MyMiltonKeynes BID Drives Accessibility and Inclusion on Purple Tuesday 2025

My-Mk
4 days ago
2 min read

Milton Keynes City Centre will light up purple again tonight (Tuesday 4 November) to celebrate Purple Tuesday – the global movement that highlights the importance of improving the customer experience for disabled people.

Tall building lit with vibrant purple lights forming a large circle design. Dark night sky creates a dramatic contrast.

The illuminations, co-ordinated by MyMiltonKeynes BID, form part of the award-winning 'Our Purple City' project – the city’s collective effort to become the UK’s first truly Purple City, where accessibility and inclusion are built into every visitor experience.

Listening, learning and acting on feedback

This year, MyMiltonKeynes BID is focusing on listening to lived experiences and turning feedback into meaningful action.

A new Our Purple City Accessibility Survey has been launched, inviting residents, visitors and workers to share their views on how accessible Milton Keynes City Centre feels today and what improvements they would like to see.

Take part here: Our Purple City Accessibility Survey

Expanding the Milton Keynes Accessibility Guide

To build on its accessibility work, the BID has commissioned a new AccessAble assessment of the redesigned Station Square, which will be added to the Milton Keynes City Centre AccessAble Guide launched earlier this year.

The BID has also renewed its funding for Purple365 Accessibility Training for member businesses – an initiative designed to help staff across the city centre gain confidence and awareness in supporting all visitors throughout the year.

Supporting businesses to become more accessible

MyMiltonKeynes BID has written to levy-paying businesses to promote its Accessibility Grant, which covers up to 50% of the cost (up to £1,000) to help businesses produce their own AccessAble Venue Guides.

These individual venue guides sit within the main Milton Keynes City Centre AccessAble Guide, helping disabled visitors plan their visits with confidence and ease.

City partners leading the way

Woman in a purple shirt with a "Purple Tuesday" sash smiles, standing indoors. Another person in purple is in the background. — Kim Priest, centre:mk

Across the city centre, partners are embracing accessibility as a shared goal. Centre:mk has become the first UK shopping centre to deliver Unseen Aware training to 100% of its staff and retailers – a milestone in supporting people with unseen disabilities such as hearing loss, autism or mental health conditions. The centre has also enhanced its facilities with a sensory room, Changing Places toilet, free wheelchair and mobility scooter hire, mental health first aiders, and a sunflower lanyard scheme.

Meanwhile, MK Theatre continues to expand its accessible programming, delivering 16 accessible performances in the past year – including BSL-interpreted, audio-described, captioned and relaxed shows – while partnering with influencers to promote accessible theatre experiences.

The BID also continues to support the MK Umbrella Project, celebrating its legacy by encouraging businesses to sign the MK Neurodiversity Charter via https://mkumbrellaproject.org/

Four people in purple "Purple Tuesday" shirts smile outside a building with "Milton Keynes Business Improvement District" sign. — The MyMK team

Jill Farnsworth, Chief Executive of MyMiltonKeynes BID, said: “Our Purple City is a journey we’re all on together. Our role as the BID is to co-ordinate the great work already taking place by City Centre businesses and bring together a cohesive plan and roadmap for how to achieve our shared ambition.

The progress we make along this journey is just as important as reaching the end destination. We look forward to seeing the results of our new survey and working together on what else is achievable for Milton Keynes.”