The Big Lunch

19th Jul 2009 00:00

Imagine a summer’s day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together – in the middle of our streets, around our tower blocks and on every patch of common ground. The food, entertainment and decorations we will have grown, cooked or created ourselves. This will be a day to break bread with our neighbours, to put a smile on Britain’s face.
It’s called The Big Lunch and this is your invitation.

The Big Lunch is inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street on Sunday 19th July 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 lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time.

You can support The Big Lunch by:

1) Spreading the word – we have leaflets and posters, and you can join our Facebook group ‘The Big Lunch – an eden project’
2) 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.

Supporters so far include:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, David Cameron MP, Nick Clegg MP, Hazel Blears MP, Mayor of London Boris Johnson; Chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; campaigners Esther Rantzen and Rosie Boycott; businessman Sir Richard Branson; horticulturalists Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh; and actress Emma Thompson.

How to get involved:
1. Endorse the Big Lunch - be listed as a supporting organisation on our website
2. Promote the Big Lunch to your supporters, employees and stakeholders
3. Pledge to hold a Big Lunch yourself in your own street – www.thebiglunch.com


For more information call Kate Groves on 020 7636 8152 or email [email protected]

View this event on the EAUC website →