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Black History Month

Four things we learned from Montell Neufville about Luton Youth

Montell Neufville is a founder of Att10tive and the chair of the Bedfordshire Police Community scrutiny panel that scrutinises Stop and Search and the use of force. This panel is considered to be one of the model scrutiny panels in the UK. 

He also chairs a variety of committees and seats on boards including, school governing bodies, council committees, Young enterprise and a New Deal for communities’ regeneration board, as well as chairing a Youth network board. 

For the past 10 years, he delivered training workshops to members of the community including young people, and over 100 sessions to police officers. 

He is seen as the champion of Luton’s youth excellence.

Since its creation, Att10tive has engaged with over 2000 young people and runs a wide range of workshops from employability skills and anti-bullying, to workshops around knife crime and biases. 

Some of the participants have gone on to do senior or prestigious jobs in public service or even opened up their own businesses. 

  • Can you tell us about Att10ntive? And why? 

The name att10tive comes from being attentive, paying attention, and taking notes. Our main aim is active learning, every day is a learning opportunity, the more you pay attention the better. The “10” came from a European workshop. I used to go to many European countries before Brexit to deliver workshops. We found it’s good to have a mix of numbers and letters to make a name unique and memorable. Our participants are anyone who wants to learn and grow. our methods are non-formal education and active learning

  • What concern do you have about young people in Luton?

We are not equipping young people to be the best that they can be and to fit into the world that they will inherit. We prepare them for our world and their parents’ world, where there were jobs for life and where you selected what career you wanted to do. The world they will enter is different and the skills are different, young people will need adaptability, creative skills, to use their initiative, flexibility, and good communication skills. Technology is changing very fast and will impact their lives even more than our lives. Ten years ago, there were few mobile phones, in ten years’ time, we will talk to our houses to make everything. So jobs will be different and ways to make money and careers will be different. I find generation Z struggling to engage and speak to each other, much like those people born in the 1960s and 1970s. People born in the 2000s in this Millenium find communicating hard.

  • Do you think that Att10ntive will redefine the future of young people in Luton?

We try to redefine young people by equipping them to be the change they want to see in the world. by giving them skills they would not learn in traditional jobs or education and by encouraging them to network and meet influential decision-makers. Our aim is to give them the tools to make a positive difference.

  • What do young people really need in Luton?

What else do they need? I would say mentoring, advice and guidance, the ability to solve problems, conflict resolution skills, the ability to integrate and meet people not like them. The ability and opportunity to use their creative skills and passions. The skills to resolve conflicts without resorting to bullying or to carrying weapons.

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Black History Month

Black History Month 2022

Black history month 2022

Black History Month
Luton Hat District presents

Dele Sosimi

Friday 21st October
From 7.30 pm
www.culturetrust.com

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AUK Radio

It’s tough being a Black Female Football Manager, Dionne Manning, Former Luton Town Ladies?

“I have been playing football for 10 years now and I have never received racial abuse on the pitch that I have heard. Now with all the social media hype it’s giving people a platform to air their views and they don’t seem to be getting punished…”, Dionne Manning, former Luton Town FC, and coach of Warden AFC U7, in Luton, which provides a safe environment to enjoy and develop football skills. 

However, Dionne was concerned about the racial abuse received by black players during  Euro2021. “I was very worried about playing for the next few weeks after that as I thought what would I do if I was racially abused on the pitch how would I handle it ?”, she said.

Women’s football is growing in England…But, the road to success is still long….Dionne suggested that more support is really needed. She gave an example of some celebrities like Ed Sheeran. The financial aspect plays a crucial role in supporting women’s football such as strong sponsorship, travel expenses, etc as it can be very expensive playing.

 “I play for Harlow town ladies currently but live in Luton so it’s costing me a lot each week”, recalled Dionne.   

Born in Luton, Dionne’s passion for football started when she was in primary school.  But, her Afro-Caribbean parents weren’t supportive. “Football was not something that my parents wanted me to be involved in…Mostly,  being a girl and games on Sunday were a big no-no…”.

Despite the lack of support, Dionne’s sport’s ability didn’t disappear.  

