Document 6495580

Focus on Luton’s
children’s services
Park and ride to the
Love Luton Festival p7
Snap up
tickets to
Olympic
Flame
event p9
Lost and
found:
300 dogs
a year
p10
Lutonline
p14
Issue 127 June 2012
www.luton.gov.uk
Luton Borough Council’s newspaper for local people
Have your say!
In these increasingly
difficult economic times,
many households are
trying to survive by
making less money go
further. The Council
is facing the same
challenge.
By 2015/16, as a result of
Government cuts, we already know
we will have to operate with around
30 per cent less than we received in
2010/11.
It’s a huge task – and that’s why we
are launching a community debate
which urges all Luton residents to
have their say on the future of public
services in our town over the next
three years.
Called ‘Luton … Your Say’, the aim
is to get as many people as possible
talking about what can be done to
minimise the effects of the savings the
Council is going to have to make from
2013-16.
Of course, Luton Borough Council
has already made huge organisational
changes to become more efficient,
saving in excess of £35 million over
the last two years.
Now the task is getting even harder.
Our aim is to produce a provisional
balanced budget for 2013-16 by
November this year – and to do that
we must identify further savings of
around £28 million.
Cllr Robin Harris, Portfolio Holder
for finance, said: “These are savings
that the Council simply does not
want to make, but unfortunately the
inescapable reality is that we have to.
“The Government has made the
biggest cuts to public sector funding
seen in decades and Luton Borough
Council, like all public authorities, has
not been spared in that process.
“In the last two years we have saved
as much as we possibly can without
impacting on front-line services in
Luton, but now we face enormous
challenges to minimise the impacts of
future spending reductions.”
Over the coming months, your
elected councillors need to make
difficult decisions about your local
services.
They are currently considering
all reasonable options for making
savings, and looking at the full range
of services to see what ideas there may
be to reduce spending.
We will be talking to you about what
this might mean and what you might
want the Council to do to lessen the
impact of any reduced service.
Cllr Harris said: “It’s important to
stress that this is the beginning of a
difficult process and we have not made
any decisions yet.
“The Council does not want to
reduce or close services, and will
continue to save as much money as
possible by being more efficient and
cutting administration costs.
“But equally we recognise that we
have to be responsible, and must plan
properly to run the Council with the
money we are likely to have.
“This will inevitably mean reducing
or closing some services and possibly
charging more for others. We must
also begin to talk about building
community spirit and addressing how
everyone can work together to pull
through these tough times.
“Councillors themselves are council
tax payers and users of local services
and it is vitally important that they
understand how their decisions will
affect you, and hear your ideas about
what we can all do together to reduce
the impacts.”
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How to get involved
The Council is planning a range of
activities so everyone can give their
views. We will be visiting shopping
centres and groups in June and July.
You can also meet us at the following:
• Thu 7 June, 7.30pm, West Luton
Area Board, Barnfield West Academy
• Mon 11 June, 7.30pm, North Luton
Area Board, Warden Hill Junior School
• Wed 13 June, 7.30pm,
Central Area Board, St Matthew’s
Primary School
• Sat 16 June, 12-4pm, South Ward
Festival, Park Town Community &
Children’s Centre
• Sat 23 June, 12-4pm, Area North
Festival, Futures House
• Sun 24 June, 12-4pm, Dallow
Community Festival, Dallow
Learning Centre
• Mon 25 June, 7.30pm, South Area
Board, Dallow Primary School
• Wed 27 June, 10am-2pm, Picnic In
The Park, Wardown Park
• Sat 30 June, 10am-5pm, (Luton
Your Say 10am-2pm) Lewsey
Community Festival, Lewsey Park
• Thu 5 July, 7.30pm, East Luton Area
Board, Wenlock Junior School
• Sat 14 July, 10am-1pm, Tenants
Open Day, Town Hall
• Tue 17 July, 9.30am-9pm (Luton
Your Say 12-4pm), Leagrave Festival,
Leagrave Primary School
● You can also give your views by
emailing [email protected]
or calling 01582 547037, For
more see www.luton.gov.uk. More
detailed consultation will follow
later in the year.
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www.luton.gov.uk
2
Lutonline June 2012
Lutonline Keeping our community safe
The newspaper of
Luton Borough Council
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01582 54 74 02
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For information on all Council
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Stopping criminals committing crime
Police in Luton, running a
targeted operation aimed
at reducing the number of
robberies in the town and
making it a difficult place
for criminals to operate,
have made 35 arrests since
2 April.
The arrests took place during the
codenamed Operation Lutteur which
was launched at the beginning of the
month. It involved overt and covert
police tactics that enabled 12 arrests
for robbery, one for burglary, five for
vehicle crimes, six for drug offences,
two for shoplifting and two for metal
theft.
The operation has resulted in more
than 190 people being stopped and
spoken to, with a number of these
being searched.
Forty-five cars were also stopped
and searched, some of which were
seized under section 165 of the Road
Traffic Act.
The operation involved officers
from the local policing and response
teams, community support officers
and the special constabulary
together with the Bedfordshire and
Hertfordshire roads policing unit
and the automatic number plate
recognition and central tasking teams.
Chief Inspector Robert McCaffray,
who led the operation, said:
“Criminals in Luton need not think
this is the end of our proactive efforts
to prevent their offending and bring
them to justice, in fact this is just the
beginning.
“Other operations are currently
underway
and we will
use all our
available
tactics
including
plain clothes
patrols
in areas
where these
offences
take place
– creating a Chief Inspector Rob
‘ring of steel’
McCaffray
around the
town to protect the public.
“Offenders are warned that the
consequence of what they think is
a mugging is actually a robbery,
and stealing any items from anyone
and using force or the fear of force
whilst doing this will lead to a term of
imprisonment.”
How is the Council going to manage with less money?
Love parks?
Leader’s
column
Cllr Hazel Simmons
Keep fit and active for
free in your local park
Tell us what you think about
how local parks provide
opportunities to keep fit and
active by visiting
www.greenstat.org.uk
www.luton.gov.uk/parks
www.luton.gov.uk
Despite the
financial cutbacks
documented on
the front page
of this edition of
Lutonline, your
Council has a
clear, positive
and ambitious
vision for the borough.
The Luton we are looking ahead
to in 2016 is a town where businesses
are thriving and providing job
opportunities for local people.
It’s a ‘learning town’ where young
people make the most of their talents.
And it’s a ‘caring town’ which
offers a helping hand to older people,
children in need and the vulnerable,
including people with disabilities.
Over the coming months, in
planning its spending from 2013-16,
the Council will do its best to explain
its priorities simply and clearly.
We will also lay out the pressures
and challenges of caring for an
increasingly ageing population.
Councillors cannot fairly ask
you, our residents, to decide where
the savings should be made – that’s
our job. But we can, and will, ask
everyone to think about the options
before we make any decisions.
We do know we will have a lot
less money to enable us to meet
our ambitions. That’s why we are
carefully planning our spending now
and asking for everyone’s views.
My pledge is that Luton will remain
a town of equality, inclusion and
cohesion:
• Where all residents enjoy fair
access to goods, services,
employment and justice
• Where they are able to join in and
feel a part of the community
• And where all feel respected and
able to live in dignity and harmony
with others and the environment.
We want to stick to our principles.
We are not going to just sit here and
pass on the Government’s cuts.
Last year you told us that we should
give priority to vulnerable people, and
that’s something we will continue to
do.
● I write this nearly two weeks after
the most recent demonstrations in
our town centre and would like to
thank Bedfordshire Police, staff at the
Council and particularly everyone in
the community for coming together
and again facilitating a peaceful day
in Luton. From that point of view,
the events of 5 May can be seen as a
relative success.
Our decision to keep St George’s
Square free for residents to use
proved exactly right. The atmosphere
in Luton town centre was positive and
people were able to come into The
Mall and also Bury Park and do their
shopping and go about their normal
daily business if they wished.
It was however far from a normal
Saturday in Luton, and it is clear that
many people again did not choose to
come into the town centre.
It really is extremely disappointing
that the EDL decided to come to Luton
again so soon after their previous
protest in February last year. While I
have to respect the democratic right to
free speech, these events are a serious
burden to tax payers and businesses
at a time when it simply cannot be
afforded.
Initial reports I received from
businesses indicated that many
stores felt it had been worth opening
on the day, and I’d like to thank the
shops for their support. There is no
doubt however that trade was again
down on its normal levels. We are
already talking to businesses and the
community again to assess the full
impact.
Clearly, these events did not
represent the real Luton. Our town
remains a place where people get
along well, celebrate our diversity
and work together to overcome the
challenges that we do face.
I’m now looking forward to the Love
Luton 2012 Festival, with Carnival,
mela, top music concerts and the
arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay.
That’s when we can celebrate what
Luton is really about.
3
Lutonline June 2012
Inner ring road moves a step closer
The long-awaited
completion of Luton’s
inner ring road has
moved a step closer with
Government approval for
the compulsory purchase
orders required by the
Council.
The confirmation by Transport
Secretary Justine Greening follows a
three-day public inquiry into the £24
million Luton Town Centre Transport
Scheme, which will also deliver
associated transport improvements
on the north side of the town centre,
heard by The Planning Inspectorate at
the Strathmore Hotel in January.
Last month, independent inspector
Mr JI McPherson informed Ms
Greening that he accepted the
“compelling case” for a scheme which
is key to Luton’s future growth and
long-term economic prosperity.
Subject to final confirmation of
funding by the Department for
Transport, work which is expected to
take 18 months could now start by late
2013 with completion by early 2015.
Cllr Roy Davis, former Portfolio
Holder for Regeneration, said the
scheme could help attract a £1.5bn
investment package to Luton,
delivering around 11,000 new jobs and
up to 4,000 new homes.
He said: “Anyone who knows Luton
town centre will be familiar with its
congestion issues, particularly at
peak times. Not only will this scheme
provide additional vehicle capacity but
traffic modelling shows there will be a
significant reduction in that congestion
which will also make the town centre
more attractive for pedestrians and
cyclists.
