Luton 2040 pledge

Active Luton is committed to improving the health and wellbeing, education, skills and life chances of its community.

We will work with partners and residents to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by:

• promoting and delivering services that support increased physical activity, improved mental wellbeing and healthy lifestyles at all stages of life
• promoting and creating opportunities to improve social connectedness at all stages of life
• signing up to Luton’s Good Business Charter and paying all our workers the Real Living wage
• adopting an accessibility for all approach and being a disability-confident employer
• implementing healthy workplace practices such as active travel and promoting stop smoking and healthy lifestyles support
• providing targeted skills and employment opportunities for disadvantaged and under-represented groups
• delivering employment and skills provision for young people through schemes like Kickstart, apprenticeships and work experience

Watch the Active Luton’s Luton 2040 pledge video.

Barnfield College is committed to delivering a more inclusive economy and improving the life chances of our young people and the wider community. We will work with partners and residents to deliver the Luton 2040 vision by:

• delivering targeted education and training in priority skills; equipping people for the modern, sustainable economy and driving growth
• creating study programmes that develop a full range of personal, social and employability skills - readying people for work and encouraging entrepreneurship
• ensuring education and lifelong learning is accessible, removing barriers and raising aspirations
• increasing social connectedness for our community, with a focus on mental and physical wellbeing
• investing in our campus estate to provide industry-standard kit and equipment for the benefit of the community

Watch the Barnfield College’s Luton 2040 pledge video.

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) is committed to working with partners and residents to deliver on the Luton 2040 and its five priorities and specifically:

• improving wellbeing and tackling inequality by reviewing how we can make our funding and programmes more equitable and accessible to those experiencing inequality and in doing so building a culture of fairness into all our partnerships and greater transparency
• support people to thrive through our programmes and community partnerships through greater opportunities to ensure routes out of poverty
• become carbon neutral and protect our environments by looking at our own work and supporting the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) to address their own impact and develop projects that raise awareness amongst communities
• promote fairness, community cohesion and local pride through all our work as we listen learn, adapt and change offering greater support for groups who have been marginalized or disadvantage to growth thrive and survive and in doing so give agency to their voices in shaping our work

Watch the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation’s Luton 2040 pledge video.

For us these goals mean:

• putting children and families at the heart of our decision-making through co-production at every opportunity, including the child’s voice
• services offered based on the needs of children and families through pregnancy, birth, early years and safely into adulthood
• ensuring what we deliver is based on best evidence of what works for children and families
• working in partnership – no one organisation can achieve a child friendly town
• we put prevention at the heart of everything we

CCS will continue to work with partners to promote Luton as a child friendly town and in doing so makes the following commitments:

In the first 12 months we will develop our single point of access for Luton to improve access to community health services and maximise our use of technology.

Over the next two years we will:

• work to embed co-production in everything we do; ensuring the users of our services are involved in decision-making and the delivery of services
• ensure our estate is child friendly and accessible

Over the next five years we will work with our stakeholders to meet challenges and deliver services aligned to the NHS Long Term plan.

Central Bedfordshire College is committed to supporting and improving the life chances of the young people and the adult communities of Luton. As the single largest educational exporter of Luton’s Young people, we pride ourselves on our ability to support the local skills needs and to develop a curriculum in line with the economic development of the area.

We will work with partners and residents to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by:

• continuing to grow our provision across the town to meet the needs of the communities we serve; raising aspiration and enabling progression into work
• creating educational programmes for young people that develop the full range of personal, social and employability skills, ensuring that people are ready for work and/ or for further study
• continue to prioritise the development of targeted skills development opportunities for disadvantaged and under-represented groups across Luton
• involving the communities in Luton in further developing an educational forum that helps raise aspirations and removes barriers
• working with partners to support our community in improving their mental and physical wellbeing and aligning this to the further development of tools and strategies for building resilience  

Chiltern Learning Trust is committed to working in partnership to improve the life chances of the Luton community. We will work with partners to ensure the successful delivery of the Luton 2040 vision by:

• continuing to improve standards of education across our primary and secondary schools in Luton
• supporting teacher development to ensure schools in the wider community are able to provide the best life chances for students within our community
• support students with their post 16 choices by providing a class-leading careers service to help signpost to the best offers available
• support our parents, careers and wider stakeholders to build a more inclusive economy
• continue to support community action projects to help develop local spaces to build local pride, support community cohesion and promote fairness.

