Milton Keynes City Council have announced plans to expand local emotional wellbeing and mental health support for young people with a new service.
MK City Council said the implementation of the new service comes at a time when it is estimated that one-in-five young people (almost 13,000 people aged 8-25 years) in Milton Keynes have a diagnosable mental health condition.
Evidence shows that early help can reduce the need for more significant interventions later on, such as those provided by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
To make helpful, earlier action available to local families, Milton Keynes City Council and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) are funding the new MK Wellbeing Service for three years. Delivered by CHUMS, it’s for young people aged between 7 and 18, or up to 25 if the young person has care experience or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Help is available through telephone, virtual and in-person sessions. Up to 600 spaces per year will be funded in community-based emotional wellbeing and mental health programmes, and a further 150 spaces in talking therapy programmes.
The MK Wellbeing Service will boost what’s on offer in the city. Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) will continue to offer professionals and young people a wide range of support within schools, crisis and urgent care and elsewhere. Local families can also continue to access a range of support provided by the voluntary and community sector.
Councillor Donna Fuller, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health, Community and Housing, said, “We know there are thousands of local children and young people who could benefit from mental health support at an earlier stage. This new Wellbeing Service is easy to access for both young people and their parents and carers, which means help is there as soon as it’s needed. This has the potential to prevent the need for more serious interventions and reduce the demands on our local health services.”
Dawn Hewitt, Chief Executive of CHUMS, added, “We are delighted to launch the MK Wellbeing Service, marking a pivotal moment for the community. At CHUMS, we’re incredibly proud to see this service come to fruition, offering vital prevention and early support that empowers children and young people on their journey to positive mental health. We’re excited to begin delivery and thank our colleagues at Milton Keynes City Council and the Integrated Care Board for their support in enabling CHUMS to expand the reach of our services in the city.”
Striker Callum Hendry has left MK Dons after signing for Scottish outfit Motherwell.
The 27-year-old joins the Scottish Premiership side for an undisclosed fee, with Hendry signing a two year deal to move to Fir Park.
Hendry leaves after just over a year with the Dons, with the striker making 32 appearances and scoring six goals after joining the club from Salford City in 2024.
The move sees Hendry return to Scotland, with the striker having previously played for St Johnston, Brechin City, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
MK Dons thanked Hendry in a statement for his qualities on and off pitch in his time with the club.
They said, “His kindness, empathy, and fantastic sense of humour have made him a big part of the MK Dons family over the past year.
“Dons fans will remember Cal’s impressive performances at home to Carlisle and Walsall last season, as well as his tenacious, match-winning display away at Chesterfield.
“Hendry was also heavily involved with MK Dons off the pitch, taking time to chat with fans at games and in the city, interacting with supporters on social media, and spending time with those less fortunate, including regular visits to Milton Keynes University Hospital.
“Callum will always be a Don and is forever welcome at Stadium MK. Everyone at MK Dons would like to thank Cal for his efforts and wish him all the very best for his future with Motherwell!”
An arrest was made following an allegation of racist abuse during Saturday’s match between Bradford City and Luton Town.
Both clubs confirmed that alleged racist abuse was directed towards a Bradford player by a person in the Luton supporters section. The player has not been identified by either club.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed the news of the arrest and the nature of the allegation, which was in the form of a gesture by a supporter, with the police force confirming the arrest.
They said, “Shortly before half-time during today’s Bradford City v Luton Town match at the University of Bradford Stadium, Valley Parade, one of our officers identified a Luton Town supporter making racist gestures towards a Bradford City player.
“The 51-year-old man was removed from the ground and arrested on suspicion of behaving in a threatening, abusive or disorderly manner likely to cause harassment alarm or distress.”
Luton Town confirmed the news in a statement and stated they had a zero tolerance attitude towards racism.
The Hatters said, “We regret to report that we have been made aware of an allegation of racist abuse directed towards a Bradford City player during our game at Valley Parade on Saturday afternoon.
