This year the Big Lunch is being held over the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June.
Hackney residents have another opportunity to bring their communities together through the national Big Lunch initiative. The event, which takes place over the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June, encourages neighbours to connect over food, friendship, and fun.
Hackney Council’s Housing Services Resident Participation Team is offering grants to support events hosted by those living in council-managed homes. Residents can apply for up to £750 to fund an inclusive and accessible gathering that benefits the local community. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday 30 April, and applicants must ensure that appropriate safeguarding procedures and risk assessments are in place.
Previous Big Lunch events in Hackney have featured a variety of activities, from face painting to shared international dishes contributed by residents. Councillor Clayeon McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation, emphasised the importance of such initiatives in strengthening local communities.
“Bringing neighbours together through initiatives like the Big Lunch is a fantastic way of forging stronger local communities and celebrating Hackney’s diversity,” said Cllr McKenzie. “We have a long record of supporting residents in taking part in these initiatives, and I am delighted that we are able to do so again this year. While the events themselves may only last a short while, they can help forge lifelong friendships and connections.”
Residents who wish to organise a street party as part of the Big Lunch need to apply for a street closure at least four weeks before their planned event. While applications for closing quiet residential streets are usually approved, the council is unlikely to permit closures of major routes, bus routes, or one-way streets where disruption to traffic or emergency access would be significant.
The Resident Participation Team is also available to support those looking to host an event for VE Day on Thursday 8 May. Although specific grants are not available for VE Day celebrations, the team can offer guidance to Hackney Council tenants on planning and organising an event.
For those interested in applying for funding or arranging a street party, more information can be found at Hackney Council’s website. Details on how to apply for funding and other opportunities to bring communities together are available at Hackney Council’s housing funding streams page. The Housing Services Resident Participation Team can also be contacted on 020 8356 7845 or via email at get.involved@hackney.gov.uk.
Residents planning a Big Lunch event can request a Big Lunch pack from Eden Project Communities, which provides useful resources to help make the gathering a success.
Hackney Council has outlined key criteria for hosting street parties. Events must be limited to fewer than 200 attendees, and all guests must be associated with the immediate area. Alcohol cannot be sold, though it can be served free of charge. Informal entertainment, such as playing music from a stereo, is permitted as long as it does not disturb others. No tickets should be sold for the event, and food or merchandise should not be sold, though residents are encouraged to bring and share food with their neighbours. Additionally, no temporary structures such as stages or marquees should be set up.
The Big Lunch initiative offers a unique opportunity for Hackney residents to come together, celebrate their community, and create lasting connections. With support available from the council, residents are encouraged to take part in this uplifting event and make the most of the funding and resources on offer.
