24 May 2019

Anxiety: Tips & Tools for Working with Young People & YiS 2019 AGM

Friday June 28th, 2019 ⌚ 3.00-4.30PM
RESERVE YOUR PLACE ONLINE
Join us to learn practical tips and tools from YiS counsellors to best support young people who are experiencing anxiety.

Learn from a panel discussion inviting expert YiS counsellors to share their unique ideas and perspectives on how professionals can best support young people with anxiety and what works well for them in the therapy room. Full details on panel members will be released soon.

The panel discussion will be followed by the YiS Youth Counselling Service 2019 AGM, including a review of 2018/19, a look back at the success of our new packages and services and a look at the months ahead. Panel members to be announced soon There will also be a chance to get some nibbles and network afterwards, alongside a chance to meet our YiS counsellors in person. A full copy of the formal notice for the AGM is available online.

University of Oxford announces new Institute for Charity

The Oxford Institute of Charity (OIC) represents a collaboration between the College and Charity Futures, the Third Sector think tank, and is the culmination of almost three years of discussion and planning. It is anticipated that the Institute will open its doors in the summer of 2022 in a purpose-built home on a newly developed part of the college site. Read more

Using crowdfunding to transform communities for good

How many times have you walked past a vacant building in your local area and thought what it could be used for? Crowdfunding can help people invest in ideas that matter to them. From purchasing solar panels to sports clubs, Nesta’s new report explores real-life examples of how untapped resources such as community shares and bonds can be used to fund projects owned and run by the communities they serve. Read more

‘Pinkware’ the biggest threat to small charities

Software isn’t the biggest cyber security threat to charities, but rather, people or ‘pinkware’, security firm NexusProtect has warned at a recent event in Liverpool addressing charities and non-profits on cyber-security run by accountancy firm BMW.

NexusProject Managing Director Nick Holden said: “Many small charities, in particular, lack the resources or skill set to have people specially trained in this area and that makes them vulnerable. That is where we have seen the bigger risk of cybercrime.” Read more

Small Charity Week: 17th-22nd June

Read more about Small Charity week and how to get involved: https://smallcharityweek.com/
Below is the programme of events that Small Charity Week will be hosting.

Milton Keynes Council Open Consultations

• South Caldecotte Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document 2019
• Milton Keynes Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document 2019
• Milton Keynes Draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document 2019
• Little Linford Lane and Pennycress Way, Newport Pagnell – Proposed amendments to parking and waiting restrictions

See all MK Council consultations

Campbell Wharf Marina Opens

The new 111 berth marina opened this week at Crest Nicholson’s Campbell Wharf development. The marina provides a destination for boaters and canal users in Milton Keynes, with direct access to the Grand Union Canal and additional services to be provided nearby as part of the wider Campbell Wharf development.  Read more

Sighted people needed for BucksVision Ballroom Dancing Classes

CA:MK’s latest show with Secklow Sounds: reducing loneliness and social isolation

The last episode, focusing on local community projects and how they can reduce loneliness and social isolation, is now available to listen.
Listen here

Volunteers’ Week 2019 – Updated programme

We will be running volunteering drop-ins and pop-up activities in various locations in Milton Keynes – please come along to one of them to meet our team and to find out how you could be contributing to the amazing Voluntary and Community sector in MK!

We have also teamed up with a number of local groups and organisations to publish blogs sharing their volunteering stories and roles. Special focus will be given to organisations such as Wolverton Community Orchard, Volunteering Matters, Buckingham Canal Society, MK Safety Centre (known as Hazard Alley), MK Sailability, Blue Cross and others!

We will also be telling you about our own volunteer-led projects and the support Community Action: MK gets from our volunteers!

4th June: Special Edition of CA: MK Weekly Volunteering Drop-in During Volunteer’s Week

Join us at this special edition of our weekly volunteering drop-in to mark and celebrate the national #volunteersweek. You will be able to speak to our advisors and find out about the many volunteering roles across Milton Keynes listed on our volunteering platform, Simply Connect.

