Events

Where does the responsibility for community lie?

Community is a word that has been rendered almost meaningless by its overuse and misuse over the last thirty years. Town and cities that were once defined by trades and occupations have declined and almost disappeared. The lack of shared history in neighbourhoods needs to be replaced with new moments and events in which all can claim a stake and collectively redefine who or what community is or can be.

The idea for the Eden Project’s The Big Lunch was born from this idea. For the last four years the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has been assessing the social impact of this Lottery funded initiative, since its launch in 2009. Year on year they have argued that the simplicity of a shared meal with neighbours works, has an ongoing social impact and is sustainable. So, could The Big Lunch provide the social capital boost Britain needs?  Is the death of community overstated or do we all have the ability to transform our own communities?

Speakers will include Tim Smit, CEO and co-founder of The Eden Project,  Jonathan Carr West, chief executive at LGiU, and Linda Quinn, director of communications and marketing, The Big Lottery Fund.

Find out more information about the event here.