Citizens Advice Luton is committed to providing advice, support and training to the citizens of Luton.

We will work with our partners, staff, volunteers and clients to deliver the Luton 2040 vision around the five priorities by:

• increasing our volunteer numbers and providing comprehensive training and support giving volunteers the knowledge and experience they need to gain local employment
• expand our advice service provision to provide a comprehensive support framework for clients suffering with mental health leading to improved wellbeing
• work with National Citizens Advice on their Net Zero Strategy providing impactful local research data to effect policy change
• advocate for more financial support for those on low incomes to help mitigate the worst of the cost of living crisis - providing much needed support to families in need
• promote fairness and community cohesion through our Equity Diversity and Inclusion work improving inclusive access and advice

Our business is committed to delivering a more inclusive economy
and a more sustainable town. We will work with partners and residents to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by:

• signing up to Luton’s good business charter and paying all our workers the real living wage
• providing leadership and education on the climate agenda in schools, workplaces and communities
• increasing our local procurement spend to ensure more money remains within Luton
• reducing our carbon emissions to become a net-zero organisation by 2040
  reducing waste and recycling more through our organisation and our supply chains
• delivering employment and skills provision for young people through schemes like Passport to Employment, apprenticeships and work experience
• giving children and young people a voice in shaping services, opportunities and the future of the town
• supporting the work of Luton’s Fairness Taskforce to tackle inequalities in Luton
• taking pride in the community, improving perceptions of Luton and being an ambassador for the town

At Fusion Healthcare we are dedicated to providing high quality and affordable private medical services to the Luton population and surrounding towns, as well as supporting the local community and protecting the environment. We promote fairness, inclusivity, and the cohesion of the local community.

We will work with community to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by focusing on the following criteria:

Providing inclusive healthcare services

• Providing a wide range of services to cater to the community
• Providing a range of affordable services
• Ensuring services are available and open to all
• Provide flexible appointments and services to cater to those with other responsibilities

Become a net zero company and tackle the climate emergency

• Reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting those to become a net-zero organisation
• Maintaining and improving our waste reduction plans
• Improving the efficiency of the buildings and equipment, reducing energy consumption.

Benefit the local economy

• Create and fill job roles within the company for local residents
• Ensure fair hours, wages, and employment for all employees
• Support more flexible working hours and increase access to work for people with other responsible, i.e. caring responsibilities
• Deliver training and progression opportunities for all staff

GoodGym Luton's mission is to get people physically active within their community, so they can have an active lifestyle, while helping local organisations and community based projects.

Working with partners and members we will contribute to the Luton 2040 vision by:

• taking pride in the community, improving perceptions of Luton and being ambassadors for the town
• providing constant zero-cost opportunities to increase physical activity and improve mental wellbeing
• increasing opportunities for volunteering and participation
• providing a safe space for everyone to improve their physical fitness
• promoting active travel by the use of walking/cycling infrastructure
• greening the town through tree planting and actions to improve air quality and biodiversity
• increasing social connectedness in communities, especially isolated older people
• supporting community organisations that aim to relieve food poverty

Healthwatch Luton is committed to improving the wellbeing of the Luton population, as well as supporting children and young people to thrive, protecting the environment and promoting fairness, community cohesion and local pride.