We will be joined by our friends at Volunteering Matters and MK Sailability, and you’ll be able to chat to them about he amazing volunteering opportunities they currently offer. We look forward to seeing you on the 4th June!
Register your interest on Facebook

Volunteering opportunity of the week

Sanctuary Hosting – Sanctuary Hosting matches homeless asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants to people in the community with spare rooms and open hearts, to stay rent free for an agreed period of time.

Volunteer Host

A ‘host’ is someone who generously accommodates a refugee, migrant or asylum seeker – a ‘guest’ – in their own home. This is usually in a spare room. It is up to the host to decide how long they are willing to accommodate someone. This could be for just a few days or considerably longer. The initial agreement is always for a week or two; then you can decide to extend if you wish. People host in all sorts of different ways and we aim to be as flexible as possible. Find out more

Volunteer Guest Support Worker

Volunteer guest support workers provide practical support to guests in the hosting scheme, acting as the main contact. The guest support worker attends meetings relating to their hosting placement with the guest. During the placement, the guest support worker makes weekly check-in contact e.g. by phone or text message and meets with the guest in person at least once a month. The support worker’s role is to help the guest access services as needed, and report any issues that might arise during the hosting placement to the Service Manager. Find out more

Volunteer Host Support Worker

Host support workers provide vital support to the people who welcome guests into their homes. They are the main contact point for hosts and are essential in maintaining good links and communication between a host and Sanctuary Hosting.  Find out more

SWAN Community Bank: Administration Officers (2 posts) – Milton Keynes

Two able part-time administrative officers are required by Swan Community Bank from 1 September 2019 to run our new back office.  The post-holders will work 20 hours per week from 9 am to 2 pm every working day to allow us to provide a full service to our members every working day whilst offering flexible working arrangements to the successful candidates. Find the full advert here

Further information and a full job specification can be obtained from deputy@swancreditunion.org.uk . Applications, in the form of a cover letter outlining how you meet our requirements and a CV, should be received by Monday 1 July 2019. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 17 July.

Applications wanted for Google.org Impact Challenge

Applications are closing soon for the Google.Org Impact Challenge on Safety– a €10m fund to support organisations across Europe that are working on challenges related to hate, extremism and child safety, both online and offline.
Read more

Thames Valley Community Chest

Max Value: £5000
Deadline: 27 September 2019
The Community Chest makes small grants to fund community projects. Bids must be for projects that come under one of the following themes:

• Building Neighbourhoods – health, education, training, crime prevention,environmental issues and supporting access to leisure activities
• Celebrating Heritage and Culture – Community arts, community festivals, and heritage projects which contribute towards place shaping
• Working for Community Change – worklessness, volunteering projects, community enterprises , promoting diversity integration, increasing participation and skills, financial inclusion and anti poverty projects

Milton Keynes Arts Centre Open Garden Party

Saturday 01 June, 11am–3pm
Free, everyone welcome 

Please join Milton Keynes Arts Centre and resident artist and gardener, Katie Ellen Fields for a day of family fun in celebration of our new Open Garden. 

We’ll have a variety of free garden themed activities on offer including becoming Garden Explorers, Seed Bomb Making and a Sensory Play Corner, suitable for all ages and abilities. We’ll also be offering a light lunch of garden inspired refreshments, including a selection of freshly squeezed fruit drinks, botanical flavoured water and vegetarian pizza.

Free, everyone welcome.
Find out more

Parade of Colours – Art at the Lake Festival

Get Involved with ‘Parade of Colours’. We are setting off for the best Multi-Cultural Parade as part of this year’s Art at the Lake Festival on Saturday 29th June 2019. If you wish to take part or require more info contact simon@routecanalarts.org.uk

MK Festival of Nature: 29 June – 7 July

A wonderful programme of exciting events and activities for all ages is being lined up. Check back soon on the website to download the programme.
Read more

Do you have news to share?

If you work or volunteer for a local group or organisation in Milton Keynes or have an interesting project going in your community and have news to share, please feel free to get in touch with us. You can e-mail your updates to support@communityactionmk.org.

To receive our weekly newsletter and other updates and news about the Voluntary and Community Sector in Milton Keynes, please follow this link.