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MK:Smart Newsletter
January 2016
Happy New Year!
Welcome back to our monthly newsletter about Citizen Innovation and the MK:Smart project. We are delighted to invite you to our Photo Exhibition and Networking Event on Friday 5th February. Read on to find out more about the event and other updates from our projects.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to drop us an email.
Rebecca & the MK:Smart Team
Community Action: MK
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Photo Exhibition & Networking Event
Friday 5th February
MK College - Gallery 200
Come along to our next networking event to find out more about the exciting citizen-led projects that are funded by MK:Smart and to meet lots of people who are passionate about transforming Milton Keynes into a 'smart city'.
The event will feature stalls and presentations about the projects that are funded by MK:Smart and other initiatives in the city as well as a speech from Mark Lancaster MP!
A highlight of the event will be an exhibition of the photographs shortlisted as part of the MK:Smart Citizens Photo Competition. Not only will you get a chance to cast a vote for your favourite photograph, but you will also find out who the winners are - as we will be announcing them at the event!
With yummy refreshments available, the evening will be a great opportunity for you or your group to find out more about MK:Smart funding opportunities available to local people and projects that have a potential to improve energy, water, transport, health or the environment in the city.
Follow updates on our interactive website, Our MK, where we will be sharing a full programme for the event. Search for #mysmartmk or #MKSmart on social media!
Register here now. We look forward to seeing you on the 5th of February! |
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MK:Smart Citizens Photo Competition
VOTE ONLINE NOW!
We have been thrilled to receive some fantastic photographs as part of the #mysmartmk photo competition launched just before Christmas. As you know from our previous newsletter, the theme of the competition was: 'What is your smart city'?. A number of great photos have been submitted via the competition's website and we have enjoyed seeing the competition being published by the local press, including the One MK news website.
10 photographs have been shortlisted by our judges: Roger Kitchen (Living Archive), Lallie Davies (MK Council - MK50 Project) and Jane Whild (MK:Smart Team at The Open University). You can see and vote for your favourite photograph on the competition's website:
We look forward to receiving your votes! You can also leave comments to tell us what you think about the photographs. See some of the comments left by others here.
You will also be able to cast your vote if you come to our free Exhibition and Networking event at Gallery 200 at the Silbury Boulevard Campus of MK College on Friday 5th February!
All of the great photos submitted as part of the competition are available on our interactive citizen-led website, Our MK: click here to see them.
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Also this month..
See exciting updates from some of our new and existing projects, and find out more about a new great car-sharing initiative in the city!
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MK Pop Up Shop
A new project to create £ssential Savings is now funded!
Lindsay already provides 'preLoved' furniture and clothing at reasonable prices for local people via her website. This new project will run 11 pop up shops across the city using an electric van and technology to display products virtually. These pop up's will focus on reaching the most in need people in the city, visiting carefully selected locations. Find out more soon by visiting the All Small Things website, or look out in the next newsletter.
Congratulations to Lindsay on her successful funding application via the Citizens Ideas Competition! You can see Lindsay's project idea page on Our MK here - can it inspire you to upload your own idea for an innovative project in Milton Keynes!? |
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Happy New Year from
MK: Food Revolution
More exciting events coming up...
"Thanks for supporting us and your local producers in 2015 - we are looking forward to making lots of wonderful things happen in 2016, too.
2015 was an exciting year for us. In September we won the MK:Smart funding to get the ball rolling and haven't stood still since. We produced the MK Food Passports, organised a food forum and attended a wide variety of markets to speak to traders and customers. We also launched our monthly Beer Club and got to know lots of you in the process!
Our plans for January are grand, too, with three events waiting for you. We are starting this year with our usual beer tasting at Bucks Star Brewery on Friday the 15th January at 7pm followed by the brilliant MK SOUP on Friday the 22nd!
On Saturday the 23rd January we are running a 'Start your own food business' workshop at MK Community Action which will introduce you to the basics of starting your own food business. Have you dreamed about making your own bread, honey, jam or drinks? This is your gateway into the food industry. Learn about registration, hygiene requirements and the experience of successful local businesses like Urban Grilla. Tickets are free but need to be reserved on our website here.
We are very excited to let you know that preparations have started for the MK Feast, a celebration of the best of MK food and craft which will take place on the 20th February at Bradwell Abbey. If you would like to showcase your local food or craft, please make sure to register! All registration fees are going to fund our extensive marketing campaign.
That's it for now. Thanks again for your support over the last month; it means the world to us and the local producers of MK. See you at an event soon!"
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HiyaCar launches in MK
A new car sharing platform launched in the city!
HiyaCar is the person-to-person car-sharing platform that allows drivers to hire cars from private car owners. Car owners can become Sharers by letting other drivers use their cars via the platform. They can set their own prices and earn 70% commission from their sharing revenue (80% if you register early), so they can generate £1000’s of extra cash.
It was founded by Graeme Risby and Rob Larmour, who wanted to provide an on-demand transport solution that brought communities together and allowed members to make additional income.
They launched in Milton Keynes, as thanks to projects like MK:Smart, the innovative city is leading the way in making transport accessible and sustainable. The Council have been very supportive as they see the benefits of car sharing for the community, businesses and the environment.
HiyaCar facilitates car hire for the community, by the community and exists to help communities have the freedom to have a better life.
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Get involved...
Support the project by volunteering.
Many projects need volunteers and skills to turn them into a reality. To find out how you can get involved, visit to our 'Volunteer' page on OurMK - just click here.
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Join in the conversation online...
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