A business-backed contactless donation scheme operating across Milton Keynes city centre has reached a £30,000 fundraising milestone, supporting projects that address homelessness and vulnerability.
The Tap to Donate machines are delivered by MyMiltonKeynes BID as part of the Real Change Not Loose Change campaign. The initiative provides a coordinated alternative to street giving, allowing residents, workers and visitors to donate £3 securely while supporting services that deliver practical outcomes.
All funds are managed by the Milton Keynes Community Foundation and distributed to trusted local organisations providing frontline support, including emergency accommodation, welfare advice and longer-term pathways out of homelessness.
Since launching in 2019, the scheme has become part of the city centre’s wider social infrastructure, aligning businesses, charities and public services around a shared approach to supporting vulnerable people while improving the overall environment for trading and footfall.
Jill Farnsworth, chief executive at MyMiltonKeynes, said the initiative was designed to give people confidence that their generosity would be used effectively. “Real Change Not Loose Change is about turning compassion into something that definitely helps,” she said.
“Tap to Donate ensures generosity goes directly to local services that can offer practical support, safety and longer-term solutions, rather than short-term fixes.”
Through the MyMiltonKeynes Homeless Support Fund, the Milton Keynes Community Foundation has recently awarded funding to Girls Flow Free, supporting its period poverty project in the city. The grant provides free menstrual and hygiene products to women and girls living in deprived areas, including those experiencing rough sleeping.
Lauren Baker, philanthropy manager at Milton Keynes Community Foundation, said the continued success of the scheme allows funding to be targeted where need is greatest. “Thanks to the Tap to Donate machines, we’re able to make grants that respond directly to the challenges we see across Milton Keynes,” she said.
“This includes projects where homelessness intersects with wider issues such as period poverty. The fund allows support to be delivered with dignity and without judgement.”
The Tap to Donate machines are located at high-footfall points across Milton Keynes city centre and have recently been refreshed with updated branding to maintain visibility and encourage continued engagement. Donations can also be made online via the Milton Keynes Community Foundation.
As the scheme moves into 2026, MyMiltonKeynes BID hopes the £30,000 milestone will encourage further participation from businesses and partners, reinforcing the role of coordinated, business-led solutions in supporting the city’s long-term resilience.
