Local News

Willen Hospice are doing a final call ahead of their annual Christmas Tree Collection this weekend. The service is available for people living in postcodes MK1 to MK19, MK43, MK46, LU7 and NN12 with collections taking place between January 5 - 7 2024. All residents need to do is head to the Willen Hospice website and find ‘Christmas tree collection’. Then book a collection for a suggested donation of £12, then on 5 January they just need to leave their Christmas tree outside ready for it to be collected. The trees will be given a second life as wood chip to be used as mulch on public and farm land. The Willen Hospice Tree Collection service has been running for a number of years now, and last year it helped to raise over £20,000 for the charity. Nikki Poole, Willen Hospice Community Fundraising & Events Manager, said “It’s our pleasure..

As part of their ‘Rise to the Challenge’ month, Willen Hospice is encouraging local people to take on a challenge in 2024 in a bid to raise vital funds for the charity. Challenges are a great way to raise money for charity while having incredible ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences. To help people feel inspired, Willen Hospice are offering a range of incredible opportunities. These includes going overseas with an Iceland Trek (an information evening is being held at the Hospice on 7 February) and MK to Paris cycle challenge. Or for those after an adrenaline rush, take to skies with a Wing Walk, or a skydive! Fitness fanatics looking to reach new goals can apply for charity places in multiple running events from the Great North Run to the Berlin Marathon! Keen swimmers and social groups are also encouraged to sign up for the annual MK Rotary Swimathon which takes place on..

Shrove Tuesday 13 February 2024 marks the next historic Olney Pancake Race as the women of the town prepare for the 415-yard course, from the Market Place, down the High Street, to the race finish outside St Peter and St Paul’s Church. The runners, dressed in a skirt and head scarf and clutching their frying pan and pancake, will be following a great tradition; the race is reputed to have taken place since 1445 and has certainly run every year since 1948, except for 2021. There is another cause for celebration – it’s 75 years since the race became an international event when the town of Liberal in Kansas, USA issued a challenge to Olney. In a spirit of international goodwill and friendship, the two towns now compete annually and prizes are exchanged. Both races are run on a timed basis and the winner is declared after times are compared..

Students at Thornton College have recently won a number of significant national and regional competitions across a range of subject areas and age groups - from winning the Music for Youth Nationals and singing at the Royal Albert Hall to winning the National Bebras Computational Challenge, Thornton students are definitely on a winning streak! Most recently, Molly a Year 5 student scored the highest score possible in the 8 – 10 years age group category and ranked 1st in the country out of 20,445 entrants in the Bebras Computational Challenge – a competition of computational thinking! On 2nd December, the Thornton Equestrian team took part in the NSEA event at Bury Farm and won making them school Regional Champions!  Charlotte, Year 11 student is also first in the country for the 90cm eventing category in terms of points accrued with the NSEA – an incredible achievement. On Friday 1st December..

The staff at centre:mk have been busy collating items donated by staff and retailers for families of children who are facing their first Christmas following the bereavement of a parent or sibling. In addition to the 30 family visits to this years’ ‘The Snowman™’ themed grotto in Middleton Hall that have been gifted by the centre, some of the most recently bereaved families the charity are supporting, will also be getting special Christmas Hampers from staff who want to bring a little extra joy in what can be a particularly hard time of year for those that are grieving. Kevin Duffy, Director of centre:mk, commented: “Our staff and retailers have been incredibly generous with donations this year and we are so proud to be supporting the families at Harry’s Rainbow in this way with hampers and Grotto visits. "We know how nostalgic the centre:mk at Christmas is to so many..

Xscape Milton Keynes is the leading entertainment and leisure destination in the region, and this festive season they’re giving visitors the chance to win prizes worth over £1,300 as they invite you to experience ‘Your Kind of Christmas’. What type of Christmas personality are you? The Party Enthusiast, The Memory Maker, The Activity Seeker or maybe The Flavour Finder…whichever best suits you, Xscape can help your kind of Christmas become a reality. In the build up to the big day, head over to their Instagram channel for the chance to win some amazing prize bundles from brands such as Volcano Falls, The Casino MK, Cineworld and new the Casa Cento Italian restaurant. Xscape Milton Keynes have also teamed up with Heart FM to offer an additional festive competition where you can win £500 worth of gift cards, that can be used across various Xscape brands. Head over to the Heart..

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..