Community Action: MK is committed to providing support and advice to local community groups and organisations to help them run in an effective, transparent way, with the aim of making the local Voluntary and Community Sector as strong and resilient as it can be.
As an organisation, we are fully committed to the principles of the The Code of Governance for Charities, which is a practical tool to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance.
What is the Charity Governance Code?
The Charity Governance Code is not a legal requirement, however it represents a standard of good governance practice to which all charities should aspire. Charity Commission recommends that all charities read, follow and apply it proportionately to their circumstances, and we encourage all not-for-profit groups to refer to its recommendations.
How do you start in reviewing your governance?
Trustees week (running from 4th -11th November) is a great opportunity for the existing board of trustees or group committees to review their own governance structures and reflect on the seven principles of the Code of Governance, which are as the below diagram illustrates:
If your board is interested in taking on this exercise, Community Action: MK can offer an easy online governance self-assessment tool, which we have developed over the past year with support from MK Community Foundation, and tested for the benefit of numerous local groups and organisations (please follow this link to see an example).
To complete the self- assessment, please follow this link to an online form, which will take you through some key questions based around the principles of The Code of Governance. Completing the form will take up to 15 minutes, however we recommend that the self-assessment is undertaken as a group exercise for your board or a committee – e.g. as part of your meeting.
The form will give you and your fellow trustees some useful prompts to discuss the strengths of your organisation, and identify areas of improvement, and – based on this discussion – you will be able to score your performance.
Once you have submitted the form at the end of this process, we will take time to explore your answers and look into your governance documents. If necessary:
we will come back to you to clarify any gaps in knowledge and, following this assessment;
We will provide you with a set of recommendations, including a number of useful resources to refer to and training opportunities;
We will consider how we can help you to improve your governance structures by providing support, 1-2-1 sessions and/or sign-posting you to other specialist services.
To find out more about the self-assessment tool , please follow this link to our Good Governance project page. Alternatively, if you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of our team, please either e-mail us on support@communityactionmk.org or call us on 01908 621 661.
This afternoon session is designed for charities, social enterprises, community businesses and local groups in Milton Keynes interested in social investment. The event is organised by Community Action: MK in collaboration with NAVCA and the Good Finance teams.
To find out more about social investment and to book your free place, follow this link. The programme of the event can be found here.
Beds, Luton and Milton Keynes Disability Physical Activity and Sport Summit 2019
The Summit is designed to bring partners together who are influencing physical activity for disabled people across our area. The event will focus on insight, workforce, sharing of good practice and provide an opportunity for organisations to network. Please follow this link to find out more.
Innovations in community-centred support
The Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) partnership has recently launched a new online resource to showcase innovative community-centred models that keep people connected – or re-connect – to family, friends and communities. It showcases types of support that are innovative in their approach to improving people’s health and wellbeing. It has been designed for commissioners, providers and people who access services and carers. Please follow this link to view the directory.
Discover 13 ways to bring good ideas to life!
There are many ways to bring good ideas to life. Nesta works to uncover, analyse and test new ways of supporting innovation from across sectors and around the world.
The possibilities for the next generation of innovators to change the world for good is increasing by the minute. From prototyping to futurescoping, there are a number of techniques, tools and processes to aid innovation.
Citizens UK organises communities to act together for power, social justice and the common good. Their recent survey explores the everyday experiences of targeting and discrimination experienced by ordinary citizens from a range of different backgrounds. By taking part in this survey, you will be helping to change and strengthen the law around hate crime. Please follow this link to complete the survey.
Second redesign workshop of the CNWL – Milton Keynes Adult Mental Health Community Services Model
You are invited to join us for our second redesign workshop of the CNWL – Milton Keynes Adult Mental Health Community Services Model. Wednesday 25th September 2019. Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes MK12 5TH. Booking is essential. Please email n.ranautta@nhs.net by 13th September 2019 to reserve your place.
New extra session of The Mix opening in Bletchley – in partnership with Crosslinks
Families welcome, children must be accompanied by adults. Equipment will be provided but please wear appropriate footwear and clothes. For meeting point go to https//bbccmk.org.
CMK Litter picking
South Row: On Saturday 14th September Central Milton Keynes Town Council is holding its first litter pick along South Row. We hope that this will be the first of a number of litter picks across CMK. The event will take place between 10am-12 noon and we invite residents to come along and get involved. We will meet next to Beefeater Barn, Secklow Gate West.
