Local News

Today, the My Bus free employee shuttle bus service for Central Milton Keynes has officially launched. This new city centre transportation service is being provided by MyMiltonKeynes, the local Business Improvement District, and responds directly to the feedback from employers and employees within CMK. The service will run Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm and the circular route, via Silbury and Avebury Boulevards, has ten stops across the city centre from the Network Rail offices by the station up to the shopping centres and leisure districts. Stops include the Civic Offices, The Hub, 12th Street, centre:mk and intu Milton Keynes. Employees located within the city centre can download the free MyMiltonKeynes app (on iOS and Android) to register, ride for free and access live bus times. Melanie Beck, Chief Executive of MyMiltonKeynes commented, “We are thrilled to finally launch the My Bus service. This tangible benefit for CMK employees..

A Wolverton business has won a national award in recognition of its work in making Wolverton a better place to live. Bridgman & Bridgman won the Best Community Partnership with Business award at the Groundwork Community Awards, hosted by the charity in the Houses of Parliament in London on Thursday 22 November. Groundwork, a national charity who works across the UK to support communities to change places and change lives, launched its awards in 2017 to honour small community groups making a big difference to everyone’s quality of life and to celebrate and reward groups who often get little recognition and support. Bridgman & Bridgman are a commercial landscape and living roof services provider. The company lead on the ‘Don’t Rubbish Wolverton’ campaign, with the first clean-up day taking place in 2013 and engaged over 20 resident volunteers, the local council and refuse contractors to help clean up the streets...

Businesses and organisations from Milton Keynes put their grey matter to the test when they took part in Brain Game, the gala quiz night held by Willen Hospice. The event raised almost £15,000 in support of the charity. Twenty teams battled it out over eight rounds in subjects ranging from arts and travel to sport and music. In a close competition, it was Workforce Software Ltd who showed they knew their stuff, as their team Workforce Warriors took the champions trophy home. The event was held in the exclusive Mercedes Benz dealership in Kingston, which underwent a glittering transformation for the evening. It included a live auction and prize draw, both offering fantastic prizes kindly donated by local businesses and supporters. Head of Events and Community Fundraising, Sarah Sweet-Rowley, said: “We had a fabulous evening at Brain Game. It’s a great chance to dress up, socialise and have a bit..

Businesses in Milton Keynes are once again signing up to take part in the Franklins £50 Challenge and use their entrepreneurial skills to raise funds for Willen Hospice. In January 2019 the challenge will begin with each team receiving £50 from Franklins Solicitors. Each team will have eight weeks to invest and re-invest that money to raise as much as possible. Hospice. Amy Shaw, Corporate Fundraiser said “In 2018, teams raised an incredible £32,000 for the Hospice through quiz nights, bake sales, lunchtime yoga and dress down days. We celebrated their achievements at an awards ceremony where the challenge champions were crowned and prizes awarded for best team name and most creative fundraising.“ Willen Hospice is inviting teams from local businesses to take part in the 2019 Franklins Challenge to make this year’s challenge even bigger and better, to support their local Hospice. The Hospice needs to raise £9 every..

The magic of Christmas was brought to life at intu Milton Keynes on Saturday when the city centre was transformed into a glittering winter wonderland, lit up by thousands of sparkling lights. The free event, hosted by MyMiltonKeynes the local Business Improvement District, together with partners, at intu Milton Keynes, drew huge crowds gathered to begin the countdown to Christmas with the spectacular lights-switch on. Families enjoyed a festive feast of yuletide cheer, with music, dance and a laser display that sent everybody’s Christmas spirit soaring. Ivan and Emma from Heart breakfast presented the seasonal extravaganza, which marked the opening of a host of fabulously fun and festive activities at intu Milton Keynes. There’s the traditional carousel, roasted chestnuts, and sweet treats on the mall, plus the Alpine Village in Oak Court where you’ll find a bar and fire pit, Christmas movie showings and much more. It’s the perfect spot..

Last week the UK marked 100 years since the first women gained the right to vote by celebrating Parliament week. Schools across Milton Keynes took part in activities to find out more about our democracy. One school received a special guest. On Friday (16th Nov) Giffard Park Primary School hosted the Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds MP. The Secretary of State was given a tour by two members of the School Council. He joined few classes to see their Parliament Week activities which included voting on whether ‘it was fair to be given homework’ a shock result saw the class agree it was! He was then joined by local MP Mark Lancaster taking questions from year 6 students. Mark said: “I was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to Giffard Park Primary School. We were both incredibly impressed with how students were engaging with our Parliament and..

The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that looks after over 6,000 acres of green space across Milton Keynes, wants to encourage people to get out and explore the city’s parkland this National Tree Week, which runs from Saturday 24th November to Sunday 2nd December 2018. To celebrate the many varied and beautiful trees that feature across the Milton Keynes landscape, The Parks Trust has devised a series of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. A route for a self-guided walk has been created, which covers several of the central parks, including Campbell Park, Newlands and the Tree Cathedral. The route details which trees walkers should look out for, including the majestic oak in Campbell Park and the poplars along the Canal Broadwalk. It is approximately three miles in length and should take around an hour to complete. Further self-guided walks, covering other areas of Milton Keynes, will shortly..

