Residents of Gloucestershire are busy with final preparations for The Big Lunch (www.thebiglunch.com) on Sunday 7 June, order which helps people get to know their neighbours better and create closer communities.
In the seventh year of the UK-wide initiative, order lots of Big Lunch events are taking place in the county, including at The Redwell Centre in Matson.
The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours, an idea from the Eden Project made possible by the Big Lottery Fund and supported by Halifax and Asda. It is the perfect recipe for having fun with neighbours, feeding community spirit and helping to build stronger neighbourhoods.
“It’s really nice just to stop and enjoy the day”
Anna Savin, who lives in central Gloucester, has been holding Big Lunches every year since 2009. There are lots of families on her street and the event on Sunday 7 June will include a quiz, music and games for the children. The neighbours also organise a street clean ahead of their Big Lunch.
Anna says: “The Big Lunch is great as it gives people a chance to chat and get to know each other. Everybody has such busy lives that it’s really nice just to stop and enjoy the day. The best thing for me about The Big Lunch is how everyone is so enthusiastic and grateful for the effort!”
“It really helps strengthen relationships in the community”
As a proud partner of The Big Lunch, nine Halifax branches are teaming up to host a Big Lunch at The Redwell Centre, Gloucester, from 12 to 4pm on Sunday 7 June. The Halifax branches are working with the Centre, the local city farm and Asda, which is providing 300 free lunches, and the event will raise money for the Centre and a new minibus. There will be children’s crafts, a raffle, a book stall, giant Jenga, a penalty shoot-out and other fun family activities as well as music and dancing with a samba band and compere. A Community Corner will provide information about local projects including raising awareness about The Redwell Centre, a budgeting class run by people with learning disabilities and Halifax Money Smart Programmes and School Projects.
Natalie Samuel, Branch Manager at Halifax Newport Branch, who is organising the event, comments: “We’re really excited that the Halifax Gloucestershire and Wales East branches are hosting a Big Lunch. There will be lots of fun activities for all the family and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone from the local community along. The Big Lunch provides a great opportunity for us to talk to people on a more personal level and really helps strengthen relationships in the community”.
Food and drink brings people together
A recent survey by The Big Lunch revealed that more than a third (39%) of people in the South West have had a cup of tea with a neighbour and almost a quarter (23%) have gone to each other’s house for lunch, dinner or drinks. The Big Lunch takes these kind of social interactions even further, by encouraging people to take a few hours out of their Sunday to share food, laughter and conversation with all their neighbours.
It is never too late to host a Big Lunch. Anyone who would like to host one on Sunday 7 June 2015 (or another date if they prefer) can request a free planning pack from www.thebiglunch.com or by calling 0845 850 8181.