Rent Subsidy Supports BPAS To Deliver Accessible, Confidential Services

BPAS has been providing services in Milton Keynes for over 30 years. Previously situated within the local Hospital, the organisation took over the premises previously occupied by Brook Sexual Health Service about a decade ago. This move brought BPAS into the fold of the MK Community Foundation.

Operating as a not-for-profit, independent healthcare entity, BPAS delivers care on behalf of the NHS. The continued Rent Subsidy support enables the organisation to continue to deliver an accessible, confidential services to all local women, whenever they need them.

The community building in the heart of the city serves as an excellent location for clients. Sharing the space with local charities and businesses like Citizens Advice Bureau and guarantees client anonymity and confidentiality.

This is crucial, as clients might be visiting for many services. Additionally, BPAS can guide clients towards other services within the same building if needed.

BPAS maintains close collaboration with various local services such as the Milton Keynes Hospital (MKUH) Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU), Antenatal and Midwifery services, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Safeguarding midwives, and School Nurses.

Pathways with the Sexual Health service, iCaSH Milton Keynes, enable BPAS to provide contraception and STI testing and treatment support. The central location of the clinic supports this integrated approach. 

The clinic runs four days a week, with the flexibility to expand. Its ground-floor positioning ensures accessibility for clients with mobility challenges. Serving Milton Keynes clients under the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK) ICB contract, the unit provided services to 4594 clients in the past year (2022-23), offering a substantial number of weekly appointments.

Situated just a five-minute walk from Milton Keynes Train station and accessible via local bus routes, the clinic's strategic location is enhanced by ample parking options and its proximity to local shops and cafes.

This convenience is beneficial for clients who arrive early, require waiting time for medications/treatment, or have companions.

The unit employs eleven staff members and collaborates with local cleaning services. A strong partnership with the MK Community Foundation aids in addressing challenges, including protester issues. The Foundation's building maintenance team even aided in repairing the clinic door after a security incident involving a client's partner.

Client safety is a priority, evident in the secure entrance systems implemented by the BPAS clinic. Fob-controlled doors regulate access to internal areas, providing reassurance, particularly for vulnerable clients.

The enduring support from the MK Community Foundation underscores BPAS's dedication to community engagement, collaboration, accessibility, inclusivity, and local employment opportunities.

Our mission is to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those who live in our community by funding life changing projects across Milton Keynes.

Over the past 35 years, MK Community Foundation have supported Milton Keynes Charities with over £18m in rent subsidies and £15m in grant programmes.

In 2021, we awarded £1.6m in grants to help local charitable organisations to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.