Celebrate National Picnic Week (13th - 21st June)
Celebrate National Picnic Week at the Midsummer Picnic Festival in the beautiful Fred Roche Gardens in Central Milton Keynes on Friday 19 June 2015 between 4-8pm. Bring along a picnic and enjoy some live music from local, talented musicians and support your local parks. Visit MK Community Foundation website for information.
National Bike Week - 13th - 21st June
During this year’s National Bike Week, MK Council want to celebrate all things ‘cycling’ and would like to see citizens get on their bike and spread the love of cycling! If you are planning an events, organised rides, or anything ‘cycling’ please contact them so they can pull together a list of what people can enjoy. So far there are 4 free Sky Rides (Local guided rides), MKC are holding a ‘Bike to Work Day’ on 16th June, and the OU are holding a ‘Bike to Work Day’ on 17th June. The final list of events will be created on 5th June so please share your ideas asap.
Tours of recycling centre
Free public tours are held on the first Thursday of the month between 6:30pm - 8:00pm. These tours are popular so booking is essential. (There is no Public Tour in August. For September please see Heritage Tour information). Visit the website for information.
RegenerationMK
RegenerationMK is MK Council’s programme that is focusing on providing our neighbourhoods with improved housing and public space, and supporting and empowering communities through increased skills and access to employment. To find out more visit their website.
Changes to parking in CMK
From 18th May, changes to parking in CMK have been introduced. Visit the website to find out more.
CMK Business Neighbourhood Plan
On 7th May, citizens of MK got to decide whether or not to pass the CMK Business Neighbourhood Plan in the first referendum of its kind. The referendum was passed which means the Business Neighbourhood Plan will now become part of the MK Development Plan, and together with the Council’s Core Strategy, will guide development in CMK (including the Campbell Park grid square) over the next decade or more. Visit the CMK Town Council website for information.
Locality Webinars
Locality are running a series of webinars on issues such as ‘community ownership and management of assets’, ‘neighbourhood planning’, ‘community buildings’ and ‘community enterprise’. Visit their website for more information.
Legal help around community buildings
New guidance on the law about buildings and land designed to help busy managers of community buildings has been published on the Building Assets website. The resource has been developed by Russell Cooke Solicitors, and should also be useful "for trustees and members of management committees and all in the sector who want to check or improve their understanding of the law in this vital area". Click here to visit the website.
Growing MK
Find details on the major development sites that are contributing the growth of Milton Keynes.
Green energy - how it benefits the environment and the bank balance
As I was looking about the web, I came across 2 Guardian articles. The first looks at how using green technology can help a country’s bank balance as well as its environment. And the second looks at some examples of green technology from around the world. How can MK harness green technology to benefit our citizens?
Social Atlas dropped for 2015
The Social Atlas, compiled by MK Council’s MK Observatory, provided a snapshot of each estate in MK based on social indicators, such as life expectancy, crime stats and health. However this year the social atlas has been ‘put on hold’ due to a re-prioritisation of work. Some voluntary groups use this data to justify the need for project funding, so if you are stuck on how to evidence the need for your work, please contact the Community Action: MK’s Support and Development Team who can give you some alternative ideas to evidence a need (a vital part of any funding application).
Free support for your voluntary group available
By 2026 MK’s population is expected to grow by 20%! If you are part of a voluntary or community group you may find increased demand for your services, need to find new members or volunteers, or explore new ways to fund your work. The Community Action: MK Growth Officer, Hannah, is here to talk to your group about how MK expansion may impact you, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Please get in touch to see how we can help your group.
Funding available to help your community project
New and existing voluntary groups can benefit from up to £5000 of funding to provide services and activities in our city’s newest estates. Many groups have benefited from this grant so far including local scout groups, football clubs, summer activity programmes and community events. To apply contact the MK Community Foundation.
Support for Cooperatives
Community Action: MK are proud members of Co-operatives UK, the national body that campaigns for co-operation and works to promote, develop and unite co-operative enterprises.
Co-operatives are a flexible business model. They can be set up in different ways, using different legal structures, depending on what works for the members. The definition of a co-operative business is that they are owned and run by the members - the people who benefit from the co-operative's services. Although they carry out all kinds of business, all co-operative businesses have core things in common. Have a look at this video which explains a bit more about it all and then contact us for more information on support@communityactionmk.org or 01908 661623.
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