Big Lunch and Big Help Out comes to Cornwall
Cornwall's Eden Project hosts events to strengthen local ties and bring community together
Starting today, communities across Cornwall will engage in a nationwide effort to reconnect and foster local involvement through The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out events.
Running from 5th to 8th June, these initiatives are designed to encourage individuals to come together through food, volunteering, and community activities, combatting social division and boosting community belonging. The events follow new research by the Eden Project and Public First, which indicates that nearly two-thirds of people feel the UK has become more divided, while one in five adults report a minimal sense of belonging in their local area.
Launched by HM The King and HM The Queen at the Eden Project earlier this year, the initiatives enjoy support from various celebrities, including Ainsley Harriott, Anneka Rice, Angela Rippon, Bear Grylls, Andi Oliver, Reverend Kate Bottley, and Scotland’s national chef, Gary Maclean. Organisers hope the events will address feelings of loneliness, increase optimism, and strengthen community ties as millions are expected to participate in activities such as street parties, shared lunches, litter picks, beach cleans, and community gardening projects.
Cornwall will host a variety of regional events, offering opportunities for interviews and filming. In Liskeard, Teylu theatre company will organise a community celebration of arts. Bude Sea Pool will host a poolside event with sea shanties and beach litter picks. In Truro and St Just, local community larders and litter pick initiatives will focus on supporting residents facing cost-of-living challenges, while Newquay Orchards will offer a Big Lunch picnic in a scenic seven-acre green space.
The campaign aims to inspire simple acts of connection and encourages volunteering at a time when many people feel increasingly disconnected. Lindsey Brummitt, Eden Project Programme Director, expressed enthusiasm:
“We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out together this year for a weekend that’s sure to be absolutely overflowing with community spirit! There’s no better opportunity to get to know new people, support some amazing causes and try your hand at something a bit different. Whether you’re hanging out or helping out, doing picky bits or litter picks – everyone’s invited!”
The initiatives seek to translate the sense of belonging and community involvement into tangible improvements nationwide over the weekend, offering local groups and volunteers a unique opportunity to support their communities.