Councils can really help to encourage and support people in their areas to get involved in The Coronation Big Lunch and The Big Lunch 2023 - and reap the community benefits, here's how.
1. Encourage participation through early promotion
Council communications and media teams: please use our Communications Toolkit, including template press release, text, logos and images to promote The Big Lunch, using:
- Your council website, newsletters, publications, events and social media;
- Use #TheBigLunch and #CoronationBigLunch across social channels;
- Nextdoor - use your public services account if you have one, if not you can sign up here;
- Key message: Encourage residents to request their FREE Big Lunch pack, full of tips and resources to help with their planning
2. Spread the word - internally
- Please share this information with your communities, neighbourhoods, highways, tenancy involvement and diversity teams;
- Ask them to support and encourage people and community groups in your local area to get involved with The Big Lunch.
3. Reduce red tape for road closures
While Big Lunches can take place anywhere, a lot of people love holding them in their street (if it is safe to do so), creating a sense of identity with, and responsibility for, their shared space. So council traffic managers and highways teams may receive higher volumes of temporary road closure applications for The Big Lunch.
We advise event organisers to read our Road Closure Guidance and contact their local council ASAP.
Help reduce barriers for Big Lunch street parties - for example by:
- Providing clear guidance and simple forms for road closure applications;
- Publicising application deadlines early and across all your relevant communications;
- Grouping multiple applications together under a single traffic management order if possible;
- Covering part (if not all) of the cost using any budget that is available;
- Covering part (if not all) of the cost of street party insurance, on behalf of organisers;
- Providing grants for communities unable to meet the costs, or linking organisers to local businesses willing to lend support;
- Signposting to our road closure and insurance guidance.
You can check out Gov.uk's advice on organising a street party here.
Road closure guidance: what information should we share?
- The time frame and closing date for road closure applications;
- What to do if an application is unsuccessful;
- Suggestions for alternative Big Lunch locations, eg. parks, community centres, communal gardens, car parks
- Public liability insurance (if necessary);
- Risk assessments;
- On-the-day signage.
We know road closures aren't always possible so in these cases, please try to offer an alternative council venue or park nearby, or encourage use of shared spaces and other local venues.
4. Plan a Public event
Take the lead and plan a public Big Lunch for your area. Read about councils who have done this before here, and get in touch so we can help with materials and publicity!
Notes for Councils in Northern Ireland
Thank you for your interest in The Big Lunch and Month of Community. If you would like to do more with us or need resources with a more local flavour please speak to our small but very helpful team who are keen to hear from you. Contact us today.
We know that you want to encourage local citizens to feel a strong sense of community and to be more involved in community planning and other local activity. By supporting people to come together where they live you can really enable this and we are always keen to support local peopl to navigate local road closure requirements
For more information and inspiration, take a look at our council case studies and if you'd like to support The Big Lunch 2023, please get in touch - we'd love to talk to you.