Milton Keynes has a lot to offer for individuals with a learning disability.
The organisations within this section offer practical support for everyday living, social activities, and opportunities for access to education and employment for people with a learning disability.
Milton Keynes Community Team for Adults with a Learning Disability (CTALD)
Neath Hill Resource Centre, Currier Drive
Neath Hill, Milton Keynes, MK14 6NA
Access Team Tel: 01908 253772
Duty Nurse: 07852 474373
Email: WAA.Duty@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Web: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/adult-social-care/our-adult-social-care-services/community-team-adults-learning-disability-ctald-2
The Team provides assessments, diagnosis and therapies for adults with a learning disability. It specialises in areas such as:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Speech and language therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Dietetics
- Community nursing
- Social work
CTALD services include advice and information, day to day help, support with housing, help to find social and leisure services, and help to get a voluntary or paid job. They also provide help for carers, advice, and support to keep fit and stay healthy, help at home, help to learn new skills, day services, and short breaks for respite as well as long-term care.
Specialist services include psychiatry, psychology, speech and language
Referrals: Referrals can be made directly or with your permission by someone who works with you. Either contact the CTALD Duty Nurse or the Access Team.
Thrift Farm
Buckingham Road, Whaddon, Bucks, MK17 0EQ
Tel: 01908 501733
Email: thriftadmin@thrift-farm.co.uk
Web: www.thrift-farm.co.uk
Thrift Farm is a day centre for adults with learning disabilities. The training centre uses skills taught in farming, horticulture, and craft workshops alongside a small team of staff to develop confidence and work awareness.
The farm is divided into four units, each offering different work-based opportunities and experiences:
- The Farm Park – service users will be supported and guided to learn new skills, knowledge and understanding of animal care.
- Garden Centre – wide range of horticultural tasks undertaken including seed sewing, planting and harvesting.
- Craft Activities – opportunities to be involved in such things as sewing, card making, jewellery making, painting, magnet making using motor and creative skills.
- The Potting Shed Café – learn and develop skills within the café kitchen and restaurant area. Activities include preparing food, baking cakes, making soups and hot meals, learning customer service skills, serving customers, making drinks, cleaning tables and using the till.
Initially, individuals will work on three units for three months, and then they can choose which two areas they prefer.
An easy referral guide is available via their website.
Access: Some wheelchair access to most parts, disabled toilets and showers available
Seebeck House, 1 Seebeck Place,
Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8FR
Tel: 01908 230100
Email: hello@macintyrecharity.org
Web: https://www.macintyrecharity.org/in-your-area/buckinghamshire-services/
In Buckinghamshire they offer support for children, young people and adults in Aylesbury, Flackwell Heath, Milton Keynes, Wingrave and surrounding areas. They offer Registered Care, Supporting Living and Outreach. The bases in Milton Keynes include Beanhill, Great Holm and Neath Hill.
They work closely with individuals, families, community groups, housing providers and employers to offer a wide range of support solutions to live as independently as possible. They provide specialist supported living for more than 60 people including those who have offended or at risk of offending or those moving on from secure settings.
In Milton Keynes and North Bucks, MacIntyre support over 80 individuals in residential services which include registered care homes, supportive living homes and individual tenancies. They also have a number of day services which offer many vocational and lifelong learning opportunities including:
- MacIntyre Coffee Shop – work experience including a wide range of skills from customer service to food hygiene
- MacIntyre Catering – for local people and businesses
- MacIntyre No Limits – post-16 education for young people (16-25) operating at Aylesbury, Flackwell Heath and Milton Keynes. Working with Bucks College Group and MK College respectively.
- MacIntyre School in Wingrave (day and residential) – specialist school offering up to 42 day and residential student places
- MacIntyre PrintAble – offers students supported through the No Limits programme opportunities to gain new skills in a social enterprise environment
Contact via telephone or email for futher information on their services and referrals.
Camphill MK Communities Ltd
Japonica Lane, Brickhill Street, Willen Park,
Milton Keynes, MK15 9JY
Tel: 01908 235000
Email: office@camphillmk.co.uk
Referrals: referrals@camphillmk.co.uk
Web: https://camphillmk.co.uk/
There are 11 different houses at Camphill accommodating residents with a range of learning disabilities, autism and other conditions. The shared housing ranges from 3 to 11 bedrooms. Each resident has their own key and signs their own tenancy agreement. They welcome self-referrals or referrals from family members and social workers. They are currently (2024) building 60 new accessible rooms for residents.
Each resident has dedicated time with their key worker and has opportunities to access amenities off-site as well as on-site such as:
- The Café
- The Bakery
- Arts and Crafts
- Gardening and Horticulture
- Tools Refurbishment and Tech lab
- Camphill advocacy group
To move into Camphill a social worker would need to be allocated which would provide a connection to the funding authority. This authority would carry out their own assessments to the eligible needs and approve funding and agree on a care package.
This site is most suited those who:
- Enjoy social contact and can engage with community living
- Need support to develop new skills for ‘independence’
- Leaving school/college looking to move into adult services
- Those whose parents can no longer provide care
- Those who struggle to live along and require wider support
- Those who have an accessed need under the Care Act 2014
There is a charge for day opportunities calculated per day and base rent is calculated to be inclusive of food, heating, electricity, landline, communal TV, internet etc. Benefits are often used for funding.
