We are delighted to share that Sport England has approved a further phase of investment for the Milton Keynes Place Expansion Partnership (MK PEP), enabling the partnership to build on the learning from the discovery phase and continue tackling inequalities in physical inactivity across Milton Keynes.
The £793,183 of investment will support the next stage of the partnership’s work through to March 2028, helping to strengthen local leadership, community influence, collaboration and system-wide action to create the conditions for more people to be active as part of everyday life.
The progress so far
| Discovery phase progress | What the baseline showed |
|---|---|
| Organisations engaged | More than 180 organisations engaged with the programme. |
| Network reach | Social Network Analysis identified 208 individuals connected through 431 relationships focused on tackling physical inactivity. |
| New relationships | 171 new relationships have been formed since the programme began, helping to strengthen collaboration across sectors and communities. |
| Resident insight | More than 400 resident conversations completed across the 11 estates, providing deeper insight into barriers and opportunities |
Building on strong foundations
MK PEP was established in 2024 and helped secure an initial Sport England development award to support a discovery phase focused on listening, learning and understanding the deeper causes of physical inactivity across 11 estates in Milton Keynes.
Over the past 15 months, the partnership has brought together organisations from local government, health, community and voluntary sectors, town and community councils and local residents to explore how systems, places and communities can work differently to reduce inequalities in physical activity.
The cutting-edge evaluation found that physical inactivity in Milton Keynes is not simply about access to sport or exercise. It is influenced by a range of interconnected factors including transport, safety, neighbourhood design, social connections, confidence, local leadership and community influence. The discovery phase reinforced that lasting change will only happen when community-led action and system-level change are deliberately connected and aligned.
Why this matters
Milton Keynes continues to experience significant inequalities in physical activity and health outcomes. Around 24% of adults in MK are inactive, doing less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. In Eaglestone & Fishermead, this rises to 32.4%.
Residents in Stacey Bushes & Fullers Slade (SBFS) are estimated to begin living in ill health before the age of 60. For some, this is up to seven years before reaching State Pension Age, with significant implications for employment, productivity and economic wellbeing. Women in SBFS are estimated to experience ill health 4.5 years earlier than the Milton Keynes average. Evidence shows that decreasing inactivity and increasing participation in regular physical activity can help prevent or delay the onset of many long-term health conditions, supporting people to live healthier, more independent lives for longer.
The 11 estates supported through MK PEP face additional barriers including concerns around safety, transport affordability, access to facilities, community infrastructure and opportunities for local people to influence decisions that affect their lives.
What happens next?
The next phase represents a shift from discovery to implementation while continuing to test, learn and adapt.
Over the next 18 months, MK PEP will:
- Strengthen system leadership across Milton Keynes and increase the influence of senior leaders in shaping policies, commissioning and investment decisions that help to tackle physical inactivity.
- Establish stronger links between communities and strategic decision-makers.
- Create new place-based partnership structures that give residents a greater role in shaping local priorities and solutions.
- Build the capacity and capability of voluntary organisations, local leaders and community champions.
- Support community-led action through a test, learn and grow approach.
- Increase collaboration and shared ownership across organisations working to reduce physical inactivity and wider inequalities.
- Embed evaluation and learning throughout the programme to ensure insight is used to continually improve practice and share learning across the system.
A partnership approach
MK PEP is not a programme owned by a single organisation. It is a long-term partnership bringing together residents, community organisations, Milton Keynes City Council, town and community councils, the NHS, charities, voluntary organisations and others around a shared ambition to reduce inequalities in physical activity.
The programme will continue to focus on the 11 estates identified through Sport England’s Place Need Classification methodology:
- Stacey Bushes
- Fullers Slade
- Greenleys
- Hodge Lea
- Kiln Farm
- Eaglestone
- Fishermead
- Springfield
- Coffee Hall
- Beanhill
- Netherfield
The work will also influence the wider systems, policies and environments that shape opportunities to be active across Milton Keynes.
Looking ahead
By March 2028, the partnership aims to demonstrate stronger collaboration across organisations, greater community influence in decision-making, improved leadership and capacity across the system, and more coordinated action to tackle physical inactivity. These changes are expected to create the foundations for longer-term improvements in activity levels, health and wellbeing, community connectedness, and reduced inequalities.
Thank you
This successful application reflects the commitment of partners, residents and communities across Milton Keynes who have helped shape the journey so far. Together, we have built a stronger understanding of the challenges facing local communities, developed new relationships across the system, and laid the foundations for long-term change.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you as we move into the next phase of MK PEP.
Mark Ormerod, Chair of MK PEP Board commented.
“We are very grateful for this further investment from Sport England. We see this as a huge vote of confidence in the commitment that communities and partners across Milton Keynes have shown over the last 15 months. Together, we’ve engaged more than 180 organisations, spoken to hundreds of residents and strengthened connections across the system. This next phase will help us build on that strong foundation, combining local insight with learning from Place Expansion Partnerships across England. That gives Milton Keynes a unique opportunity to benefit from a growing evidence base of what drives lasting change, helping us create healthier, more connected communities and reduce inequalities through increased physical activity.”
For more information on the investment and how the work is progressing visit: MK PEP