We will work with partners and residents to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by:

• building a more inclusive economy including
• signing up to the Good Business Charter; and being measured on progress
• continuing to be a real living wage employer and ensuring fair hours and employment; as per current payment conditions
• continuing to support more flexible working and increasing access to work for families and those with caring responsibilities, including volunteering; as per our volunteering policy – and flexible working model and policy
• improving wellbeing and tackle inequalities
• implementing workplace health and wellbeing plans; such as partnering with TOTAL wellbeing on our wellbeing programme
• developing policies for active commuting; such as our volunteering policy on travel
• employee assistance programmes and support with debt / housing / financial etc; such as offering personal HR advice
• delivering a service that supports health and wellbeing and community safety; such as through our communications and support on community events and programmes
• Iicreasing social connectedness and community – such as being stationed at Futures House Marsh Farm
• supporting protecting the environment
• by implementing sustainable travel plans; volunteering policy and staff travel
• Iiplementing waste reduction; continuing to be paper free service
• supporting children and young people to thrive
• supporting and delivering services that keep young people safe and secure
• providing mentoring, work experience and targeted support for disadvantaged children; as per Uni of Bedfordshire partnership
• supporting employment skills for young people in Luton; such as Volunteering policy and Uni of Beds partnership
• giving children and young people a voice in shaping services, opportunities and future of the town; such as our YP vaccine hesitancy programme, or LGBQTIA focus
  promoting fairness, community cohesion and local pride
• implementing workplace policies to promote EDI; such as our EDI programme with HWE and EDI Action learning for CEOs (completed)
• delivering accessibility for all; as per organising fully accessible events and programmes
• supporting the work of Luton’s Fairness Taskforce to tackle health inequalities; as per meeting attendance, conference support and promotions
• developing links with the VCS sector; such as our work on Safeguarding Sub Group; Community work on Denny Engagement; Kooth Service supporting; Keech support
• giving residents a voice in shaping services, opportunities and future of the town; as per our statutory obligations and ensuring these reports are shared widely to be used
• being ambassador for the town; community business woman of the year (2019), Award winning HWL (2019/20);
• treating all suppliers fairly and acting with integrity

Healthwatch Luton will support this Pledge by ensuring our measurements of the pledge are adopted into our working policies and procedures, and strategic work plan, contract arrangements and workplans.

London Luton Airport Operations Ltd is committed to providing an excellent airport that contributes towards Luton becoming a healthy, fair and sustainable town where everyone can thrive.

To achieve this we pledge to work with partners across Luton to:

• build an inclusive economy by becoming a real living wage employer and supporting employment and skills opportunities and flexible working
• achieve our aim of Net-Zero emissions by 2040 for airport operations by improving the energy efficiency of buildings, systems and equipment, moving to renewable energy sources across our operations, enabling more sustainable travel to and from the airport, and by transitioning to a circular economy with reduced waste and increased recycling
• develop a supply chain charter that increases local spend, social value and sustainability, as well as fairness and transparency in procurement, to help build a more prosperous and sustainable local economy
• supporting employee wellbeing by implementing policies, training and support for healthy eating; active workplaces and commuting; mental health; employee assistance programmes; and by providing a suite of workplace benefits to support wellbeing, including private medical insurance and gym facilities
• promote aspiration and opportunities for our children and young people through the LLA ‘Get Into Airports’ work experience programme and our ‘World of Work’ airport visits to local schools, as well as partnering with the University of Bedfordshire, local schools and colleges and the Enterprise Advisory network to provide communication skills training
• play our part in tackling inequality and ensuring fairness, by implementing diversity and inclusion in our workplace, being a disability confident employer, and by participating regularly in Luton’s Fairness Taskforce
• giving residents a voice through quarterly community surgery groups and the airport consultative committee
• support our community by investing in the LLA community Trust Fund, to help tackle poverty and strengthen skills and wellbeing, as well as actively encouraging employees and partners to raise funds for our charity partners with match funding and giving our people paid leave to undertake volunteering opportunities

If your organisation would like to sign up and make its own Luton 2040 pledge, the toolkit can be found by clicking on this link. If you need further information and support please e-mail [email protected].

