01/05/2025 - Pop-up public living rooms coming to Luton this month
Pop-up public living rooms will start appearing around Luton later this month, offering residents a break from the fast pace of everyday life and a chance to chill out and have a chat with their neighbours.
The public living rooms are informal, drop-in spaces set up in accessible locations such as libraries, parks, and town centres. They’re designed to feel like a shared living room – open to everyone, with no pressure and no agenda. Whether it’s for a friendly chat, a quiet moment, or meeting new people, these spaces encourage human connection at a time when loneliness and social isolation are rising nationally.
The initiative is part of a Citizen Activation Month, running from 7 May to 7 June, which will feature a variety of community-led events and activities across the town.
“These events are part of our wider work with community partners to equip and empower local changemakers and support a whole-town approach to achieving our 2040 vision of a healthy, fair, and sustainable town where everyone can thrive – and no one is left behind.
“I encourage anyone wanting to get more involved in their community to attend one of these events and find out how you can help create positive change in your area.”
Funded by Luton’s Fairness Taskforce and The National Lottery Community Fund, the Citizen Activation Month events aim to bring together communities and help create neighbourhood level change and supporting Luton’s 2040 vision for a healthy, fair, and sustainable town where everyone can thrive – and no one is left behind.
How can I get involved?
Pop up public living rooms
Come along to one of our public living rooms to make local connections, chat about anything and everything and help us to combat loneliness:
- 7 May – 10am to 12pm at Lewsey Community Centre
- 13 May – 10 am to 12pm at Bury Park Community Centre
- 21 May – 3:30pm to 5:30pm at The Greenhouse, Stopsley
- 27 May – 1pm to 3pm at St George's Square, Luton Town Centre
ABCD pop-ups
Asset-Based-Community-Development (ABCD) is the belief that people are your strongest asset, and change comes from community led action.
These fun and interactive drop-in sessions are your chance to find out more about an ABCD approach and how it can help you to make change in your community:
- 16 May – 12pm to 2pm at Luton Train Station
- 19 May – 2:30pm to 4:30pm at St George's Square, Luton Town Centre
- 22 May – 11am to 1pm at Hockwell Community Centre
Make a difference workshop*
This 90-minute workshop on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is for residents who want to lead the change in their neighbourhood:
- 5 June – 6pm to 7:30pm, online (Please register via Eventbrite)
*Registration is required for this workshop.