Grant from MK Community Foundation helped ‘change the landscape’ for cancer patients in Milton Keynes

MK Hospital Charity have opened a new garden to support the mental wellbeing of patients, their families and cancer services staff, with thanks to funding from Milton Keynes Community Foundation’s ‘Margaret Powell Fund’.

MK Hospital Charity are the official charity for Milton Keynes University Hospital, set up to provide ‘over and above’ the statutory, enabling the best support and improvements for staff, patients, and their loved ones. They support everyone who comes through the hospital doors, both directly and indirectly. From birth to end of life, the charity raises funds to make everyone’s experience as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

The garden, overlooked by the hospital’s Chemotherapy Suite, was delivered using the individual strengths of a number of local organisations and individuals, including The Chapman Family, The Milton Keynes Christian Centre and Bridgman & Bridgman Landscaping.

Established over 35 years ago, MK Community Foundation are a leading grant-making charity, sending funding where it’s needed most in Milton Keynes. Philanthropy Manager at MK Community Foundation, Michaela Clark, said “It is an honour to be able to support such a great outdoor space which can be utilised by both patients and staff members. A chance to escape the busy ward environment and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. This is a wonderful project that we hope will be enjoyed for years to come.”

The project was supported through the Community Foundation’s ‘Margaret Powell Fund’, set up by a local Sheep Farmer of the early 90’s, with the aim of supporting local people with disabilities. MK Hospital Charity have sustained her name with a special information board in the garden, telling her story and highlighting her amazing contribution to Milton Keynes and enabling her legacy to live on.

Vanessa Holmes, Associate Director, Charity and Fundraising at MK Hospital Charity, said “Without the input from Milton Keynes Community Foundation and the funds they manage, we would not have been able to turn this space into a sensory garden for those visiting the hospital to support their loved ones, access medical treatment or those who work within the hospital. Creating inviting outdoor spaces which can be enjoyed by all has been a focus of the charity with the reoccurring COVID-19 restrictions, as well as encouraging those who can, to enjoy fresh air.”

You can find out more about MK Community Foundation and the many local projects they have supported at https://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/our-news/case-studies/

Want to help fund more life-changing projects like this one? You can make a donation to the Community Foundation at https://mkcommunityfoundation.enthuse.com/donate#!/