Impact Report - MK Community Foundation - Report - Page 6
“We knew we needed
a demo project
to show people the
potential. Without
funding for instructors
and admin support,
the schools wouldn’t
have been able to take
it on – they just don’t
have the time.”
07
Building a Healthier
Community with
Cycle Citizens
Cycle Citizens, a grassroots
initiative from Citizens MK, is
on a mission to make cycling a
safe, accessible, and everyday
mode of transport in Milton
Keynes. With a goal to double
the number of cyclists by 2030,
it focuses on breaking barriers,
particularly for women and
children (currently only 23%
of local cyclists are women).
By empowering mothers as
role models and launching
Milton Keynes’ 昀椀rst bike bus,
Cycle Citizens is inspiring a new
generation to embrace cycling
as a normal, enjoyable, and
sustainable way to travel.
9 | MK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
To bring this vision to life, Cycle Citizens needed
funding for trained instructors, stewards, and
volunteers to ensure the safety of its bike bus.
It also sought to make cycling more inclusive
by partnering with Cycle Saviours to provide
a昀昀ordable bikes for families. The MK Community
Foundation grant was crucial in piloting the
project for 57 children at two schools, covering
the costs of professional training and a
dedicated administrator to coordinate logistics.
Thanks to this support, the bike bus has
昀氀ourished, running independently and giving
children a safe, social, and sustainable way to
get to school. Families facing 昀椀nancial barriers
received support, ensuring every child could
participate. Beyond transport, the initiative
has boosted children’s con昀椀dence, wellbeing,
and enthusiasm for cycling, paving the way
for a healthier, greener future.
Tom Bulman, Cycle Citizens
Funders:
General Fund
Volkswagen Group UK Ltd Fund
100%
of students enjoyed
taking part in the bike
bus pilot, and
93%
Vital Signs Area:
Health and Wellbeing
Environment
said their con昀椀dence in
cycling improved
“Thank you so much for
the project. They have all
bene昀椀tted immensely
and hopefully learnt a
great life skill – public
speaking. It was amazing
to see them all putting
the practice into
action and in front of
a large audience.”
08
Empowering Young Voices
Through Theatre with
Truby’s Garden Tea Room
Truby’s Garden Tea Room is a
community-driven initiative that
brings people together through food,
culture, and shared experiences.
At the heart of its work is a
commitment to inclusivity,
fostering meaningful connections
between diverse communities
in Milton Keynes. One of its most
celebrated events, the Great Get
Together Iftaar (GGTI), unites
people of all backgrounds in a
vibrant celebration of community,
diversity, and faith. A key part
of this event is empowering
young people through creative
expression, giving them a
platform to develop con昀椀dence
and showcase their talents.
With a focus on the theme Mind, Body,
and Soul, Truby’s sought to engage students
from supplementary schools in a theatrical
performance for the GGTI event.
While past years saw successful youth
participation – particularly from MK Theatre
Academy students – Truby’s wanted to involve
underrepresented voices from the local Muslim
community. Many Madressahs in Milton Keynes
o昀昀er faith-based and academic education but
have limited access to creative opportunities.
Thanks to a grant from NiftyLift through
MK Community Foundation, Truby’s partnered
with MK Theatre to create an inclusive and
inspiring arts project.
The result was transformative. Young people
explored the arts in a safe and supportive space,
gaining con昀椀dence, forming cross-cultural
friendships, and 昀椀nding new ways to express
themselves. Parents had the chance to celebrate
their children’s talents within the wider community,
strengthening bonds and fostering pride.
Parent of participant, April 2024
This project not only enriched the GGTI
event but left a lasting impact on the young
performers, opening doors to creativity,
connection, and personal growth.
Funders:
NiftyLift Fund
Vital Signs Area:
Arts and Heritage
Stronger Communities
14
young people
gained
con昀椀dence
through the arts
MK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | 10