North Row: On Saturday 21st September Central Milton Keynes Town Council is holding another litter pick between the North 9th and 10th Street flats . The event will take place between 10am – 12 noon and we invite residents to come along and get involved. We will meet next to Centrecom, North Row.
Equipment and disposable gloves will be provided. If you would like to join our litter pick in your area simply turn up on the day. If you need any more information, just contact: sue.nelson@cmktowncouncil.gov.uk or leave a message at 01908 661623.
Cycle September
Milton Keynes Council will compete against workplaces from across the UK this month as Cycle September gets underway – and you can do your bit to make sure we win. It’s free to take part and registration only takes couple of minutes. Once you’ve registered you’ll need to log the miles you have cycled throughout September, and at the end of the month our combined total mileage will be added together to discover which organisations have won prizes. Click here to find out more and to register.
Mental Health Radio Show
In partnership with MKFM and Thomas Connolly, Arthur Ellis are bringing the people of Milton Keynes the MK Mental Health Hour, an hour every Sunday evening from 7pm where we’ll be discussing a variety of topics with some pretty exciting guests, not just to bring awareness to the issues we all face but to provide expert, practical advice. See you for our first show, September 8th at 7pm! Find out more
Volunteering opportunity of the week:General Adviser – Citizens Advice Milton Keynes
Being a General Adviser with the Citizens Advice Milton Keynes is an incredibly varied role. Once trained you can expect to carry out the following duties:
Conduct face to face interviews to establish the issue the client wants to resolve, question, probe and check understanding of the issue, diagnose the issue and begin action to resolve the problem.
Research the advice required by using the Advisornet, reference books and other web based providers .
Give information and advice to the client.
Give advice in explaining the choices and consequences the client faces
Give practical help by writing letters, making phone calls, completing forms and doing basic calculations.
Make accurate records of all client cases
You don’t need any particular qualifications or experience to train as an adviser, and they’re proud of the fact that their volunteers come from all walks of life. All they ask is that you can:
Be good at listening
Be able to work in a team
Be able to read and write English and do basic maths
Be open minded and non judgemental
Commit to a minimum of 8 hrs per week.
If you’re worried about being an expert at everything then don’t be even advisers don’t need to know it all. They provide all their trainees with a comprehensive accredited training programme that will provide you with the skills you need to deliver a high quality service to the clients. Their up-to-the-minute electronic information system contains most of the information you will need when advising clients.
When your training ends you won’t be left alone. Their supervisors, guidance tutors and other experienced volunteers are on hand to give you further support, encouragement and advice. Age restriction: 18+
References will be required. Good communication, numeracy and literacy skills are essential.
Please contact: Carol Muldownie @ Citizens Advice Milton Keynes for more information or follow this link to their website.
We’re Hiring! Support, Development and Volunteering Outreach Worker Roles
We have two roles available, each with elements of specific focus. The purpose of the posts is to contribute to the support, development and volunteering services which are central to the work of Community Action: MK. These are focused around the key elements of:
● Mobilising communities ● Strengthening groups ● Influencing policy and decision making
The post holder will work as part of a dedicated community development team, committed to supporting the community and voluntary sector in Milton Keynes. Find out more
Deadline Tuesday 3rd September.
Age UK – Two new roles available:
Jobs Club Support Worker
The post holder will be responsible for supporting clients attending Age UK Milton Keynes job clubs. You will carry out initial assessments and devise a personal programme for each client. You will deliver support in Northamptonshire. You will be responsible for booking rooms for training courses that support the programme.
More information about the role and responsibilities can be found here.
Age UK – Admin Support Worker
Supporting the BBO Project Officers by preparing client folders, Photocopying and scanning files. Supporting the BBO Programme Manager by preparing the financial and participant information for the returns to the Accountable Body. Occasionally to support the BBo Project Officers at Job Clubs. To support the job club at Kiln Farm. To attend weekly meeting and take minutes.
More information about the role and responsibilities can be found here.
To apply to the above roles, please send your CV and covering letter outlining your experience to sue.quine@ageukmiltonkeynes.org.uk.
