Forty
Years
of Fairness
The story of a new city, the people who believed in it, and the Foundation they built to make it fairer for everyone.
"The coming of age of Milton Keynes — when the whole community takes responsibility for the quality of life it has to offer."
1st Annual Report, 1987
This timeline is a living document. More chapters are still being written. If you have stories, photographs or memories to contribute, we'd love to hear from you.
Milton Keynes designated as a new town
The borough of Milton Keynes is designated as the site for a new town. Population approximately 40,000. Fred Roche leads the Development Corporation — drawing on experience from new town developments across the country.
Brian Salter and other architects and planners arrive. The grid roads are drawn. A city begins to take shape.
Peter Waterman begins his mission
Peter Waterman joins the Development Corporation as Director of Social Development. The MK Master Plan states clearly: "the social aspects of the plan are as important as the physical aspects."
Waterman begins what will become a nine-year effort to create a sustainable, independent source of funding for the city's voluntary and community sector. He believes — without wavering — that a supported voluntary sector is key to making Milton Keynes a success.
The steering group forms
Stephen Little, Chair of the Council of Voluntary Organisations, proposes to Waterman the idea of a Community Trust — based on Wolfenden Report recommendations for intermediate bodies between the voluntary sector and local authorities.
A steering group forms, including Tim Hill and Lord Tugendhat, President of Abbey National. The Charities Aid Foundation is commissioned to research the American model, where Community Foundations had been operating for over 115 years.
The Milton Keynes Community Trust is born
After nine years of work, the Milton Keynes Community Trust is incorporated. Approved by the Home Office as one of the first pilot Community Trusts, with £25,000 funding for three years.
The aims: to promote charitable purposes for the benefit of the community — the advancement of education, the protection of good health, and the relief of poverty, distress and disability.
In year one, three grants are made:
The Mayor plants an oak tree
Mayor of Milton Keynes David Taylor plants an oak tree to symbolise the beginnings of growth — for the new city, and for the Community Trust.
The tree will go on to become a quiet symbol of the Foundation's own story: rooted, resilient, growing through the decades.
Superman IV premieres at The Point
The Trust holds its first fundraising event at The Point — a regional premiere of Superman IV, a film partly filmed in Milton Keynes.
Over £3,000 is raised. Not bad for a Tuesday night in a new city.
Richard Branson keeps his promise
Richard Branson's construction company Vanson arrives in Milton Keynes to bid to develop what is now Midsummer Place. Approached to support the Trust, Branson promises their development would not disturb the oak tree — and commits to the community.
At a charity dinner, Branson promises to match pound for pound the value of any Virgin flights purchased by guests over the next three months.
It proves fortuitous. Mr Watano, Head of Alps Electric UK — the largest employer in MK at the time — and his staff fly regularly between the UK and Japan. Branson keeps his word. Substantial funds are raised for the community.
Minor Grants Fund · Abbey National · small grants begin
The monthly Minor Grants Fund is established for start-up funding — £50 to £300 for new groups and fresh initiatives.
In November, a grant of £150 enables the Willen Asian Women's Group to be formed — its remit: to help Asian women feel more at home in Milton Keynes.
£10,000 from Abbey National (now Santander) — one of the largest early donations recorded.
Endowment reaches £500,000
The endowment reaches £500,000 — the target set by trustees in 1987. Achieved in just three years on the back of extraordinary business support. The city believed in us.
Chair Malcolm Brighton leads £2 million endowment campaign
As MK continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, Chair Malcolm Brighton leads the Trust's campaign to establish a £2 million endowment fund — to provide a significant and permanent source of voluntary sector funding.
Community property portfolio acquired
The Trust acquires a portfolio of property and community reserve sites from the Development Corporation and the Commission for New Towns. MK Community Properties Ltd is created as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Premises made available at subsidised rents for the voluntary sector. Grants aren't the only way to fund fairness.
First £1 million endowment — one of the largest in the UK
The endowment reaches £1 million — enhanced by £45,000 from the National Bowl. One of the largest endowments held by any Community Trust in the UK at the time. The only Community Trust to also hold a property portfolio.
