You may be aware that the Ground Floor of the Buszy – the Old Bus Station – has been let to The Winter Night Shelter for use as a One Stop Shop for the Homeless in Milton Keynes.

Donna from Ridgeway Community Trust is currently co-ordinating the use of the Buszy and is looking for care providers that work with the homeless, vulnerable and those with mental health challenges.  They are offering the opportunity to utilise the Old Bus Station throughout the week. They are looking for people who want to provide their services in the facility and work with other facility users, signposting to other service providers where necessary. The facility will be provided free of charge to anyone working with the homeless or vulnerable.

The Homelessness Partnership in Milton Keynes is trying to achieve the following;

•  A ‘One Stop Shop’ that connects cohesive services, charities and groups working in partnership.
• Create a community centre that provides resources that prevent and support homelessness, supports the vulnerable and those with mental health problems.

At the moment there are some works that are being completed, but they are hoping this will all be completed by 1st December 2017, in time for the colder weather.

If you would like more information or you would like to get in touch regarding the use of the Buszy, please contact Donna: donnaelliott71@gmail.com

The Volunteer Credits Project has now come to an end and we would like to say thank you to those that made it such a success:

The Parks Trust, Local People Project (Lakes Estate), Community Car Service MK, Table Tennis England, Cancer Research UK, Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Barnardo’s, Heelands Rangers, MK Community Cardiac Group, Newport Pagnell Brownies, Stantonbury Arts and Leisure, MK Snap, Works for Us and Adaptive Snowsports MK.

Thank you to Hertsmere Leisure, 1Life and Freedom Leisure in Milton Keynes who provided the credits for volunteers.

We would also like to thank MK Dons SET, who gave us free tickets for the prize draw.

Thanks also goes to MK Community Foundation, Milton Keynes Council’s Public Health, MK Physical Activity Alliance and to the Open University for the allocation of time, funding and support to the project.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work and dedication to the project we received great feedback and look forward to working on similar projects in the future.

The YMCA Youth Matters Awards is an annual event which celebrates the achievements of Young People, Staff and Volunteers across the country. 

The reason we are mentioning these awards today is because a local man has been named for 2 awards!

Tom Davis who is the founder of The Bus Shelter: MK who has been working hard to tackle the homelessness problem in Milton Keynes has been recognised in 2 categories. Young Leader of the Year and Young Campaigner of the year! 

We have definitely seen his amazing efforts in one form or another. I managed to get up close to the bus the other day at INTU in Central Milton Keynes. It is huge and can sleep up to 16 people! 

So if you would like to Vote for Tom Davis or even look at other nominees in other categories… then please click on the link below! 

https://www.ymca.org.uk/about/awards

But we also wanted to say a massive well done to Tom! Keep up the good work Tom, we all appreciate it! If you would like to know more about The Bus Shelter: MK you can visit their website https://www.thebussheltermk.org/

Local Conversations is a steering group for Netherfield and they are hosting a 

DIY Health Check Day on Friday! 

If you are free between 11- 3pm come and have a look! 

Local Conversations is a local community group who the Community Engagement team are assisting. They are working hard as a team with the Netherfield residents to enhance the local community and estate.

We are always looking for more volunteers so if you are interested in helping us with our work, then please contact localconversationsnf@gmail.com.

In some of our work with PHT Steering Groups and local communities, we have connected with Squidge from #Playstreet.

He has recently been mentioned in an article where he has been recognised for his community work.

http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/artist-paints-kettering-house-wrecked-by-graffiti-1-8032579

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Squidge works with the younger generations trying to get them involved in the community around them. He runs some amazing Urban Art and BMX sessions in one of our regeneration estates – Netherfield.

The Local Conversations PHT Steering Group meet weekly in a bid to improve their community and to connect with others. The Urban Art and BMX sessions in Netherfield were arranged by the group in hope of promoting the younger generations input into our community ideas.

Local Conversations are looking at starting their Community Garden Project and are putting some CCTV up in the community.

If you would like to get involved with the Local Conversations Group in Netherfield then please do not hesitate to contact them: localconversationsnf@gmail.com

If you are interested in contacting Squidge regarding #Playstreet you can contact him by emailing playstreet@hotmail.co.uk

It is Volunteers Week,  so I thought I would remind all of you that Volunteers can now sign up for Volunteer Credits! 

This would entitle them to some free swimming sessions at Bletchley Leisure Centre & Woughton Leisure Centre, or some time in the Sauna or Steam Room at Freedom Leisure, or even a large bucket of balls on the Driving Range at Windmill Hill Golf Course.

Or Maybe you would like to sign up for some Badminton Sessions or Squash?

Maybe you would like to spend some time on the Exercise Bikes or the Cross Trainer. You could also use this as an opportunity to check out the gyms if you are looking to take up a membership!

If any of the above sounds fabulous to you- then please sign up below;

Sign Up Form for Volunteer Credits

The Rules;

All you need to do is Volunteer once a month to get 1 volunteer credit per month! It does not matter what you do as a volunteer- but we will need to be able to check with the organisation that you are a volunteer with them. 1 Credit equals 1 activity. Credits can only be used where they have been approved (Click Here for how to use your credits). We have credits available for June and July only now and all credits must be used by 31st August 2017. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me- samantha@communityactionmk.org

We have been running a project in Milton Keynes called the Physical Activity Volunteering Project. We have been promoting Physical Activity and Volunteering across Milton Keynes by providing volunteers with credits. 

We have recently decided to let you- as a volunteer- sign up for your own credits! 

So if you are volunteering in any role within the Milton Keynes area then please click on the link below and fill out the short form. I will then be able to send you a credit which will entitle you to a free swimming session at Bletchley Leisure Centre. Or maybe you prefer to get active with a fitness class at 1Life Woughton Leisure centre.

Freedom Leisure at Willen are offering a 3 day pass to their  facility which have a sauna and steam room to help you unwind after all of that Physical Activity.

So if any of the above activities are of interest to you! Then sign up for your free credit*

Click Here for your Free Credit!

For more information see our website;

https://communityactionmk.org/volunteering/physicalactivity/sign-up-for-a-credit/

*You can only claim 1 free credit a month, each credit can take up to a week to be processed. You will only be entitled to the credit once your volunteering has been confirmed with the company you volunteer for. The last Credits will be sent out at the end of July. If you have any further questions you can contact the administrator by email- samantha@communityactionmk.org.