Closing date for both roles:24th September Interviews 2nd October 2019
Spinal Injuries Association Fundraising Events Coordinator
SIA are looking to recruit a Fundraising Events Coordinator to join the team and be responsible for managing their diverse portfolio of Special Events across the UK, including black tie dinners, charity race days, golf days and networking events, amongst others. Find out more here.
Deadline: 5pm Friday 20th September
Connection Support – Direct Payment & Employment Support Advisor
A local charity providing advice and support services to people living in Milton Keynes who receive a social care budget and use this as a Direct Payment to create more tailored care arrangements. They are looking for someone keen to develop their knowledge and understanding to support people to use Direct Payments confidently and assist some of these people with finding and employing their own care staff. Working within a small friendly team of advisors the role involves home visiting and responding to enquiries to our Helpline.
Grants are available to constituted, not-for-profit groups with environmental and community projects that are located near a qualifying Veolia site in England. Please follow this link to find out more.
Deadline: 28 November 2019
Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity
Grants are available to not-for-profit organisations in the UK for projects that relate to the delivery of financial skills to different defined groups. Please follow this link to find out more.
Deadline: 27th September
Peter Harrison Foundation
Special Needs and Care for Children and Young People Programme
Grants are available for charities in the South East of England to assist young people who are disabled, disadvantaged, ill, homeless or at risk of crime, truancy or addiction. Please follow this link to find out more.
Deadline: N/A (ongoing)
‘Secklow Hundred Mound – Milton Keynes’ ancestral meeting place’ – an illustrated talk by Martin Petchey, Archaeologist.
Thursday 19th September 2019 at 6.15pm – 7.15pm
Milton Keynes Central Library
The Secklow Mound – Central Milton Keynes. Behind the Central Library lies a Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance known as Secklow Mound, named after an Anglo-Saxon administrative area called the Secklow Hundred. The Mound was a meeting place and historical research in the 1970s confirmed the precise location of the Mound to be at the edge of todays City Centre. In 1978 the mound was reconstructed and landscaped protecting the significant archaeological remains.
Each September the picturesque MK Village Pavilion in Middleton comes alive with the exciting vibe of the local food and drink scene. With all the stallholders coming from within a 20 mile radius of the venue, the event showcases the best of local food and drink and brings together street food vendors, artisan producers, farmers market stallholders and chefs for a one day, one location, not-to-be-missed food and drink shopping experience. Please follow this link to find out more.
CENTRE MK TURNS 40!
Centre MK celebrates its 40th Birthday in September. To recognise the landmark of the Grade 2 listed building, which opened September 1979, people are encouraged in Middleton Hall on Tuesday 10th September to help form a human display, similar to the one done 5 years ago. Arrival at Middleton Hall at 12.20 if you want to be involved – it’ll only take about 20 minutes!
Do you have news to share?
If you work or volunteering 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
Are you following us on social media?
Stay up to date using your favourite social media channel and help us spread the word about the amazing voluntary and community action in Milton Keynes! #lovemk #volunteermk
Milton Keynes Safeguarding Board and the Milton Keynes Safeguarding Board Children’s Partnership have been working on an Early Help Strategy 2019-22 for Milton Keynes, and are inviting local groups to submit their comments.
Deadline for submitting feedback and comments: Monday 8th July.
1st July: Children and young people’s mental health needs assessment
Community & Voluntary Sector Consultation
When? Monday 1 July, 9.30am – 12.30pm, at Where? Davis Suite, Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1AH
This event relates to the mental health needs assessment for children and young people that is underway in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes The focus is on prevention and early intervention approaches to mental health and wellbeing, as well as access to specialist services.
Deadline to RSVP: Wednesday 26th June. Please follow this link to find out more and to book your place.
An introduction to safeguarding which aims to raise awareness of the issues for voluntary and community groups working with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
In June 2019, Lavendon Parish Council submitted the final version of its Neighbourhood Plan to Milton Keynes Council. The Plan is now being published in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Plans (General) Regulations 2012. This is the final stage to make comments on the Plan.
Any comments on the Plan at this stage (including those from members of the public and other organisations) will be passed to an independent person (the Examiner) to consider when he or she is examining the Plan. The Examiner will consider whether the Plan:
– Meets a number of basic conditions
– Satisfies the legal requirements for neighbourhood plans, and
– Identifies an appropriate area for the referendum
Artists working across all art forms are invited to take over MK Gallery! Applications welcome from all, especially from artists connected to Milton Keynes in particular.