Camphill also have The Chrysalis, which serves as a theatre, meeting place, and concert hall to the wider Milton Keynes community.
Bedfordshire Supported Housing
231 Beford Road, Kempston
Bedford, MK42 8DA
Tel: 01234 841808
Web: https://www.bedssupportedhousing.co.uk/
Currently (2024) have two supported houses in Milton Keynes which offer a medium level of community-based support designed for those with long-standing mental health problems. Each property has night-wardens with a 24 hr on-call service at each property.
Precious Homes
Enquiries: 020 8826 4343
Email: info@precious-homes.com
Web: https://www.precious-homes.co.uk/services/roman-house/
Roman House is a bespoke Residential Service designed to support up to six autistic adults, or those with learning disabilities and associated needs, to develop the skills and confidence necessary to lead a more independent life
MK Talkback
330 Saxon Gate West
Milton Keynes, MK9 2ES
Tel: 01494 434448
Web: https://talkback-uk.com/
Email: talkback@talkback-uk.com
Offers autism and learning disability services to people providing opportunities for continued personal development. Has national programmes including:
- Equip – personal support programme (16 -25 year olds) in college and the community
- Personal development and skills – for adults who have left education or older and covers life skills, well-being, sport, relationships, arts and DIY
- Employability – support for those with learning disabilities and autism
- Your Voice – engagement groups, autism training, consultancy services and advocacy support
- Transitions – for those over 14 years old in school
- Sports and Performing Arts Academies
- Talkback Digital – online delivery programme to achieve goals
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
Children with Complex Needs Service
Milton Keynes Hospital, Standing Way,
Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5NG
Tel: 01908 724511
Web: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/community-services/milton-keynes-children-complex-needs-service
Email: cnw-tr.ComplexNeedsTeam@nhs.net
The service is available for children and young people who are registered with a Milton Keynes General Practitioner (GP)
To be eligible to access the service, individuals must be aged 18 and under, and meet at least one of the following criteria
- Have a severe, unpredictable or complex medical condition
- A complex medical condition that indicates a very high use of healthcare service
- Have a life-limiting illness where it is expected not to reach adulthood
- Have a long-term or complex condition which makes them medically unstable and requiring frequent input from a health professional and/or regular hospital admissions for complex condition
- Have complex Epilepsy
- Requiring medical supplies that cannot be provided by the GP
Children and young people can be referred to the service by any professional who feels that child or young person meets any of the above criteria. Please either call the team or email to request a referral form.
Please ensure the child or young person has a Milton Keynes GP.
If you need help in a crisis, please do the following
- Contact the CNWL (Central and North West London) service looking after you during their office hours
- If the crisis is during when your service is closed, there are alternative options provided by the NHS found on this page.
- If you are not already being looked after by CNWL or elsewhere within the NHS, see your GP during normal working hours as they can then refer you to a local service.
Choice Support
46 Shenley Pavilions, Chalkdell Drive,
Shenley Wood, Milton Keynes, MK5 6LB
Tel: 01908 787940
Web: https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/find-support/find-support-near-you/outreach-milton-keynes
Choice Support provide outreach support to help autistic people, and people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their life. For example:
- Go to college or to a job
- Learning new skills & build confidence
- Learn to use public transport
- Personal care & daily living
- Manage money & pay bills
- Attend appointments
- Go on a short holiday
Please note: they do not provide crisis mental health support
There is an on-line form for general enquiries: https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/contact-us/general-enquiries
If an assessment has already been carried out and you are looking for a support provider there is an on-line form here:
https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/contact-us/support-enquiries
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.
SNUGS – Special Needs Unit Gymnasts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SNUGSgym/?locale=en_GB
This Charity is currently (2024) looking for new premises – check on Facebook for any updates.
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.
Learning Disability Day Opportunities
Milton Keynes Council, Civic 1
Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ
Tel: 01908 253772
Email: Access.Team@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk
Web: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/adult-social-care/our-adult-social-care-services/day-centres-and-day-opportunities/learning
This service provides a range of support options to meet an individual’s assessed needs. The staff work closely with health and social care professionals, each person using the service will have a detailed individual support plan to meet their physical and emotional needs.
There are 2 services, at Tower Drive Neath Hill and Whaddon Way Bletchley, which offer a range of social, sensory and physical activities either within the building base or using different resources across MK.
There is an assessment service to access these services completed by the Working Age Adults Team – see contact details above.
Inter-Action MK
Milton Keynes Discovery Centre,
Alston Drive, Milton Keynes, MK13 9AP
Telephone: 01908 318285
Email: info@interactionmk.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/interaction.mk
Web: www.interactionmk.org.uk
Inter-Action MK delivers a programme of high quality, innovative and inclusive Community Arts in Milton Keynes, prioritising work with excluded groups.
Inter-Action MK’s programme includes:
- Groovy Gecko – a club night run by and for people with learning disabilities
- Creative workshops for disabled young people
- Domestic abuse awareness art project
- Steering groups of disabled young people
- School holiday activities for disadvantaged young people
Inter-Action MK also hires out rooms and equipment for use by other community groups.