MK Melting Pot - Case Study

MK Melting Pot works with the diverse communities living in Milton Keynes, celebrating cultures, and promoting their values. They work with individuals from hard-to-reach areas of the community, including children and young people, low-income families, BAME groups, lone parents and the long-term unemployed, providing those in need with weekly food parcels and social support.

MK Melting Pot also engage participants in a wide range of activities to improve community cohesion and help individuals and families gain new skills, share their experiences, and bring people together.

MK Melting Pot support over 200 families across Milton Keynes each year.

The rent subsidy has really helped MK Melting Pot and their service users. It has been a lifeline for families over the years, coupled with recent Covid 19 restrictions.

Food poverty in Milton Keynes is a significant issue affecting a high number of young people. This has increased following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns as household resources have been stretched, making access to food harder.

Almost 23,000 of the most vulnerable families in Milton Keynes, 14,000 with children, experienced a drop in benefits income. Combined with the rise in daily living expenses, including higher food and utility bills, disadvantaged groups who were already struggling with essentials are being made to choose between their heating, electricity and food.

‘The MK Melting Pot Headquarters has been a safe haven for me and my children after coming out of an abusive relationship. I was given their contact details by my Social Worker. Not only did they give us food but also the space to escape from all my worries’ – Beneficiary of MK Melting Pot

‘Kick Start Team of young people that came to work with us from the government scheme. We have a space where families from different cultures can blend together’ – Volunteer at MK Melting Pot

The Community Foundation Office has become our home – This would not have been possible without the rent reduction – We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude.’ – Staff Member at MK Melting Pot

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 the city. Over the past 35 years, the Community Foundation have supported local 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. To see how you could help us to have an even greater impact in our community, take a look at our website