“It delivers major benefits for Luton’s
retail sector and greatly improves
prospects for the delivery of major
regeneration, including the proposed
mixed-use developments at Power
Court and High Town Village and
extensions to The Mall shopping
centre. It could also help release muchneeded funding for the improvement of
Luton station.”
At the centre of the project is a new
two-way single-carriageway ‘Gateway
Link’ road which will run from the
junction of Hucklesby Way and Old
Bedford Road as far as a new signalcontrolled junction with Church Street
and Hitchin Road. This section of the
route runs between Midland Road and
the railway line and passes under the
station multi-storey car park.
The route then continues into
Crescent Road to another new
● An inner ring road for Luton was
started in the 1970s but only the
southern section was completed.
Hucklesby Way was then opened in
2003.
● In the same year, a study
recommended a further section of
road to complete the inner ring road,
a new bus/station interchange and
changes to the town centre traffic
management. The new interchange
signal-controlled junction with Crawley
Green Road, and from there the next
section will be made dual carriageway
as far as St Mary’s roundabout.
The scheme includes two new
bridges, to cross the mainline railway
and the Luton Dunstable Busway, and
also a shared cycle/pedestrian route.
A new access road will run from
Gillam Street to serve Midland Road
while Guildford Street will be closed to
through traffic to enable an improved
pedestrian connection between the
new railway-bus interchange and the
town centre via a proposed new public
square.
Cllr Davis added: “The scheme we
are promoting forms a fundamental
part of the integrated and
comprehensive regeneration of our
town.
“The Transport Secretary’s decision
is very welcome news. The Council has
been working hard for more than nine
years to get to this point where we can
buy the land we need and enter the
detailed design phase.”
is now being constructed as part
of the Luton Dunstable Busway
contract and is due to open in 2013.
● In December 2011 Luton Borough
Council received conditional
Department of Transport approval
for funding totalling £15.85m.
The balance of £8.15m will come
from third party contributions and
identified savings on land, design
and construction costs.
Bury Park Community Resource Centre gets a makeover
Local residents and businesses teamed
up with Council staff recently to give
the Bury Park Community Resource
Centre a makeover.
More than 30 people volunteered
their time for the ‘Spic & Span’ day
which revamped the ‘Maple’ and ‘Oak’
rooms of the centre, both used by a
number of local community groups.
The volunteers undertook a variety of
tasks including painting walls, skirting
boards and door frames, and washing
windows.
Various local businesses, including
Jewsons and AA Carpets, kindly
donated materials and equipment to
help with the clean-up.
Abid Hussain, from AA Carpets
which donated carpet to the centre,
said: “Bury Park is a very proud
community so we wanted to give
something back. This centre is at the
heart of the community and we are
pleased to have been able to help.”
Cllr Mohammed Ashraf, one of two
councillors who attended the event,
said: “It was so pleasing to see such a
Many hands make light work: team spirit at the Spic & Span day
diverse group of people from the local
Bury Park community give up their
own time to make improvements to
their much-loved centre.
“I walked in and saw people of all
ages and from a variety of different
ethnic backgrounds with paintbrushes
in hand, all enjoying themselves and
learning from each other. We hope to
have similar events in the town’s other
community centres in the coming
months.”
● Anyone interested in volunteering
for Luton Borough Council can
email [email protected]
News in Brief
Coronation Street
actress visits pupils
Lealands pupils meet Niky
Former Lealands High School student
Niky Wardley, who plays Jenny
Sumner in Coronation Street, visited
the school recently.
She was invited by students who
interviewed her as part of the BBC
news school report programme that
gives 11 to 16-year-olds the chance
to make their own reports for a real
audience.
Niky visited her old drama teacher
Delia Patterson who showed her
around the school’s fantastic new
performing arts suite which was
completed in February as part of its
£17m Building Schools for the Future
refurbishment project.
Headteacher John Burridge said:
“The performing arts are very strong
at Lealands, as is English, and so
this visit gave us the opportunity
to celebrate these two very high
performing aspects of the school.”
Family fun in
Raynham Way
The Council’s community development
service invited people from the
Raynham Way area to get into the spirit
of the London 2012 games at a free
family event.
The ‘Minilympic’ fun day on
Sunday 22 April offered a variety of
entertainment at the Raynham Way
Community Centre including egg and
spoon, sack and spacehopper races,
fairground rides, a bouncy castle,
bungee run and face painting plus
stalls, food and drink.
It also raised awareness of the many
exciting activities on offer at the centre.
Cllr Joan Bailey, Portfolio Holder for
community development, said: “This
was a great opportunity to meet likeminded families in the area and for the
kids to get into the spirit of this year’s
London 2012 Games.”
The Raynham Way Community
Centre is one of 12 community centres
across the town offering a range
of activities to all sections of the
community including sports, clubs,
dancing, faith groups, martial arts, a
pre-school, hall hire and more.
For more information call
01582 40 20 34.
www.luton.gov.uk
4
Lutonline June 2012
Celebrating the success of
the Luton Business Grants
Council contends for
two industry awards
Two Council-led projects
in Luton have been
identified as among the
best in the country after
being shortlisted in this
year’s Municipal Journal
Achievement Awards.
Winners all: at the Luton Business Grants awards
Luton is recognised as one of the top
towns in the country for business
growth. In the last two years 785 new
companies have set up across the
borough.
During this time the Council
has been providing small grants
to encourage and support start-up
businesses. Over 80 firms have been
supported through the help of local
partner Wenta, with 73 new businesses
created.
More than 50 people attended the
recent Luton Business Grant Initiative
awards to celebrate the success of
business start-up grants.
Former Mayor of Luton Cllr Don
Worlding presented awards to those
companies successful in attaining
funding to recognise their success and
impact on the economy.
Gavin O’Brien, from Clearhead
Media, provided tips and advice on
continuing to grow a business with an
in-depth insight into how his company
benefited from support, its planned
growth and how it has now started to
employ more people.
Cllr Roy Davis, Portfolio Holder for
regeneration, said: “We’ve always said
that Luton is a great town. It’s great to
see that our secret is out with so many
successful local businesses really
taking off.”
The annual event recognises and
celebrates the best local authority
services in the UK.
Luton has been shortlisted in the
‘Public Protection’ category for its
work with local food businesses in
Bury Park and in the ‘Community
Investor of the Year’ category for its
New Homes for Luton initiative.
Working with the Local Better
Regulation Office, Luton Council
introduced a pilot project which
aimed to promote the Council as a
source of assured advice to small
food businesses in Bury Park, and in
doing so improve safety and consumer
standards and the environment in
general.
Over 12 weeks, working closely
with the Council’s Economic
Development team, officers
visited businesses to offer advice,
develop tailored training and build
relationships with shop owners. In
doing this, they were able to improve
awareness about the requirements of
local businesses and dispel the myth
that the role of the Council was only
that of an ‘enforcer’.
Following the project, an
independent research company found
that, of the businesses that took part in
the project, 75 per cent said that their
working behaviour had changed for
the better due to the initiative.
Cllr Mohammed Ashraf, Portfolio
Holder for environmental health, said:
“Six out of ten businesses who took
part said that the changes they had
made thanks to the project had helped
bring in more customers, while over
90 per cent now understood what was
required of them in order to comply
with regulations as a result of the
pilot.”
The project has now been extended
to cover another group of food
businesses in the town.
Luton’s nomination in the
‘Community Investor of the Year’
category comes for an initiative that
has delivered over 150 much-needed
new homes in the town, with another
200 expected this year.
New Homes for Luton is a project
which came about as a result of
the increasing need for housing in
Luton coupled with a lack of access
to Government funding to build new
properties.
The Council works alongside the
Luton Learning and Community
Partnership, Catalyst Housing Group
and Wates Living Space to identify and
develop sites which are suitable for
social housing.
Cllr Tom Shaw, Portfolio Holder
for Housing, said: “Since the project
began in January 2011, 152 new
homes have been delivered, with ten
per cent of those specifically designed
for families with special needs.
“As well as addressing the shortage
of affordable homes in Luton,
the programme is making a big
contribution to the local economy
by creating jobs and training
opportunities.”
Luton will find out whether its
nominations have been successful at
a ceremony in London on 21 June,
presented by BBC’s Political Editor,
Nick Robinson.
VIP guests at Lealands sports festival
Lealands High School’s unique
inclusive sports festival attracted two
very special visitors on 2 May.
In attendance were Chris
Rattenbury, the power lifter who hopes
to qualify for the 2012 Paralympic
Games, and swimmer Fran Richardson
from Sky Sports. Mr Rattenbury was
representing Wheelpower, the national
charity for wheelchair sports.
Lealands is a member of the Get
Set network, a special community
of schools and colleges which are
demonstrating a commitment to the
Olympic and the Paralympic values
and using the London 2012 Games to
inspire learners of all ages.
The school successfully secured a
£4,000 grant from the ‘PlanYour2012’
group – the educational arm of the
London Organising Committee of the
Olympic Games (LOCOG) – a large
www.luton.gov.uk
Pupils and visitors at Lealands’ festival
proportion of which was used to buy
inclusive sports equipment.
Lealands’ local feeder schools
including Cheynes Infants, Leagrave
Primary, Pirton Hill Primary and
Sundon Park Juniors each sent a team
of Year 5 pupils to join in activities
such as goalball, teeball, boccia,
curling and blind football.
Students from The Orchard assisted
in the running of the festival.
5
Lutonline June 2012
Pupils praised for anti-bullying work Music to
Luton’s ears
The Council’s music service
has successfully secured
£1.6million Arts Council
England (ACE) funding
for the next three years
to create a new music
education hub in the town.
Luton Music Service will be the lead
organisation in the hub which from
September will work with a variety of
partners to ensure every child has the
chance to experience a high quality
music education.
Other organisations already signed
up include Luton Culture, UK Centre
for Carnival Arts, E-Learning@Luton,
Greenbank Music Village, Luton Sixth
Form College and Luton schools as
well as several regional and national
partners.
The hub will deliver a wideranging programme including whole
class, small group and individual
instrumental and vocal lessons,
numerous out-of-school activities and
workshops, and training for schoolbased staff.