Midsummer Boulevard in CMK will be hosting the first ever ‘A Festival of Creative Urban Living’; bringing together artists, architects, designers, urban planners, thinkers, creatives and many others to deliver a free programme of exhibitions, events, creative workshops, performances and much more.
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, other updates and news about the Voluntary and Community Sector in Milton Keynes, please follow this link.
Volunteering opportunity of the week: Trustee for MK Play Association
Time commitment: flexible/ tba
This is an exciting opportunity to join the board of trustees at this children-centred charity providing a number of vital services in Milton Keynes. If you have skills and knowledge of business finance, fundraising or marketing, MKPA would love to hear from you!
Please follow this link to our Simply Connect volunteer recruitment platform to find out more and to apply. If you would like to get a better understanding of what it takes to volunteer as a trustee in general, please follow this link to the NCVO article.
MK Play Association also have a range of other volunteering roles available – please follow this link to their website to find out more.
Girlguiding – Student Volunteering Roles
Flexible volunteering for students at school, college or university!
GirlGuiding are the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, offering great volunteering opportunities for students and giving you the opportunity to gain lots of new skills while having the adventure of a lifetime.
Please follow this link to find out more and to apply. You can also visit our Simply Connect volunteer recruitment platform to find other volunteering roles with the local Girlguiding groups in MK! Please follow this link to explore (simply put ‘ Girlguiding’ into the keyword search field)
The Parks Trust: Outdoor Learning Ranger (Delivering Environmental Education)
If you are passionate about the environment and have a love for teaching, The Parks Trust are looking for an Outdoor Learning Ranger to deliver Environmental Education to a variety of age groups in MK.
Closing date: Friday 30th July. Please follow this link to find out more and to apply, and to see other roles currently available at The Parks Trust.
Heart Of Bucks: general grants
Max. Value: £ 5,000 Application Deadline: 28 August 2019
Heart of Bucks are the Community Foundation for Buckinghamshire, supporting charities and community groups in whose work benefits local people. It awards grants to a broad range of causes and welcome applications from both new and established groups.
Join this fun event being organised by Wolverton Community Orchard. Please follow this link to find out more.
Parade of Colours – Art at the Lake Festival
29th June
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
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
Milton Keynes Safeguarding Board and the Milton Keynes Safeguarding Board Children’s Partnership have been working on an Early Help Strategy for Milton Keynes.
MK Together (which brings together the Milton Keynes Safeguarding Boards, Community Safety and the Health and Wellbeing Boards) are circulating the consultation document which has been prepared by a cross sector Task and Finish Group.
Priorities include:
To target resources effectively to support children and their families as early as possible when problems arise
To monitor and measure the impact of the Early Help offer through assessment processes and performance management
To build on the strengths and capacity of families and communities to meet children’s needs through universal services where possible
To prevent the need for referral and thereby reduce the number of children requiring specialist and statutory support
To support children to thrive by intervening to improve key protective factors that help build resilience
To support the Early Help model to thrive through shared understanding and responsibility across partners
When? Friday 5th July: 12.30-1.30pm with an optional walking tour between 1.30-2.30pm
Where? Meet at Acorn House, 351 Midsummer Blvd, MK9 3HP
Join Community Action: MK and other colleagues from the Voluntary and Community Sector in Milton Keynes at our Summer Networking/ Netwalking event, which will be dedicated to the topic of the growth of Milton Keynes. The event will include a walking tour (optional to join) of some of the planned development areas in the city centre, ending up at Middleton Hall for the Milton Keynes: A Journey to 2050exhibition and talks.
The Agenda:
12.30pm – Arrive: registration and refreshments
12.45pm – Welcome from Clare Walton, The CEO of Community Action: MK
12.50pm – Networking & Visiting the stalls to share feedback & find out useful information about the growth projects in the city and their impact on the sector
1.30pm – Walking Tour (please note there might be two walking groups depending on the number of people signing up)
2.40pm – Arrive at Middleton Hall: exhibition & talks (optional to join and explore)
The walking tour is optional (please reserve your ticket as part of the registration process) and will cover the key areas for development proposed in Centre MK, such as MK:U – a new university and Hotel La Tour, a multi-million pound development, to name a few. The walk will take up to one hour – please make sure that you wear comfortable footwear!
