2 August 2019

19th September: TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST: TRUSTEE CONFERENCE

Looking at why transparency and trust are critical to a charity’s success, this half-day conference will give you expert input and practical ideas to strengthen your organisation.

You will learn how to boost trust levels through governance, board diversity and accountability, as well as participate in one of our expert-led interactive breakout sessions. If you are a trustee or committee member of a charity, voluntary or community group or a board member of a social enterprise, this conference will provide you with clear, take-away actions to apply to your organisation.
Find out more

Time Well Spent: A national survey on the volunteering experience

Time Well Spent is a major new report into the volunteering experience published by NCVO in January 2019. It is the result of a national survey carried out through YouGov’s panel (10,000+ respondents). The survey focuses on volunteering through groups, clubs and organisations and includes data on recent volunteers, but also lapsed volunteers and non-volunteers.

Read the report

• Download the full report (PDF, 2MB)
• Download the summary (PDF, 700KB)

We support communities and groups

Community Action: MK provides advice and support on setting up, managing and developing your charity, voluntary or community group in Milton Keynes. We can work with you on a 1:1 basis, or can get you linked in with local training and events. We give advice on getting fit for funding, forward planning and good governance.

Your first step should be to have a look at the information sheets we provide here.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for or think you might require more in depth support please email support@communityactionmk.org or call 01908 661623.

Milton Keynes Council Open Consultations

• Should MKC implement a borough-wide PSPO to tackle the anti-social use of vehicles associated with car cruising
• Consultation on LCTR Parish Funding
• Public Spaces Protection Order – Dog Fouling
• Lavendon Neighbourhood Plan publicity period
• Draft Mobility Strategy Transport Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Strategic Environmental Assessment

See all MK Council consultations

MK Council Useful links and documents

Calendar of Forthcoming Meetings
Reporting Issues to the Council Contact List
MK Council Statement of Community Involvement

Hopkins Architects wins MK:U International Design Competition

Hopkins Architects, the designers behind Harvard University’s new Smith Campus Center, as well as the London 2012 Velodrome and the award-winning WWF Living Planet Centre eco-building have been chosen to create a 21^st century university quarter for Milton Keynes.

MK:U is a partnership between Milton Keynes Council and Cranfield University, supported by business sponsors, and will focus on digital economy skills and new technologies including AI, robotics and cyber security. The university quarter would take shape on a 10-hectare site on Avebury Boulevard (the last major undeveloped site in the city centre). 

The MK:U design competition attracted submissions from 257 firms from across the globe. The jury received local public feedback on five shortlisted designs and were unanimous in their decision to appoint Hopkins Architects. 

Short video from Hopkins Architects

Groups and activities for people with visual impairments

Ballroom Dancing Group: Meets twice a month on the second Wednesday and the last Thursday of every month between 11 a m and 12 noon at the Trinity Centre, fishermead Boulevard, MK6 2LA  Various dance routines taught by an experienced teacher.
Sighted helpers welcome.  Cost £5 per session. Transport can be arranged at a small extra cost. Contact Padma on 01908 377058 or e-mail:pscheriyan@gmail.com

Tai Chi Group: To improve balance, breathing and posture, Tai chi classes  are held twice a month on Fridays between 1.30 p m and 2.45 p m in the Community room within John Lewis Store in the Centre MK shopping building.  Cost is £4 per session. Transport can be arranged at a small extra cost. Contact Padma on 01908 377058 or e-mail: pscheriyan@gmail.com

Technology Group MK: To introduce the uninitiated to the digital world and  to improve the skills of the users of digital devices Technology Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month between 2 and 4 p m at Margaret Powell House, 401-447 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3BN for further information contact Padma on 01908 377058 or e-mail: pscheriyan@gmail.com

Community Action:MK monthly radio show

Tune in to Secklow Sounds on Wednesday 7th August at 1pm – we will be talking all things green spaces in Milton Keynes and visiting some local community green spaces projects and initiatives in the city.

Social Causes see increase in funding from mass charity events

Social causes saw a 35% increase in donations from mass participation events in 2018, according to The Massive Top 25, which ranks the most successful mass fundraising events of the year. The study revealed that Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning as the biggest events, raising £37.1m and £27m respectively.

