Day of Friendship during Royal Visit

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, joined a group of people from all over Northern Ireland who bring their neighbours together for street parties and community get togethers as part of The Big Lunch initiative  www.thebiglunch.com . The day was spent sharing stories and chatting about local neighbourhoods and reducing loneliness. The event was held at the Skainos Centre, part of the East Belfast Mission and close to a Big Lunch taking place this year across the peace line in East Belfast.

Speaking at The Big Lunch Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall said:

It is three years ago I came to my first Big Lunch in Northern Ireland and you can really see how the idea has grown. It’s getting bigger and bigger, with more and more people getting involved.

People from every section of society, every religion, we are getting people talking to each other and that’s what its all about. There are also a lot of lonely people out there, who probably never say anything to anyone for 24 hours, but with The Big Lunch there is a way to get people talking and sharing and saying hello to their neighbours.

I hope you get thousands of people together, and get the whole country involved.

Her Royal Highness prepared a salad for the guests with local nutritionist and Big Lunch ambassador Jane Mc Clenaghan, she went on to meet NIck Cave from East Belfast Mission's ReFurb project and helped revamp a chair before going on to decorate Cupcakes with Victoria Park primary P6 pupils.

The Big Lunch – the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours – is encouraging millions of people to come together in streets, gardens, parks and community venues across the country on Sunday 7 June.

Jackie Upton who is planning a Big Lunch bringing neighbours on each side of the east belfast peace line together was surprised to receive a plate from the Duchess who said she had been delighted to hear of their Big Lunch plans and hoped the plate could be put to good use on the day.

Speaking at the event Frank Hewitt Chair of the board of The Big Lottery Fund NI said: “ it shows just how powerful a simple idea can be, infact Big Lottery Fund has at its core the ambition to bring communities together, reducing loneliness and isolation and helping to make a difference locally.”

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. 8 out of 10 people who have taken part have kept in touch with people they met at Big Lunches in previous years. Anyone who would like to host a Big Lunch event on Sunday 7 June 2015 can request a free planning pack from www.thebiglunch.com or by calling 0845 850 8181.

 The event photo story is available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebiglunch/sets/72157653482584541