Sacred Heart pupils giving their presentation
Sacred Heart Primary
pupils earned a raft of
praise from celebrities
recently for the work
they have done to prevent
bullying in the school.
Four pupils, who serve as antibullying ambassadors, were chosen
to attend an event at Google
headquarters in London.
The event was organised by the
Diana Award – a charity set up in 1999
to reward young people who work to
build a better society.
At the event, the schoolchildren
gave a short presentation to an
audience of 160 people, which
included Britain’s Got Talent finalists
Twist and Pulse, Jodie Marsh, actors
Joe Swash and Will Poulter, and Nick
Gibb MP, the schools minister.
The pupils spoke about some of the
schemes introduced by the school’s
anti-bullying committee, run entirely
by students to support their peers.
These include regular events such
as compliment days which promote
friendship in the school and reward
pupils with good attitudes.
For its hard work, Sacred Heart
earned the prestigious ‘Diana AntiBullying Award’ earlier this year.
Headteacher Joan Cullen said:
“Being part of the anti-bullying
ambassadors programme has really
inspired and encouraged the children.
The training that they have received
and have continued to access has been
invaluable.”
Josiah Ankohma, a Year Five
student, added: “I really enjoy being
an anti-bullying ambassador and
helping change someone’s life for the
better. Being part of the anti-bullying
showcase at Google was amazing.”
● For more information about
the Diana Award, visit
www.diana-award.org.uk
Signals switched off at town roundabout
The Council is seeking views from road
users and pedestrians after switching off
the traffic signals at a Luton roundabout
in order to improve vehicle flows.
The change at the roundabout serving
Dunstable Road, Chaul End Lane and
Oakley Road was made in November
after a survey established that traffic
flows could be improved during off-peak
periods if the signals were turned off.
A two-week video survey, which was
conducted immediately following the
switchover and also included traffic and
pedestrian counts during peak hours,
confirmed the findings.
Now the Council is recommending that
the signals and associated pedestrian
facilities at the roundabout are removed
on a permanent basis, and it is intended
to carry out this work during the summer.
Cllr Dave Taylor, Portfolio Holder
for Highways, said: “The signals have
been turned off and bagged up, and
initial observations show significant
improvements to the flow of traffic,
especially during off-peak times.
“This has been reinforced by public
feedback requesting the lights stay off
and bus operators commenting on how
the roundabout works better.”
● Members of the public who wish to
have their say are asked to email
[email protected] or write
to us at Highway Services, Town
Hall, Luton, LU1 2BQ. Comments
must be received by 29 June.
Cllr Tahir Khan, former Executive
Member with responsibility for
children’s services, said: “This
means children, irrespective of
their background, will be given
more opportunities to learn to play
instruments and to learn to sing.”
The hub has been created as part
of the Government’s new national
plan for music education, to ensure all
pupils have rich cultural opportunities
alongside their academic and
vocational studies.
Every child aged from five to 18
years is to be offered the chance to
learn a musical instrument through
weekly whole-class teaching for at
least one term. Other key roles are
to enable children to make music in
groups, to ensure progress is delivered
and affordable, and to develop a
strategy that ensures every pupil sings
regularly and that choirs and other
vocal ensembles are available in the
area.
The hub will provide an instrument
loan service, with discounts or free
provision for those on low incomes,
and access to large scale and high
quality music experiences for pupils,
working with professional musicians
and venues.
Luton will become part of a network
of 122 music education hubs across
the country, funded, advised and
monitored by Arts Council England
on behalf of the Department for
Education.
● For more information visit
www.luton.gov.uk/music
www.luton.gov.uk
6
Lutonline June 2012
Live at Popes Meadow
6 & 7 July 2012
Friday 6 July
Saturday 7 July
+ Lawson + Aisling O’Reilly
+ Bradley Johnson + SW Storm
+ Skepta + Sway + Mz Bratt
+ Lady Leshurr + Voices with Soul
The Wanted
Olly Murs
Family, student and weekend
saver tickets still available
www.luton.gov.uk/2012festival
Like ‘Love Luton
2012 Festival’ on
Sponsored By
www.luton.gov.uk
Follow @lutoncouncil
and use #lutonfestival
7
Lutonline June 2012
Park and ride to the Love Luton 2012 Festival!
With full sets
from Olly Murs
and The Wanted,
the Love Luton
2012 Festival
is set to be the
highlight of the
summer in town
– and now you
can get there by
park and ride too!
The Council will be
operating a special park
and ride service to the
festival from Stockwood
Park and Barnfield
College (New Bedford
Road campus) from 6-9 July
The shuttle buses will run from
4.30pm until midnight on Friday 6
July, and from 11am until midnight
on both Saturday and Sunday, 7 and
8 July.
Park and ride will be charged at
£5 per day for each car. Charges are
payable upon entry to the car park.
Special weekend saver, family and
student tickets are still available for
the festival’s evening performances at
Popes Meadow (see panel, right). The
festival also features a kaleidoscope
of daytime events including mela,
comedy, dance and school games.
On Sunday 8 July the Luton
International Carnival will be
followed by the arrival of the Olympic
Torch Relay and a free ticketed
celebration event in Pope’s Meadow
(see page 8).
Leader of the Council Hazel
Simmons said: “We are keen for as
many local people as possible to be
able to attend this once-in-a-lifetime
event for Luton at the best possible
prices.
“The interest has been phenomenal
The Wanted
and the festival has sold tickets to
music fans as far afield as the USA,
Canada, France, Poland and Saudi
Arabia. My advice is to book your
tickets now to avoid disappointment.”
The University of Bedfordshire is
platinum sponsor, while Heart FM,
Motorbodies, The Mall and Walls are
gold sponsors, and Noble Solicitors
are legal sponsors.
For up-to-the-minute information
about the festival follow @lutoncouncil
on Twitter using the hashtag
#LutonFestival and like ‘Love Luton
2012 Festival’ on Facebook.
● From 1 July onwards park and ride
tickets can only be purchased either
directly from the Visitor Information
Centre or on the day at each of the
two sites.
Get your tickets now!
Weekend saver tickets enable
music fans to attend both
evening performances by The
Wanted and Olly Murs on Friday
6 July and Saturday 7 July at
a discounted rate, instead of
buying separate tickets.
A weekend single ticket costs just
£59 which offers a saving of £13.50. A
weekend family ticket (for four people
– either one adult and three under 16s,
or two adults and two under 16s) costs
£199, a saving of £91.
It’s a diamond celebration!
Luton is holding a right royal event to
mark 60 years on the throne for Her
Majesty The Queen.
The Love Luton Diamond Jubilee
celebrations will take place on Sunday
3 June in St George’s Square from
11am until 5pm.
The Luton Cultural Food Festival
will be part of the event, with many
local restaurants and food producers
New manager to Inspire visitors to world-class sports village
Luton’s £26 million leisure centre, Inspire
Luton Sports Village, has appointed a
new general manager.
Dan Palframan is a keen sportsman
with 15 years’ experience in the leisure
industry, and is determined to encourage
athletes and the local community to take
advantage of the centre’s outstanding
facilities.
He said: “My goal is to help create and
run a world-class facility that Lutonians
will be proud of while developing sports
and leisure activities to benefit our
users. I’m really looking forward to the
challenge.”
Inspire will house a 100-station
gym fitted with the latest equipment, a
spinning room, dance studio and multipurpose activity room, providing over 80
classes each week.
Dan added: “There are also activities
designed specifically for the under-fives
and for our mature users, there will be
something for everyone.”
Inspire will boast some of the best
aquatic facilities in the country, including
a 50m eight-lane main pool, 10m diving
board plus 20m, five-lane community pool
with moveable floor.
The centre will also have an eight-court
sports hall to accommodate a variety of
activities, plus crèche services.
A variety of sports events have
already been provisionally booked at
Inspire, including national and regional
competitions. Dan is working with
Beds ASA to host next year’s county
championships.
Cllr Hazel Simmons, Leader of the
Council, said: “By having world-class
The Council is also continuing its
early bird offer, with single tickets for
Olly Murs, Skepta, Sway, Mz Bratt,
Lady Leshurr and Voices with Soul
on Saturday 7 July currently priced at
£32.50.
For the time being, entry to the
performance on Friday 6 July featuring
The Wanted, Bradley Johnson, Lawson
and SW Storm costs £30.
A 10 per cent student discount
remains valid, and all tickets can be
purchased from www.luton.gov.uk/
2012festival
facilities available at affordable prices,
we hope people of all ages will be
inspired to get fit and healthy. When the
centre opens in August I can guarantee
Lutonians will agree it was worth the
wait!
“We are also looking forward to
welcoming the Paralympic Flame to
Inspire on Monday 27 August.”
The centre’s ‘dry’ facilities will be open
to the public from Monday 20 August
at 2pm, with the ‘wet side’ – swimming
pools – being available from 6am on
Friday, 24 August.
The Inspire café, offering a variety of
healthy affordable foods, will be open
to everyone from 24 August. The sports
village will also be able to accommodate
business meetings or parties via a
licensed function room.
coming along to give a flavour of the
excellent and diverse food that is on
offer in the town.
Local chefs will be showing how
to cook their top dishes, so look
out for some free tasters and great
promotional offers!
Entertainment comes in the form
of live music and dance featuring a
showcase of local talent.
With a variety of games and stalls,
the day is also part of the national ‘Big
Lunch’ that is being held across the
country.
Chairs and tables will be provided
in the square, so come along, enjoy the
food on offer or bring a picnic and be
part of Luton’s own giant street party.
Linsey Frostick, chair of the Love
Luton working group, said: “This is a
great opportunity for Luton to come
together and celebrate this milestone
in our recent history. It also allows us
to promote our local businesses and
talent and help Luton’s economy to
continue to thrive and prosper.”
● For more information contact
Michele Smith by email to
[email protected], call
01582 546265 or visit
www.loveluton.org.uk
The event is funded by private
sector businesses supporting the
Love Luton campaign.
www.luton.gov.uk
8
Lutonline June 2012
Tickets available for Olympic Flame celebration
The Council has announced details of
how and when it will be distributing
tickets for Luton’s free Olympic Flame
celebration event in July.
