General Support

​

Buckinghamshire Council

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

​​

• The Council website provides comprehensive information regarding local service provision including: 

  • Help with the cost of living (“Helping Hand”)

  • Schools and learning 

  • Council Tax

  • Parking, roads and transport

  • Housing and benefits

  • Community and safety

  • Culture and tourism

  • Health, wellbeing and sports

​​

Bucks Online Directory (BOD)

https://directory.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/​

​

• Find activities, groups and services in the whole of Buckinghamshire, search by Area or Postcode.

  • Things to do

  • Advice and support

  • Education and learning

  • Staying active

  • Local churches and religious groups

​​

Citizens Advice

​

• Housing, including private renting

• Immigration, including obtaining visas for dependents

• Employment, including employment rights and contractual terms

• Tax advice Health

• Law

• Translators available if advice needed in different language

​

Citizens Advice Buckinghamshire

https://citizensadvicebucks.org.uk/

​

• Offices in Amersham, Aylesbury, Buckingham, Chesham and High Wycombe

​

Citizens Advice Milton Keynes

https://www.miltonkeynescab.org.uk/

​

​

​

Healthcare & Wellbeing

​

NHS Provision

​

• ​Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust provides hospital services, community health services and learning disability services.

• It is made up of 7 Hospitals:

  • Stoke Mandeville Hospital - in Aylesbury is the largest hospital and provides emergency and specialist treatment including maternity, critical care, ophthalmology and burns and plastics. 

  • Wycombe Hospital - main site for elective surgery and provides specialist treatment for heart disease and stroke, cancer and urological conditions);

  • Amersham Hospital - large community hospital;

  • Buckingham Community Hospital - cares for older patients;

  • Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross Hospital - community health services in the south of Buckinghamshire;

  • Marlow Hospital - community health services;

  • Thame Community Hospital - in Oxfordshire. 

​

• People in the north of the county also use services provided by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

• Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services across the county.

• Buckinghamshire has 47 GP practices across the county.

​

​ARC Bucks PCN Directory

https://arcbuckspcn.org/directory/

​

• The Arc Bucks PCN Directory lists local groups and charities providing support around health and wellbeing.

​

Mind Buckinghamshire

https://www.bucksmind.org.uk/

​

• Independent mental health support charity offering a range of services, including counselling, support groups, and resources for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

​

Mind BLMK

https://www.mind-blmk.org.uk/

​

• Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

​

​

​

Education (Language Courses)

​

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning

https://adultlearningbc.ac.uk/

​

• Main provider of part-time learning opportunities for adults in Buckinghamshire. They offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes designed to help learners improve their ability to talk, listen, read and write in English and settle in the community.

• Subject to demand, classes are available morning, afternoon or evenings n Adult Learning Centres in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Chesham.

​

Buckinghamshire College Group

https://www.buckscollegegroup.ac.uk/english-for-speakers-of-other-languages

​

• Classes at three campuses in Aylesbury, Wycombe and Amersham, and offer qualifications from Entry Level to Level 2.

​​

Community Learning Milton Keynes (CLMK)

https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/schools-and-lifelong-learning/CLMK/adult-education/english-speakers-other-languages-esol

​

• Offer a range of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses from beginner (Entry 1) to advanced (Level 2). These classes will meet twice a week either during the day or at evenings and weekends.

• Twelve-week courses cost £240.

​

Milton Keynes College

https://mkcollege.ac.uk/courses/english-for-speakers-of-other-languages/esol/​

​

• Range of part-time, short courses, for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications from Pre Entry to Level 1.

• Courses include speaking and listening from September, Writing from January and Reading from April.

​

​

​

Housing & Accommodation

​

Buckinghamshire Council – Housing Department

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/housing-and-benefits/housing/

​

• Provide guidance on renting, affordable housing schemes, and general housing support for newcomers.

​

Better Housing Better Health Bucks

https://www.bhbh.org.uk/

​

• Commissioned by Buckinghamshire Council and Public Health to offer free impartial advice to residents on keeping well in their homes. It also operates as a one-stop-shop for well-being concerns, working closely with other support organisations and charities across the region.

​

​

​

Driving & Public Transport

​

Arrival in the UK

​​

• We have provided the following options for travelling from Heathrow and Luton airports to Milton Keynes by train and bus (National Express).

• Whilst these are the most cost-effective options, you may wish to consider arranging airport collection by car or private taxi, which will make for a much quicker and easier transfer of your new recruit.

​​

​Heathrow Airport to Milton Keynes

• You can take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then a train to Milton Keynes (approx. 1h 8m, tickets from £12.50). Alternatively, National Express buses are available, starting from £17.

