Imagine a summer’s day on which millions of Britishers, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together–in the middle of the streets, around the tower blocks and on every patch of common ground. The food, entertainment and decorations they have grown, cooked or created themselves. This will be a day to share bread with their neighbours, to put a smile on Britain’s face. It’s called The Big Lunch.
The Big Lunch is inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with the neighbours, in the middle of the street on Sunday July 19, as a simple act of community.
A new initiative run by the Eden Project, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together.
The day after the Big Lunch, people will walk down their street and know someone in most windows. However, the legacy of The Big Lunch is much bigger than just the day after. The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawn-mowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time.
Organise a Big Lunch—It’s really easy. The Big Lunch website and printed Guide Book will take you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible. You can set up your own Big Lunch, or find others planned in your street or area by simply entering your postcode on our Big Lunch map on our website, www.thebiglunch.com.