Luton is one of 66 locations hosting
an evening celebration for the torch,
which will bring thousands of people
together for a chance to share in the
Olympic spirit.
At the event, the London 2012
Organising Committee of the Olympic
and Paralympic Games (LOCOG)
will stage exciting entertainment as
part of the Love Luton 2012 Festival
weekend which runs from 6-9 July.
The event takes place at Popes
Meadow on the evening of Sunday 8
July. Gates open from 4pm.
For two weeks between Saturday 26
May and Friday 8 June the Love Luton
2012 Festival team will be taking a
roadshow to various locations across
the town where they will be giving
out tickets on a first come, first served
basis. An even number of tickets will
be made available at each event.
Tickets are only available at the
official roadshow events, with a
maximum of two tickets per person
allowed. An adult must be present
to complete a form and collect the
tickets.
Cllr Hazel Simmons, Leader of
Luton Borough Council, said: “It is
safe to say that the Olympic Torch is
Get your tickets at these roadshows:
Saturday 26 May
1-5pm – Saints Community Centre,
Solway Road North, LU3 1TU
Monday 28 May
9am-1pm – Lewsey Community Centre
(reception), Landrace Road, LU4 0SW
2-6pm – Hockwell Ring Community
Centre (café), Mayne Avenue, LU4 9LB
Tuesday 29 May
9am-1pm – Marsh Farm Library, Lea
Manor High School, Northwell Drive,
LU3 3TL
2-6pm – Bushmead Community Centre
(reception), Hancock Drive, LU2 7SF
Wednesday 30 May
The Torch is coming: from Ancient
Olympia, Greece
unlikely to come to Luton again within
any of our lifetimes.
“We know demand will be high so
we have set up the roadshow that goes
to all corners of Luton as this will
give residents an equal opportunity of
securing tickets.
“LOCOG has not yet officially
announced the line-up or the finer
details of the evening. I think this just
adds to the excitement of the evening.
“This amazing spectacle will be
such a fitting finale to the Love Luton
2012 Festival.”
Don’t just
be a face in
the crowd...
...be a VOICE
9am-1pm – Raynham Way Community
Centre (reception), 66 Eaton Green Road,
LU2 9JE
2-6pm – Stopsley Library, Hitchin Road,
LU2 7UG (opposite St Thomas’s church)
Thursday 31 May
9am-1pm – Park Town Community
Centre, Bailey Street, LU1 3DU
2-6pm – Raynham Way Community
Centre (reception), 66 Eaton Green Road,
LU2 9JE
Friday 1 June
9am-1pm – Hockwell Ring Community
Centre (café), Mayne Avenue, LU4 9LB
2-5pm – Chaul End Community Centre
(café), 515 Dunstable Road, LU4 8QN
Saturday 2 June
10am-1pm – Visitor Information Centre,
Central Library, St George’s Square,
Luton town centre
Sunday 3 June
11.30am-4.30pm – St George’s Square,
Luton town centre
Monday 4 June
11am-4.30pm – Stockwood Discovery
Centre, London Road, LU1 4LX
Wednesday 6 June
1.30-6pm – Bury Park Community
Centre (front office), 161-161B Dunstable
Road, LU1 1BW
Thursday 7 June
9am-1pm – Farley Community Centre
(front reception), Delphine Close,
LU1 5RE
2-6pm – Lewsey Community Centre
(reception) Landrace Road, LU4 0SW
Friday 8 June
9am-1pm – Leagrave Library, Marsh
Road, LU3 2NL (next to the British
Legion)
1-4pm – Wigmore Library, Wigmore
Lane, LU2 8DJ (near Asda)
● For more information about the
Olympic Flame event and the rest
of the Love Luton 2012 Festival, go
to www.luton.gov.uk/2012festival
West Luton Area Board
South Luton Area Board
(Old Halyard High School)
Dallow Road, Luton, LU1 1LZ
Challney, Leagrave & Lewsey
Thursday 7th June 2012
6.00pm Ward Meetings
7.30pm Area Board
Barnfield West Academy
Leagrave High Street, Luton, LU4 0NE
North Luton Area Board
Bramingham, Icknield, Limbury,
Northwell & Sundon Park
Monday 11th June 2012
6.00pm Ward Meetings
7.30pm Area Board
Warden Hill Junior School
Birdsfoot Lane, Luton, LU3 2DN
Dallow, Farley & South
Monday 25th June 2012
6.00pm Ward Meetings
7.30pm Area Board
Dallow Primary School
East Luton Area Board
Crawley, Round Green,
Stopsley & Wigmore
Thursday 5th July 2012
6.30pm Ward Meetings
7.30pm Area Board
Wenlock Junior School
Beaconsfield, Luton, LU2 0RW
Central Luton Area Board
Barnfield, Biscot,
High Town & Saints
Wednesday 13th June 2012
6.00pm to 7.30pm Ward Meetings
7.30pm to 9.00pm Area Board
St. Matthew’s Primary School
Wenlock Street, Luton, LU2 0NJ
Area Boards are designed to give you a
voice in your neighbourhood. And a say
in how things are run.
www.luton.gov.uk/areacommittees
www.luton.gov.uk/wardforums
www.luton.gov.uk/areatours
www.luton.gov.uk/areacommittees
www.luton.gov.uk
For further information contact
Gary J Roberts
Area Boards Support Officer
Town Hall, Luton, LU1 2BQ
Telephone: 01582 54 69 85
Fax: 01582 54 63 69
Email: [email protected] or
[email protected]
If you require transport,
phone Gary Roberts on
54 69 85.
Transport suitable
for people
with disabilities.
9
Lutonline June 2012
The Cultural Olympiad comes to Luton!
Cultural events taking
place in Luton this
summer as part of the
London 2012 Festival
have been confirmed by
the London Organising
Committee of the Olympic
and Paralympic Games
(LOCOG).
The London 2012 Festival, which
runs from 21 June to 9 September,
represents the finale of the Cultural
Olympiad, with more than 1,000 free
events and ten million opportunities
to take part across the country.
Ruth Mackenzie, director of the
London 2012 Festival and Cultural
Olympiad, said: “With new work from
the best musicians, comics, artists,
film makers and more, there will be
arts events taking place in unusual
places that will showcase the East of
England when the eyes of the world
are on us this summer.
“The East of England will have
many free events to attend as part of
the London 2012 Festival and provide
a chance for people across the region
to join in with the London 2012 Games
and be inspired by great talent.”
Events taking place in Luton are:
• Friday to Monday 6-9 July: The
Love Luton 2012 Festival includes
a breathtaking carnival procession
and South Asian mela along with
circus, food and comedy plus
evening concerts featuring Olly
Murs and The Wanted. Admission
is free to some elements, others are
ticketed.
• Saturday 7 July – The Big Dance
Stage at Love Luton 2012 Festival:
the stage in Luton town centre
will feature performances by local
groups, including both independent
and school troupes as well as
professional acts who will also give
workshops to get the crowd moving.
• Sunday 8 July – London 2012
Olympic Torch Relay: the Olympic
Torch comes to Luton as part of
the Love Luton 2012 Festival,
culminating in an evening
celebration. Crowds are invited
to line the route. The evening
celebration at Popes Meadow will
be free but ticketed. Find out more
on page 8.
• Sunday 8 July – Carnival
Crossroads East Bound: this
carnival extravaganza connects five
communities to form a 500-strong
carnival band which will perform
at Luton International Carnival as
part of the Love Luton 2012 Festival
in Luton town centre.
The parade will tell historic tales
from Norwich, Ipswich, Southend,
Cambridge and Luton, showcasing
the heritage of the Eastern region
through carnival arts. Admission is
Picture showing the scale of the 10m-high Godiva currently under
construction
free, find out more at
www.carnivalarts.org.uk
• 16 May until 1 June & 2-24
August: Carnival Crossroads East
Bound Exhibition: this display at
the UK Centre for Carnival Arts
in Luton takes a look at how the
Carnival Crossroads East Bound
project has evolved, featuring
visuals of the work created, film
footage and interviews with artists
discussing the carnival production
process from inception to creation.
Admission is free, find out more at
www.carnivalarts.org.uk
• Wednesday 11 July – The
Bedfordshire Big Dance Schools
Jam: the East of England Schools
Dance Jam 2012 is a fantastic
opportunity to celebrate the dance
which happens in schools and
youth groups across the region,
giving young people the chance
to showcase their talent to a wide
audience in a professional setting
at the University of Bedfordshire
Theatre. Make sure your school
is part of the fun! Admission is
ticketed, find out more at
www.beds.ac.uk
Urbanism, who will be performing as part of
the Big Dance in Luton
• Thursday 12 July – The Big Dance
East Tour: The Demon Barbers
bring the UK’s number one folk and
hip-hop dance extravaganza ‘Time
Gentlemen Please!’ to Luton Library
Theatre. Some of the UK’s oldest
dance forms are brought bang up to
date as they collide with some of the
youngest in a fast-paced, new and
innovative show bringing together
top folk, clog, sword and Morris
dancers with their counterparts
from the worlds of B-boying,
popping, krump and beatbox.
Admission is ticketed, find out more
at www.lutonlibrarytheatre.com
• Thursday 2 August – Godiva
Awakes, Artists Taking The Lead:
the ten-metre high, cycle-powered
Lady Godiva comes to St George’s
Square in Luton on its journey
across the region from Coventry to
London, featuring a procession and
evening celebration. Admission is
free, find out more at
www.imagineerproductions.co.uk
• 3 July until 9 September – Around
The World In Eighty Objects:
with more than 100 different
recognised languages spoken in
Luton, mirroring the 100 or more
countries competing in the 2012
London Olympic and Paralympic
Games, this exhibition at Wardown
Park Museum and Stockwood
Discovery Centre will showcase
Luton’s collections as world based.
