Pictured above: Councillor Donna Fuller officially opened the new Charities Hub this week
A new Charities Hub in Galley Hill funded by Milton Keynes City Council has officially opened with a ribbon cutting event attended by many volunteers who generously give their time to charities, alongside a drive to create hampers for local people in need.
The City Council invested in the 536 square metre building as a dedicated and secure new home for several local charities including GirlPack, Baby Basics and MK Food Bank - who moved in earlier this month - so the groups could spend more time helping local people rather than worrying about keeping a roof over their head.
The hub offers more space so the charities can give help to even more residents, and the new setup also means they can collaborate even more effectively.
Girl Pack provides free period packs and essential menstrual products to those in need across Milton Keynes. They work directly with schools, council-run Family Centres, local partners and families to ensure that no one is left without support. Since moving into the new hub in March, the charity says that they’ve been able to increase the number of partners they work with from 35 to 136, enabling them to support more children in school and families in the community.
Baby Basics MK work with the community and local businesses to reuse high-quality second-hand and new items, creating gift packages filled with essentials for families with children aged 0–6. In the past year, they’ve donated thousands of items to families in need.
MK Food Bank supports more than 5,000 local families each year and distributes essential food products from 10 serving centres across Milton Keynes. People are referred to Food Bank for a variety of reasons including family crises, loss of employment or health issues. They also work closely with local social care and health agencies to ensure people are receiving help with their underlying issues.
“Having a safe, secure, and permanent home means so much to us, and we’re hugely grateful to MK City Council for making it happen. Even better, sharing this space with Baby Basics and Girl Pack means we can work together to support families in a more joined-up way. Kicking things off by distributing festive Christmas hampers to Galley Hill and Fullers Slade households - nominated by St Mary & St Giles School, Rowans Family Centre, and local residents’ associations - was the perfect start to an amazing new chapter.”
“Thanks to the work of wonderful local charities, we’re able to get more help to those who need it most. This new home will ensure they can continue their invaluable work in our communities.
Christmas can be very difficult time of the year if you’re struggling. Small acts of kindness can make a huge difference, and if you’re able to spend a couple of hours volunteering – or can spare an extra item in your next shop, your contribution will be felt and really appreciated.”
