Over £40,000 awarded to help neighbourhoods special projects.
Specialist skincare for cancer patients, food for a community fridge and a new youth magazine are among projects awarded £1,000 in a Milton Keynes funding programme.
The money has been made available by MK Community Foundation, which this summer has been running the Community Roots Project. The funding programme offers 40 grants of £1,000 to community groups, small charities and grassroots organisations that bring people together and help neighbourhoods thrive across Milton Keynes.
Applicants’ projects were assessed on a rolling basis from July until the full £40,000 was allocated. Because there was no way to know how many would be successful each week and every application was fairly reviewed, the organisation ended up awarding more than the original target – £42,000.
The response highlighted the extraordinary range of community activities taking place across Milton Keynes, with projects supporting health and wellbeing, reducing isolation, improving access to food, creating opportunities for young people, and helping residents build stronger local connections.
Among the projects receiving funding are:
● Specialist skincare for cancer patients
● A bicycle-fixing club
● Food for a community fridge
● A new youth magazine
● Specialist African instruments for children’s music classes
● Wellbeing workshop for people living with acquired brain injuries
● Monthly cooking clubs for Afghan women
● Financial wellbeing workshops
● A Christmas meal for people who might be alone
“We couldn’t have imagined the breadth of creativity, commitment, and community spirit exhibited in the applications we received,” said Ian Revell, MK Community Foundation CEO.
“Every day, local people across Milton Keynes give their time, energy and expertise to make life better for others. The Community Roots Project has given us the opportunity to hear directly from the people behind these ideas and see the passion driving their work.
“These projects and the people behind them are truly the roots that connect communities across our city.”
