its range of bread products, and wants to explore the possibility of including one or more breads that might appeal to a minority ethnic group, so they hope that this event might bring in some contenders.