The Happy `Hood is back in Northampton for a weekend of community action
“It was the connections created through The Big Lunch that led me and some new pals to set up The Happy `Hood community project. It was also the gateway into volunteering and finding out that volunteering is actually easy and fun!”
Northampton community group, The Happy `Hood, is delighted to be joining in with a big weekend of friendship, food, fun and action on 5th – 8th June. The Big Lunch, the annual celebration for neighbours and communities, is teaming up with volunteering initiative The Big Help Out to encourage even more people to take action where they live this June – and everyone in Northampton is invited!
The Happy `Hood, known for spreading good local news through their community zine, is inviting Northampton to take action by joining a litter pick on Sunday, 7th June at 11am and then to connect with a picnic lunch from 12pm. Meeting at the Umbrella Fair Organisation on the Racecourse, the group will help make the surrounding neighbourhood cleaner. They’ll then put picnic blankets down on the Racecourse for a bring-your-own-lunch.
The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out are a chance to embrace community spirit in towns, cities and villages across the UK, with millions of people expected to come together to eat, meet and lend a hand locally, making a difference for people, place or planet as a result.
The campaign, run by national charity the Eden Project, calls on people to get involved in whatever way works for them. From a bite to eat on the street to community-led volunteering opportunities and partnerships with charities and businesses, there’s something on offer for anyone keen to make a positive difference where they live.
Laura Graham, Founder of The Happy `Hood, said: “Our community project is all about instilling hometown pride and taking action to make Northampton a better place. Since we stopped creating our good news zine last year, we have carried on with our monthly walking group and see just how important community connection is. We couldn’t be more excited to add The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out to something we already do.”
Running annually since 2009, The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual get together for neighbours and communities, when millions of people come together to share friendship, food and fun on the first weekend in June. It is an idea from the Eden Project, made possible by the Pears Foundation and supported by Co-op.
The Big Help Out started in 2023, encouraging people to have a go at volunteering, lend a hand and make a difference. Millions of people took part in 2023 and again in 2024, as charities offered simple, light-touch opportunities for people to find out more and see what volunteering was all about.
Laura is no stranger to The Big Lunch, having run many in her street and walked the country as a Big Lunch ambassador. She is also an avid volunteer, offering up hundreds of hours each year to support local good causes.
Laura added: “I started the Big Lunch on my street because I was lonely. I didn’t know anyone and felt really isolated. Bringing people together for food felt like an easy way to get to know people.
“It was the connections created through The Big Lunch that led me and some new pals to set up The Happy `Hood community project. It was also the gateway into volunteering and finding out that volunteering is actually easy and fun!
I’m keen to show people that they do have power and can impact the community they live in. I hope that, as well as having fun and meeting new people, our Big Lunch and Big Help Out on 7th June might inspire people to make things happen.”
Everyone in Northampton is welcome to join The Happy `Hood’s Big Lunch and Big Help Out on Sunday 7th June. No need to book a ticket, just turn up. You can also follow @TheHappyHood on Instagram and Facebook for more information.
If you would like to arrange your own Big Lunch or Big Help Out, visit thebigdo.com where there are lots of free resources available to get you started.