Starbucks Midsummer Place

We offer a range of support to adults with physical and learning disabilities in Milton Keynes. When people come to MK Snap, they become part of our big family here. We aim to improve our learners independence, quality of life and confidence and increase their ability to contribute to society. We have a garden where we grow produce for our catering hub and business enterprise. The area can be used in all weathers, making sure the learners are comfortable when doing their work.This promotes their health and well being, giving them more confidence and skills. Our learners run a community cafe which all of the community are welcome to come and enjoy.

It is important that children, young people and families affected by sight loss know there is somewhere they can come together with people in similar situations, to break down personal barriers, build confidence and strive for a positive independent future. VICTA support children and young people from 0 to 29 years and their families across the UK and aim to be the ‘little’ charity with the biggest impact for children and young people who are blind or partially sighted. We have come a long way since the charity was founded in 1987 by a group of parents in Milton Keynes looking to help one another. VICTA arrange activities designed to improve the emotional, social and living skills of the children and young people that we support. Activities include youth weekends for 18 to 29 year olds, family weekends for 5 to 18 year olds and their families, international trips, early year’s weekends for 0 to 5 year olds and a variety of family days. VICTA make grants available for items such as Braillers, magnifiers and computers to enable children and young people who are blind or partially sighted to reach their full potential. Our online parent support site throughscarlettseyes.com allows parents who are dealing with the day-to-day issues of looking after a visually impaired child to come together and support each other. All of our projects are funded through fundraisers and donations. We also rely on the help of our volunteers to join us on our activities and help support the children and young people as they reach new goals.

Ride High improves the prospects of Milton Keynes’ most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. Our goal is to transform children from being disengaged and unhappy with very poor prospects to being confident and positively engaged in the outside world. We work with between 80 – 90 children every week. By providing each child with a place of consistency and continuity we effect deep and lasting change in their levels of confidence and in their life prospects. Every week the children spend an hour riding and caring for horses and an hour working in teams on a range of clubroom based activities which are specifically designed to improve their confidence and key life skills such as literacy, self-control, communication and teamwork. One of the most important and unique elements of Ride High is that the children attend every week for a year or more. The children at Ride High have generally been referred by a childcare professional or agency after other interventions have not worked. All are aged 8-17 and come from significantly disadvantaged backgrounds. They may be in foster care, a young carer for a family member, suicidal or self-harming, victims of bullying or neglect, NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) and / or living in homes dominated by ill health, alcoholism, drugs or poverty. As well as taking part in weekly riding and horse care sessions the children also work towards the accredited Ride High ASDAN Award in order to: • Improve their speaking and listening skills to the point where they can converse freely with people they don't know e.g. at school, in interviews • Improve their literacy so that they can write confidently • Improve their ability to work in a team and to make and sustain positive friendships • Broaden their horizons and raise aspirations by providing them with new experiences, skills and vocational opportunities • Engage them in an outdoor, physical activity that brings the satisfaction of learning a new set of skills, encourages responsible behaviour and a positive attitude to safety. • Improve their sense of wellbeing, happiness and outlook on life