HRH Duchess of Gloucester opens Acorn House
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester officially opens Acorn House — a new acquisition for the portfolio, to become the Foundation's city-centre home. Also providing affordable premises for the CVO, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Volunteer Bureau and MK MIND.
381 Midsummer Boulevard. Still the Foundation's home today.
First Development Grant · Arts Fund · Powell Foundation
The Powell Foundation partnership enhances the grant-making programme to £250,000. A first Development Grant — up to three years of funding — is made to the Salvation Army to employ a youth worker on the Conniburrow estate, an area with a particularly large number of low-income families.
The Arts Fund is established, making grants of £29,399. Recipients include MK International Festival of Folk Art and Inter-Action MK.
The Powell family legacy
The local Powell family farmed Tattenhoe Bare Farm in Milton Keynes for many generations. The land was eventually purchased by the Development Corporation in the 1980s. Margaret Powell was the last of the family to farm there.
Before her death in September 1992, she decided to use the considerable family legacy she had inherited to set up a charitable foundation — to support frail elderly people and people with disabilities living in Milton Keynes.
Acting as agent for the Powell Foundation, MKCF has administered the Margaret Powell Fund since 1996. In its first full year, 19 projects benefitted — £60,455 awarded to groups including MIND, Macintyre Care and Camphill.
An intrinsic part of the community
After 10 years the Trust had become an intrinsic part of the community. Valuable partnerships secured. Solid foundations in place for future growth.
The Community Trust becomes MK Community Foundation
In October, the Milton Keynes Community Trust formally becomes the Milton Keynes Community Foundation — joining a national movement of over 50 Community Foundations at various stages of development across the UK.
By now Small Grants had risen to up to £1,500 and General Grants to up to £7,500. The endowment fund had grown to over £3.5 million.
£293,000 awarded in grants — the highest amount to date.
FM 103 Horizon launches a live radio auction — held annually until 2007. The Citizen and FM 103 Horizon establish Named Funds.
Tim Hill retires · Julia Upton appointed CEO
After 13 years as Chief Executive, Tim Hill retires. His successor Julia Upton is welcomed. A new chapter begins.
Also this year: the Foundation accesses the European Social Fund — 14 grants totalling £38,307 to projects promoting social inclusion and helping people back to work, including HMP Woodhill, Macintyre Care, MK SNAP, Eating Point, Living Archive, Inter-Action MK and Madcap Trust.
Baker Tilly establish their Named Fund
Baker Tilly become the latest corporate partner to establish a Named Fund — continuing the growth of the Foundation's donor community.
MK hosts the national Community Foundation Network conference
Milton Keynes hosts the National Conference of the Community Foundation Network. A great opportunity to show off the city and share ideas with colleagues worldwide. Jon Snow, Channel 4 journalist, is one of the key speakers.
The Local Network Fund — a government programme — runs from 2005–07, awarding almost £1 million to local projects supporting children and young people across MK.
£375,000 ODPM bid · MK Lions · Sport Relief · SIA House
The Foundation wins a £375,000 bid from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister — funding the first stage development to turn Acorn House into a city-centre flagship building for the voluntary sector.
In April, a £72,000 Development Grant is awarded to the MK Lions basketball club — enabling the club to develop and spread the sport across the city.
Comic Relief chooses the Foundation to deliver Sport Relief funding through UK Foundations.
SIA House opens on a community reserve site.
£5.5 million awarded · Acorn Funds · royal recognition
The Foundation celebrates 20 years of local grant-making. Over £5.5 million awarded since 1986. Acorn Funds created — allowing individual donors to grow an endowment in their family name for the first time.
A Gala Evening at The Stables, sponsored by Invest Milton Keynes, marks the anniversary. A Community Birthday Tree is created to hang messages from VCS organisations sharing their contributions to the community.
At the official opening of SIA House, HRH The Princess Royal presents an award recognising the Foundation's assistance to the Spinal Injuries Association in Milton Keynes.
Alexander Boswell appointed honorary president
Alexander Boswell, former High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, is appointed as Honorary President — in a drive to promote local philanthropy. Alexander and his wife Jane significantly enhance the Foundation's efforts to identify and work with donors.
