Todays tasks are to
- Go to Stockwood Discovery Centre, walk round the gardens, and visit the museum galleries
- Have lunch at the garden cafe with Lizzy Fretwell a local theatre maker
- Go to the Hedley Rise Neighbourhood Watch Presentation Evening
--- Day 5 in Luton. I feel like I'm starting to get settled. Looking forward to this morning - the venue is close by and its sounds like a gentle start to the day. I put on my visiting a gallery / museum outfit.
Stockward Discovery Centre is an interesting complex of different museums and galleries with a good cafe. They have an incredible collection of local history as well as a huge space full of carts, wagons, and beautiful gypsy and traveller caravans. I also really enjoyed the museum gardens - each part of their garden has been designed according to a different place and time - for example there is the Dig for Victory garden showing the UK governments initiative during World War 2 to encourage people to grow their own vegetables. There is even Hens for Victory here - the Centres very own hens, and then next to this is, for example, The Italian Garden. Its quite strange seeing gardens curated like this - how strikingly different they are all are when placed in proximity to each other. There is always an assumption that a garden is 'natural' but seeing it here and how embedded it is within culture and history really demonstrates something else.
I think back to the big allotment I passed by on my way to the centre - and I think of how vital allotment spaces are. Self built spaces are so rare in the UK and I love all the weird sheds, and odd structures. The allotment space is so important - a space for community, activity that has positive mental health benefits, and a space to feel empowered growing food (ideally). In the museum garden they are really focused on design and history and it feels strange to compare them to the working allotment - these alive and vital spaces.
After this I go and meet Lizzy for lunch. Lizzy is a talented young theatre maker who is currently creating We've Chosen Here, which is an interesting project devised with Luton residents at the local library. Together they are exploring loss and its relationship to location. Participants are invited to create an audio tribute to someone they have lost, via a connection to a place in Luton. Its a really beautiful idea and it reminds me of how in London I have experienced so many changes to physical space that memories and experiences with people (however vulnerable they are in their own way) are some of the closest things we sometimes might have in stability in relation to the built environment. There will be a listening party with all the stories and poems developed as part of the project on the 7th May at the Hat Factory https://www.culturetrust.com/whats-on/weve-chosen-here-listening-party
Its really great to talk with Lizzy, and we speak about Luton, a bit about growing up here, and her work in theatre. I tell her about my fear of acting, and how amazing I think actors are.
At 7pm its time to go to the Neighbourhood Watch Presentation. I have never been to a presentation given by the police. (I am more used to (in protests) having a different relationship with them). It's taking place a community centre just outside of the town centre. I'm really glad I'm going to a community centre, there is something comforting about the similarities between community centres across the country - the same strip lighting, chairs, kitchen hatch, and lots of info boards.
We are introduced by the person (an ex police officer - sorry I can't remember his name) that started the local Neighbourhood Watch. He tells us they have 780 members (really impressive) and they do a number of things from walking the streets to keep an eye on things (and report suspicious goings on to the police), as well as litter picks. It is incredible community action, and I can't help but think that groups like these are going to be more prevalent as the government continues to underfund the police.
It's interesting to hear about some of the groups they are connected to ... the 'Boys Brigade'... 'Friends of Wigmore Park' ... and I think about all the self initiated community groups that exist and how they are networked together.
Tonight we are going to have a talk about cyber crime and county lines.
Shaun is presenting. He begins, 'I will start by scaring you, and if I do I have done my job properly'. He is a very good presenter, a good performer, and everyone is gripped by what he is saying. 'The police don't help' he says, 'the banks won't help you' and he explains that there is only one person employed by Bedfordshire police to tackle cyber crime and thats him. He talks about who and how people are targeted. One of the biggest cyber crimes takes place in the world of online dating. He describes how usually women are approached by an 'engineer in Australia' and men are targeted 'by a sexy woman from Russia'. He talks us through how fraud mainly happens and about how people are often so ashamed about what has happened that they don't tell their family. He talks about people often targeted and taken advantage of because they are desperate for connection - they are often wanting love'.
