This year Janet Bevans and her next door neighbour, Sue Thomas, organised their first Big Lunch in St Florence, Wales. They wanted to bring their neighbours and members of the community together to coincide with the Queens Jubilee celebrations. Here Janet tells us how the community spirit extends far beyond the day, and shares her top tips for organising a Big Lunch or seasonal event:
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“We wanted to hold our Big Lunch in our street, but decided to hire our local community hall just in case it rained on the day – this was just as well as it rained nearly all day and night! We went to the village hall during the day and held a BBQ in my neighbour Sue’s garden the following night. This actually turned out better than we could have planned it as we were all so tired after the first event in the afternoon that we could all chill before the BBQ on the following day!
We had simple games like welly throwing and themed quizzes. We had colouring sheets, join the dots etc in the themes, we had old photographs from 1952 etc. We also had balloon modelling crown competition which was really successful. We had simple prizes of chocolate bars.
Our street is made up of new-build houses in a well established village so we got the chance to all get together as a “new street” and meet neighbours, families and children.
It’s fab to get together with friends, family and neighbours and is really fun to organise. We all have a really good time and feedback is always amazing. There is always a sense of achievement alongside the exhaustion afterwards!
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This was our first official Big Lunch event but we will certainly do this again in the future. Sue has already run a Christmas get together in a local golf club and holds rugby events at her home where there are always welsh songs sung and welsh costumes and rugby shorts worn. Although these are not an official Big Lunch event, it is the same people attending and a great opportunity to get together.”
Top tips:
- Send an email or invitation around first asking who is interested – loads of time in advance.
- Important to plan lots in advance and to delegate – including setting up and clearing away!
- Use local suppliers wherever possible and all make you own things to bring along.
- Co-ordinated so those who can’t cook bring crisps etc – use people strengths.