​

Luton Airport to Milton Keynes

• Frequent shuttle buses connect to Luton Airport Parkway. From there, the train journey to Milton Keynes takes about 1h 39m (tickets from £17.30), or take a National Express bus (30m, tickets from £6.97).

​

Buckinghamshire

​​

Using public and community transport

​https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living/using-public-and-community-transport/

​

Plan your bus journey

​https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/bus-passes-and-travel/plan-your-bus-journey/

​

Milton Keynes

​

Get Around MK

https://getaroundmk.org.uk/

​

• Website provides guidance on travelling around Milton Keynes via public transport.

• Driving: Milton Keynes boasts an efficient grid-based road system, offering swift travel, particularly outside of rush hour.

• Cycling: Explore Milton Keynes easily via the cyclist-friendly 'redways' network, providing efficient routes parallel to roads.

• Bus Services: Find bus schedules, maps, and travel updates on the Milton Keynes Council website.

• Train: Milton Keynes Central station offers quick access to major cities: London in 40 mins, Manchester in 90 mins, and Birmingham in 40 mins. Train services are operated by London North Western, Virgin Train, and Southern Railway.

​

​

​

Community Support Groups

​

African & Caribbean Arts & Heritage Union

https://www.acahunion.org/

​

• Not-for profit organisation, setup to unite the increasing diverse communities in MK, especially the Africa and Caribbean communities with a belief that we are stronger together.

​

​Aylesbury Indian Community (AIC)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/881579621920373/

​

• Since 2015, our mission has been to foster community cohesion through diverse cultural events, educate youth in principles of inclusivity, and promote cultural awareness in Buckinghamshire and its vicinity.

​

Friends of the Caribbean

https://friendsofthecaribbean.co.uk/

​

• A local charity whose primary objective is to promote cultural, social, educational, health and economic activities among our community in the Milton Keynes area and the wider UK and Caribbean region.

​

Milton Keynes Hindu Association

https://www.mkha.org/

​

• Milton Keynes Hindu Association is a registered charity based in Broughton, Milton Keynes – with the aim to Preserve and Promote Hindu Culture.

​

MK Melting Pot

https://www.mkmeltingpot.co.uk/

​

• MK Melting Pot (MKMP) is a Community Interest group that engages with diverse people living in Milton Keynes.

• Our aim is to promote the cultural values they hold. We also engage participants in a wide range of activities that promote and improve community cohesion.

​

Wycombe African Caribbean Community Forum (WACCF)

​

• Umbrella organisation for the different African & Caribbean voluntary groups and churches in High Wycombe. Please contact for further information.

• Contact: Sade Adoh 07941 618337 / 07973 563914 sadoh@talk21.com

​

​

​

Support for Refugees & Asylum Seekers

​

Bucks Online Directory (BOD)

https://directory.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

​

• Features a ‘Support for Ukrainian refugees’ category to highlight local support for Ukrainians in Buckinghamshire and their sponsors.

​

Community Impact Bucks

https://communityimpactbucks.org.uk/projects/community-support-for-ukrainians/#information-for-newly-arrived-ukrainians-and-their-hosts

​

• Provide information for newly arrived Ukranians in Buckinghamshire

​

Help Ukraine BAMK

https://www.facebook.com/groups/helpukrainebamk

​

• Facebook group created to support hosts and refugees arriving to Bedford, Aylesbury or Milton Keynes.

​

Marlow Refugee Action

https://marlowrefugeeaction.org.uk/

​

• Our vision is to translate the global refugee crisis into meaningful local action.

​

Safety Centre

https://www.safetycentre.co.uk/safety-centre-welcomes-refugee-and-newly-arrived-communities/

​

• Provided a 'Hazard Alley' experience for newly arrived families.

​

The Mead Centre, Newport Pagnell

https://www.themeadcentre.co.uk/

​

• Volunteers supporting the Afghan women and their families, who have been housed at the local holding hotel.

​

Ukraine Appeal CIO

https://ukraineappeal.org.uk

​

• Charity supporting the local Ukrainian community through a variety of routes, including meeting and events, the Ukrainian Supplementary School and a radio show.

​

Welcome MK

https://welcomemk.org/what-we-do/

​

• We help bring a coordinated response to any situation where refugees have arrived into Milton Keynes and are in need.

​

Wycombe Refugee Partnership

https://www.wycombe-refugees.org/

​

• Offer wrap-around support to resettle refugee families in the High Wycombe area. This includes housing, education, language, befriending, welfare and job-seeking support.

​

​