19 July 2010
Different cultures come together to celebrate The Big Lunch
More than 50 residents from different cultures in Hillfields and Foleshill came together to celebrate community spirit at The Big Lunch on Sunday.
Whitefriars Housing Group and FolesHillfields Vision Project, which is a community organisation aiming to bring people from different communities together and learn about each other, organised a Big Lunch event at Paul Stacey House for neighbours and people living in the wider community.
The Big Lunch, which is a national event, aims to celebrate community and social cohesion.
People of different ages and cultures enjoyed a barbeque and games to get neighbours talking to each other and meeting people they hadn’t spoken to before.
Community worker Heather Parker, who works with FolesHillfields Vision Project, said: “The event was a great opportunity for neighbours to come together, meet new people and share their different experiences and cultures.
“The BBQ was really well attended despite the unpredictable weather. People got involved in the games and there was a lovely community atmosphere.
“A local artist chalked a world map on the wall and we asked people to mark where their grandparents grew up. It was interesting to see the vast geographical area it spanned.”
Residents at Paul Stacey House, Douglas House and Pioneer House, which are all owned by Whitefriars Housing Group, attended the event as well as people living near by.
Service manager at Whitefriars Housing Group Ravinder Kaur said: “The Big Lunch was well attended and it was great to see so many people joining in with community activities.
“We are keen for people to get to know their neighbours and build a strong community spirit in the neighbourhoods where we have properties. Events like this go a long way to breaking down social barriers and encourage interaction between people sharing a community.”
FolesHillfields Vision Project is a not-for-profit community organisation working to bring together the different communities of Hillfields and Foleshill. For more information visit http://foleshillfields.org/ or email info@foleshillfields.org, or call them on 024 76 525 885.
Notes to editors
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation established in 2000 that owns and manages approximately 18,000 homes across Coventry.
Whitefriars Housing Group is part of West Mercia Housing Group (WMHG), which is the lead partner of Spectrum Development Partnership. WMHG consists of Whitefriars Housing Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing and Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project. The new combined group, which is a development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency, manages around 23,500 homes across Coventry, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Whitefriars has a key role, in partnership with others, across the West Midlands to develop new affordable homes and regenerate communities.
Since transfer, Whitefriars has spent £340 million to repair and improve its housing stock. The vast majority of its homes now meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard –ahead of schedule. It is currently embarking on a campaign, Services on the Up, aimed at improving the core services received by residents.
In addition to providing homes, Whitefriars works in partnership with communities and other agencies to provide training and employment opportunities and support services for local residents, with the aim of building sustainable communities.
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a charitable industrial and provident society.
For further information please contact Lucy Beaumont or Nikki Cheung at The Bridge Group on 024 7656 0440 or l.beaumont@bridge-group.co.uk