Tokko Youth Hub: A safe haven for Luton’s young people

In January 2025, Tokko youth hub re-opened after a £1.3M renovation made possible by a Youth Investment Fund grant. A new film shows how young people are thriving at Tokko, enjoying the new facilities and valuing it as a safe place to socialise and talk with a trusted youth worker.

Tokko’s CEO Aimee Djengiz reflects on all that the Youth Investment Fund has achieved for young people in Luton’s town centre.

“The Youth Investment Fund has not only enabled us to develop our facility into a vibrant youth space in the town centre, but it’s also enabled us to develop our own staff, our own policies and practice, and to ensure that our staff have pathways to develop in the future.”

The renovated youth space has some fantastic new facilities including a fully equipped gym, a training kitchen, climbing wall, training rooms and a child friendly space designed with 3D graphics that is used for a young parent group, supporting young parents up to 25 years.

Rae, aged 14 years says:

“I’ve made a lot of friends and also, it’s a safe space. Mental health is really important, and Tokko helps my mental health. Young people have other people to talk to, if they don’t want to speak to people at home.”

Rhys and Natalia, both aged 16, are two young parents who really value having somewhere safe to go. Tokko offers young parents like them with support through pregnancy, birth and in the early years.

Rhys says:

“No matter what we need they are always here to give a helping hand. It’s been really helpful getting support because it’s given me a basis to learn all these new things. I had no experience with children. It’s given me the foothold that I need.”

Beth is a student volunteer at Tokko and attends Central Bedfordshire College. Beth says: “Places like this are really important to young people. When I was growing up, I never had a place like this. It gives young people something to look forward to at the end of the day.”