Local News

Willen Hospice is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest charity shop, Willen Hospice Select, located at The Point in Central Milton Keynes. The shop brings a touch of pre-loved luxury and uniqueness to the community, showcasing a stunning collection of designer, unique, and antique preloved items, providing an opportunity for shoppers to discover one-of-a-kind treasures while supporting hospice care. Willen Hospice Select is also an enticing ‘shop front’ for our online shops, where customers can collect items purchased online as well as browse and buy items within the shop and from our vast online selection. Customers can shop online in-store, or in the comfort of their own home via Willen Hospice Shop | eBay Stores, DepopOnlineShop, and VestiaireCollectiveOnlineShop By choosing to shop at Select, customers not only acquire distinctive items but also contribute to a meaningful cause. All proceeds from the shop directly support Willen Hospice and the..

To celebrate #NationalTreeWeek it’s the perfect time to wrap up and head outdoors to take a closer look at MK’s tree population. From Ash to Oak, Milton Keynes is home to a host of tree species, residing in ancient woodlands, meadow forests, nature reserves, and alongside boulevards, as well as the city’s unique Tree Cathedral. It may be a special location, personal memory, or the colour of the leaves that make one particular tree stand out to you. It could be the age, or bark, the shape of the branches, or maybe the creatures that call it home. But when you work for the charity caring for over 6,000 acres of parkland (and a lot of trees) how do you select just one favourite? For this year’s #NationalTreeWeek some of the team at The Parks Trust have been asked to identify a tree that they’re most fond of. You can..

Local charity, Willen Hospice are delighted to have MyMiltonKeynes as this year’s Santa Dash sponsor once again. The Santa Dash is Milton Keynes’ biggest festive fundraiser, taking place on Sunday 17 December. The event sees hundreds of people walk, run or jog just over a mile around Willen’s North Lake dressed in Santa suits to raise vital funds for the charity. MyMiltonKeynes is a non-profit organisation fully funded by businesses in Central Milton Keynes. They have been operating since June 2017 and deliver much valued projects including the Christmas lights and switch-on event, landscaping of the public walkways, and important crime and safety initiatives. They are all about promoting the area and celebrating the great things Milton Keynes City Centre has to offer. Jill Farnsworth, MyMiltonKeynes CEO said, “We’re pleased to be able to support this incredible event again this year and can’t wait to see the hundreds of Santas..

Leicester’s award-winning independent children’s publisher, Sweet Cherry Publishing, is delighted by the success of a recent school visit with debut author Red, the creative mind behind Ho Ho Ho! A Pirate’s Christmas for Me. All images courtesy of Steph Loake Photography This engaging event took place at Hanslope Primary School, Milton Keynes, and captivated students in years 1 to 4 with an author talk, a reading and even an interactive activity! The visit was particularly special for Red, who remembers running through those very halls when she herself was a Hanslope pupil. Now a published author, she was honoured to have brought the joy of reading (and the spirit of the season) to the school. When asked about the event, Red said: “It was wonderful to return to Hanslope – it really felt like going home. Lots of things were still the same, but it was also fabulous to see..

The city’s unique and inspiring Tree Cathedral at Newlands will be bursting with festivity when the spectacular open-air carolling service returns, on Sunday 10th December. Carols, immersive story-telling, and live performances from MK Brass and DD Powers Trio, will fill the beautifully lit tree nave, spire and chapels with Christmas spirit from 2pm until 5pm. Willen Hospice will warm vocal chords with hot drinks, mulled wine and soup for sale, and Camphill MK Communities will keep tummy’s from rumbling with delightful cakes and pastries available. Plus, as it’s the season of giving, an MK Food Bank donation point hopes to collect tinned and dry goods. Organised by The Parks Trust, the charity that cares for over 6,000 acres of the city’s green space, Carols at the Cathedral is free to attend and perfect for a memorable family afternoon outing. Yule (seriously) not want to miss this fantastic opportunity to come..

