
Community stories
Everyone is part of a community and we want to share their stories.

Community spirit in bloom
November 2, 2021
After being unable to socialise with her neighbours due to the pandemic, Lauren brought her community together for their very first Big Lunch!

Saying thank you with a Big Lunch
September 9, 2021
In 2021, a very special Big Lunch took place in Chiswick to thank volunteers at the ‘Fight Hunger Feed Hope’ Food Bank.

Creating a flourishing community
August 17, 2021
When mum of two Helen Alves noticed a lack of activities in her area for young families during lockdown, she decided to take action and start her own initiative…

A tale of re-connection at Community Camp
July 30, 2021
Community Camp is all about making connections: bringing like-minded people from across the UK together to be inspire, educate, and share with one another.

Neighbours – for the good times and the sad
March 27, 2023
A tribute to three much loved residents. Written by Emma Parsons-Reid Back in 2004, my husband Kevin and I moved to a little cul…

How volunteers keep their community nourished at Wigton Food Pantry
June 3, 2021
Diane Blackburn is a volunteer at Wigton Food Pantry, a food project and charity that has inspired a group of local people to keep…

We’re transforming neglected areas into community spaces
April 21, 2021
Grow N22 is a community project in North London which transforms unlikely, disused and neglected spaces across Haringey into vibrant community gardens and growing…

Carlisle Council
April 21, 2021
Carlisle, the 'urban capital' of the County of Cumbria in NW England, has a council which has been supportive of The Big Lunch since…
How we brought isolated people together — with coffee and a caravan!
April 21, 2021
Ann Osborn is the Director of the Rural Coffee Caravan in Suffolk. The mobile community cafe and information centre helps to alleviate isolation in…

How tragedy inspired Laura to bring her community together with a Big Lunch
April 21, 2021
Laura has lived on Spencer Road, Northampton, for years, but like many in the UK, she’s never really known her neighbours - until recently.…

How ‘the Eden effect’ changed our community forever
April 21, 2021
Herbalist Maria Billington got the impetus to take on a community space from the council after attending a Community Camp at the Eden Project.…

Building healthy, harmonious communities with The Big Lunar Lunch
October 28, 2019
In 2018, the trustees of the Welsh Muslim Cultural Foundation in Cardiff decided to share their culture with the wider community to showcase what…