On Wednesday 29 April 2026, the Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) convened a Pride in Place Community Engagement and Partnership Workshop at Lewsey Farm Learning Centre, bringing together grassroots organisations, community leaders and local stakeholders from across Luton.
Held in collaboration with Luton Borough Council, the workshop created an important early opportunity for local organisations to explore Luton’s emerging Pride in Place programme, wider regeneration ambitions and the role that communities can play in shaping the future of the town.
The session was designed to encourage open discussion, strengthen collaboration and ensure that local insight, lived experience and grassroots voices are heard at an early stage.
A total of 32 organisations registered interest, with 19 organisations participating directly in the workshop. Participants included community organisations, charities, CICs, faith groups, social enterprises and resident-led groups, with particularly strong representation from health and wellbeing organisations.
The workshop heard from Gerard McCleave, Corporate Director for Inclusive Growth at Luton Borough Council, who provided strategic context on Luton 2040, the Pride in Place programme and the importance of neighbourhood-level participation.
Participants heard about the wider Pride in Place opportunity, including the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund for 2026–27 and up to £40 million over ten years for Central Luton and Marsh Farm. The discussion reinforced that this is not simply a funding opportunity, but a chance to strengthen community ownership, local decision-making, trust and long-term collaboration.
Throughout the workshop, participants explored the challenges, strengths and opportunities within their communities. Key themes included:
- Building stronger community cohesion, participation and trust
- Improving health, wellbeing and reducing isolation
- Supporting skills, employability, mentoring and economic opportunity
- Strengthening accessible and trusted community spaces
- Improving communication between communities, organisations and institutions
- Ensuring smaller and minority-led organisations are meaningfully included in local decision-making
Participants also highlighted wider pressures affecting residents and organisations across Luton, including low-paid work, financial insecurity, employment barriers, housing pressures, mental health concerns and a lack of awareness of available opportunities and support.
A clear message from the workshop was that meaningful regeneration cannot be designed for communities alone. It must be developed with communities, particularly with residents, grassroots organisations and groups whose voices may not always be represented through traditional consultation processes.
The session demonstrated the leadership, energy and local knowledge that already exists across Luton. It also highlighted the value of creating trusted spaces where community organisations, residents, public-sector partners and local leaders can meet, listen to one another and begin developing practical solutions together.
O5BM will now continue to work with participating organisations, community partners and relevant stakeholders to maintain momentum from the workshop. This will include sharing the findings, identifying emerging collaboration opportunities and supporting further engagement, partnership-building and co-design activity linked to Pride in Place priorities.
Working with O5BM
This workshop also demonstrates the value of trusted, independent community organisations in supporting meaningful engagement.
O5BM works with local authorities, public-health teams, regeneration leads and place-based partnerships to convene communities, strengthen participation and create more inclusive routes into consultation, collaboration and co-design.
Our approach is particularly relevant for organisations seeking to engage older Black men, diverse communities, grassroots groups, faith organisations and residents whose perspectives may otherwise be under-represented.
Whether your area is developing a regeneration plan, addressing health inequalities, improving community safety or preparing for new investment, O5BM can support meaningful community engagement that is built on trust, lived experience and shared ownership.
For partnership, engagement or community-convening enquiries, please contact us at info@o5bmforum.org.uk or visit www.o5bmforum.org.uk.
O5BM would like to thank every organisation, resident and stakeholder who registered, attended and contributed to the workshop. Special thanks also go to Mark Fowler, Chief Executive of Luton Borough Council, and Gerard McCleave, Corporate Director for Inclusive Growth, for their support and contribution.
