— Comments Off on College in the Community Day – Tuesday 21st February

College in the Community Day – Tuesday 21st February

Are you looking for volunteer power to help boost any of your upcoming projects? Then keep reading, as today’s guest blog comes from MK College, with more about their College in the Community Day:

MK College are planning a day of action across Milton Keynes where as many of their students and staff as possible support the community and are looking for groups to work with on this. It could be a skills-based activity or something anyone could do, for a couple of hours or the whole day, at one of our campuses or in your project setting – if you have something they could get involved in, they want to hear from you!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss project ideas, please contact Rebecca Myrie, Community Engagement Manager (rebecca.myrie@mkcollege.ac.uk).

The picture is of Painting & Decorating students working on Woughton Community Centre in January 2020.

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— Comments Off on Creating the Community Action: MK Five Year Plan 2023-28

Creating the Community Action: MK Five Year Plan 2023-28

You can see our previous Five Year (2018-22) here.

Co-production and listening to feedback

Over the past year or so we have been collating feedback to inform our next Five Year Plan (2023-28) in order to reflect the voices and needs of the Milton Keynes’ Voluntary and Community Groups and Organisations.

The focus has been on how Community Action: MK can best support MK groups to:

  • Access funding and other opportunities for growth and collaboration
  • Develop and maintain a thriving volunteer community
  • Help position the VCSE in Milton Keynes as a strategic partner within the local decision and policy making in the City

With this in mind, we asked two questions for consideration:

  1. What should our priorities in the above areas be? Are there any gaps we have missed?
  2. How can CA: MK share the impact of Milton Keynes’ Voluntary and Community Groups and Organisations?

What has the feedback been?

You can see the answers gathered through the Google Jamboard, a virtual flip chart, where you can add ‘sticky notes’ using the menu found on the left hand side of the page.

We engaged with a range of groups that attended our AGM in October 2022 and gathered their feedback. See the jamboard with all the feedback collated here.

Many thanks for taking the time to complete the board, your insights will be invaluable in ensuring we can continue to strengthen groups, communities and the VCSE sector in Milton Keynes.

If you would like to discuss any of the topics in more detail, please email support@communityactionmk.org to arrange a support session with a member of the team or book an online session on: bit.ly/CAMKSupportSessions.

Next Steps:

We are in the process of bringing all the feedback together and finalising our next Five Year Plan, which will be shared through our website and the newsletter shortly – watch the space!

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— Comments Off on Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Knife Angel Volunteer Marshals

Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Knife Angel Volunteer Marshals

The National Monument against Violence & Aggression (Knife Angel) is being hosted in Milton Keynes this December and January at MK Dons Stadium. Thames Valley police are seeking volunteer marshals to provide information and answer questions from the large footfall the monument is likely to attract. You can read more about the creation of the Knife Angel here. 

Can you give a few hours of your time to stand with the Angel and promote the anti-violence message? It could act as a team-building day for a workforce, or for a charity to share its own anti-violence message. A one-hour online training session and briefing pack will be provided to those who volunteer.

Marshalls Dates and Times:

Times are available between 10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm daily, between 3rd December to 7th January.

All volunteers must be 18 years or over, unless accompanied by an appropriate adult registered and authorised to volunteer for this initiative.

Venue Location:

Gate 1, Stadium MK, Denbigh, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST.

For travel information, visit: www.mkdons.com/club/visit-stadiummk

The recruitment deadline is this Friday 18th November.

For further information, please email : knifeangelvolunteers@thamesvalley.police.uk or haydn.lewis@thamesvalley.police.uk.

Image Credit: British Ironwork Centre

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— Comments Off on Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Xtra Special Families

Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Xtra Special Families

Who are Xtra Special Families?

Xtra Special Families are a small community group, who are powered entirely by a small group of volunteers. They offer fun holiday sessions to families living with disability or additional needs in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. 

“Xtra Special Families was formed in May 2014 to provide fun activities designed to develop and improve life skills for disabled children, whilst providing mutual support for their carers and families in Milton Keynes.
 
Since forming XSF has run 7 half day holiday sessions every year (except during the pandemic) aimed at the whole family, enabling children with special needs and their siblings to share positive experiences together.
 
Activities such as Reptile Roadshow, Music and Art Workshops, and Circus Skills are bought in, together with resources of the Play Association. In addition volunteers provided craft and play activities.
 
The small committee are nearly all parents themselves of children and young adults with disabilities and so bring a wealth of knowledge and awareness which helps XSF offer the best experience they can.“

These Summer Holiday play sessions provide an engaging opportunity for families to experience a whole host of activities in a safe and inclusive environment.

The Volunteer Opportunity of the Week

On August 24th 1.30- 3.30pm, Supporting Xtra Special Families will be back at Broughton Fields Primary School with another fun-filled event. If you have just a few hours to spare to help facilitate the array of activities on offer, you’ll have the chance to meet the welcoming team at SXSF, as well as the wonderful families who attend the sessions.

If you’re able to support this invaluable work, get in touch via Facebook Messenger to find out more: Supporting Xtra Special Families | Facebook or email: sxsfenquiries@gmail.com

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people walking on brown concrete floor
— Comments Off on The Wisdom Principle- Navigating BAME Generational Mental Wellbeing

The Wisdom Principle- Navigating BAME Generational Mental Wellbeing

The Wisdom Principle held their second event of the year on Saturday, 23rd July at Acorn House and what an event it was! The event looked at Generational BAME Mental Wellbeing and I had the pleasure of attending with two hats on. One as a volunteer on behalf of Community Action: MK and the other as an interested member of the BAME community with a strong interest in mental wellbeing.

Who are The Wisdom Principle and what do they do?

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— Comments Off on Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Repair Café

Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Repair Café

Today’s volunteer opportunity comes from the Repair Café, a local community initiative that promotes repair as an alternative to throwing things out.The café is held at The Old Bath House Community Centre. 205 Stratford Road, Wolverton MK12 5RL, on the second Saturday of the month.

Blog Post Mobilising Communities Strengthening Groups Volunteering