Contents

• Introduction
• Welcome to Milton Keynes!
• Fireworks and birthday cake
• The enigma of the cows
• Roundabouts
• Forty, four hundred or four thousand years?
• Beyond the enigma
• Sporting good fun
• And if you don't like sports
• Business
• Melting pot
• Forever changing - growth
• Not sure about a casino, but …
• A commuter city?
• Farmers and railway workers
• And then they came from all around
• Those who were born here
• What are we all looking for?
• I need a roof over my head
• Communities and society
• Respect
• Moving from A to B: redways
• Aspirations
• Pandora in a complex world of opportunities
• Welfare system
• Support - rights and responsibilities
• communication and joint working to succeed
• So who comes next?
• Middle child syndrome
• Perception
• So how successful are we?
• The political system
• The politicians - I think that they are actually human
• A quangoland
• Agencies
• Media
• What if God was one of us?
• Education
• The heart of Milton Keynes
• Soul town - a call to social consciousness
• decoding the media
• Who are the people in your neighbourhood - Common Purpose
• Influencing & participating with the media
• Have you ever been there? A moment of introspection
• Get out there or help someone else to do so - volunteering and sponsorship
• An orchestra of agencies
• Credit Union
• Our heritage
• Creative arts
• Do it yourself - Lakes youth
• Foot soldiers
• Business involvement -Rok - the nation's local builder
• One step further - long-term involvement
• 5 a day at the Lakes
• Leave your car at home
• Food banks
• A bit of extra care
• Social capitalism
• Landlord responsibility
• An urban Eden
• Supporting those offering support
• Mind the gaps I - increasing the viable options of future generations
• Mind the gap 2 - tapping into diversity
• Minding the gaps 3 - expectations
• Bridging the housing gap
• Conclusion - can do, will do?
• Useful resources
• About the author
• References