Hello Big Luncher!
With just over 3 weeks to go the countdown is really starting. As promised in our last update, we’ve got some exciting news for you – including funds available for 16 – 25 year olds planning a Big Lunch, the Big Lunch film competition and the launch of our social networking and blogging site
Connect with other Big Lunchers
We have just launched our new online community www.thebiglunchers.com for everyone who is organising, attending or interested in The Big Lunch on 19th July. We want to give you a space to share ideas, tips, recipes, photos, videos and memories. This is all about you, and your communities, so do take a look and join in. If you use Twitter, please do ‘follow’ us at www.twitter.com/thebiglunch

Funds available for 16 – 25 year olds
v, the National Youth Volunteering Service, has teamed up with The Big Lunch to provide a fund for 16-25 year olds to play an really active role in supporting their Big Lunch events this summer.
Young people will be able to apply for funds from vinvolved teams (vinspired’s on-the-ground teams) across the country to help shape your local events.
You can apply for funds to set up your own event or add to a local event through sports, arts or culture. To find out more visit http://www.thebiglunch.com/latest-news/detail/3

Film competition
Think you could be the new Danny Boyle? Or Spike Lee? Or Sofia Coppola?
They all started somewhere… The Big Lunch has launched a young filmmakers’ competition for 16 – 25 year olds in association with v, Channel 4’s BRITDOC Foundation, Shooting People and BOOM!
Make a short film about local life before, during and after The Big Lunch. That’s the brief, short and simple, and with a £1000 prize for the winner and a possible airing on Channel 4’s 4 Docs, it’s time to put your creativity to the test.
For more information and details of how to enter http://www.thebiglunch.com/latest-news/detail/2

New web pages
We’ve also been sprucing up our website and adding lots of extra bits over the past week. Here’s our guide to the best bits…
Music and art
Calling all creative folk The Big Lunch needs your talent, whatever it is. Artists – paint over an eyesore, build a street scarecrow or chalk portraits on the day. Musicians – raid the garage and start a skiffle band – street parties live and die by their music. For more info and ideas, go here http://www.thebiglunch.com/latest-news .

Need to spread the word?
Download lots of brand new posters to put up in your window, at work, the local pub or shop and on lampposts up and down your street. To see our full range of posters: http://www.thebiglunch.com/latest-news/detail/10

Lunching for charity?
Want to use your Big Lunch to raise money for charity? Think about supporting a community charity operating in the local area. They do some great work but are often overlooked and struggle financially. Give back to a charity which is making a real impact where you live, for more info see: http://www.thebiglunch.com/latest-news/detail/6

Big Lunch TV
New videos have been added to our Big Lunch TV channel, including a message of support from River Cottage chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: http://www.thebiglunch.com/big-idea/big-lunch-tv

Not started your planning yet?
At just £2, our action manual “Easy Ways to Serve The Big Lunch” contains great ideas on food, music, art, cooking and dressing the street. Available from the Eden website http://www.edenproject.com/shop/Big-Lunch.aspx, Amazon, or from B&Q, WH Smith, and Waterstones.
If you haven’t applied for a temporary road closure yet, you might find that your council won’t be able to process the application in time, but don’t worry, there are lots of places you could hold your Big Lunch – try asking the local community or youth centre, park, school, church or mosque,
garden, square or local pub.

Contact The Big Lunch team in the office by calling 020 7636 8152 or emailing mailto:info@thebiglunch.com