Leading Milton Keynes magazine MK Pulse has been nominated in the ‘Best Customer Service’ category as part of the highly prestigious SME MK & Buckinghamshire Business Awards. In a category decided purely by a public vote, the winning business will ensure it exceeds customers’ expectations before, during and after using their services, invest in building long term relationships and provide a service that is consistently outstanding. Kerry Lewis-Stevenson, MK Pulse magazine’s editor, said: “We pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service, so to be nominated in this category is absolutely fantastic. Especially as one of our customer’s entered us for the award and it wasn’t something we consciously signed up for as a business.” A trusted companion to those living locally, MK Pulse is dedicated to Milton Keynes and its surrounding villages. Engaging and relevant content of local news, features and stories combine to create a much-loved magazine that's as..

The Willen Hospice annual Christmas service of remembrance, Lights of Love, will return to The Ridgeway Centre in Wolverton Mill on Saturday 1 December. The event, which starts at 3pm, is a poignant opportunity for people who have lost someone close, to reflect on and celebrate their life. Visitors are invited to mark the occasion by adding their loved one’s names into the Hospice Books of Remembrance. Children are invited to decorate stars to hang on the Hospice Christmas trees, or take home to treasure. The service will be conducted by the Hospice’s new Chaplain, Martha McInnes, and will include Christmas carols and a Christmas lights switch on. The service takes place against a backdrop of Christmas stalls, local choirs and MK Brass who will provide a festive ambience. Sarah Sweet-Rowley, Head of Fundraising and Events at Willen Hospice, said “Our popular Lights of Love service offers great comfort and..

Santa Dash, the iconic Willen Hospice festive fundraiser is set to return on Sunday 16 December. The event will see hundreds of people dressed as Father Christmas flock to Willen Lake to walk, jog or sprint the 1.2 mile Santa Dash. Starting outside the Hospice at 10.30am, (off Willen Lake North) the event is open people of all ages, and dogs are welcome to take part too. Sarah Sweet-Rowley, Head of Events and Community Fundraising at Willen Hospice, said “Our Santa Dash has become an annual favourite; a really special event that we know our community looks forward to each year. For some, it’s become a staple in their Christmas routine as a great way to mark the start of their festivities. Besides being a hugely important fundraiser for us, it’s a whole lot of fun for families who enjoy dressing up and getting involved in supporting their local Hospice.”..

This year’s city centre Christmas Light Switch On will take place on Saturday 17th November and is set to follow previous years by spectacularly lighting up the city for the festive period and marking the start of the official countdown to Christmas. The free event will take place at the front of intu Milton Keynes from 4pm with the switch on happening at 5pm. Ivan and Emma from Heart Breakfast will be hosting the event which will feature live entertainment as they build up to the big countdown. We’re promised Father Christmas will make a quick stop in MK from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to do the honours. Look out for the three giant Kings lit on the roof of Christ the Cornerstone Church as well as the sparkling parcels and trees along Midsummer Boulevard bursting into festive life. After the switch on a huge pyrotechnic and laser show will..

Milton Keynes Play Association (MKPA) are renown for selling unwanted items from their Scrapstore in Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes. Their philosophy is to avoid waste and recycle and repurpose wherever possible. No surprise then to discover that MKPA have successfully rehomed their own ‘waste’ product, the spare pumpkins left over from their half-term play sessions. Pumpkins were donated to the volunteers who cook for The Bus Shelter MK, the bus for the homeless. Instead of being composted, or going to landfill, they will be used to provide much needed meals. Michele Clark, Play Coordinator, MKPA said, ‘We were very keen not to waste something that can be put to good use and for such a good cause’. Slated Row school have also received some pumpkins to enable them to raise funds for the bus. Paul Gowin, Manager of The Bus Shelter MK said, ‘I’d like to thank Milton Keynes Play..

Local people are being invited to take advantage of a free will writing service during November as Willen Hospice Will Month returns. Eleven legal firms have teamed up to support the charity by writing Wills in return for a donation to the Hospice. The service is available for anyone who would like to create a new will or change an existing Will. Lisa Kinrade, Project and Partnership Development at Willen Hospice, said “Leaving a gift in your Will can really make a difference in helping support patient and family care at Willen Hospice. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will help us deliver our promise to always be there to care. “We’d like to thank all the solicitors taking part, for their incredible generosity in supporting Willen Hospice during Will Month.” The solicitors will also be on hand to discuss any legacies that people may wish to leave...

Shoppers turned up in their droves just to visit the third Etsy market at intu Milton Keynes on Saturday 29 September. Increasing in popularity with each visit, the independent retailer market saw record numbers visit and support local business, making Saturday’s market the most successful yet! With over 40 sellers taking part, it was also the biggest to date and featured local traders selling upcycled, handmade and vintage items to suit all budget and tastes. Kirsty McGiff, marketing manager at intu Milton Keynes said, “We are delighted with how well Saturday’s market went and it was great to see so many smiling faces. It’s important for us to support local and independent businesses and give them a platform to talk to and reach new customers. The market grows in popularity with each visit and it’s the Christmas one next.” The next market at intu Milton Keynes will be the much-anticipated..

Absolutely Leisure, the charity organisation which provides affordable leisure and entertainment pursuits such as Go Karting, Laser Combat, and gyms, has partnered with its latest go-karting venue in Milton Keynes which will enable the company to spread its community work further across the county. The organisation will be working in partnership with Formula Fast, a multi-award winning, family-founded go-karting company and home to one of the biggest single-level indoor circuits in the UK. Formula Fast are also sole hosts of the British Rental Kart Championship – the official UK qualifying series for the Kart World Championship. David Brind, Group Manager at Absolutely Leisure said, “We’re really excited to be adding this venue to our portfolio of Absolutely Leisure partnerships. Formula Fast are well established as one of the UK’s top operators, and the team have a great reputation for delivering a warm and professional service. Their first-class facility in Milton..