Andrea’s Big Lunch date with Camilla

Community champion . . . Andrea is presented with a commemorative plate by Camilla.

AN OLDHAM ambassador for The Big Lunch met the Duchess of Cornwall to kick-start the nationwide community initiative.

Andrea Greenwood met Camilla, the patron of the Big Lunch, at the launch at Clarence House in London.

The Big Lunch, which was set up in 2009, is led by the Eden Project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and supported by Halifax, Asda and B&Q.

The Big Lunch is held in the UK annually to build friendly communities. It involves neighbours getting together on the first Sunday of June and having lunch together. This year, it will take place on June 7.

Last year, almost five million people attended their local Big Lunch — and 8 out of every 10 who took part have kept in touch with the people they met.

Now in its seventh year, The Big Lunch 2015 is calling for 6.4 million people to join in the festivities.

The Duchess presented Andrea with a commemorative plate to honour how she has worked closely with other people in her area to bring the neighbourhood together and create a lasting impact on fellow residents.

Andrea is the branch manager of Halifax in Denton and decided to organise a Big Lunch when Halifax became a partner of the programme.

She said: “I was thrilled to be asked to represent Halifax bank and meet the Duchess.

“She was incredibly lovely and warm and clearly passionate about The Big Lunch.

“We have seen firsthand how The Big Lunch is able to help build relationships in the Manchester and Oldham community with the bank able to help encourage people to talk to their neighbours through hosting Big Lunch events.

“I would encourage anyone and everyone to get involved this summer and organise their own Big Lunch — it is a great ice-breaker and a great way to discover all the fantastic people that share your neighbourhood and make up your community.”

Andrea has now managed over 450 hours of colleague volunteering time delivering Big Lunches and having a positive impact on the local community.

The Duchess commenting on The Big Lunch, said: “It seems to have gone from big to enormous. We couldn’t have thought in 2009 when it started it was ever going to take off like this.

“And obviously talking to everybody here today it’s making a huge difference to people’s lives and getting people talking, and that’s what community is all about.”

Sir Tim Smith, co-founder of the Eden Project — a complex of domes housing thousands of plants— said: “From the beginning, The Big Lunch was given as a gift of an idea to help improve community spirit and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness found in every community.

“I’m delighted that Big Lunchers like Andrea are leading the way to show that the initiative is about much more than just one day — it helps build relationships and friendships both before and after the event itself.”

The Big Lunch is calling on communities to take part this year and host their own Big Lunch events on Sunday, June 7.

Get started by visiting www.thebiglunch.com to request a free pack or call 0845 850 8181 to speak to one of the team.