A Big Lunch was held in a Hove street today (Sunday 7 June) complete with activities that included yoga, cake decorating and Bollywood dancing.
The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Lynda Hyde, paid a visit to the lunch in Shakespeare Street, Hove.
Hannah Charnock, who helped to organise the event, said: “We’ve had so much fun, with everything from laughter yoga to a visit from our local mayor.
Big lunches were held all over the country today with the aim of bringing communities together.
Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project and of the Big Lunch, said: “We’ve seen a fantastic response across the UK, with millions of people getting to know their neighbours at a Big Lunch.
“Every community needs someone like Hannah Charnock to come forward and organise events like these to help make sure that those who are shy, isolated or new to the area get the opportunity to make friends.
“Although the Big Lunch is just one day, we know that the people of Hove and everyone else who took part today will create lasting friendships and help to build a real sense of community in their area.”
He said that research indicated that more than two thirds of British adults said that they felt lonely either often, always or sometimes. And one in ten people said that they didn’t know their neighbours at all.
