Arts Council Application
DUSK
The catalyst for this project was DUSK, Tokko’s 2024/25 project in partnership with Next Generation Youth Theartre, supported by the Knife Angel Legacy Fund.
DUSK is a powerful, youth-led short film that confronts the realities of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), misogyny, adolescence, and identity. Co-produced with young women and young men in Luton, the film offers an honest and unfiltered exploration of the pressures facing young people today and how they navigate these challenges together.
At the heart of DUSK is the belief that meaningful change cannot happen without the active involvement of young men. The film creates space to reclaim healthy masculinity, nurture allyship, and encourage open conversations that challenge harmful narratives before they take root. By engaging young men in these discussions, DUSK works to prevent the fear, isolation, and ‘othering’ that can contribute to pathways towards violence and abuse. Instead, it fosters understanding, accountability, and empathy.
Created in partnership by Tokko Youth Hub and Next Generation Youth Theatre, and supported by the Knife Angel Legacy Fund 2025, the project amplifies youth voices and champions social change through creative expression.
Next Generation Youth Theatre (NGYT)
Next Generation Youth Theatre (NGYT) is the lead arts partner and will co-design and co-deliver the project with Tokko Youth Hub. Led by David Lloyd, NGYT brings specialist expertise in drama, performance and creative practice with young people around sensitive themes. NGYT will support workshop delivery, creative development, reflective practice and skills-sharing with Tokko staff to strengthen best practice.
NGYT is a youth-led theatre and dance charity based in Luton, dedicated to creating inclusive, high-quality creative opportunities for young people aged 0–25yrs. They use theatre and dance to help young people express their voices, build confidence, develop artistic skills, and shape their own creative journeys. Their work spans schools, community settings, out-of-school programmes, commissioned projects, and touring performance work — all rooted in collaboration, social impact, ambition and young people’s leadership.
NGYT places young people at the centre of everything it does, with participants actively shaping creative work, contributing to decision-making, and influencing the organisation’s direction.
Its schools programme delivers theatre and dance projects across primary, secondary and specialist settings, combining curriculum support with a focus on wellbeing, confidence and collaboration. Work with schools includes residencies, workshops, performances and tailored projects designed to be flexible, inclusive and accessible to all learners.
Beyond schools, NGYT runs weekly theatre and dance opportunities for ages 3yrs –25yrs, offering both structured training and creative exploration. These programmes prioritise inclusion, confidence-building, creative development and SEND support, creating supportive spaces where young people grow artistically and personally.
The organisation also delivers commissioned and collaborative projects with councils, charities and community partners, using theatre and dance to explore local themes and amplify youth voices. Young participants play a central role in shaping these projects and performances.
Through its touring and performance work, NGYT produces original, youth-led productions presented in community venues and arts centres. These performances often draw on young people’s lived experiences and have included appearances at major venues and national broadcasts, showcasing their work to wide audiences.
In 2024/25 over 8,900 young people 0 – 25 yrs participated in NGYT groups, companies, events and projects. Engaging an audience of over 67,000, experiencing live performances, viewing work online and in the media.
Two Side Studios
Two Side Studios is the media partner, specialising in socially engaged film and digital storytelling. They will co-produce a short film and digital assets with young people, working closely with Next Generation Youth Theatre and youth workers to ensure the process is ethical, accessible and empowering. Their involvement will help translate young people’s stories into high-quality visual outputs that act as both creative outcomes and learning resources.
Two Side Studios is an award-winning independent production company based in Luton, UK. They specialise in videography, editing, and graphic design, creating clear, impactful content for organisations, businesses, and community groups.
The studio was founded after producing The Tipping Point, a documentary highlighting Luton’s communities. Its success-and their deepening connection to local stories-led us to establish a company focused on authentic, community-driven filmmaking. The film went on to win Best Short Film at the Bute Street Film Festival 2024, followed by another win in 2025 for The Orange Weekend, and the Mark West DEI Award at the Luton Community Awards 2025.
They have worked with a wide range of partners, including Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation, Luton Foodbank, X-4RCE CIC, Luton Comic Con CIC, Groundswell Project Luton, Luton Council, BNI, South Midlands Growth Hub, Fliweel.Tech, the Accelerating AI Conference, The Restorative Justice Council, Luton Youth Awards, and CYCD.
Tokko Youth Hub
Tokko Youth Hub will co-deliver, and lead project management, safeguarding, evaluation and partnership coordination. The team includes JNC-qualified youth workers with extensive experience in trauma-informed practice, safeguarding and relationship-based engagement. Tokko also has an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) trained youth professional, providing specialist support and strengthening safeguarding and referral pathways.
Tokko Youth Hub is a purpose-built youth facility located in the heart of Luton, delivering both targeted and open access support six days a week to young people aged 13 yrs –19 yrs, and up to 24 yrs for young people with SEND or those who are young parents. Our services are co-designed with young people and shaped by the lived experiences of the communities we serve, particularly those most affected by poverty, discrimination, health inequalities and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Our mission is to ensure every young person in Luton can access a safe, inclusive space where they are supported to lead happy and healthy lives.
We work with some of Luton’s most marginalised young people, with 65% living in wards ranked within the 10–20% most deprived nationally. 28% per cent have a physical or learning disability, and a further 12% live with long-term health or mental health conditions. Many are care-experienced or at risk of disengaging from education, employment or training. Between July 2024 and June 2025, we supported 942 young people across 3,558 attendances, delivering 5,024 hours of youth support—representing a 5% increase on the previous year. Outcomes include improved wellbeing, reduced isolation and positive progression into education and training.
