Communities celebrate together with a Big Lunch

To celebrate our partnership with The Big Lunch, we brought Co-op Members and local communities together in June to share food and connect with each other. 

Mimi Lung, Member Activator for Lewisham, Southwark, Croydon, Bromley and Sutton, attended the Eden Project’s annual The Big Lunch in London. It was a great opportunity to meet local residents and community groups. Those in attendance enjoyed food cooked by the Felix Project – who provide surplus food to charities – took part in a craft project with school children, listened to an amazing local choir and had the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty Queen Camilla, Patron of the Big Lunch, at the celebration event.  As we mark the second United Nations International Year of Co-operatives, Mimi tells us how she helped her community unite over shared food to help build a better world and foster lasting connections that really make a difference. 

It is hard to believe it has only been three months since I started my role as a Member Activator. I honestly feel like I have been a part of the Co-op for so much longer!  

For me, this role is all about ensuring members feel valued, connected, and empowered to contribute to our Co-op and our community. I love listening to our members’ thoughts, needs and concerns and having meaningful conversations with so many of them. Every chat helps build our bond and makes me feel even more connected to the Co-op family. 

Members celebrate together

My role enables me to help members take positive action on their doorstep, proving that being a Co-op Member-Owner means being part of something bigger that actively builds stronger, more resilient communities. 

Being able to support two Big Lunches in my community – a street party organised by residents and a bigger, local council event – felt like a natural fit. 

I spent an incredible day at The Big Lunch street party! This vibrant neighbourhood celebration was filled with so much laughter, shared food, and fantastic entertainment. An amazing clog dancing display got everyone tapping their feet and a delicious spread combining lovely Co-op food with homemade dishes made for a wonderful feast. Our recipe cards were well-received, and I had some insightful conversations about food waste. Such was the community spirit that more than 50 members attended with their families.

I also had a productive day supporting The Big Lunch in Chislehurst – an event organised by Bromley Council. It was a busy and well-attended occasion, and I managed to raise almost £50 for Co-op’s charity partner, Barnardo’s too. 

During the events, I noticed how simple acts of shared food and conversation can really make a difference. It is not just about eating together, it is about breaking down barriers, making friendships, and building a sense of belonging. Events like this best demonstrate the positive impact we can have when we work together – in this case, one shared meal at a time. 

“The Big lunch is great for bringing a community together to enjoy a drink and have a bit of a laugh and joke. The kids play in the street as we did when we were the kids. It is a great thing to do for the community; it really works.” 

Jo, Co-op-Member-Owner 

Members take climate action

As part of Great Big Green Week, we invited members to join us at local community events across the UK to help them reduce their impact on the environment and take action against climate change – something they had asked us to do. 

I spent a lovely day connecting with an enthusiastic group at the Woodcraft Folk activity centre in Cudham. 

We did our bit for investing in a greener future by rolling up our sleeves and helping to care for some of the 350 newly planted trees. 

The theme for this year’s Great Big Green Week was all about making swaps together for good to protect nature, so we also held a seed swap. 

Many of our Co-op Member-Owners are also members of Woodcraft Folk and are very passionate about co-operatives. We enjoyed a delicious Co-op picnic to celebrate the Woodcraft Folk’s centenary year! 

I also had an event at the Greener and Cleaner Hub – a place where I used to volunteer. It was great to demonstrate our soft plastic recycling to the lovely ladies from the crochet club and afterwards we talked over a cup of tea. It was great to chat with people dedicated to making a difference. The Co-op`s approach to supporting our members to recycle properly and reduce food waste was particularly appreciated by everyone. This led to some valuable discussions.  

What’s next?

Over the next few months, I’ll continue engaging with our members and encourage them to support our activations and campaigns – including Fairtrade Fortnight in September.  

I’m looking forward to meeting local Co-op colleagues in stores and Funeral homes in my area to talk about the value of engaging with our member-owners. I’d also like to talk to them about reducing food waste in our stores and ensuring that surplus food gets redistributed to our Local Community Fund causes who need it most in our community. 

Find out more about our Member Activators or contact with the Member Activator in your region by using our online directory.