The MK Futures 2050 project is putting on an exhibition at Middleton Hall, with talks from some of the key stakeholders involved in the development projects in Milton Keynes – to see the full programme, please follow this link
Once at Middleton Hall, guests can feel free to browse at their leisure before the exhibition and spend as much time as they wish there.
We very much look forward to seeing you on the day!
Community Action: MK Summer Networking event – Friday 5th July
Friday 21st June: A Community of Practice: All VCS practitioners welcome
This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who works or volunteers with Children and Young People in MK, offering them support for their mental health and sense of wellbeing. The second meeting of the group is taking place on:
FRIDAY 21st JUNE 9.30am – midday at Service Six, Chapter House, Coffee Hall, MK6 5EE
Please follow this link to find out more about this new group and the meeting on the 21st June.
This group is set-up for the workers/ volunteering from within the Voluntary and Community Sector in Milton Keynes.
The Stables need your support!
The Developers are back and have put in a new Reserved Matters Application no 19/01357/REM which makes no reference to the existence of The Stables nor the previous pre-commencement condition for a deed of easement.
Please support The Stables to protect this important and much loved venue for our creative and cultural city. It is vitally important that you send in comments on the proposed Reserved Matters application as a matter of great urgency. All comments must be submitted to the Council by Wednesday 19 June. Please see The Stables website for their Planning Development update of 6 June.
Upcoming Training sessions at MK Play Association:
MK Play Association are offering the following training courses:
Emergency First Aid at Work
12hr Paediatric First Aid (last courses of this term)
Safeguarding Children
L2 Health & Safety (accredited with Highfield Awarding Body)
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.
Volunteers Week 2019 as seen by Community Action: MK
Read our blog with a summary of the activities we run and visited during this year’s Volunteers’ Week! Huge thanks again to all of the fantastic groups and organisations that engaged with us this year! Please follow this link to read the blog.
Volunteering opportunity of the week:
Volunteering Sessions at Salcey Forest and Silverstone Woodlands
If you enjoy the outdoors, want to learn new skills, meet new people and help the team look after the nations forest, these volunteering opportunities are just for you. Please follow this link to find out more and to get involved!
We are hiring! Join Community Action: MK as a Trainee Community Mobiliser
For information on other recent job openings, including at YMCA, Thames Valley Partnerships and Scouts, please follow this link.
Nationwide Building Society – Community Grants
Max value: £50,000
Application deadline: 05 July 2019
Grants are available to charities, Community Land Trusts and housing co-operatives for projects that tackle a housing problem in local communities in eligible parts of England.
Carers Innovation Fund to announce support for unpaid carers
The government has launched the £5m Carers Innovation Fund, which plans to help unpaid carers within communities.
The funding will be used to improve support across the country and help build more carer-friendly communities. Applicants will need to demonstrate their idea is a fresh approach that is better than existing provision, and it will benefit the local community and can be expanded and replicated.
Doit.Foundation are inviting small and micro voluntary and community groups to register interest in their small grants pilot, which aims to explore how digital can be used to make it easy for small organisations to access funding and other support.
If your organisation has an income of £100,000 a year or less then all you need to do is complete a short survey and register your details for the pilots that will take place later in the year.
Doit.Foundation is the new charity foundation of Do it Life Social Enterprise, the home of the Do-it.org volunteering service. The charity’s aim is to utilise Do it Life tech to make it easy for small voluntary and community organisations to access small grants and other support.
For more information about the Foundation visit their website Doit.Foundation.
World Refugee Day
20th June
Join Refugees Welcome Milton Keynes and partner groups in celebrating World Refugee Day with a programme of events on Thursday 20th June.
Armed Forces Flag Raising
24th June
Big Lunch at Conniburrow Orchard
29th Jun
Come and join us for our Big Lunch in Conniburrow on Saturday 29th June at 1pm – please bring your own lunch or a dish to share.
Wolverton-On-The-Sea
29th June
Join this fun event being organised by Wolverton Community Orchard. Please follow this link to find out more.
Parade of Colours – Art at the Lake Festival
29th June
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
Charity Walk for Peace 2019
30th 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
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