Hope MK is back- Young People Making a Difference in Milton Keynes

Last year you may have read about an initiative called Hope MK in the Phonebox magazine. Well it's that time of year again, and during the half-term break starting tomorrow (27th-31st Oct) more than 130 young people aged 11-17 will be out across Milton Keynes, challenging the negative stereotypes which are usually associated with them. By giving up their school holiday to run a variety of community building & social action projects, they will demonstrate that young people are not lazy, apathetic & good for nothing.

Through an initiative called Hope MK, a small army of 130+ young people will spend their mornings with the Hope MK team being trained & equipped, before heading out to projects taking place in communities across Milton Keynes each afternoon. Projects include children’s work, drop-in cafes, a social media project, Messy Church, community clean-up/gardening, & play sessions. All the activities are free, and everyone is welcome to join in. 

The team will be dressed in purple & yellow hoodies to make sure they stand out, but also to challenge the widely held misconception that wearing a hoodie means you’re a threat or a nuisance. At last year’s event over 100 young invested a total of 5400 hours in communities across the city; this year we anticipate that will increase to 6500 hours!

‘Seeing so many young people committing to give up their half-term break to invest their time & energy to bless communities across MK is amazing. We hear so much about young people leaving the Church, so it’s great to know that these guys are leaving for the right reason: in order to go and serve others & share the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.’ Ricky Rew – Hope MK Team 

The initiative ends with an event for Year 7-13s from 7:30pm on Friday 31st at St. Paul’s School to celebrate all that’s been achieved through the week, and will feature a variety of activities including sumo suits, inflatable demolition derby & gladiator podiums, and human foosball. 

Twenty churches, six local & four national organisations have been working together for a year to plan & prepare for the event. Look out for the teams of purple & yellow hoodies around MK during half term!

Hope MK is a partnership of churches and organisations across Milton Keynes. 

Initiate Youth Dance Company- New to MK

Initiate YDC is a new contemporary dance company for young people, based in Linford Wood, Milton Keynes.

"Artistically led by Chris Bradley, Initiate adheres and works to professional standards, looking to not only train in a variety of  Contemporary dance styles, but also to produce pieces of high quality dance performance.

Alongside weekly term time technical and creative sessions, the company members have the opportunity to perform in a variety of settings and events. Participants will are be given the chance to work with a range of contemporary artists and to make their own original work through submission of choreographic proposals."

This Saturday they will be holding auditions for new members to join the dance company, for young people between the ages of 13 and 21. Applicants should have some experience in dance, preferably contemporary or ballet but other styles will be considered.

This is an exciting new venture for Milton Keynes, focussed on creating new performance works. If you love dance and are in the age group or know someone who is, have a look at the website here to find out more about how to audition!