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52 Phonebox Magazine | November 2025OLNEY UKRAINE AID NEWSBags of %u2018comfort and joy%u2019Residents from Olney, Newport Pagnell and surrounding villages have shown their generous support for the people of Ukraine over the last year or two. And now they are being asked to help again. Fundraiser Lynne King explains all.Olney community and surrounding villages %u2013 you are amazing! In the last 18 months you have helped me fi ll 600 comfort bags that have been prepared and made ready to go out to hospital patients, troops on the front line and, last Christmas, to disadvantaged children in war torn Ukraine. Once again HelpUkraineBAMK, based in Milton Keynes, are planning on not only taking out children%u2019s Christmas bags but this year personally delivering them. Do you remember Steve Senior? He%u2019s one of our volunteers, and he%u2019ll drive his van full of bags fi lled with %u2018comfort and joy%u2019 this December and then stay in Ukraine over the Christmas period. How can you help? You can fi ll a bag yourself or donate items, which I will use to make up completed bags. Details are on our poster, but please contact me if you would like more information: 07766 425523.Christmas Crafts for Ukraine fundraiserVolunteers, fundraisers, and friends helping to support the Ukraine charity eff ort have organised a Christmas Craft afternoon this month.Everyone is invited to join in on Saturday, 22nd November from 12pm-4pm at Olney Baptist Church. Lunch with homemade soup and bread will be available from midday, followed by the opportunity to choose from a selection of Christmas crafts suitable for all ages. Children and adults are welcome. There will be further treats to try as a selection of home baking will be brought out, while there%u2019s tea and coff ee on off er all afternoon. Arrive and leave at any time. There%u2019s no charge for individual crafts or refreshments, but attendees are asked to give a donation, which will be used to fund items for the children%u2019s Christmas bags and will help to support HelpUkraineBAMK.Let organiser Lynne know if you are planning to attend: 07766 425523, lynnepking@hotmail.co.ukFestival lights up Milton Keynes skylineNew lanterns and features as light show returns to cityHundreds of Milton Keynes families gathered at a special preview of this year%u2019s Land of Lights, which returns to the city for the fourth year running.Mayor James Lancaster officially opened the festive spectacle at Gulliver%u2019s Resort, Newlands, which this year features new lanterns covering 12 dreamworlds, including an array of incredible dinosaurs.%u00a0The one-mile trail showcases an array of amazing lanterns and displays, creating a wondrous, wild, and magical atmosphere suitable for all ages. There%u2019s also music, entertainment and street food with thousands of visitors expected for 2025.%u201cFor the fourth year running, we are so excited and proud to be bringing the Land of Lights festival back to Gulliver%u2019s resort in Milton Keynes,%u201d said Darren Hoy, festival manager.%u201cWe get such good feedback from our customers year after year who come to enjoy the lights and sparkle, and we know they won%u2019t be disappointed with what we have in store this time.%u201dLand of Lights runs until February 2026. More details: www.landofl ights.co.uk.