In response to the growing challenges faced by many people in our community, MK Community Foundation have launched its Cost of Living Winter Appeal on this year's Giving Tuesday. The appeal aims to address the rising costs faced by families as they navigate a post-covid, and now, cost of living crisis to provide basic needs such as heating and eating. Today, on Giving Tuesday, the Foundation invites individuals and businesses to join hands and support local people through Cost of Living Fund. This fund will support individuals with costs towards heating and food, the basic necessities. MK Community Foundation’s Chief Executive, Ian Revell emphasised: “In these challenging times, our community faces unprecedented hurdles. Every donation, regardless of size, is a lifeline for local people struggling with the cost of living crisis. We’re calling upon our community to unite in support. "Now, more than ever, every donation counts. Together, we can..

It’s the news many shoppers have wished for this Christmas, Midsummer Place Shopping Centre is delighted to announce the highly anticipated return of Pret A Manger this November. After much anticipation, shoppers can once again savour the delicious freshly made offerings of Pret, located next to LEON in the new Boulevard food court. Pret is known for its commitment to freshly preparing sandwiches, salads, and wraps in on-site kitchen daily and offering organic coffees and teas to customers from skillfully trained Barista’s. The brand uses top-tier ingredients, aiming to cater to a diverse range of palates. At the end of every day, the shop’s unsold food will be donated to local charities each day through The Pret Foundation’s partnership with Neighbourly. The new location at Midsummer Place promises to deliver the same excellence that has made Pret a favourite among food lovers globally. The Boulevard food court has become Milton..

Willen On Ice promises fun for families and friends alike, when the purpose-built ice rink with twinkling canopy opened on Friday, 17th November. Running at Willen Lake until 7th January, there’ll be a host of other treats too. Visitors can jump aboard a land train for a lakeside trip to the Observation Wheel or enjoy a mixture of fun rides and stalls such as Dodgems, Funhouse, Teacups, Tin Can Alley and more. Alongside the rink and rides, there’ll be a refreshing Apres Ski Bar serving mulled wine, beer and cider. Plus, festive feasting on trendy Yorkshire pudding wraps and bratwurst on a traditional German style swing grill. For those looking for something a little sweeter, Crepes, waffles and pick ‘n’ mix will be available too. Ice skating tickets cost up to £7.95 for under 4s, £12.50 for under 16s and £14.90 for adults. A 10% group discount automatically applies for..

Early in November, as the nights were drawing in and the festive season approached, MK Pulse contributor Emma-Rose Norris was invited to an evening to remember at KiKi’s Café… If you haven’t already had a chance to visit Kiki’s Café – voted Milton Keynes Best Restaurant/Café at the MK Inspiration Awards – then I’m not sure where you’ve been! This family-run spot is a real gem nestled in MK’s bustling city centre. Whether you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up, a leisurely brunch, a cosy coffee date or even booking the place out for a private party, KiKi’s is the perfect destination. In the daytime, the café itself provides a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere which is perfect for a spot of working brunch. With plenty of light, high-speed internet and convenient charging stations, you can be sure to stay connected in this home away from home. As aforementioned, KiKi’s is family-centred..

The countdown to Christmas has officially started at Midsummer Place! On Saturday, the premium shopping centre unveiled its Christmas Tree Festival – 18 beautiful festive trees decorated by local companies in support of their chosen charities – and now voting has started! Everyone can vote here: www.midsummerplace.co.uk/events/christmas-tree-festival-2023 The winners will receive a prize donation for their nominated charity in January, the prizes will be: 1st place: £2,250 2nd place: £1,350 3rd place: £900 The sponsors and their charities are: Tree 1 - The Walnuts School supporting Friends of Walnuts Tree 2 - Source UK Hire & Sales supporting Samuel's Charity Tree 3 - Spinks Creative supporting Harry's Rainbow Tree 4 - Two Flags Limited supporting Emily's Star Tree 5 - BCQ Solutions supporting Off The Record by Willen Tree 6 - Broughton Manor Prep School supporting NSPCC Tree 7 - Slimming World Milton Keynes with Jane supporting Alzheimer's Research Tree..

