Schools across the country are being encouraged to get involved in the Big Lunch, an event designed to celebrate and show gratitude for neighbours and community.
The initiative is the brainchild of the Eden Project, and annually gathers an average of six million people to break bread in the spirit of friendship and new connections.
The event has the backing of Food for Life Get Togethers (FLGT), part of the Soil Association’s Food for Life scheme, which aims to support the provision of nutritious meals and culinary learning in schools.
“This year, we’re encouraging schools across the country to hold their own Big Lunch,” said the head of FLGT, Dale Cranshaw.
“Whether it’s sharing a picnic using produce from the school garden, or encouraging everyone to bring in home prepared dishes, there are lots of ways to get involved.”
While schools often host their gatherings before or after the official Big Lunch weekend (5–6 June), they can be held during a ‘month of community’ running through to early July.
Organisers expect this year’s event to have particular resonance in the wake of the pandemic.
Schools are being invited to celebrate their achievements, raise funds or help grow the school community. Organisers also suggest a number of timely causes they may care to support, including Volunteers Week, Carers Week, Loneliness Awareness Week, Small Charities Week and Refugee Week.
Schools can request a free Big Lunch pack containing invitations, posters and other materials to organise an event on their website.
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