The increase shows that social causes such as homelessness and international development are starting to cut through with a new generation of donors. The Sleep in the Park event by Social Bite raised £3.6m this year, an increase on last year’s total.
Read more

NAVCA Health and Social Care Update: Sector calls on government to stop cuts to vital services

Earlier this month, NAVCA joined 19 other voluntary sector organisations in supporting a letter written by National Voices which calls on the government to stop the cuts that sap the life out of society.

The letter, which was published in The Guardian on Monday 8 July, asks the government to prioritise and strengthen local councils’ and the VCSE’s ability to build the conditions that help people thrive. Joining organisations including the Centre for Mental health, ACEVO and VODG, NAVCA has signed the letter and is calling for action to be taken now. You can read the letter in The Guardian.

Volunteering opportunity of the week: Supporting Xtra Special Families

Xtra Special Families are looking to recruit a wealth of volunteers to help them deliver more sessions to their children and families. Can you spare a few hours of your time? The more the merrier!

Volunteers are extremely well-valued here – they wouldn’t run without them! If you can spare a few hours of your time to help out during some sessions during the school holidays, then you would be letting yourself in for some of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have with these wonderful children and their families!
Find out more

Volunteers wanted for Intu Green Gym

Information, Advice and Guidance Adviser (Part-time) with Works For Us

We are looking for an outstanding individual to provide one-to-one advice sessions to our clients to support them in obtaining employment, education, training or volunteering.

We are a small but vibrant team made up of staff, tutors and volunteers who all share the same goal:
to empower our clients to be the best they can be.

This position requires excellent communication skills and experience of working with people from a variety of social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Find out more

MK 2050 Community Capacity Fund

MK Council has created a new fund called the MK 2050 Community Capacity Fund with MK Community Foundation to support the important work made by voluntary and community groups in MK.
Find out more

John Coates Charitable Trust

Typical grants are between £5,000 and £10,000 but in exceptional circumstances awards may be higher. Only one grant will be awarded to any organisation within a 12-month period but Trustees may choose to renew their support in subsequent years. Successful applicants will be asked to report back on the impact of the grant.
Find out more

Regional Capacity Building Programme

We offer funding under this programme for activities and projects which are local or regional in coverage and which promote the understanding, management and conservation of the historic environment.
Find out more

Mum to Mum Family Fun Day

Tue, August 6, 2019
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

A chance to get together in the holidays and celebrate the community that is Mum to Mum. Everyone Invited!

20 stands confirmed – Games – Story Time – Buggy Fitness – Toddler Time – Party Time with Corina’s cool kids and lots more.
Bring a picnic or enjoy Giuseppe’s Pizzeria or Howe and Co Fish and Chips on the lawn, chill in the beautiful grounds, network and support some of the businesses that make up the Mum to Mum directory.
Please RSVP by booking your adults tickets here – Your ticket also enters you into a draw to win a Frosts Hamper or 1 of 10 Mum to Mum VIP Cards!

Upcoming Workshops @ Westbury Arts Centre

Wildlife Trust Nature Detective and Craft Activity

Thursday 8 August 10.30 – 11.30
Centrecom Meeting Place 602 North Row, Milton Keynes, MK9 3BJ
Register here

Join Kate from The Wildlife Trust and Sue, CMK Council Community Mobiliser, to learn some top tips on how to be a nature detective, along with a wildlife craft activity. Also find out how you can get involved in gardening work in the green space next to Centrecom, N1th and N12th Street and The South Row area. .

Hope Fest

10 August 2019

Service Six Family Fun Day

Saturday 31^stAugust, 12-4
Chapter House, Coffee Hall

On Saturday 31^st August Service Six will be holding a family fun day at our base Chapter House, Coffee Hall. The event is 12-4, we will have a bouncy castle, low cost bbq, tomobola, raffle, games, a number of Harley Davidsons, Police Car and a range of stalls. If you would like to have a promotional stall or even if you just want to come and lend a hand we would be grateful of the support.
Contact Katie Marsh for more info: katie.marsh@servicesix.co.uk

MK Hospital 40th birthday celebration event

7 September 2019

Weaving Trust event on environmental issues

14th September 2019

Join MK Green Alliance members for lots of natters about Milton Keynes and environmental issues. The following link explains the origin and usual format of a weaving trust event.
http://www.citizensmk.org.uk/campaigns/former-campaigns/weaving-trust/
Find out more here.
Sign up today. We’d love to meet you.
Click here to register on eventbrite