Botcherby Big Lunch is an invitation to residents of Botcherby in Carlisle to come together to celebrate the positive community spirit of the area.

The event takes place on Sunday 12 June 2016 from 1-3pm

The Big Lunch is a UK wide annual get together for families, friends and neighbours. Now in its eighth year, the idea from the Eden Project, made possible by the Big Lottery Fund, is the perfect recipe for having fun with your neighbours, feeding community spirit and helping to build stronger neighbourhoods.

There will be a range of free family friendly activities, food, drinks and snacks.

Community groups taking part include Children’s Crafts with the Friends Of Melbourne Park; Carlisle Urban Children’s Centre who will be delivering fun activities. The Junior Leaders Cadets will be on hand helping to keep things going. 

This year Botcherby Community Centre felt it was even more important to hold such an event  following the floods that affected us all.

Helen Fisher, Botcherby Community Centre Manager, said “We have all been through so much, the community centre building itself has been closed since December, but we wanted to open up the gardens and bring people together to show that, just like the Botcherby community, we are still here and working hard towards getting back to business”

As part of the Big Lunch, Penny Appeals #TeamOrangeVolunteers will be serving up a tasty Chicken Biryani, and they will be joined by comedian Abdullah Afzal, star of BBC’s Citizen Khan.

Harris Iqbal, UK Programme Coordinator at Penny Appeal, said: “Under our ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ project we are working hard to support communities across the UK, not only with practical assistance but by showing solidarity and moral support”

The event has been organised by Botcherby Community Centre with support from Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council and Riverside.

Botcherby Big Lunch is a free family event, open to all, but the team ask that all children be accompanied by an adult.