The exhibition celebrates Luton’s
diversity through contemporary
collecting and reaches out to
visiting nations to share their
stories. Admission is free,
find out more at
www.wardownparkmuseum.com
Liz Hughes, creative programmer
for the East of England, said: “Our
programme combines both local and
global themes, celebrates our heritage
and international connections, and
offer something for everyone. The
programme is a testament to the
creativity and diversity of the creative
sector in the East.”
Principal funders are Arts Council
England, Legacy Trust UK, the
Olympic Lottery Distributor and
premier partners BT and BP.
● To receive more information about
the London 2012 Festival sign up at
www.london2012.com/festival
Creative Luton’s new and shiny vision
Growing the local business economy
is good for everyone. So the Council
is working closely with the University
of Bedfordshire to bring together
like-minded businesses in the creative
and ICT sectors to encourage greater
communication, cross-working and
success.
A recent Creative Luton event at the
university urged freelancers, agencies
and businesses to come along and
find out what support, resources and
facilities are available.
Attendees also discovered how
Luton is developing as a hub for
creative businesses and how they can
help identify priorities for the sector.
Cllr Roy Davis, former Portfolio
Holder for Regeneration, said: “Local
businesses say they find it difficult to
find the right skills and are unaware
of the types of skills University of
Bedfordshire graduates offer.
“We have a new and shiny vision:
we want to help businesses create a
strong partnership with the university
to take on skilled graduates, work on
research projects and help businesses
access the university’s facilities.”
Les Ebdon, Vice Chancellor of
the University of Bedfordshire, said:
“We are working on developing a
virtual platform called the Creative
Quarter – a business-led website to
promote Luton’s creative industries,
allowing them to write fresh blogs
and advertise jobs, contracts and
freelancing opportunities.”
● To learn more or get involved,
please contact Sayma.khanom@
luton.gov.uk
www.luton.gov.uk
10
Lutonline June 2012
Protecting Luton’s child
Luton is delivering one of the best
children’s services in the Eastern
region, as confirmed recently by
government inspectors Ofsted and
the Care Quality Commission.
Inspectors assessed the overall
effectiveness of services in the town
to safeguard and protect children as
‘good’.
Cllr Tahir Khan, former Executive
Member with responsibility
for children’s services, said:
“Safeguarding children and young
people is a top priority for the
Council, that’s why despite the
challenging financial environment we
have made a decision to make no
reductions in front-line safeguarding
services.
“Services required by children
and young people cut across
many different agencies and need
excellent partnership working with
all our partners from schools, the
NHS, youth offending service and
the Luton Safeguarding Children
Board. We are pleased inspectors
recognised our strong partnership
working at both strategic and
operational levels. It also needs
effective leadership, which the
inspectors acknowledged is being
provided by our Director of Children
and Learning, Martin Pratt.”
Lutonline spoke to social workers
to examine how they carry out their
role to protect Luton’s children and
young people.
‘Drop everything’ if a child is at risk
What do you get
if you combine a
counsellor, mediator,
parent, confidant
and investigator?
Answer, a social worker.
These front-line staff have
to wear many hats to carry
out their role effectively,
from counselling young
people to mediating between
parents to playing detective
to research the background Happy family: but it’s not always like this
details of a child who is up
night to help a family in need.
for adoption.
On many occasions families don’t
It’s tough being a social worker,
want social workers to intervene even
especially working within children’s
when they desperately need help.
services where no two days are the
The stigma of them taking children
same. Christine, a social worker for 11
away from parents is still a great fear.
years, explains: “I train social worker
However the reality is a lot of evidence
students describing my role as a circus
must be collated and presented to
act with lots of plates spinning on
the courts before a judge will even
sticks, new plates constantly being
contemplate removing a child.
added and having to keep the old
One of Christine’s many tasks is
plates spinning. Letting one plate fall
finding permanent homes for children
could be fatal.”
in council care. Creating a ‘life story’
By this she means the many cases
book for a child placed for adoption
she has to manage which vary from
gives her most pleasure.
supporting a pregnant teenager
Christine says: “It’s my role to find
to responding to child protection
out as much as I can about a child’s
issues. Safeguarding children always
background – where are their birth
takes priority, so if a call comes in
parents from? When did they first
regarding a child at risk this must
learn to smile, crawl, walk, speak?
be immediately investigated and
I try to get photos of the parents
whatever is planned for the day goes
and any siblings and drawings the
out of the window.
child may have done at an early age.
Demands on a social worker are
It’s vital children know where they
great: continually working under
come from and it’s important the
stressful conditions with changing
prospective adopter is willing to share
priorities or having to be flexible;
this information with the child.”
dropping everything to rush to help a
Having a good support network
child in crisis; or working through the
is crucial: team members have an
overview of each other’s cases so
can respond to enquiries and share
frustrations, concerns or advise one
another. Having a good sense of
humour helps to break the tensions
that inevitably arise throughout the
day.
Getting families to think
outside the box is one of the ways
Christine supports them. “Our role
is to encourage them to think for
themselves. It’s not just down to me
to come up with all the answers, they
need to solve their own problems,” she
says.
It’s not always easy to offer support,
especially if the family is unwilling
to engage with social workers. “You
just keep at them. You call them, try
to arrange visits and try to be as open
as possible with them. Working with
other agencies such as health and
schools also helps get some of the
information you need. At the end of
the day we are not here to be liked,
we’re here to do a job – but we are
human,” says Christine.
So how does Christine, and the
many social workers like her, keep
going?
“I supported a child who became
pregnant at 14 years. A few years later
she was married with another child.
I was outside Luton and saw her with
her children and husband. He came up
to me, shook my hand and thanked me
for the help I had given her.
“It’s nice to know I have made a real
difference. I find it very rewarding
to play a part in enabling parents to
be strong and more resilient. You
certainly don’t get bored, every day
there’s always a challenge.”
Newly-qualified social worker’s perspective
Children are our number one priority
www.luton.gov.uk
Charlie qualified last January after
working in a residential social work
setting. She has found it tough but
is motivated by her passion to help
children.
She is currently supporting
20 children. Charlie says: “The
bureaucracy and paperwork is
overwhelming sometimes. Some days
you simply do not have enough time to
do as much direct work with families
as you would like to do.”
In addition to a degree, social
workers require many qualities
and skills such as being persuasive,
confident, good listeners, strong-willed
and determined. Having support on
and off the job, especially when you
are new in your role, is essential.
For 12 months after qualifying, new
recruits in Luton participate in the
newly qualified social work scheme
which involves going to university
once a month, attending workshops
and peer discussions.
Charlie’s typical day could involve
visiting a child with a protection
plan in place to monitor their safety,
then having meetings with other
professionals to share information, as
well as counselling parents, advising
foster carers on how to deal with a
particular behavioural problem or
chatting to a young person, plus lots of
telephone calls and paperwork.
“This job is more difficult than
I ever imagined. You need to be
prepared for everything. You need
to be passionate, and you have
to really care about the children,
young people and families you are
supporting,” says Charlie.
Attending court is a serious role a
social worker must undertake. Their
information could determine whether
a child is removed from their parents.
Charlie says: “Giving evidence in
court can be nerve-wracking and
sometimes when you are being cross
examined you can feel like you’re the
guilty one, when all you’re trying to do
is to protect a child. However you must
believe in yourself. If you don’t, then
the judge won’t believe in you and that
could mean you failing a child.”
Children services’ social workers,
by the very nature of their job, often
see the grimiest side of life, such as
families suffering from poverty and
domestic abuse. So it’s not surprising
their role can be physically and
emotionally draining.
11
Lutonline June 2012
dren and young people
Supporting children with disabilities
Luton’s children with disabilities team
carries out the full range of social work
for children aged 0-18 years, including
undertaking specialist care assessments,
addressing child protection issues,
developing care plans and getting
involved in adoptions and foster care
placements.
They often have to deal with more
complex cases where some families
have more than one disabled child. A
child with special needs can put a family
under immense pressure, so the team
also needs to concentrate their efforts
on delivering preventative and early
intervention services.
Kate Burchell, team manager,
explains: “We don’t just assess the
needs of the child; we also investigate
what support the family requires. We
deliver lots of services to try and prevent
a family from breaking down. This could
be providing practical help within the
home, respite care so parents can get
a break from looking after their disabled
child or finding them specialist child
minders or activities or providing financial
help. We also make them aware of other
organisations who can offer emotional
and specialist support above and beyond
what we can offer, such as Keech
Hospice, charities or the local hospital.”
She adds: “On many occasions
parents need support in coming to
terms with the diagnosis of their child,
The intensive support team works with families to eliminate crises
especially if they have a life-limiting
condition. We also deliver before and
after bereavement work and support
parents on their child’s end of life care
plan.”
Partnership working is imperative;
liaising closely with community nurses,
paediatricians, health visitors, doctors
and the L&D Hospital so children and
their family get the specialist support
they need.
Case study: helping hand
at the end of the phone
Dally Dough-Duffield and her daughter
Indira have been receiving support from
the children with disabilities team since
2004. Indira has four-limb cerebral palsy,
she is unable to speak, can’t use her
limbs, has epilepsy, is registered blind,
and has to be fed by a tube 20 hours a
day.
Looking after her daughter is a fulltime job so getting help to care for her
child is a necessity. Dally is grateful to
the team for their support.
She says: “I cannot fault the team,
they are fantastic! When my husband
was hospitalised they were able to
provide me with extra nights’ respite
so I could spend time with him without
worrying about Indira.
“There have been times when my
daughter has been unwell and you get
to a point where you think you are going
to break down, but our social worker is
always there at the end of the phone to
help.”
The team has also looked at providing
flexibility to the care package offered to
Indira and Dally.
“I used to be tied to one agency where
I was forced to stick to the hours agreed.
My social worker introduced me to direct
payments which allowed me to employ
the carers I want to look after Indira, so I
now have the flexibility I need.”
Preventing a family crisis
Luton’s intensive support team was
set up nearly seven years ago as a
rapid response service to families at
the verge of breakdown. The team
of highly skilled individuals consists
of six family support workers, an
advisory teacher, a manager and an
admin officer. Their main goal is to
identify ways of eliminating crisis in
a family and preventing a child from
being taken into Council care.
