On Wednesday 27th January, 8.30am, the Milton Keynes Community Foundation and Brook Milton Keynes hosted a celebration to mark the opening of Brook’s new facilities in the city centre.
The space at 624 South Fifth Street is located in the new Sainsbury development recently built by Abbeygate. It is part of a portfolio of land and buildings owned and managed by the Foundation for the benefit of the voluntary and charitable sector in the city. This portfolio includes Acorn House in the city centre, the newly leased Food Bank storage warehouse at Stacey Bushes, Shika Tamaa support services at Kingston and Age Concern’s furniture store at Kiln Farm.
As new tenants, Brook will be able to continue to extend their important work of promoting sexual health and education to the under-25s of Milton Keynes. The facilities in the building have been designed specifically to meet Brook’s needs and will allow them to successfully deliver the best possible services to the city’s young adults.
“We are thrilled to have secured these new premises. Increasing our portfolio means we can increase the support we provide to the local voluntary and community sector by making available affordable, good quality accommodation. It has taken several years of work, but we have achieved a great new building by working in partnership; so our grateful thanks to Homes and Communities Agency, Abbeygate, NHS Milton Keynes, Willowbrite, Jackson Coles, OPL and CMI Consulting. We have only been able to achieve this by working with people and organisations, who, like the Foundation and Brook, are passionate about the community of Milton Keynes.“ Julia Upton, Chief Executive, Community Foundation.
Gillian Merron, Minister of State for Public Health, attended the opening. Paul Mitchell, former MK Dons captain and current ambassador for the club, gave a speech about the work of Brook and its importance in Milton Keynes, whilst popular free-style footballer and Guinness World Keepy Uppy Champion Dan Magness kept guests entertained.