He talks about hackers who manage to hack into computers using phishing, followed by a complex story that eventually involves the person whose stolen money it is thinking the banks are actually trying to defraud them. Its incredible the story that is span by the fraudsters into making the person act in a particular way and building on their mistrust of banks. Its like some awful interactive theatre. A fraud performance with tragic consequences on peoples lives.
Next to present is a young police officer who specialises in working with young people -particularly those involved in county lines. The room is full of predominantly older people and I start to feel my age (34) as she quizzes us about young peoples speak. I only know two of eight of these definitions.
OT - out there
Beef - an issue with someone
Endz - where they're from
Jakes - police
Man-dem - friend
Wettin - running drugs for someone
Burner - phone
Bando - drug premises
It feels wrong to write these definitions down like this in this blog. Its definitely not the way they are intended to be used as they exist mainly through spoken word and text, and to create a coded and boundaried space. But I marvel at these words and how they came into existence? Did someone just say it, then people loved it - it just fitted so well, and then it became used because it was so spot on.
The police officer talks us through the history of gangs - she asks when was the first gang? Apparently 1870 - I'm not so sure. I mean perhaps this is when the word 'gang' came to existence? Surely there were gangs before? She talks about uniforms, and how important uniforms are to a gang - she references Peaky Blinders.
I am struck by her emphasis on encouraging adults to ask young people about what they are doing. Asking straight up questions. It strikes me about how much fear there is directed at teenagers from older people. How often it feels like a stark divide through which it becomes normalised to judge and to fear rather than just to ask, share, and relate. I think about the role of the media in creating this fear, and the lack of intergenerational events, projects, and gatherings.
Writing this now I recognise there is much more to talk and think about in relation to young people and the police. There is a lot more to say and I hope to come back to this later.
-------
What I was doing when I was thinking about other things (my internet search history).
- Go to Stockwood Discovery Centre, walk round the gardens, and visit the museum galleries
- Have lunch at the garden cafe with Lizzy Fretwell a local theatre maker
- Go to the Hedley Rise Neighbourhood Watch Presentation Evening
--- Day 5 in Luton. I feel like I'm starting to get settled. Looking forward to this morning - the venue is close by and its sounds like a gentle start to the day. I put on my visiting a gallery / museum outfit.
Stockward Discovery Centre is an interesting complex of different museums and galleries with a good cafe. They have an incredible collection of local history as well as a huge space full of carts, wagons, and beautiful gypsy and traveller caravans. I also really enjoyed the museum gardens - each part of their garden has been designed according to a different place and time - for example there is the Dig for Victory garden showing the UK governments initiative during World War 2 to encourage people to grow their own vegetables. There is even Hens for Victory here - the Centres very own hens, and then next to this is, for example, The Italian Garden. Its quite strange seeing gardens curated like this - how strikingly different they are all are when placed in proximity to each other. There is always an assumption that a garden is 'natural' but seeing it here and how embedded it is within culture and history really demonstrates something else.
I think back to the big allotment I passed by on my way to the centre - and I think of how vital allotment spaces are. Self built spaces are so rare in the UK and I love all the weird sheds, and odd structures. The allotment space is so important - a space for community, activity that has positive mental health benefits, and a space to feel empowered growing food (ideally). In the museum garden they are really focused on design and history and it feels strange to compare them to the working allotment - these alive and vital spaces.
