Our Services

PLEASE NOTE OUR SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE INQUIRE WITHIN.

 

Reception

Monday to Friday 9:30am-4:30pm T. 01582 720447 info@lutonirishforum.org

Welfare Advice and Support

Monday to Friday 9:30am-4:30pm Contact via Reception

Advice and support on a range of issues, from welfare benefits and related housing to accessing local services. 

Telephone helpline for new welfare enquiries Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 9:30am-12pm T. 01582 720447

Irish Passport Applications: Witnessing service and help with online applications - by appointment.

Social Groups and Activities

A choice of groups providing social interaction and the opportunity to take up a new hobby or discover a talent you didn’t know you had! See our What’s On for details.

Befriending

Keeping people connected - we're recruiting Volunteers now!

Culture

Luton St Patrick’s Festival

St Brigid’s Day Celebrations

Educational Seminars

and more!

Luton Digital Skills Project

Contact sue@lutonirishforum.org or phone 01582 817069

One-to-one support with CV writing, boosting your skills, job applications, and interviews to help you get back into work.

 

Telephone helpline for new welfare enquiries Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 9:30am -12.30pm

Support to access welfare benefits and related housing and debt issues

Representation at appeals and medicals

Support with accessing community and social care services

Emergency drop in for those have no home, money or are at risk of eviction

Information for Irish, Polish and other people who are considering moving to or who have just arrived in Luton thisisluton.com

Information on returning to Ireland

Outreach for people who cannot easily access our centre

Support to Gypsy, Traveller and Roma within Bedford HMP Traveller Forum

Our Welfare Service is accredited by the Advice Quality Standard including Welfare Benefits Casework.

   

 

 

 

 

Irish Passports

Information and advice on eligibility criteria and applying for an Irish Passport

Assistance with applications (Strictly by appointment: Wednesdays 1.00pm - 4.00pm)

I.D. Witnessing service (Strictly by appointment: Wednesdays 1.00pm - 4.00pm)

SOCIAL GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

See What's On for times and days. 

Art Class

From beginners to experienced artists - all enjoy the Friday art group in LIF and Tuesday sessions by Zoom. Work from the art group adorns the Boyle Family Room in LIF and more can be viewed at  https://www.artsteps.com/view/5f3abfb6029485771fa5cc5c (best viewed on a larger screen).

Baby & Toddler Group

This group runs every Friday morning during Term Time 9.30 am to 11.30 am. No need to book. 

Calligraphy Group

The Calligraphy Group is on hold.

Choir

Our choir meets every Thursday 2.30 pm -3.30 pm. All abilities welcome...and we do mean all! 

Crafty Cuppa

Whatever craft you love doing, come along. All abilities welcome and encouraged. Mondays 1.00pm-2.30pm

Games Club

Fancy a game of dominos or cards? This is the place for you. Some of our members are getting strikes on Wii Bowling. Great chance to make friends and have fun. Sup of soup available. Tuesdays 1.00-3.30pm 

Irish Language

This group is on hold.

Literary Society

On hold until 2023 but we hope to resume our popular Literary events soon. 

Pipe Band

Our Emerald Pipe Band practices up to twice a week and performs at Luton St Patrick's Festival and other local events. 

Tuesday and Wednesday Social Clubs

These groups provide social interaction, light refreshments and bingo games in a safe and welcoming environment. 

Tea and Chat

This group is just what it says - a good cuppa and great chat (plus a few nibbles!). In addition, the group frequently enjoys hearing from informative visitors speak on a range of topics including different food and culture, local events, home safety checks, services locally, dementia, and home security, as well as listening along to traditional Irish live music occasionally.

BEFRIENDING

Luton Irish Forum’s Befriending Service helps to relieve social isolation experienced by local people. Our volunteers visit people at home or phone them on a regular basis.

All our volunteers are DBS checked (for criminal record, etc). They receive comprehensive training before becoming a befriender and ongoing support and training during the period of their befriending.

What our Befrienders can do

Visit you at home to provide company and a listening ear.

Accompany you on a walk, even just ‘round the block’.

Assist with completing official forms, e.g. applications for a Blue Badge.

Get a few essentials or ‘top-up’ your grocery shopping.

Accompany you to take part in a local activity or social group.

Provide information about other services that may be helpful to you.

Collect items from the local pharmacy. 

We have a waiting list of people who would like a befriender, particularly older males

– Can you help? 
Get in touch to find out more.

PROMOTING IRISH CULTURE ACROSS THE GENERATIONS

Luton St Patrick's Festival

St Brigid’s Day Celebrations

Educational Seminars

Cross Cultural Community Projects

Youth workshops

Gypsy Roma Traveller Heritage and Healthcare Events

The Luton Digital Skills and Employment Project is a partnership project between Bangladesh Youth League (BYL), Luton Irish Forum (LIF) & Diversity Education, Training & Consultancy CIC. 

The project supports anyone who is not in paid work in areas of high unemployment but is designed to benefit particularly adults aged 50+ and women, especially from Irish and other BAME communities, who are ‘economically inactive’ and may lack digital knowledge or other work skills. The ultimate objective is for participants to gain employment.

An initial one-to-one assessment enables a tailored action plan to be created which identifies the skills a participant needs to gain or to develop in order to compete effectively in the employment marketplace.

Participants are supported to develop those essential skills, ranging from absolute beginners using software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint for the first time.  One-to-one assistance enables each person in writing their CV, searching and identifying which jobs to apply for, applying for those jobs, including cover letters. Participants also benefit from practical hints and tips on attending interviews and making the best first impression they can.

This three-year project (running from October 2020) is partly funded by the European Social Fund and is free to participants. Futher details on Luton Digital Skills and Employment Project.