Luton BID works with local organisations including Luton Council and Bedfordshire Police to support and enhance the promotion, environment, experience, growth and investment of businesses in Luton Town Centre.

Luton BID are proud supporters of Luton 2040 and its core priorities. We support these through:

• organisation and strategic support for the masterplan delivery plan - including the further development of the high street and other town centre districts to build a more inclusive economy
• promoting Luton as a great place to work and live
• representing local businesses with organisations like the police and local government
• the local environment and cleanliness of Luton - this is achieved through:
• financial support of the Street Cleansing team
• monthly tidy sessions
• promoting increased footfall and spend for the businesses in Luton town centre
• funding and supporting the council and police to keep Luton safe for all businesses, employees and consumers
• funding and support of local events to promote local pride and community cohesion

Our organisation is committed to providing social, welfare, cultural, skills and volunteering opportunities for all including disadvantaged and under-represented groups. We will work with partners and residents to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by:

• giving people a strong voice and a role in shaping our services and opportunities
• increasing social connectedness and promoting better physical and mental wellbeing
• encouraging people to become active citizens, that take pride in their community and contribute to the sustainability of our town
• adopting an accessibility for all approach and becoming a disability confident employer
• signing up to the Good Business Charter
• becoming a real living wage employer and ensuring fair hours and employment
• supporting more flexible working and increasing access to work for families and those with caring responsibilities
• delivering services that support quality homes, education, health and wellbeing or community safety
• increasing social connectedness in workplaces and communities
• improving efficiency of buildings and equipment, reducing energy consumption and transfer to renewable energy
• implementing waste reduction plans
• achieving a carbon literate organisation accreditation
• providing leadership and education on the climate agenda in our community
• support the development of skills to assist with the delivery of Net Zero plans
• supporting employment and skills for young people through schemes like Passport to Employment, apprenticeships and work experience
• promoting aspiration and achievement for children and young people
• giving children and young people a voice in shaping services, opportunities and the future of the town
• implementing workplace policies to promote diversity and inclusion, including reporting and monitoring on pay gaps
• delivering an accessibility for all approach and being a disability confident employer
• supporting the work of Luton’s Fairness Taskforce to tackle inequalities in Luton
• giving all residents/employees/customers a voice in shaping services, opportunities and the future of the town
• taking pride in the community, improving perceptions of Luton and being an ambassador for the town
• treating all customers, staff and suppliers fairly and acting with integrity at all times, including fairness in payments for services and taxation
• increasing opportunities for volunteering and participation
• support the aspiration of Luton becoming a disability friendly town

Luton Sexual Health (LSH) is firmly committed to delivering an inclusive, comprehensive and responsive sexual and contraceptive health service to Luton’s diverse population. We fully support the aim and ambition for Luton to become a healthy, fair and sustainable town, where everyone can thrive by 2040.

LSH will collaborate even more productively with clients, staff, partners and the local population to contribute to the realisation of the Luton 2040 vision by:

• employing and investing in the development of a local team of Staff and Volunteers that reflects the diversity of Luton’s community, promoting equality and access for all
• paying all our staff a living wage to provide them with greater economic security and stability
• educating, upskilling and developing our clients and staff, enabling them aspire to and achieve their individual potential
• enabling local people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to change behaviours and make more beneficial decisions around their relationships and sexual health, so they can enjoy more positive sexual health, well-being and outcomes at all stages of life
• tackling inequality through specialised outreach activity that engages with and provides inclusive sexual health support to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our local population, enabling them to overcome barriers, participate more fully and thrive as part of Luton’s community
• holistically making every contact count through providing wider preventive health interventions with our clients, to improve mental health, social care and general health outcomes overall
• reducing our carbon emissions, minimising waste/recycling more and working towards net zero to support Luton’s environmental sustainability and the health of our local population

As the oldest sixth form college in the country we are committed to improving the life chances of our young people and the wider community. To show this commitment, we will do everything in our power to ensure that the future Prime Minister of this great country is an alumni of Luton Sixth Form College and/or from our great town of Luton – it’s only impossible until its done.