Many Milton Keynes families will know someone who has been cared for by Willen Hospice. Providing free, specialist end-of-life care and services, the hospice only receives 15% of its running costs from ongoing NHS funding. The rest is met through fundraising – mostly the generosity and commitment of local supporters. This Christmas, MK resident Sue is sharing the story of her mum’s experience at the hospice to help raise vital donations. She’s passionate about making sure other local families get the same life-changing support her family did. “When my mum, Anne, died on Christmas Day in 2019, I thought Christmas would never be the same again,” says Sue. “The first sign of her illness was a sore tongue. Eventually, she was diagnosed with tongue cancer which progressed very quickly. We were trying to look after Mum at home, but Willen Hospice’s community team, Willen at Home, suggested it was time..

This month we take a look at one of the new city's biggest successes – a firm that is reaching dizzying heights in every sense of the word, and a business that has left its mark here at the Museum. We discovered more about the Niftylift story from its chairman and founder, Roger Bowden. Niftylift is one of Europe’s largest mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) manufacturers and while the business is anchored in these parts, it operates worldwide. “We specialise in compact, low-weight articulating booms that offer maximum performance with minimal environmental impact,” Roger says, explaining his business in relatively simple terms. The name ‘Nifty’ has synonyms including ‘particularly good, skilful, or effective” and ‘attractive and stylish’ – which all perfectly sum up what Roger wants to achieve with every lift the company designs: “Combining the two names seemed the perfect solution,” Roger recalled. 2013 Queens..

Christmas gift giving is a joy, but buying those gifts can be a whole lot more fraught. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be a stress of endless queues and watching the parking meter. A trip to picturesque Olney is a more leisurely way to shop, while also soaking up the rich history of this wonderful town. Famously, during the eighteenth century, Olney was home to poet William Cowper and curate John Newton, who penned the hymn, Amazing Grace. It’s a fun place too – the origin of the world-famous pancake race. In the lead up to Christmas, Olney’s historic stone buildings, quirky store fronts and Market Square become a twinkly festive hub. It is the perfect place to shop from a parade of independent suppliers. My Little Vintage is a must-visit for gifts galore; from handcrafted furniture to home accessories, and it effortlessly blends the new with old – with..

Midsummer Place Shopping Centre is excited to announce a new retailer. The Artisan Collective Farmshop, will be joining the centre to offer small businesses a place to sell their fresh produce and home-made crafts. Located next to LEGO, The Artisan Collective Farmshop will house multiple retailers on a rotation basis, giving small and independent businesses the opportunity to enjoy premium retail space and significant footfall. The shop is the brainchild of Steve Reid, owner of Friars Farm, which was one of Midsummer Place Hatch competition finalists. Opening from 16 November, the shop will initially be open for six weeks and over this period include the following retailers: Northampton Cheese Company's award-winning cheese, Northampton charcuterie (salamis, bacon, black pudding), Friars Farm's chutneys, preserves, sauces, and condiments, Mee Blueberries' own-grown blueberry liquors, chutney, and jam, Ganders Goat handmade soap (who will also have their display milking goat, which is made of wood..

Local palliative care charity, Willen Hospice is putting the ‘win’ in winter with their latest draw. Open to anyone over 18, the draw invites people to pay just £1 per ticket for their chance to take home the top prize of £3,000! A second prize of £500 or 10 runner-up prizes of £50 are also up for grabs! Last year the incentive raised over £17,000 for the Hospice and this year the charity hopes to smash that record. The money raised helps to pay towards the running costs of the Hospice, which is now at almost £6 million every year. Sara’s dad was cared for by Willen Hospice, “Being at the Hospice meant we could finally just sit with Dad, hold his hand, and enjoy those last special moments with him. It certainly helped me with the grief. The memories of him being at the Hospice are peaceful ones, and..