They work with babies up to 16year-olds and with families where a
child protection plan is in place, which
means a child is at risk of significant
harm and there is a plan to ensure
they are kept safe.
Using their extensive experience,
family support workers quickly assess
what problems and issues need to
be addressed and working with the
family they identify how they might
tackle them. Their core hours of
working from 8am to 8pm give them
flexibility to support families early in
the morning and in the evening.
Each team member supports
four to five families at any one time
and spends on average two-hour
sessions with the families which
could include establishing routines,
setting boundaries to help address
behavioural problems, and trying
to assist parents to develop positive
relationships with professionals.
They also offer one-to-one support
to children and young people,
helping to build their esteem and
showing them how to establish safe
relationships with adults and their
peers.
Sonya, a senior family support
worker, said: “We are very open and
honest with families and I think they
appreciate that. We will identify the
good things they are doing and then
work with them on their weaknesses
which, if ignored, could cause them to
go into crisis.”
The team also relies heavily on
having good relationships with a
variety of organisations and agencies
including health, schools, community
and mental health services and may
even do joint visits with a social
worker or health visitor.
Sonya added: “You sometimes feel
there is not enough time to meet the
needs of the families. But with our
support families do come off child
protection plans and when you help
them to make changes which allows
them to stay together, it’s really nice
to see.”
So what are the qualities that you
need to become a family support
worker?
“You need patience and the ability
to be open and honest. You’ve got to
really care and to really listen to the
family and above all be flexible, as one
cap doesn’t fit all.”
One of the ways the team evaluates
its service is through feedback from
its users and here are some of their
comments:
“I really enjoyed learning to make
play dough and baking cakes with the
children.”
“She gave us some good advice,
even though we didn’t agree with it at
first.”
“They explained everything
clearly.”
www.luton.gov.uk
12
Lutonline June 2012
From rats, mice, cockroaches and bed bugs to wasps, ants
and pigeons, we are working to control the problems ...
A day in the life of pest control!
Got a problem with pests?
Then call the Council’s pest
control team – a group of
three officers dedicated to
responding to calls for help
from the public and local
businesses.
Every day, the team works to keep
our environment clean, safe and
healthy. Officers are trained by the
Royal Society for Public Health. The
service also belongs to the National
Pest Technicians’ Association and
keeps up to date with best practice.
Pest control officers work to ensure
problems caused by infestations of
pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches,
bed bugs and Pharaoh ants considered
a risk to public health are controlled to
help stop the problem occurring in the
first place.
The Council will treat public health
pests free of charge if the problem is
in domestic premises and you are the
owner occupier, but businesses and
residential landlords need to pay.
You are welcome to call the Council
for help with other ‘pests’ such as
ants, wasps, moths, larder beetles or
netting to deter pigeon roosting, but
this is a chargeable service.
A pest controller’s working day
kicks off at 7am when they pick up
their list of the day’s emergency and
routine calls.
First call is often a local school
where the aim is to stop any pests
moving in and making themselves
comfortable.
Placebo bait boxes are
laid around school
perimeters early
in the morning
before classes
begin. The
placebo,
which is not
poisonous,
contains a
dye which
makes it
easy to
spot any
vermin
droppings.
The problem
can then
be treated as
appropriate.
Officers regularly
visit schools using the
service, helping to ensure
no problems occur in the first
place and keeping the environment
safe and clean for children and staff.
If a pest control officer visits your
home to treat a problem, they will look
for the reasons why the infestation has
occurred in the first place and advise
you on how to deter your unwelcome
guests.
vents or pipes may have added to the
problem.
In the case of rats and mice for
example, routine maintenance and
housekeeping issues such as broken
airbricks or gaps around tumble drier
Vermin can squeeze through cracks
as narrow as a pencil, so sealing any
accidental space is vital to keep rats
and mice out and stop them using
Along with the fun and activities, the
festivals provide a chance for local people
to give their ideas about what the priorities
should be in their area.
The following festivals are
confirmed:
Bushmead Community Festival
The next call is likely to be a broken
sewer. Officers carry out smoke tests
to highlight any faults in the pipe.
Free neighborhood family festivals
With summer fast approaching, the
Council’s community development
service and partners have organised a
series of free family festivals across the
town.
Six community festivals are scheduled
throughout May and June that include a
variety of activities for all the family such
as face painting, fairground rides, sports,
dance, music, entertainment, arts and
crafts, prize draws and much more.
Officials from the Council, police,
NHS Luton, the fire and rescue service
and various voluntary and community
groups will also be on hand at each of
the festivals to provide information on
local services.
The festival is being supported as
part of the Council-led scheme – ‘Your
Say, Your Way’ which is all about
increasing opportunities for local people
to get involved in decision making so
they can help shape the future of their
neighbourhoods.
www.luton.gov.uk
Saints Festival
Saturday 26 May, 1-5pm
Alder Crescent recreation ground (next to
Saints Community Centre)
Farley Festival and Diamond
Jubilee event
Sunday 3 June, 10am onwards
Market Square, Farley Hill, LU1 5RD
South Ward Community Festival
Saturday 16 June, 12-4pm
Green space outside Park Town
Community & Children’s Centre
Area North Festival (organised by
Marsh Farm Events Committee)
Saturday 23 June, 12-4pm
Futures House, The Moakes,
Luton LU3 3QB
Saturday 30 June, 2-4pm
Green space near Bushmead shopping
parade and Community Centre
(Hancock Drive)
Lewsey Community Festival
Saturday 30 June, 10am-5pm
Lewsey Park, Pastures Way
Cllr Sheila Roden, Portfolio Holder for
community development, said: “If you
live in any of these areas I encourage
you to come along for an enjoyable
family day out. They all double as a
great chance for you to have your say on
local issues, and for us to listen to your
views and any concerns.”
Local businesses who would like to
pitch or have a stall at any of the events
should call 01582 55 66 92 or email
[email protected]
● For more information about the ‘Your
Say, Your Way’ project go to www.
luton.gov.uk/neighbourhood
the sewers for breeding.
Next on the officer’s work list could
be a bed bug problem in someone’s
home, which is not unusual,
particularly in houses with
multiple occupancy and lots of
lodgers.
If you call the Council to report a
bed bug problem, please be patient
when you are asked a list of questions
including how many beds and
bedrooms you have in your house
– this helps the pest controllers to
assess the size of the problem and the
best way to tackle it to keep you safe.
● To book a pest controller visit, or
for help, advice or to find out about
charges, please call the pest control
service on 01582 510330 or see
www.luton.gov.uk and search for
‘pest control’.
Pest control calls
Last year, pest controllers dealt with
over 2,000 calls including:
rats
mice
bedbugs
fleas
wasps
Pharoah ants
cockroaches bees
pigeons
pest identification
752
670
80
19
254
40
140
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144
13
Lutonline June 2012
Illegal tobacco is smuggled and
counterfeit cigarettes or hand-rolling
tobacco. It is sold at around half the
price of legal tobacco and can have a
devastating effect on communities.
We all love a bargain. But cheap
tobacco is costing more than you
might think. Sold at dinner-money
prices, it makes it easy for our
children to smoke and become
addicted.
Children who buy cheap tobacco
can come into contact with criminals.
Some children are talked into selling
cheap cigarettes on to school friends.
Anyone selling cheap tobacco is also
more likely to be selling other things
illegally such as DVDs or alcohol,
exposing children to more danger.
So what is being done about it?
Far from being a victimless crime,
illegal tobacco is often targeted at
children, young people and cashstrapped families. The new illegal
tobacco campaign will help keep
illegal tobacco out of our
communities by:
• informing everyone about
the impact of illegal tobacco
• encouraging residents
to report illegal tobacco
trading
• working for pledges of
support from you and
thousands of people in the
East of England.
You can help by telling
friends and family about
the issue, to help stop the
flow of illegal tobacco, and
by pledging your support
for this campaign at www.
no-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.
You can also help spread the
campaign message by sharing
your pledge on Facebook and
Twitter.
● Report any information
Confiscated tobacco hoard
about illegal tobacco in
your area to Crimestoppers
on 0800 555 111.
Farley Juniors celebrate
their diamond jubilee
A special performance for the Mayor
Just like Her Majesty The Queen,
Farley Junior School is celebrating its
diamond jubilee this year.
to music by The Beatles, The Gap
Band, Kylie Minogue, JLS and and
the Spice Girls.
And to mark the achievement pupils
‘strutted their stuff’ using music
and dance from the last 60 years on
Tuesday 1 May.
In the afternoon the school was
transformed into a street party when
played classic playground games
such as hopscotch, ball and skipping
while parents and staff reminisced
about the ‘good old days’.
Former Mayor of Luton Cllr
Don Worlding joined in with the
celebrations alongside former staff,
governors and other VIP guests.
During morning assembly pupils
presented podcasts covering events
from 1952 until 2012 and performed
Historic memorabilia went on
display featuring the original
admissions registers from 1952 and
photographs spanning 60 years of
school life.
Luton Family Information Service and the
Pre-School Learning Alliance present:
Family
Luton
In
f o rm a
t io n S e r v
ic
e
Illegal tobacco – what’s the real cost?
Everyone is invited to
come and celebrate the
Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee and the London
Olympics at this year’s
Picnic in the Park!
Wednesday 27 June, 10am to 2pm,
at Wardown Park, off Old Bedford Road
For more information or if you’re thinking about sponsoring this event
then call 01582 54 88 88 or visit www.luton.gov.uk/fis
A great day out for parents, carers and young children!
www.luton.gov.uk
14
Lutonline June 2012
Lost and found in Luton: over 300 dogs a year
With more than 300 stray
dogs picked up in Luton
last year, the Council’s
award-winning dog warden
service is appealing to
owners to act responsibly.
Cllr Dave Taylor, Portfolio Holder
for the environment, said: “Only half
the stray dogs picked up by Council
dog wardens last year in Luton were
reclaimed. Don’t people realise that
by abandoning a dog, they could
be signing the poor animal’s death
warrant?”