We love what we do and we will continue to be the first choice for our remarkable young people, families and partners to deliver the Luton 2040 vision.

• We will build upon our strengths by ensuring the highest academic standards, an excellent student experience, responsible management and ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of our strategic thinking, leaving a strong legacy for future generations.
• We will support our young people to find a course that they love and invest in a specialist team of professionals to help advise every young person and their families in choosing from the widest range of A levels and BTECs in the county.
• We will empower our students so that by the time they leave us, they are the creative, confident, responsible and active leaders of tomorrow.

When we have successfully helped deliver the Luton 2040 vision, we will be an even greater institution and town that is seen as one of the best places to study and live in the UK.

Together we are always stronger.

Mary Seacole Housing Association is committed to working with people facing multiple disadvantages, providing opportunities and skills that enable them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

We'll work with partners and the community to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision by:

• increasing social connections, promoting better physical and mental wellbeing for people who access our services
• encouraging coproduction, motivating individuals to take pride in their community and contribute to the sustainability of our town
• giving young people a platform to share their voices, creating genuine dialogue between the people who use services and the people who deliver them
• delivering skills in volunteering and job readiness programmes to raise aspirations and brokering opportunities for transition into work
• offering employee assistance programmes whilst ensuring our staff are paid the real living wage

Founded in Luton, NOAH is a charity that helps people experiencing homelessness, extreme poverty, and other disadvantages to make positive changes in their lives. NOAH fully embrace the Luton 2040 vision, and will do our part in several ways.

• Help to build a more inclusive economy, by providing training, careers advice, job search, and interview preparation for people who experience disadvantage
• Improve wellbeing and tackle inequalities, by enabling people facing destitution to access mental and physical health support, addiction services, food, clothing, and other essential items
• Support children and young people to thrive, by introducing tailored training and employment services for young people
• Promote fairness, community cohesion and local pride, by working together with other community leaders to amplify the voices of people who are socially excluded to decision-makers and the wider community

Peace Child International’s mission is to empower young people to be the change they want to see in the world. The name, 'peace child', comes from our musical play that starts and ends in the future peaceful, sustainable world that Vision 2040 imagines. In flashback, it tells the story of what today’s children do with their working lives to bring about that world. So, we pledge to:

• be ambassadors for Luton’s 2040 Vision and improve perceptions of Luton worldwide by promoting the Luton 2040 Vision to UN and INGOs
• organise the annual Luton Youth Sustainability Action Forum which provides oracy training and a chance for students to tackle local sustainability and climate change issues
  The forum inspires a variety of youth-led Sustainability initiatives which typically involve school journey planning, tree-planting, litter and waste management etc.
• deliver our Work the Change programme to train and mentor peer educators to build employability skills for Luton’s teenagers
• offer opportunities to young people to take their first steps on a world stage through enabling them to attend meetings at the UN and other international forums
• bring back to Luton’s 2040 team ideas and initiatives from other parts of the world to enrich and diversify the vision

Ryebridge Construction is a family run firm which recognises and celebrates the proud history, cultural diversity and huge potential that exists within our hometown and surrounding area, and we are committed to Luton becoming a healthy, fair and sustainable town offering opportunities for everyone to thrive, where nobody has to live in poverty.

In order to achieve the 2040 vision we pledge to work with our partners, stakeholders and communities across Luton by:

• drawing on a local pool of talent, ensuring more than 90% of our site and office staff come from the immediate area, supporting flexible working arrangements while going further than the government minimum as a Living Wage accredited organisation, and using a local supply chain to support companies within the Luton area
• taking a leading role in the Luton Development Forum, which brings together various specialists with a common goal of regenerating and rejuvenating the town, putting the mental and physical wellbeing of our staff at the heart of our business through the employment of mental health first aiders, and encouraging active commuting for staff
• promoting our carbon neutral strategy across all aspects of the business, including the use of low emission machinery, migration to an electrical fleet and solar powered welfare cabins, avoiding the need for polluting generators and ensuring power to all appliances, hot water and air conditioning as required
• encouraging the development of young people through our work experience and apprenticeship programme in conjunction with local schools and colleges
• maintaining an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of people living and working locally, including being an active member of Love Luton and sponsoring Luton Town FC, and supporting local charities including Keech Hospice, Level Trust, Luton Food Bank and Age Concern Luton - recognising they are the lifeblood of the local community - in a bid to improve wellbeing and address inequalities within Luton society

