Invisible Poverty MK

Meet Preena.

Preena is 24. She’s a Retail Assistant living in Tattenhoe.

But nobody sees her poverty, and nobody knows her struggle.

Nobody knows that when she was just 21, she left a toxic family home.

Nobody knows that she is renting a flat that she can barely afford on her retail assistant salary.

Nobody knows that she has to regularly go without food and heating because she’s struggling to pay the bills.

Nobody knows that she has to walk two miles to and from work every day because she hasn’t got the money for public transport.

Nobody knows that she is already struggling with debt because she’s had to take out high interest loans to make the bills.

Nobody knows that her mental health is a real issue, with the constant stress and anxiety she has to cope with.

Nobody knows because nobody really sees her. She’s invisible, and so is her desperate situation.

If you knew, what would you do?

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Meet Lucy

Meet Lottie

Meet Isaac

Poverty is now a reality for many families in Milton Keynes but we don’t always see the people and the children affected.

They live in our neighbourhood but they’re often invisible to us.

MK Community Foundation's Cost-of-Living appeal aims to raise funds from businesses and residents to help support more people like Preena.

How you can help

1) Make a one-off donation

Every penny donated will directly fund charities and projects that will support their local communities through the winter months of a cost-of-living crisis.

Your donation could help a family afford their next meal, keep the heating on during the coldest nights, or ensure that a child has a warm coat this winter.

By pledging your support to the cost-of-living appeal, you’ll help families choosing between heating and eating, older people at risk of poor health due to cold homes, children without warm winter coats, and many more.

Every donation, from £10 to £1000 will change someone's life.

2) Create your own fundraising page

By creating a fundraising page, you’ll be part of a movement to help shine a light on those struggling in silence. You could host a coffee morning, a festive jumper day, a sponsored challenge, or something completely unique.

However you choose to raise funds, you'll get that warm fuzzy-feeling in knowing that your page will raise vital funds towards the Cost-of-Living Appeal.

Start your page today and help make sure no one in our community is left unseen or unsupported.

Start your Fundraiser

3) Share this page with your family and colleagues

Help us spread awareness of this appeal and the challenges facing residents in Milton Keynes.

Over 8000 households are in fuel poverty.
More than 1 in 3 children in MK live in poverty.
43% of Universal Credit claimants are in work.
12% of neighbourhoods in MK are in the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK.

Together, we can ensure help reaches those who need it most, when they need it most.

Case Studies

Thanks to the incredible generosity shown to our appeal last year, we were able to fund local charities helping families affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Read more below.