Fundraising News:
Free donations via Easyfundraising!

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Arts for Health MK with easyfundraising?  

There are over 8,000 retailers on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds! 

All you need to do is:  

1. Visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/mk-arts-for-health and join for free. 

2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping. 

3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to Arts for Health MK at no extra cost to you whatsoever!  There are no catches or hidden charges and Arts for Health MK will be really grateful for your donations. Thank you for your support.

Tip Tip: there is also an optional Donation Reminder in the browser extension that pops up when a brand will donate as you shop. You can then get your donation in one click!

Visit our blog to find out more, click on 'Read more' below.

Image: a cheerful lady has raised a donation during her online shopping.

Regional News:
Creative Health Education

The University of Bedfordshire is launching their new MA Creative Health programme this autumn and is seeking potential students.



This postgraduate programme is designed for artists, facilitators, community practitioners, health professionals and creative innovators who want their creative practice to meet wellbeing, community and care - ethically, embodied, and in real-world contexts.

Teaching is delivered through monthly retreat-style weekend intensives (Friday–Sunday), with reflective, asynchronous lectures and creative tasks between weekends.

The structure is designed to sit alongside professional practice, accommodating the cohorts needs. Students engage in embodied and somatic practices, creative enquiry and reflective research, collaborating with partners such as Mind and take heART – Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Full details can be found here:

www.beds.ac.uk/courses/creative-health


Follow on Instagram here:

www.instagram.com/uobcreativehealth

Image: two participants take part in a gentle dance session to live music.

Milton Keynes City of Culture Bid 2029:

Artists' opportunity

As you may have heard Milton Keynes is putting in a bid for City of Culture 2029. 

We are asking local artists to help shape what this year should look like. This is an opportunity to put forward ideas about the cultural future of the city for 2029 and beyond. Whether its spaces, collaborations, show stopper events or individual projects this is your chance to let us know about your thoughts and ideas!


There are three ways you can get involved:


1_Artists Thomas Eke and Ciara Callaghan are leading a hands-on drop-in workshop on Friday 26th June. They would love to see you in person. Please find the poster with all of the information attached by clicking the 'View poster' button below.


2_If you are unable to attend the in person workshops please visit https://mkculture2029.co.uk/ to take part in the online survey.
 

3_If neither of these above options feel accessible to you there are a limited number of opportunities to come and meet in person for a 1-2-1 chat. 


Please share these opportunities with your artist networks! The more artists who come together to share their voices, ideas and visions the better for the bid, Milton Keynes and all of us!

Both Ciara and Thomas are looking forward to seeing you hopefully at the in person sessions or hearing your ideas submitted via their website!



Image: A hands-on drop in creative workshop.

Partnership Working for MK60:
MK Dementia Choir 

Arts for Health MK are thrilled to be partnering with the Alina Orchestra to engage people affected by dementia and their carers and form a choir as part of the MK60 celebrations next year.

Dementia is one of the fastest-growing health and social care challenges in the UK.
There are there are currently 2,827 people aged 65+ living with a dementia diagnosis in Milton Keynes. The current cost of dementia care in Milton Keynes is £113 million and that figure is expected to rise to £213 million by 2030.

There is an existing evidence-base supporting creative, community-based interventions which can significantly improve quality of life for those affected. Musical memory and rhythm are often preserved even as other cognitive abilities decline. Singing together can reduce anxiety, uplift mood, stimulate memory recall, and support cognitive engagement. For many participants, it is one of the few activities that allows them to reconnect with their identity and experience a sense of achievement and joy.

Dementia choir sessions will be designed to maximise emotional engagement and cognitive stimulation. We also plan to arrange a performance to give participants a sense of pride and community visibility as well as adding to the cultural richness of the locality.

Lauren Baker, Philanthropy Manager at Milton Keynes Community Foundation said:

"We're proud to be able to support the MK Dementia Choir. This is a project that goes beyond care to create something truly special, bringing together arts, health and community partners to give people living with dementia the chance to perform, to be celebrated, and to feel the joy that music brings."

We will keep you informed as the project progresses - please watch this space!

Through the generosity of its fundholders and supporters, Milton Keynes Community Foundation sends funding to charities and projects that need it most. The MK Dementia Choir is made possible by Milton Keynes Community Foundation. Thanks to its donors, we will be able to form a choir in 2027 as part of the MK60 celebrations.

If you or anyone you know is affected by dementia, please click the link below to access dementia information and support services in Milton Keynes.

Image: A group of participants attend a singing workshop.

Funding Partners

With thanks to our funding partners for their support of our new creative health projects.

Donations

As a small charity we rely on charitable donations to support our work:

• £100 will support a Temporary Exhibition of art at MKUH
• £240 will provide art materials for four Art Club sessions

Donations can be made via our dedicated website Local Giving (click Donate button below) or scan the QR code.

Please forward this newsletter onto your friends and colleagues, and they can click the link below to sign up.

Follow our social media channels for more Arts for Health MK activity updates!