After this I go and meet Lizzy for lunch. Lizzy is a talented young theatre maker who is currently creating We've Chosen Here, which is an interesting project devised with Luton residents at the local library. Together they are exploring loss and its relationship to location. Participants are invited to create an audio tribute to someone they have lost, via a connection to a place in Luton. Its a really beautiful idea and it reminds me of how in London I have experienced so many changes to physical space that memories and experiences with people (however vulnerable they are in their own way) are some of the closest things we sometimes might have in stability in relation to the built environment. There will be a listening party with all the stories and poems developed as part of the project on the 7th May at the Hat Factory https://www.culturetrust.com/whats-on/weve-chosen-here-listening-party
Its really great to talk with Lizzy, and we speak about Luton, a bit about growing up here, and her work in theatre. I tell her about my fear of acting, and how amazing I think actors are.
At 7pm its time to go to the Neighbourhood Watch Presentation. I have never been to a presentation given by the police. (I am more used to (in protests) having a different relationship with them). It's taking place a community centre just outside of the town centre. I'm really glad I'm going to a community centre, there is something comforting about the similarities between community centres across the country - the same strip lighting, chairs, kitchen hatch, and lots of info boards.
We are introduced by the person (an ex police officer - sorry I can't remember his name) that started the local Neighbourhood Watch. He tells us they have 780 members (really impressive) and they do a number of things from walking the streets to keep an eye on things (and report suspicious goings on to the police), as well as litter picks. It is incredible community action, and I can't help but think that groups like these are going to be more prevalent as the government continues to underfund the police.
It's interesting to hear about some of the groups they are connected to ... the 'Boys Brigade'... 'Friends of Wigmore Park' ... and I think about all the self initiated community groups that exist and how they are networked together.
Tonight we are going to have a talk about cyber crime and county lines.
Shaun is presenting. He begins, 'I will start by scaring you, and if I do I have done my job properly'. He is a very good presenter, a good performer, and everyone is gripped by what he is saying. 'The police don't help' he says, 'the banks won't help you' and he explains that there is only one person employed by Bedfordshire police to tackle cyber crime and thats him. He talks about who and how people are targeted. One of the biggest cyber crimes takes place in the world of online dating. He describes how usually women are approached by an 'engineer in Australia' and men are targeted 'by a sexy woman from Russia'. He talks us through how fraud mainly happens and about how people are often so ashamed about what has happened that they don't tell their family. He talks about people often targeted and taken advantage of because they are desperate for connection - they are often wanting love'.
He talks about hackers who manage to hack into computers using phishing, followed by a complex story that eventually involves the person whose stolen money it is thinking the banks are actually trying to defraud them. Its incredible the story that is span by the fraudsters into making the person act in a particular way and building on their mistrust of banks. Its like some awful interactive theatre. A fraud performance with tragic consequences on peoples lives.
Next to present is a young police officer who specialises in working with young people -particularly those involved in county lines. The room is full of predominantly older people and I start to feel my age (34) as she quizzes us about young peoples speak. I only know two of eight of these definitions.
OT - out there
Beef - an issue with someone
Endz - where they're from
Jakes - police
Man-dem - friend
Wettin - running drugs for someone
Burner - phone
Bando - drug premises
It feels wrong to write these definitions down like this in this blog. Its definitely not the way they are intended to be used as they exist mainly through spoken word and text, and to create a coded and boundaried space. But I marvel at these words and how they came into existence? Did someone just say it, then people loved it - it just fitted so well, and then it became used because it was so spot on.
The police officer talks us through the history of gangs - she asks when was the first gang? Apparently 1870 - I'm not so sure. I mean perhaps this is when the word 'gang' came to existence? Surely there were gangs before? She talks about uniforms, and how important uniforms are to a gang - she references Peaky Blinders.
I am struck by her emphasis on encouraging adults to ask young people about what they are doing. Asking straight up questions. It strikes me about how much fear there is directed at teenagers from older people. How often it feels like a stark divide through which it becomes normalised to judge and to fear rather than just to ask, share, and relate. I think about the role of the media in creating this fear, and the lack of intergenerational events, projects, and gatherings.
Writing this now I recognise there is much more to talk and think about in relation to young people and the police. There is a lot more to say and I hope to come back to this later.
-------
What I was doing when I was thinking about other things (my internet search history).
