COMMUNITY ACTION: MK – Supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector of Milton Keynes

Mental Health

We are encouraged to always try and talk about our mental health. But with so many different aspects impacting our mental health, especially during the... Read More
Supporting MK’s Vital Volunteers – Free Support available

Free offer of support for volunteers helping during the pandemic, please get in touch by 28th September. Read about the importance of this and more... Read More
Collaborative Action Groups: What have we learned and where are we heading?

The Collaborative Action Groups we are facilitating are still going steady, despite the ever-changing environment we find ourselves in. We are making the most of... Read More
Update from MK Fawcett Group

See the latest update from MK Fawcett group about their recent report and the feedback from the online discussion sessions which they run over the... Read More
Celebrate 50 years of play with MKPA

Next year, Milton Keynes Play Association will have been running for 50 years. To celebrate this exciting occasion, the charity has launched a campaign to... Read More
Inclusion not Exceptionalism

This is a blog from Dumi Senda - thank you for sharing this with us. More information about how to get in touch with Dumi... Read More
Black Lives Matter

Today, black people in Britain are still being dehumanised by the media, disproportionately imprisoned and dying in police custody, and now also dying disproportionately of Covid-19. (See more in this article... Read More

See our latest newsletter here.

Strengthening Groups:

What’s the latest? – Group Updates
We want to hear from you about how you’ve been doing, and your plans for the coming winter months. We do have specific questions, but a general update will also help us know what’s going on in the VCSE sector in Milton Keynes. Contact us at support@communityactionmk.org or call: 01908 661623
Share your story with us: We are asking groups and charities in MK to share with us stories of how Covid-19 has affected your work and how you have adapted to reach out to your service users/ beneficiaries to continue supporting them during these challenging times. We are asking you for a short paragraph describing what you did or have been doing in the past few months. We are currently working on a publication which will highlight the vital role of our local VCSE sector in the Covid-19 response, and we would love to shine the light on as many local groups and charities as possible under the #NeverMoreNeeded campaign. Please submit your story here.
Tell us about your Support and Training needs:
Please complete this short form to tell us about your organisation’s support/ training needs.

Mobilising communities:

- The Parks Trust Half Term Events
  Throughout this October Half Term (Monday 26th – Friday 30th October) the Outdoor Learning team from The Parks Trust are hosting a variety of nature inspired events at their education centres. Read more.
- The Money Advice Service: online tools
  The service offers various tools and advice to support people with money, budgeting and financial concerns. Topics include: payday loans, household budget planner tool and information on whether and how Brexit can affect your financial situation. Read more.
- Local Covid alert levels: what you need to know
  The Government introduced new Covid alert levels across England – medium, high and very high. This page provides information on the local COVID alert levels, including what they mean, why they are being introduced and what the different levels are. Read more here.

Funding:

Visit our Covid-19 Funding page. Check our last newsletter for the latest funding opportunities here.
PwC Colour Brave Charity Fund
Grants are available for Black-led social enterprises and charities with ethnic minority beneficiaries in the UK. Deadline: 30th October 2020. Read more.
Smallwood Trust – Women’s Sector Resilience Fund
Grants are available for voluntary and community sector organisations in England that are supporting women whose poverty has been exacerbated by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic or those that have been pushed into new poverty and financial hardship. Read more.

Volunteering:

MK Gallery: New Trustees wanted
MK Gallery seeks highly motivated people who are passionate about arts and culture to join its Board of Trustees to play an important strategic role in increasing MK Gallery’s impact and reach in Milton Keynes communities. They are particularly looking for applications from people from diverse backgrounds. Please contact Kate Chadwick at kchadwick@mkgallery.org or on 01908 558321.
Youth Ranger: volunteering opportunities for 14-17 year old
Youth Rangers is a volunteer group for young people aged 14-17 interested in gaining hands-on skills and experience in environmental work. Read more.

Shaping Policy and Decision Making:

Draft Milton Keynes Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document
The Biodiversity will provide technical guidance throughout the planning process and supplements the policies within the Environment, Biodiversity and Geodiversity chapter of Plan:MK. Deadline: Monday 23 November 2020, 5pm. Read more.