Council dog wardens recently
received an RSPCA Community
Animal Welfare Footprint gold award
for their hard work in connection with
stray dogs, reuniting them with their
owners and educating people about
responsible dog ownership.
But dog wardens are not miracle
workers. If a stray is not microchipped
or wearing an identification tag,
obviously the wardens cannot track
down its owner.
The Council also cannot support
dogs long term at taxpayers’ expense.
Wardens will care for strays for seven
days to give their owners the chance
to reclaim them. After this time a local
Love Parks?
dog charity will assess
them for rehoming. But
if any of the animals are
unhealthy or have serious
behavioural problems,
then sadly they have to
be put to sleep.
The Council offers
microchipping for
£10 to encourage
more dog owners to
protect their pets, yet
only a third of strays
collected last year were
chipped. Compulsory
microchipping is
currently being discussed
at Government level.
Dog wardens are
concerned about an
increasing lack of basic
training and socialisation
among local dogs. All
pets should be friendly.
Luton’s award-winning dog wardens
bills and cannot afford to look after the
dog properly. Please think carefully
before you get a dog.”
● For microchipping and general
Wardens will care for stray dogs for seven days to
give their owners a chance to reclaim them
Wardens promote
the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog
Scheme, the largest dog training
project in the country. Don’t miss
the wardens’ dog show at Lewsey
Community Festival in Lewsey Park,
Pastures Way, on Saturday 30 June
featuring Kennel Club tests and arena
displays, with general information on
caring for pets.
Jennifer Wyatt, environmental
enforcement manager, said: “Dogs are
not toys or fashion accessories: they
are a long term responsibility with
some living over 10 years. Most dogs
are not cheap to look after. Even if a
dog is loved, owners often find they
have not budgeted for expensive vet’s
Sad dog’s tale …
Tell us what you think
about Blundell Road
Recreation Ground.
Visit:
www.greenSTAT.org.uk
www.luton.gov.uk/parks
www.luton.gov.uk
This abandoned dog had to be put
down because of its terrible untreated
skin condition
The vet believes this stray was
suffering from an extreme skin
condition with open wounds for
some time. The poor animal had
been left untreated for so long
that treatment would have been
unsuccessful. Sadly, the dog had to
be put to sleep. But if her owners
had sought help earlier, she would
have survived.
information on buying and caring
for your dog, please see www.luton.
gov.uk/dogwardens or call 01582
510330. Happy dog’s tale …
Letter from Chutney, a formerly
neglected Yorkshire Terrier …
dog warden
Dearest Luton
you were kind
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when I was cold
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when he was
first picked
up, and now
re-homed
with a friend
Dog fouling? No thanks
No-one likes to tread in dog mess:
the unpleasant result of lazy and
irresponsible dog owners who do not
clean up after their animals.
The Council could spend lots of
taxpayers’ money on employing more
people to clear up after local dogs
and working to prosecute those
who break the law by allowing their
dogs to foul public areas, but this is
an expensive and time-consuming
process.
The Council has decided that
stopping the problem in the first place
is the best approach, working hard to
promote responsible dog ownership
and encouraging dog owners to clean
up after their own animals. But we will
issue a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice or
prosecute where we have sufficient
evidence.
● To arrange for dog mess to be
cleaned from a public area, call
the Council on 01582 510330.
15
11
Lutonline
2011
Lutonline
June
2012
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www.luton.gov.uk
16
Lutonline June 2012
Stockwood Discovery Centre
London Road, Luton LU1 4LX
Tel: 01582 548600
Wardown Park Museum
Old Bedford Road,
Luton LU2 7HA
Tel: 01582 546722
Delivering cultural services on behalf of Luton Borough Council
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Ancient Greeks – Athletes,
Warriors And Heroes
DinoMites, The
A-Z Of Dinosaurs
Continuing until
4 November
Visit one of the most
exciting exhibitions ever
to be held at Stockwood
Discovery Centre!
DinoMites is an amazing new exhibition
that features baby and juvenile dinosaurs
and shows the life cycles of smaller
species from birth to death.
£3.95 adults*, £2.95 children and
concessions*, £12 families (group of
four, must include one child)
* With 50 per cent discount on return visit
Willow Winners
11 June – 8 October
To celebrate this
Olympic year members
of Hertfordshire
Basketry have
collaborated to produce a series of lifesized sporting sculptures made from
willow and recycled materials. They
have used a combination of conventional
basketry techniques and random weaving
to make stylised figures which will be
displayed in the formal flower beds.
Please note: the display will be set in the
formal flower beds so the exact dates
for the start and finish of this display
will have to fit with the planting of these
areas. Please check before you visit to
make certain the display is in place.
Free, drop in
Events
The Royal Jubilee
– Carriage Event
Monday 4 June, 11am-4.30pm
Come along and join us to celebrate the
royal jubilee and to learn more about
the Mossman Carriage collection and
horse care, in partnership with Baylands
Equestrian Centre.
• Carriage and pony rides
• Craft and gift stalls
• Charity stalls
• Horse demonstrations and shows
• Children’s activities
Entry is free but charges or donations
for individual activities may apply,
drop in
www.luton.gov.uk
Fathers’ Day
Sunday 17 June, 11am-1pm & 2-4.30pm
Come along to decorate a key ring and
gift box to give to your dad on his special
day. Learn more about this day and how it
is celebrated around the world.
£1.50 per child, drop in
The Lucky Gingerbread Man
Friday 22 June, 10.45am
and 11.45am
The Magic Book Theatre
presents a puppet show
for young children
about a gingerbread
man. This popular show
uses table-top puppets,
shadow puppets and everyday objects for
imaginative storytelling. The show lasts
30 minutes and is suitable for children
aged two to five years.
£4 per child, please book on
01582 548600
Summer Solstice & Midsummer
Saturday 23 June,
11am-1pm
& 2-4.30pm
Many Continental
countries mark the
height of summer
and the longest day of the year with
holidays, traditions and celebrations.
Come along to learn more about this
special time of year, its history and how
it is still celebrated today across Europe.
Have a go at making sun catchers and
more.
£1.50 per child, drop in
Sight Concern Day
Tuesday 26 June
In partnership with Sight Concern
Bedfordshire, the Action for Blind
People’s resource bus returns to
Stockwood to raise awareness about
sight loss and visual impairments. Come
along to get advice and find out about the
museum service’s new ‘touch tours’.
Free, drop in
Continuing until
6 December – a British
Museum loan display
This exhibition features
highlights from the British
Museum’s collections on
the theme of competition in
the Ancient Greek world,
through events such as the
Olympics, politics, drama
and warfare. The exhibition has one of
the largest selections of Greek artefacts
ever lent by the British Museum.
The British Museum works with partner
museums around the country through
its Partnership UK programme, sharing
collections and expertise to mutual
benefit.
Support for this loan is provided through
the generosity of the Dorset Foundation
Free, drop in
Spring cleaning at
the museum
Continuing until 17 June
We are opening our store
cupboards to the public! We would like
to clean, dust and reorganise the objects
in our collections, using the gallery
space at Wardown Park Museum as our
workspace.
Come along during the week to see
curatorial staff working in the gallery
with a range of objects we have in the
collections. Discover the reasons why
we collect them, and hear about some
of the problems that we face in trying to
preserve the past.
See special displays of some of the rarely
seen items in our collection and be
surprised by some of our favourites.
We also want your views on what we
should be collecting and how we can
continue to collect, so why not drop in
and let us know what you think?
Items you can see during weekdays in
June include fans, parasols, watches
and jewellery, including hair work, and
ceramics and porcelain, including the
Duvivier New Hall porcelain.
Threads Of Life Gallery
– Logs To Lace
From 29 May
From lace and life
in the 1600s, the
new display moves
forward 100 years
to show lace and life
in the 1700s. This is
your opportunity to
discover 18th century
lace, textiles, decorative items and
furniture from our own collections.
The New Horizons Textile Group has
once again taken up the challenge from
curators at Wardown Park Museum. This
time group members have been asked
to interpret lace by using their textile
skills. The result is a surprising display
themed around the traditional log cabin
patchwork block which is certain to
delight and intrigue visitors.
Free, drop in
Events
A Jubilee Jamboree
Saturday 2 June, 10am-4.30pm
Wardown Park Museum invites you to a
special jubilee event. Come along to have
a go at royal craft activities, browse cake
and gift stalls and much more. Remember
to bring along a family recipe to share in
our recipe swap marquee.
Entry is free but charges or donations
for individual activities may apply,
drop in
Have a Go – Basic Embroidery
Friday 29 June, 2-4.30pm
Come along
for a chance
to learn all
about basic
embroidery,
and try
your hand
at it! Make
a sampler to take home. All abilities
welcome. When booking, please state
if you are a beginner or experienced,
suitable for ages 12 years and above.
£2 per child, please book on
01582 546722
17
Lutonline June 2012
Delivering cultural services on behalf of Luton Borough Council
www.lutonlibraries.co.uk
Get ready for your holiday with
Transparent Language Online
If you are heading abroad
this summer then you
can get to grips with the
language you want to learn
free of charge through
Transparent Language
Online. There are over 80
languages to choose from
and dozens of fun and
engaging learning activities.
The website features language
blogs, videos and articles as well
as information on the culture in
different countries. You can also sign
up for ‘word of the day’ on Twitter or
Facebook, which is a good way to learn
without really trying!
● Membership of the site is free for
Luton library members – just go
to www.lutonlibraries.co.uk and
click on Do It Online for more
information.
Practice the Driving
Theory Test at home
Theory Test Pro is a highly realistic
online simulation of the UK’s driving
theory tests for all vehicle categories.
Available to library members through
our website, it gives you unlimited
access to all the official questions
from the Driving Standards Agency
in the same format as the official test,
and includes the online version of the
Highway Code.
There are realistic hazard perception
video simulations and speech-enabled
tests so you can listen to questions.
The website has test banks for car,
motorcycle, passenger carry vehicle
and heavy goods vehicle categories.
