We are delighted to introduce you to the two VCSE representatives on the SaferMK Partnership Board – Maralyn Smith and Simon Green. Read on to find out a bit more about them, where they have come from and why they want to make a difference and contribute to the communities of Milton Keynes through the SaferMK Partnership.

SaferMK Partnership

The SaferMK Partnership is the statutory Community Safety Partnership responsible for formulating and implementing a Strategy to tackle local crime and community safety issues in the Milton Keynes area.

Meet our VCSE representatives!

Maralyn Smith

Over the last two years, Maralyn has been Chief Executive Officer for MK Dons SET charitable arm of MK Dons FC.  As such, she provides the strategic management of the Trusts work, supporting over 50,000 participants take part in Sports, education and employment programmes alongside MK Dons and Stadium MK. Maralyn has extensive experience of working with communities and young people both as a practitioner and as a service leader since 1991, working in a wide range of organisations including local authorities; Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire and West Sussex, and corporate organisations such as Premier League and Barclays, Charities including National Youth Agency, National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, and as a freelance consultant with CCG health authorities and national community organisations, including British Youth Council and Federation for Community Development.

Maralyn’s career pathway has enabled her to gain a wide range of experience supporting community cohesion and community safety programmes and partnerships. She believes as VSCE organisations, we have a wealth of experience and opportunities to offer communities across the city and through collaborative and cooperative partnerships, this can effect positive change for groups and individuals across the city. 

MK Dons SET currently provides a range of community safety programmes to encourage positive contributions to society by participants.  SET work with ex-offenders, work in prisons and are supporting young people who are on the edges of criminal activities to re-engage in their communities positively.  Maralyn hopes to use this knowledge and experience to support VSCE organisations across Milton Keynes to have a voice and gain feedback about the work of the Safer MK partnership.

Simon Green

Simon grew up in Milton Keynes and has enjoyed watching the city grow and diversify. Having lived in Manchester and London for 5 years, Simon returned to raise a family and has 3 growing children.

Simon’s housing career began in South Bedfordshire where he worked as a Housing Officer and Anti-Social Behaviour Officer before moving into management and leadership roles.

Simon has a personal connection with YMCA Milton Keynes and, as a youth, both his sister and best friend lived at the YMCA’s CMK site. His father was also one of the bricklayers who built the original buildings. He returned to manage the YMCA housing project in 2009, becoming CEO in 2017.

Simon has overseen the design and development of the new YMCA campus that is designed to support young people who have experienced homelessness into employment as well as accommodation. Simon has implemented a trauma therapy service and psychologically informed
approach to YMCA MK’s work. Simon was a founder of the Winter Night Shelter project and is a Director of the Milton Keynes Homeless Partnership.

Simon is ambitious for Milton Keynes and its young people and dedicated to working collaboratively to create solutions to the city’s social problems.

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We would like to wish both Maralyn and Simon luck in their new venture!

If you would like to learn more about the work the SaferMK Partnership Board do,