“West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that an individual in the away section was arrested.
“As a club we condemn racism and discrimination in all forms. This behaviour has no place in society and it has absolutely no place at Luton Town. Ever.
“We stand by any player who suffers at the hands of such abuse. It needs to stop. As a club we will now fully support the ongoing police investigation.”
In their own statement, Bradford said that they will also co-operate with the police investigation.
They said, “Bradford City AFC is aware of an allegation of racist abuse from an individual in the away section towards one of our players during today’s Sky Bet League One game against Luton Town.
“An arrest has been made by West Yorkshire Police, with the individual in question swiftly removed from the University of Bradford Stadium. We will fully cooperate with all ongoing police investigations.
“Bradford City AFC strongly condemns racism and discrimination in all forms. We have a zero tolerance policy to such, unacceptable behaviour.
“The club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Northampton Town remain without a win all competitions so far this season after a 2-0 loss at Stevenage.
Second half goals by Dan Kemp and Gassan Ahadme decided the game for a home side managed by one-time Cobblers striker Alex Revell, who are the only team in League One with a 100% record after the opening three games of the new season.
By contrast, Northampton are without a win so far in the nascent campaign, picking up one point from their opening three encounters.
After a slower start, Northampton had begun to create opportunities as the first half went on, with former Stevenage man Elliott List having a strike blocked at close range before home goalkeeper Filip Marschall denied Cameron McGeehan.
Midway through the second half, the game would see an opening goal. Phoenix Patterson’s free-kick was not fully dealt with and the ball eventually wound up with Jordan Houghton, who set up Kemp to score.
A second goal would wrap up the contest for the home side in the final ten minutes. Kemp released substitute Ahadme, who duly finessed a strike past Lee Burge to score on his Stevenage debut.
Ethan Wheatley hit the post late on, but it was another frustrating afternoon for the Cobblers as they slid to a second away defeat of the season.
The result leaves Northampton as one of 6 League One sides still yet to pick up a league win so far this campaign. They will be seeking to amend that from a pair of upcoming home games, with the Cobblers due to play Lincoln on Tuesday and Exeter next Saturday.
Luton Town’s unbeaten start in League One is over after a 2-1 defeat by Bradford City in West Yorkshire.
Stephen Humphrys and Bobby Pointon scored the goals that won the day for the Bantams, with Gideon Kodua’s first Luton goal proving insufficient to help them launch a comeback.
The result means defeat for Luton in their third game of the new league season, having previously begun with wins over AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough in their first two assignments.
An even start saw Luton have positive forward moments but Bradford had the two best chances, with Humphrys seeing one header narrowly bounce wide before he had a further strike denied by Luton keeper Josh Keeley.
Luton were forced into an early alteration as Millenic Alli was substituted when the wing-back on a yellow came very close to receiving a further caution, but the Hatters’ momentum was stilted and they ended up falling behind in the final ten minutes of the first half.
Curtis Tilt’s deflected pass ended up finding Antoni Sarcevic, who duly squared for Humphrys to finish.
Bradford then made it 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second half. Former Luton man Josh Neufville saw a cross find Pointon, whose header beat Keeley to double the Bantams’ advantage.
After struggling for a while to recover from that blow, Luton began to show more intent when Kal Naismith saw a free-kick denied by home goalkeeper Sam Walker before Jerry Yates narrowly failed to convert a cross.
The home side could’ve made it 3-0 moments later, only for Bradford sub Tyreik Wright to fire straight at Keeley when perfectly placed.
Luton would get on the scoreboard with 86 minutes on the clock when Kodua headed in from Cohen Bramall’s cross, with the effort being his first goal for the Hatters.
The best opportunity for an equaliser Luton created saw Lasse Nordas denied by Walker, but there was no way back for Matt Bloomfield’s outfit.
Bloomfield and his players will now seek to make amends in back-to-back home matches, with games against Wigan and Cardiff coming up this week.
