2013 FEAST OF BIG LUNCH FRIENDSHIP

Sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to celebrate local living and bring their neighbours and communities together with a Big Lunch street party or community get together this year! The research we conduct through an independant company Havas UK post event shows growing appetite for The Big Lunch campaign in Northern Ireland. These results show positive growth in line with results from other parts of the UK. both in interest amongst Northern Irish residents and in uptake here. People who have had a Big Lunch are doing it again and again making it an annual way to connect with neighbours and build community spirit.

Many of the people who joined in during 2012 when it was both an opportunity to celebrate the olympic torch being in Northern Ireland and when The Big Jubilee Lunch was an official part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations  joined in again in 2013 simply because they enjoyed it and wanted to have another Big Lunch day for their community. Our stories are being shared with communities across the Uk and are inspiring others!

Thanks to everyone who entered our competition `Bringing good ideas to life with The Big Lunch 2013' - the winners were Millisle Youth Forum who operate from a once derelict gargage on the high street. The Young people participated in a `Cook it eat it' project developed from the good ideas shared at their Big Lunch. The project has been bringing all ages together and you can read more about how our friends in Millisle are sharing community spirit here.

These simple opportunities to connect with the people who live near us, to make introductions, share friendship and ideas and to create some human warming, can not be underestimated. They lead to so many positve outcomes from the sharing of local successes and development of local friendships and reduction of loneliness to the building of social capacity through wider involvement by residents in local volunteering. Thats why we are continuing the campaign and hope you will continue to spread community spirit by joining The Big Lunch 2014.

Everyone who participates in a Big Lunch and finds they may wish to do more to build social capacity locally will be able to apply to be a participant in our BIg Lunch Extras Bootcamp which is funded by Big Lottery and partnered by Halifax. This camp is run at The Eden project an exciting and inspiring educational and environmental award winning social enterprise and your attendance is guaranteed to be both inspiring and rewarding.

Contact your local representative  to find out how your neighbourhood can be a part of the 2014 story!