If your organisation would like to sign up and make its own Luton 2040 pledge, the toolkit can be found by clicking on this link. If you need further information and support please e-mail [email protected].

South east Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) is committed to improving the wellbeing of our population, as well as improving fairness and opportunities for all. We will work with partners to deliver on the Luton 2040 vision through supporting employment and skills using employer driven labour market information derived from data analysis, research and consultation with employers, sector bodies and educators to:

• inform, inspire and raise aspirations of the talent pipeline, both within education and outside of work
• remove discrepancies between the skills and attainment needed by employers and those held by individuals
• enable people into employment and those within employment to progress
• deliver through employer led engagement, best practice and innovation
• align provision, facilities and activity with employer needs
• facilitate and simplify engagement for all

The Culture Trust is committed towards building a more inclusive economy and working with partners, stakeholders and communities to deliver Luton 2040 priorities by:

• tackling inequality by widening access to culture through free-to-enter museums and heritage sites and by providing free and subsidised activities
• improving the quality of living in Luton by presenting inspiring and diverse live music, theatre, comedy, dance and outdoor arts
• providing opportunities for children and young people through workshops, start-up space, networking, bursaries and jobs
• supporting job growth, skills development and creative start-ups growing a vibrant and thriving creative industry cluster in the heart of Luton
• promoting fairness through our charity by supporting local suppliers, signing up to the Good Business Charter and ensuring we pay the Real Living Wage

If your organisation would like to sign up and make its own Luton 2040 pledge, the toolkit can be found by clicking on this link. If you need further information and support please e-mail [email protected].

The Shared Learning Trust is committed to improving the life chances of young people and making Luton a place to thrive. We will work with all our stakeholders to support and secure the delivery of the Luton 2040 vision by:

• tackling inequality through opportunity; delivering high-quality education for all young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), in each of our schools
• preparing our students for the world of work, creating programmes of study that include a full range of employability skills, through our community cluster boards, we will continue to foster excellent relationships with Luton’s business community
• ensuring our young people aim high with integrity, matched by excellent educational attainment; they will develop a strong sense of self-belief as summed up in our strapline, “strive, achieve, believe!”
• working with Luton’s services and charities, creating opportunities for the wider community to benefit from our expertise and facilities e.g. delivery of ESOL classes

University of Bedfordshire We are proud to show our commitment to the Luton 2040 pledge and are committed to working to transform the town of Luton.

We have confirmed our commitment in our own strategy but also through a formal civic agreement with Luton Council built around the shared Luton 2040 Vision.

This agreement brings strategic alignment to the roles of the university and the council in the transformation of Luton and details how we will use the power of our research, education and enterprise to shift long-standing societal problems in the town.

We pledge we will:

• address skills shortages across the private and public sectors, to shape and attract a diverse and dynamic talent pipeline
• lead by example and encourage other anchor institutions in the Luton area to adapt and respond to the green agenda, to practice ethical procurement, and to focus on social value to realise Luton's transition to net-zero
• develop stronger structures for knowledge exchange and knowledge utilisation in health and social research, so that the cutting edge research in health by the university is not underused and can better inform and shape council services and local NHS training and practice
• undertake locally relevant research to support the evidence-based development of crucial social, health, well-being and cultural interventions
• contribute to a different story for Luton, to amplify the messages of the shared town-wide Luton 2040 Vision and the ambitious goals and extensive impact of the university through working inclusively with local communities in Luton