Community Engagement: Building a Greener Carnival Together

Carnival is nothing without community and this year, our Community Engagement programme proved just how powerful collaboration can be when driven by creativity, youth, and sustainable values.

Through a series of partnerships with local schools, students, and colleges, we created an experience that wasn't just about participation, but about hands-on learning, environmental awareness, and artistic transformation.

Schools in the Spotlight

A number of local primary schools took part in this year’s carnival, working closely with our team to design and build costumes using sustainable templates and recycled materials. These school groups, along with support from Luton Town Football Club, brought colour, energy, and creativity to the parade all while championing greener practices.

Each costume was made from reclaimed materials, giving students the chance to explore eco-friendly design while contributing meaningfully to one of the town’s biggest cultural celebrations. Their excitement on carnival day was matched only by the pride of seeing their handmade creations dancing through the streets.

Supporting the Build: Work Experience with Purpose

Behind the scenes, students from Putteridge High School and Woodlands Secondary took part in work experience placements, where they supported the creation of costume templates used by schools across the programme.

They worked closely with artists and float builders, learning how to construct sustainably, using reclaimed materials, low-tech methods, and creative design solutions. Their efforts laid the groundwork for a greener, more accessible carnival-making process and their contributions will continue to support future school groups.

Barnfield College: Art & Technical Excellence

Further education students from Barnfield College brought both artistic and technical expertise to the heart of the carnival build.

They helped develop and reimagine large-scale floats, supporting the transformation of old structures into brand new designs, all using upcycled components and sustainable methods. Their involvement was crucial to the visual success of this year’s parade and offered them valuable, real-world experience in collaborative making, event production, and green design.

A Sustainable Carnival, Built by Many Hands

Every stage of this community engagement programme was built with sustainability at its core from recycled materials and repurposed components to low-waste techniques and conscious creative planning. More importantly, it gave young people a real connection to what it means to create responsibly.

This wasn’t just engagement it was education, empowerment, and environmental action, all rolled into one.

Thank You to Our Partners

To every student, teacher, technician, artist, and volunteer who contributed: thank you. Your energy, passion, and care made this year’s carnival not only more colourful but more conscious.

Together, we’re not just building floats we’re building a stronger, greener, more connected community.