Milton Keynes is well known for its modern approach to leisure, culture, and lifestyle, and can easily compete with larger cities in terms of facilities. All facilities are relatively new compared to more established towns and cities, and access to cinemas, theatres and leisure centres is well considered.
THE SOCIAL SCENE
Having a disability need not prevent you from having an active social life – far from it. Many of Milton Keynes’ recreational leisure areas are accessible for disabled people: cinemas, restaurants, pubs, bars, and the theatre. This level of accessibility brings a wide range of choice, which can be harder for disabled people who live in more established towns and cities to achieve.
The idea of sociability encompasses not just the organisations below, but the wide range of activities listed throughout the whole of the leisure section.
Milton Keynes Centre for Integrated Living (MK CIL Ltd)
330 Saxon Gate West, Central Milton Keynes,
MK9 2ES
Tel: 01908 231344
Email: info@mkcil.org.uk
Times: 10.00am to 4.00pm (For enquiries – Mon, Wed and Fri)
MK CIL holds a wealth of information on a disability database, including information on leisure and activity groups held in Milton Keynes for disabled people.
Phab
c/o The Society Building
241 The Broadway, Wimbledon
London, SW19 1SD
Tel: 020 8667 9443
Email: info@phab.org.uk
Web: https://www.phab.org.uk/clubs/
Around 120 clubs across England and Wales. They organise and host inclusive adventures for disabled and non-disabled people of all ages with 8000 members. Currently have clubs in Northampton, Oundle and Bedford. Please see their website for contact details and further information.
Friday Club
Water Eaton Church Centre,
Drayton Road, Bletchley, MK2 3RR
General Enquiries: info@spurgeonbaptist.com
Web: https://spurgeonbaptist.com/events/friday-club/
This club is operated by Crosslinks and offers friendship and support to young people with learning difficulties. The club normally meets fortnightly on a Friday during term time with a safe, friendly environment providing games and activities such as pool and craft. Refreshments are available.
The first session is free for anyone who wants to come and look – after that a small charge of £1.50 – £2 per session.
MK SNAP
20 Bourton Low, Walnut Tree,
Milton Keynes, MK7 7DE
Tel: 01908 690330
Email: info@mksnap.org
Web: www.mksnap.org
Times: Monday to Thursday 8.45am-5.00pm
Friday 8.45am-4.15pm
MK SNAP is a life skills centre for people with learning and physical disabilities aged 16 and over. A Team of qualified and specialist staff alongside volunteers offer a curriculum that includes:
- Arts and crafts
- Canvas Art
- Catering
- Enterprise
- Gardening
- Health and wellbeing
- Life Skills
- Employability
- Music
- Nature Walking
- Performing Arts
- Sport
- Yoga
- Dance
- Pottery
- Sewing
- Work Training – jobs at SNAP e.g reception, café, stalls
- Virtual sessions – interactive workshops
- Animal Care (run by Milton Keynes College at SNAP)
There is a multi-functional hall where sport and exercise activities are offered, and MK SNAP’s links with outside organisations can help people progress to further training or employment.
Attendance is voluntary; hours are flexible, with whole day and half day places available.
Anyone in receipt of a personal budget from Milton Keynes Council can choose to spend their budget on sessions at MK SNAP, and people are encouraged to attend three free taster sessions.
Anyone wishing to self-fund sessions at MK SNAP are welcome too.
Placement with MK SNAP can be through ACCESS on 01908 253772 or by contacting the centre directly on the above details.
Access: All on one level and fully adapted for wheelchair use
MK Dons Sports Education Trust (SET)
Stadium MK, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST
Email: information@mkdonsset.com
This is an independent charity with a strong affiliation to Milton Keynes Dons. They aim to provide or assist in the provision of facilities and other leisure time occupation. They also aim to relieve sickness and disability to preserve and protect health.