Access to the site is free for Luton
library members – just go to www.
lutonlibraries.co.uk and click on Do It
Online for more information.
Celebrating our 50th birthday
– Reading The Decades
Luton Central Library
is 50 years old this
year and there are lots
of events planned to
celebrate.
Did you know that our libraries,
arts and museums are run by Luton
Culture, a charitable trust? We work
closely with another charity, the
Luton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB),
which also has a birthday this year,
celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Come and join us in St George’s
Square on 14 June when there will
be stalls from Luton Libraries and
Luton CAB and others – all local
organisations that you may not realise
are charities, such as the Luton Irish
Forum, Luton Rights and the British
Polish Integration Society. Come and
find out what we all do and how you
can help us – through donations
or volunteering.
bring along one printed proof of your
name and current address, and we can
join you immediately.
Help and advice
for carers
Carers Week 2012 takes place from
18-24 June and this year the emphasis
is on your own health and wellbeing
as a carer. There will be lots of events
across the town including some advice
sessions and displays at the Central
Library.
Our libraries have lots of books and
information that can help you with your
own health, as well as DVDs and CDs
for relaxation. We can help you find
support groups for the person you look
after or for yourself, and we have lots
of online services that can help if you
have access to the internet. Check
our website for more details or ask
at the library.
Visitor Information Centre,
Luton Central Library
With the Queen’s Jubilee
weekend and the summer
holidays fast approaching, don’t
forget to check out what’s on
offer at the Visitor Information
Centre at the Central Library.
Our first major book promotion
is called ‘Reading the Decades’,
bringing together the best and
most controversial books from
each decade. We are starting
with the last decade and working
backwards, ending with the 1960s
in the autumn.
Drop into the Central Library
to borrow a book or pick up
the booklist for each decade. If
you are not already a member of our
libraries it’s free and easy to join. Just
CAB and Central
Library celebrations
You can purchase rail, National
Express and also day-trip tickets from
local coach companies such as Tates
and Barfordian. Day-trips visit places
such as Brighton, Blenheim Palace,
Lichfield and the National Memorial
Arboretum, and Duxford Museum. You
are sure to find somewhere nice to visit.
If you are thinking about travelling
further afield there is a range
of brochures for popular tourist
destinations across the country including
Yorkshire, the Peak District, the SouthWest and the Cotswolds.
The Visitor Information Centre also
offers a ‘book a bed ahead’ service, so if
you are thinking about a long weekend
away and need to find accommodation
why not pop in and ask a member of
staff? There is also a great selection of
local souvenirs including pens, pencils,
key rings and notebooks at reasonable
prices.
www.luton.gov.uk
18
Lutonline June 2012
Booking info
Delivering cultural services on behalf of Luton Borough Council
Hat Factory
Music
June Listings
Thurs 21 June, 6pm
Theatre
Thurs 21 Release, 7.30pm,
£9, £7 concessions,
£5 culture card, £2 under 26s
Singing masterclass
with Lauren Field
Thur 21 Lauren Field and Rock
Chorus live in concert,
doors 8pm,
£5
Vocalists, this is your chance to meet and perform
with nationally established touring artist Lauren Field.
Attend a masterclass, then join Lauren on stage for an
evening performance in front of a live audience.
Lauren Field, the renowned singer/songwriter and
vocal coach, will conduct a workshop to encourage
singing in groups and in harmony.
During the workshop you will work on two songs, concentrating on
harmony and performance technique.
You will then perform these songs to an audience during the live concert
after the workshop.
Suitable for ages 13+ years. Masterclass spaces are limited. To apply for
selection, please email [email protected] outlining your
music experience to date.
£5
Clubs
Thurs 21 June, doors 8pm
Music
Fri 8
DTA, doors 8pm,
£5
Wed 13 RAW, doors 8pm,
£2, free to performers who
book in advance
Thur 21 Singing masterclass with
Lauren Field, 6pm,
£5
Sat 2
Harmony, 8pm-3am,
£5 before midnight, £7 after
Sat 9
Swerve, 9pm-3am,
£4.50 before 11.30pm,
£6 after
Sat 16
Sub Lo, 10pm-3am,
£5, more after midnight
Sat 30
Ribstep, 9pm-3am,
£6 on the door, more after
midnight
Clubs
Sat 30 June, doors 9pm-3am
Ribstep
This month Ribstep celebrates its third
birthday with very special guest Broken
Note (Ad Noiseam / Prospect / Boka
/ Peace Off) plus support from Idiron
Soundtrack, Seismic, Wreck Up vs DJ
Riddimz, Megaton vs Havoc, DJ Zee and
Duku. So come along and join in the
party with some heavy electronic music,
demolition
sound
system and
an advanced
lighting
installation.
£6 on
the door,
more after
midnight
www.luton.gov.uk
65-67 Bute Street
Luton
LU1 2EY
Box Office:
01582 87 81 00
[email protected]
www.thehatfactory.org
Lauren Field and Rock Chorus
live in concert
Lauren Field brings her choir Rock Chorus
to the stage to perform a set of classic rock
and pop tunes, demonstrating that people
from all walks of life can not only benefit
in many ways from choral singing but that
they can achieve excellence and entertain
in equal measure.
“Rock Chorus sang a fantastic selection of classic rock and pop tunes
for their own benefit concert, Singitback. Opening the show which also
starred their famous friends, who included Mungo Jerry, Osibisa and
Alvin Stardust, they raised the roof with their rendition of Alice Cooper’s
Poison.” – Milton Keynes Citizen
£5
Theatre
Thurs 21 June, 7.30pm
Release
Fringe First Award winner and hit
of the 2011 Edinburgh Festival,
presented by Icon Theatre, Release
explores the lives of three prisoners
in their first few months after
getting out of jail as they attempt
to reconnect with the people and
events they left behind.
At a time when two-thirds of UK prisoners re-offend within two years,
Release fuses high-energy physical theatre, an original score and mixed
media to create an explosive insight into just how hard it is to go straight
£9, £7 concessions, £5 culture card, £2 under 26s
Are you aged 15 to 16? Want to spend
two weeks away in the summer for
free? Then the National Citizenship
Service scheme is for you!
Happening in July and August, the whole
scheme is set over a four-week period.
During the first week you will be going to
Grangewater Outdoor Centre where you will
take part in activities including kayaking,
archery, orienteering and more.
In week two you will be staying at Shuttleworth
College to learn new skills in the arts, media,
film and sports coaching.
The final two weeks will take place locally
with many more fun activities and an awards
ceremony at the end when you will be
presented with a certificate.
After you have finished the four weeks you
will be invited to go to an Olympics ceremony
featuring a top secret rap artist. This really will
be a summer to remember!
Get in touch on 01582 878124 or 07715
806422 or email your details to ncsproject@
lutonculture.com
19
Lutonline June 2012
Booking info
Delivering cultural services on behalf of Luton Borough Council
June
2012 Listings
30 May – 2 June
The Drowsy Chaperone, 7.45pm
Wed 6 June
War Horse, 2pm & 7.45pm
Thurs 7 June
Greek Odyssey, 11am
13 – 16 June
Footloose, 7.45pm
Wed 20 June
Carve Her Name With Pride,
2pm & 7.45pm
Film
Wednesday 6 June, 2pm & 7.45pm
War Horse (15)
Young Albert enlists to serve in the
First World War after his beloved
horse is sold to the cavalry. Albert’s
hopeful journey takes him out of
England and across Europe as the war rages on.
Running time 2hrs 26mins, 2012.
Theatre
30 May – 2 June, 7.45pm
St Andrews Players present
The Drowsy Chaperone
This hilarious musical
within a comedy celebrates
the St Andrews Players’
60th birthday. The show
revolves around one
musical theatre fan’s
obsession with a fictional
show from the 1920s ‘The
Drowsy Chaperone’. As he listens to the recording, the
characters come to life in his apartment.
This is the story of a Broadway actress, Janet Van De
Graaf, who wants to marry the debonair Robert Martin
and give up her stage career. Janet’s producer, Mr
Feldzieg, must stop the wedding because if she quits
showbusiness then he will lose his job! Then gangsters
threaten Mr Feldzieg since if Janet quits they will lose
their investment.
£10, £8 children under 16
Luton Library Theatre
Central Library
St George’s Square
Luton LU1 2NG
email: [email protected]
Box office: 01582 547474 /
01582 878100
www.lutonlibrarytheatre.com
Dragon Club
Thurs 7 June, 11am
Greek Odyssey
Greek Odyssey tells an educational and
entertaining story using dialogue, mime,
singing and audience participation. It is ideal
for children studying the Ancient Greeks
as they will learn about Greek gods and
goddesses, Greek food and games and the
Trojan War. The show is entertaining and fun
so it can also be booked as a treat for children
who are not studying the Greeks!
Suitable for ages seven to 11 years, 45 minutes.
£5.50, one accompanying adult free, each
additional adult £5.50
£4, £3 concessions, £2 with culture card
13-16 June, 7.45pm
Wednesday 20 June, 2pm & 7.45pm
Carve Her Name With Pride
(U)
Living in London in the early years of the Second World
War, Violette meets a handsome young French soldier in
the park. They fall in love, marry and have a baby girl,
then Violette receives the dreaded telegram informing
her of his death in North Africa. Shortly afterwards,
Violette is approached to join the SOE (Special Operations
Executive). Should she stay and look after her baby or ‘do
her duty’?
Running time 83mins, 1957.
£4, £3 concessions, £2 with culture card
The Griffin Players present
Footloose
The Griffin Players explode onto the stage with their
latest production of Footloose, performing some classic
1980s anthems including Holding Out For A Hero, Almost
Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy and, of course, the
title track Footloose.
Life in small-town Bomont is peaceful until city boy Ren
arrives. Breaking every taboo, Ren brings dance back to
the heart of a town held back by the memory of a tragedy.
Footloose is packed full of electrifying dance routines
guaranteed to get you to your feet.
13 & 14 June, £12, £9 concessions; 15 & 16 June, all
tickets £12
www.luton.gov.uk
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www.luton.gov.uk
Lutonline June 2012