“I have switched to hockey and cricket instead….My passion for football arose when O started taking my 4-year-old boy to football training….Then I decided to carry on by joining a team…Even though I advanced in age, I was able to support myself and enjoy football now as a hobby…’ It’s been a  speedy rise and Dionne found a local team,  Dunstable, which signed her off after 10 minutes of the trial.

 “That was the first time I’d kicked a football since high school…”,  claimed Dionne. 

After a successful career there,  Dionne joined Tottenham Ladies  Even though Spurs Ladies weren’t near the heights that time, it was great to be part of such a big club and proud to be playing each week.

 ” After a couple of years the club started to do really well and they wanted to up training from twice a week to 3 times and with a young son and the travel it was, unfortunately, something I couldn’t commit to”. 

Dionne’s talent and skills were scouted by  Luton Town’s connection. ‘I have joined Luton town ladies where I spent the next 4/5 years. Again I achieved great things here like becoming the first-ever woman to represent Luton Town FC in their kit launch. Again I was so proud and excited and for my son to see his mum on the billboards around Luton town stadium etc. I recently left Luton ladies as I’m a person who always wants to push themselves to the highest level I can so as I said I have now gone back to playing national league football and enjoying the tough challenge”.

Dionne’s passion for football led her to focus on her boy’s grassroots football team for 7 years.  In 2016, she then launched her own grassroots football club, Warden AFC in Bedfordshire.

She has been the chair of the club since the launch. 

Dionne is involved in local communities by coaching and scouting footballer including young people.  Her grassroots team has been very successful by winning trophies and major tournaments. 

But she reckoned that “it tough being a black female football manager in what has been and male-dominated environment for years”, indicated regrettably Dionne. 

“I would advise anyone who is passionate about anything in life, not just football not to give him or let anyone hold you back or tell you you can’t do something. Believe in yourself as you only get one life and you have to make the most of it. Doors will close but other doors will always open if you strive to achieve”, she mentioned. 

Interview by @JuniorBadila

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Alva Wilson, Dressed Luton to The Nines as a Reflection of Black Heritage

“Dressed to the Nines”  by London-born visual artist, designer, maker, photographer, and teacher  Alva Clifford Wilson was celebrated on the 13 of October in Luton, Wardown House, Museum, and Gallery as part of Black History Month’s celebration. 

Alva shares how his heritage and Windrush have inspired his career throughout the years. 

Elegantly dressed, Alva was proud of his parents’ sense of dress in his storytelling.  Living in London in the early ’70s was difficult for any black boy. “I do remember being stopped several times by the Police for just being a black boy…”, he said. “I remember being told by the Police to not get involved in any trouble. …it was not even in my mind to be involved in trouble….I was really frightened…”. 

As far back as he can remember, Alva’s father insisted that he had to follow in his footsteps and inherit his business. At the age of 16,  followed her dream of becoming a fashion designer…” My dad wished me to inherit his successful construction company…”, he recalled. 

Alva’s sense of dressing reflects the way in which black experience has been shaped by cultural exchange, racial discrimination, and political disenfranchisement over the centuries, and how notions of Britishness have in turn been reshaped by the black community.

“I have had the most amazing childhood and the most amazing family…”. Holding a small women’s dress worn in the ’70s.

While Alva’s perspective is uniquely African the Caribbean and uniquely  London in the ’70s, snippets of his Windrush generation upbringing are more than evident in his work. Traditional millinery techniques mixed with a contemporary edge.  

His eyes lit up and became overwhelmed when describing his childhood. His work remains a vital testament to the cultural influence Britain’s black community has had on British society as a whole. 

Alva’s first collection was purchased by The Hat Shop in Covent Garden, London and this became his springboard to sell to other shops in the UK. He went to open ‘The Hat Gallery’ in 1998 at Broadway Market, Hackney E8, and was one of the pioneers who helped regenerate the now striving area. He uses recyclable materials to create headwear to bring environmental awareness. In 2019, he started his solo exhibition at Wardown museum & art gallery.

Reported by @JuniorBadila

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