Groovy Gecko — MK's first disability nightclub
An extraordinary grant of £30,000 from the Margaret Powell Fund is awarded to Inter-Action's Groovy Gecko Project — Milton Keynes' first nightclub run by and for people with learning disabilities.
Also this year: the Foundation wins a bid to manage the £270,000 Grassroots Endowment Challenge small grants programme — setting a target of raising £1 million for MK through the match funding opportunity.
In July, MK SNAP opens their purpose-built adult training centre on a community reserve site.
Heart Campaign · first Arts Bursary
In February, the Heart Campaign is launched to raise funds for the Endowment Challenge. Hearts are formed and £4,000 is raised in one month — a widespread show of support from VCS organisations, companies and individuals across MK.
In September, the Foundation awards its first ever Arts Bursary — £10,000 to theatre maker Thomas Eccleshare.
Heart Campaign continues · Development Director honoured
An uplifting performance by the Ultimate Beatles marks the launch of the 2010 Heart Campaign. Almost £2,000 is raised in ticket sales.
Development Director Maya Joseph-Hussain receives the High Sheriff Award for her contribution to the community.
New logo · High Sheriff's Concert · £554,440 awarded
The Foundation launches a new brand — the colourful acorn tree logo that reflects the creativity, energy and vibrancy of the organisation. The High Sheriff's Concert with Countess Howe in January launches the 25th Birthday Fund appeal.
£554,440 awarded in grant funding — 229 separate grants. Not one big cheque. 229 individual decisions to say yes.
Coffee Hall Islamic Centre — a place to pray
Trustees sell a plot of land in Coffee Hall to the MK Muslim Association to build a community space and Islamic Centre. Prior to this, Milton Keynes lacked any central, permanent venue for local Muslims to pray — prayer groups were split or turned away due to limited capacity.
The build begins in autumn 2012. The group opens their doors in August 2014.
£9 million awarded in total since 1986
From £4,662 in year one to £9 million total in 28 years. £513,909 awarded in grants this year alone.
£882,164 awarded in grants
Grant-making continues to scale. £882,164 awarded — approaching the £1 million annual milestone for the first time.
Shenley Fellowship Oak Tree Centre opens
A land subsidy from the Foundation enables the Shenley Fellowship to purchase a community reserve site and open the Oak Tree Centre — a combined community facility.
An echo of the oak tree planted in 1987. Roots. Growth. Community. Thirty years on, the symbolism holds.
£947,199 awarded in grants this year.
£1.67 million total support in one year
£854,317 in grants combined with £813,983 in rent subsidies — the property portfolio doing as much work as the grant fund. A story rarely told publicly.
Ian Revell appointed Chief Executive
Ian Revell takes the helm as Chief Executive following Julia Upton MBE's 16-year tenure. Under his leadership the Foundation continues to grow its grant-making, endowment and community impact.
ICAEW Social Mobility Fund
Working with the ICAEW, the Foundation helps set up their Social Mobility Fund — £100,000 to support people in Black communities to gain increased social mobility through access and attainment into formal education.
The Foundation becomes a lifeline
When the pandemic becomes a reality in March 2020, the Foundation moves fast. Partnering with MK Council — who contribute an initial £50,000 — and redirecting £100,000 of funding from donors, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Appeal launches on 20 March 2020.
A new, simpler grant application form is built. Team members are assigned to emergency-only assessments. Weekly bank transfers are set up. Two grant panels run per week — all while maintaining business-as-usual programmes.
The result: £1 million mobilised for the most vulnerable people affected by the pandemic. In total, 1.6 million in grants — 314 grants to 198 charities and community groups across MK.
Forty years. Still here. Still growing.
MK Community Foundation celebrates 40 years as a beacon of philanthropy in Milton Keynes. Over £22 million in grants and rent subsidies awarded. More than 200 donors. £1 million in support every year.
Grant programmes now running under the names Seed, Sapling, Oak and Strategic Partnership — an echo of the acorn tree that has always been at the heart of the Foundation's identity.
On 29 June, the inaugural MK Charity Awards at The Stables celebrates forty years of the voluntary, community and cultural sector that makes Milton Keynes the city it is.
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