Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes is pleased to announce a change of name, and from today, will now be called UnityMK.
The homeless charity, based at Unity Park Station (ground floor of the Old Bus Station) in central Milton Keynes, has also launched their new website, www.unitymk.org – which has been designed to ensure those needing help are able to access services and advice quickly and easily.
When the charity first launched, almost 13 years ago, its primary mission was to help those experiencing homelessness in Milton Keynes to have somewhere warm and safe to sleep during the coldest months of the year. The main focus was the setting up of night shelters across the city, utilising church and community halls, providing emergency beds and run by an amazing team of volunteers from the local community.
However, with the impact of Covid-19 and the ongoing cost of living crisis the charity’s role locally has grown, and their welfare team are helping an increasing number of people. UnityMK is no longer ‘just’ a night shelter, and provides services all year round, including mental health referrals and counselling, access to food, showers and laundry facilities, housing advice and support into safer accommodation, help with benefits and signposting to other organisations.
These services sit alongside their winter night shelter provision, which continues to be a crucial lifeline for many guests during the winter months and one UnityMK will continue to offer, as long as there is need, as part of their range of services.
UnityMK hopes their new name will encourage those that are struggling, but not homeless, to know they can also seek help from the charity before their problems reach crisis point.
Emma Johnson, UnityMK General Manager, said, “Our goals and vision remain the same – we are striving to provide pathways out of homelessness in Milton Keynes. The emphasis on our welfare work is a huge part of this, by supporting those at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness to find solutions into safe, stable housing.”
For more information or to make a donation, visit the website.
