Organisers of a summer feast of food and fun in Oldham are gearing up to make the fifth annual Big Lunch the best one yet.
The Big Lunch, an existing community initiative led by the Eden Project and partnered by Halifax, aims to bring local communities together and create a feel-good factor in British towns.
And the AGE UK charity are hosting a Sunday lunch at the over 60s centre in Chaddderston on June 2.
Maggie Hurley, volunteer and community co-ordinator at Age UK, is urging the local community to come out in support of the event.
“We don’t want people to think that this is just for people aged older than 60,” she said.
“We want everybody to come down, grandchildren, children, neighbours and friends, as many people from the local community that we can manage.
“We have done the big lunch before but quite low key, this year we want to do it big, we have approached local councillor and they are going to come down and help do the washing up afterwards.
“We have got enough places for 50 people and will be having a proper Sunday lunch with three courses.”
Since 2009 thousands of Big Lunches have since taken place, with a massive 8.5 million people joining in last summer’s feast, which was part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Partnered by Halifax, this year’s Big Lunch could range from a few neighbours getting together in the garden or on the street to a full blown street part with food, music and decoration.
A host of people are expected to take part on June 2 this year, on what will be the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation and Hurley cannot wait for the big day to get underway
“We have had a few roadworks in Chadderton recently and it has sort of split the community apart,” she added.
“We want to start bringing people back together and this lunch is a way to start that, to bring the locals in so that you meet your neighbours and have a good time, like it used to be.”
As the proud partner of the Big Lunch, an existing community initiative led by the Eden Project, Halifax is inviting you to get involved and host your own Big Lunch on Sunday 2 June. To find out more or request your free Big Lunch 2013 pack, visit www.thebiglunch.com
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