Following recent announcements from Buckingham Palace, we are excited that this will be another very big year for The Big Lunch, which is being brought forward to 6-8 May as part of the celebrations for His Majesty King Charles III’s coronation.
Communities are being invited to hold street parties and get togethers over the bank holiday weekend for The Coronation Big Lunch, and local authorities are again being asked to cut red tape for road closures and support residents, to enable mass participation.
Communities can also join the fun in June, and plan a Big Lunch as part of the associated ‘Month of Community’.
Now in its 15th year, The Big Lunch has a proven track record of delivering a profound and lasting impact for the communities that participate. The impressive statistics for 2022 include:
- one in four (17.2 million) of the UK population participated
- more than 11 million people said it helped them feel less lonely
- 92 per cent of organisers reported it had a positive impact on their community
- almost two-thirds of participants said it increased participation in voluntary work.
More than 70 councils were recognised as ‘Platinum Councils’ in 2022, including Portsmouth City Council.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE, Leader of the council and Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “Councils are being urged to help support The Coronation Big Lunch, and Portsmouth City Council is proud to be leading the way, following the great success of last year, when more than 100 Big Jubilee Lunch events were held city-wide. The crowning of our new king is a truly historic occasion and we want everyone to be able to join the celebrations.
“But these events are not just about the day; they have a lasting impact and help build stronger communities – which is why we are again waiving road-closure fees and covering the costs of insurance for all street parties in Portsmouth, and I call upon others to follow suit.”