Milton Keynes Community Foundation marked a significant milestone with the launch of its eleventh Vital Signs MK© report at the new Unity Place Auditorium.
The event, hosted by Dame Anne Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, warmly welcomed over 200 guests comprising charities, businesses and community leaders, showcasing the Foundation’s commitment to understanding and addressing the evolving needs of the Milton Keynes community.
Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, said:
“We were thrilled to see a full auditorium at Unity Place as we launched our eleventh edition of Vital Signs. Although it’s clear that the cost-of- living crisis and post-pandemic climate is having a huge impact on our communities, the event also proved the dedication and passion of MK citizens to work together to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in Milton Keynes.”
Established nearly 38 years ago, Milton Keynes Community Foundation is a grant-making charity sending funding where it is needed most in Milton Keynes. In the past year, MK Community Foundation distributed over £1.8m in grant funding and rent subsidies to local voluntary, community and cultural organisations of Milton Keynes.
The eleventh edition of the report, unveiled during the event, presented critical insights into the current challenges and opportunities within the Milton Keynes community.
This year’s report focuses on the cost-of-living crisis and the longer-term impact of lockdown and COVID-19, looking at young people and their education; the increasing number of people affected by issues around their mental health; families and the increasing living costs; and the growing climate emergency.
The latest edition looked at four of the 12 Vital Sign areas: Education, Poverty & Disadvantage, Health & Wellbeing and Environment.
Key statistics from the report include:
- 20% of adults who are in contact with mental health services in Milton Keynes are in paid employment, compared with the 6% national average.
- 25% secondary school pupils in MK said they have had a mental health problem in the last 12 months.
- 25% of secondary school pupils in MK are skipping meals due to weight concerns.
- In Milton Keynes, 37% of greenhouse gas emissions are from transport, compared with England’s average of 31%.
- 26% of secondary school pupil in MK missed 10% of school session in 2023, double the rate of 2018/19.
- In 2022, 30% of children in Milton Keynes were living in poverty.
- MK Food Bank saw a 49% increase in usage of their services between 2022 and 2023.
To download a copy of this year’s short or long report, visit the MK Community Foundation website at: www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/vital-signs-mk/
To receive copies of this year’s Vital Signs report for a parish council, library or group, email marketing@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk
