Big Lunch encourages neighbours to get together

On Sunday 18 July, neighbours all around the UK are invited to sit down for lunch together. The lunches can take place in gardens, parks, and even in the middle of streets - supported be the BIG Lottery fund, The Big Lunch wants us all to get together. "It'll be a day to break bread with our neighbours, to put a smile on Britain's face," say the organisers.

 As well as cooking and sharing food, The Big Lunch encourages local communities to  to get together through growing food and flowers, creating street music, art and theatre, and dressing the street. The lunch is an Eden Project initiative, and at last year's inaugural event there were over 8,000 lunches across the UK and over 700,000 people taking part in the biggest collection of street parties since the Golden Jubilee. The vast majority of participants said they felt closer to their neighbours as a result.

Mayor Boris Johnson lent his support to the event in his blog recently: "Can it really be good for us that nearly half the meals in Britain are now eaten alone? Is it a good thing that nearly half the ready meals in Europe are consumed in the UK? I think not, and that is why we in London are supporting the Big Lunch," he said.

One local Big Lunch is currently planned at Landseer Gardens, and neighbours are welcome to join Keren Amiran's garden luch - or you can start your own lunch and get neighbours to join. The Big Lunch website has plenty of information, including a handy step by step guide to planning a lunch and lots of ideas for activities, decorations and celebrating the community.

For more information, you can call 0845 850 8181 or email info@thebiglunch.com. To keep up to date with what's happening on The Big Lunch you can also sign up for a regional email bulletin.

Are you planning a Big Lunch or other community event? Let us know below!

Image: Tom Chance