They run community sessions for all ages and abilities to develop skills, build confidence and become more active members of their community. As a Sports & Fitness Club they offer inclusive programmes for those with disabilities:
- Disability Football (caters for all ages)
- Holiday camps
- Dementia, Stroke, Brain Injuries and Parkinson’s activities
- Custody and Intervention programmes
MK Dons Youth Disability Football is for young people aged 4 – adult with disabilities.
Groups meet at The Dome, Woughton-on-the-Green on Sundays with times from 3.30pm to 6.30pm depending on age with a session for adults on Thursdays (12.30pm – 2pm).
The sessions are run by MK Dons SET with FA qualified coaches.
EYE for ART Club
Bucks Vision
143 Meadowcroft, Aylesbury,
Milton Keynes, HP19 9HH
Tel: 01296 487556
Email: reception@bucksvision.co.uk
EYE for ART Club is a club for visually impaired adults that offers many forms of arts and crafts and social activities, including card making, porcelain flower making, fabric panels, weaving, knitting, sewing and museum visits.
The club meets monthly at Springfield Community Centre in Milton Keynes on the first Tuesday of the month from 10am – 1pm.
Xscape
602 Marlborough Gate,
Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3XS
Tel: 01908 357025
Web: https://xscapemiltonkeynes.co.uk/
Xscape Milton Keynes is an entertainment destination offering a unique combination of extreme sports and leisure activities for all ages and abilities. Xscape is home to the Snozone, Airkix, rock climbing, a cinema, a health and fitness club, shopping, bars, restaurants, and a nightclub.
The centre is fully accessible, including disabled car parking bays, lifts to all areas of the centre, accessible toilet facilities, automatic entrance doors and staff that are always available to help.
12th Street Leisure Quarter
Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3PU
Email: contact@daisycraydonpr.com
Web: www.12thstreet.co.uk/
12th Street Leisure Quarter (formerly the Theatre District) is located at the heart of Milton Keynes, and is a collection of clubs, bars, and restaurants catering to a multitude of different tastes – see website for individual offering details.
12th Street also hosts fun family activities throughout the year such as handling birds of prey, mascot Olympics, street markets and various music events including the Christmas light switch on event.
Access: All bars and restaurants are accessible and are in close proximity to each other. The majority of restaurants are at ground level, and those that are not have accessible lifts to other floors. All have disabled toilets. There is disabled parking close by.
AccessAble
18-20 High Street, Stevenage, SG1 3EJ
Tel: 01483 842710
Email: hello@AccessAble.co.uk
Web: www.accessable.co.uk
SignLive: www.signlive.co.uk/login
AccessAble produce an online access guide for places all over the UK, including Milton Keynes. They publish the guide on their website, which is free for everyone to use and partner with Online BSL Interpreting Service – SignLive .
AccessAble have consulted with disabled people and generated detailed information about the access to places in Milton Keynes such as hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, doctors’ surgeries, shops, libraries, and many other places of interest.
As well as the physical access to the buildings, AccessAble look at whether staff have had disability awareness training, if Braille and large print documents are available, if hearing systems are available, whether assistance dogs are welcomed, and if the staff know sign language.
The AccessAble access guide can be found on the website, and is very useful for planning day trips, holidays, or even to get an idea about a new place before going to visit.
The Cinema Exhibitor’s Association
CEA Card, PO BOX 199, Deeside, CH5 9BW
Tel: 01244 526016
Textphone: 18001 01244 526016
Email: info@ceacard.co.uk
Web: www.ceacard.co.uk
The Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card is nationally recognised and can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema.
To apply for the card, proof of one of the following criteria is needed:
- Receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance
- Registered blind person
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
The card is available to applicants aged 5 and over. You will need proof of eligibility, a photo and small payment (currently £6.00 2024).
To apply, complete an application form online at the website address above or download an application form for posting. Also available from:
Odeon Milton Keynes,
Milton Keynes Stadium,
12 Stadium Way West,
Milton Keynes, MK9 3NB
0871 22 44 007
www.odeon.co.uk
Cineworld Milton Keynes
Xscape,
602 Marlborough Gate,
Milton Keynes, MK9 3XS
0871 220 8000
www.cineworld.co.uk