1 June 2019
The Voluntary Sector Partnership Podcast
Don’t miss this podcast from NHS England which explores the value of a joined-up way of working between systems and the voluntary sector. It identifies the benefits of voluntary sector involvement in health and care partnerships and what this means for clinicians and their patients.
It features Ben Barley from NAVCA member, Voluntary Centre Services, who speaks about the real value for health services of working with local voluntary sector organisations in delivering care to local communities. Listen to the podcast here.
In-work poverty in Europe: a study of national policies
A new Synthesis Report produced by the European Social Policy Network (ESPN) puts forward several recommendations and calls for more effective policy action at European and national levels to tackle in-work poverty.
While working is generally considered as the best way to avoid poverty, this is not the case for a significant number of European workers. In 2017, 9.4% of all EU-28 workers lived in households that are at risk of poverty, i.e. an alarming 20.5 million persons. Read more
Final report for the UK Autodrive Project released
When UK Autodrive got underway in October 2015, it was the largest trial of connected and self-driving vehicles ever to have taken place in the UK. Back then, the concept of autonomous cars would still have struck many people as the stuff of science fiction. And yet, in the space of just three years, we have gone from concept to reality – delivering on our promise to trial fully connected and self-driving vehicles on UK streets.
Read the full report
Association of Mental Health Providers hosts free webinars for VCSE sector
With support from the VCSE Health & Wellbeing Alliance, the Association of Mental Health Providers (AMHP) is hosting a series of free webinars for VCSE organisations and policy leads. The webinars are theme-specific including Men’s Health, Homelessness and Money and all focus on the prevention of mental health problems. Each webinar is developed in conjunction with a Health & Wellbeing Alliance partner, offering specialist expertise. You can find a full list of the webinars here.
VODG report highlights importance of VCS disability organisations
A new report from VODG has highlighted the significant social and community impact of voluntary sector disability organisations.
Above and Beyond: How voluntary sector providers of disability support add value to communities, produced by VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group) explores how innovative not-for-profit organisations consistently and proactively meet gaps in support, particularly as austerity undermines existing provision. You can read the full report here.
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
Vital Signs MK 2019 survey
The aim of this survey is to find out what people living in Milton Keynes think and have to say about different aspects of their community. MK Community Foundation is interested in hearing about your personal experiences and opinions, so encourage you to answer as honestly as possible.
The majority of the questions in this survey will ask the extent to which you agree or disagree with a number of given statements about Milton Keynes, across 12 thematic areas. All questions are optional, and you can answer as many or as few as you like.We estimate that the complete survey will take you approximately 10 minutes.
Ways to reduce your Council Tax bill
If you are struggling to afford your Council Tax bill as it has recently gone up, or even if you are not, you may be able to decrease how much you are paying.
There are two different schemes in Britain to help you reduce your Council Tax bill. Read more
Westbury Arts Centre Creative Wednesdays
Every Wednesday 10am – 12pm
A Morning of Mindfulness
by Ka-yee
5th June
3rd July
On the first Wednesday of each month, Ka-yee will share one Chinese philosophical teaching combined with experience of still and action zen, zen tea ceremony….
You will have quiet time for mindful reflective contemplation.
Find out more
Tune in & get involved: Volunteers Week starting on 1st June
Visit our website to find out all about our activities over Volunteers Week!
https://communityactionmk.org/volunteersweek/
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
Career WorkOut – No prep, no pressure, no prior qualifications needed…just an enjoyable hour or two with other work guests answering young people’s questions about your work.
Career WorkOut involves small groups of 3-4 students rotating around 8-12 work guests in a carousel of 6-7 minute conversations. Primary WorkOut involves guests answering questions from 3-4 class groups of 25-30 pupils in a carousel of 15-25 minute conversations. If you have any questions, please contact Bhupinder on 07984 178416, bhupinder.roda@worktree.org.
Find out more
Trainee Community Mobiliser Role
The post is part of the CA: MK staff team which aims to develop the capacity of BLC and assist the Partnership and residents of Conniburrow to achieve their collective aspirations. The post-holder will work as part of the BLC Team.
Our ideal candidate is someone familiar with the local area, has a positive, flexible and can-do attitude to be able to assist in building an inclusive and engaged community. You must have good communication skills to build. Find out more
Administrator for VOCypf Network in Bedfordshire
10 hours per week
£5,987 per annum (£20,344 pro rata)
We are looking for a flexible person with administration experience to support the work of the Voluntary Organisations for Children, Young People and Families (VOCypf) network, which operates across Bedfordshire.
Find out more
Enrych Bucks are recruiting for a
Co-ordinator
We are looking for a self-motivated person who is passionate about improving the quality of life for disabled people. This is an opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives through an approach that has earned a reputation for meeting individual needs and aspirations.
Working and travelling from home, this is a 14-21 hours a week appointment, on a flexible arrangement, and initially for a 6 month contract. If we can secure the funding we’ll aim to increase length of the contract period.
Find out more
£140,000 available to community and voluntary groups
Deadline 9am on Thursday 20th June
Applications are now invited from local voluntary and community groups who can contribute towards two of the PCC’s strategic priorities in his Police and Crime Plan priorities, which are Reducing Reoffending and local response to Serious Organised Crime and Terrorism.
Read more
Help the Homeless
Help The Homeless makes grants to charitable organisations with the aim of helping homeless people return to the community and enabling them to resume a normal life. Deadline 15 June.
Read more
Esmee Fairbairn – Food Strand
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has launched its new food strand. Esmee will offer total funding of £5m over a period of three years and is inviting applications from organisations focused on understanding and investigating the critical role that food plays in wellbeing and the interplay between food, sustainability and poverty.
Read more
Urb Farm Summer Open Day
Farm Fest returns for it’s fourth year of fun and frolics at the Urb Farm! Come down and soak up the sun while you…
– Devour a delicious burger from our locally sourced BBQ (vegetarian/vegan options available)
– Sip on a cool, refreshing locally brewed beer or cider
– Delight in the soothing sounds of local musicians performing live in the willow dome
– Browse our beautiful array of fruit and veg, plants and seedlings, and eggs and preserves, all produced and/or grown at the Urb Farm
– Try a homemade cake or two while enjoying a hot cuppa
– Have your face painted by our amazingly talented artist Sonia
– Take part in a range of free forest school activities in our wonderful woodland
Find out more in the Facebook event
Charity Walk for Peace 2019
30 June 2019
This year this flagship event will be held in Milton Keynes, in association with MK DONS Football Club and the MK DONS SET Charity, on 30th June 2019. It is free to participate.
Find out more and register
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.