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Government takes a Seat at the Big Lunch Table

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (094) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 24 April 2009

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears is encouraging everyone to show their community spirit and get involved in making preparations for the BIG LUNCH - a national event, taking place on 19th July, which is hoping to see millions of people across Britain get together with their neighbours to share food, drink and conversation.

The brainchild of Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project, the BIG LUNCH is backed by a range of celebrities and business sponsors and has gained cross party support.

Sharing food is a fantastic way of bringing people together and the BIG LUNCH is about people coming out of their homes to sit down tuck into locally grown, made or bought food and drink together with friends and neighbours in streets, parks, church halls or community centres.

Hazel Blears has written to all Local MPs to encourage them to get involved.
It is hoped that street decorations, al fresco dining and roadside entertainment will be a central part of the celebrations and the BIG LUNCH organisers are encouraging residents to take over their street. Local Government Minister John Healey has therefore written to Council Chief Execs encouraging them to do all they can to support events in their area including giving the thumbs up to street closures and making dealing with any technical matters as smooth and straightforward as possible.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:

"People will try and tell you that community spirit is a thing of the past. Rubbish. It is alive and well and the BIG LUNCH is a chance for all of us to prove it."

"We all lead busy lives, some of us might be a bit on the shy side. That means that even if we want to we might not have got round to introducing ourselves to our neighbours or getting as involved in our communities as we might like. What better way to change that than by having a street party. Meeting, perhaps for the first time, the people that live at number 16, 39 and 52.... .

"It's not going to happen by magic. It will take local volunteers to organise, local councils need to play their part, people will need to grow or cook or buy or bake the food, send out invitations, get friends and neighbours involved. But it will certainly be worth it - more people happy, safer and confident about the place in which they live. "

With people celebrating what makes their area unique, every BIG LUNCH party will be different. Everyone will be encouraged to share their talents as organisers, gardeners, chefs, artists, musicians. The day after people will be able to walk down their street and actually know something new about the people in the homes they pass.

To find out if there is a BIG LUNCH already organized in your area or for tips and information on how to organise your own street party visit http://www.thebiglunch.com

News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom