Young members excited for their Happy Return to Luton's Next Generation Youth Theatre

With society tentatively opening up in line with the Government’s roadmap out of the pandemic, the Luton News wants to be with our readers every step of the way.

We want to hear your positive stories about how you/your family, your business, your club/society or maybe your sports team is re-emerging from the restrictions which have made the past year so challenging. See details at the end of this article for more details on getting involved.

Here Next Generation Youth Theatre CIC tells its story with its under 18s having returned on April 12.

“It’s been a difficult year navigating this pandemic and its changes, particularly for the young people of our Luton community. We couldn’t wait to open our doors to all young people aged 3-18 and run Covid secure in-person dance, theatre and musical theatre groups and companies again.

“The 18-25 year olds who attend NGYT can still take part online and we are offering a Zoom option if anyone aged under 18 wishes to take part from home too. We’ve spent the majority of the pandemic online. Live sessions, Zoom parties, proms, sleepovers, quiz’s, henna workshops, writing challenges, saving World Book Day, online wellbeing projects with schools, performing for neighbours, Q&A’s with industry professionals- you name it we’ve done it. We’ve made the best out of the online world and whilst maintaining strict Covid safety guidelines we are so ready to be together again.

“When the last lockdown ended and we were able to see each other it felt like we’d never been away. It will all be worth it when everyone aged 3-25 can attend as before.

“NGYT sessions mean a lot to the young people in Luton we work with. NGYT is a safe space where all young people are welcome, are listened to and can be themselves.

“We make sure that young people’s voices and stories are heard and at the heart of what we do and we are so grateful we have been able to continue supporting young people across the entire pandemic. During an often lonely time for many, at Christmas time we packed up little wellbeing pamper packs and dropped them to houses across Luton to let our NGYT family know we were thinking of them.

“When we told our young company members and families we are able to return to some capacity from Monday 12th the excited emails and messages started rolling in and we couldn’t wait to start!"

More details at www.ngyt.co.uk > Why not get involved in the Luton News' Happy Returns feature? We’d be delighted to hear details of how businesses and the community are emerging from the restrictions of the pandemic.

It might be news of a business relaunching, your youth sports team resuming its matches, how your school is coping with the ongoing challenges, how your club or society is ditching Zoom and is looking to meet face-to-face again, a family reunion or celebration which can finally go ahead, or the many other examples of events and activities we all took for granted slowly returning.

This is a great chance to tell your story over the coming weeks and months ahead. Submit 100-300 words to this newspaper on how the pandemic has had an impact, how you’ve kept going and most importantly news of your ‘Happy Return’ when it’s deemed safe.

We’d also love to receive photos of those joyful reunions/reopenings. Please send all details to [email protected]> From April 12, non-essential retail, hairdressers and public buildings opened. Outdoor settings like alcohol takeaways, beer gardens, zoos and theme parks began welcoming visitors. Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms opened. Funerals continue with up to 30 people, and weddings up to 15 guests.

> From May 17, ‘rule of six’ abolished for outdoor gatherings and replaced with a limit of 30 people. Two households can mix indoors – with the rule of six applied in hospitality settings like pubs. Cinemas, hotels, performances and sporting events can reopen. Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes.

> From June 21, all legal limits on social contact is intended to be removed, with the final closed sectors of the economy reopened.