Communi-tea time!
A new website promoting community spirit has been launched by the team be- hind the successful Street Feast initiative.
The online Neighbourhood Network Activity Guide has been designed to encourage people to reach out to their neighbours in fun and light-hearted ways.
Changing its focus this year, Street Feast has put together more than 20 creative activities suitable for all ages with an emphasis on celebrating one’s neighbours and a larger community spirit, all the while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
One of the ideas to feature on the website is Tea-at-Three, an initiative encouraging people to have a cuppa with a neighbour over the garden wall or over the phone.
Another suggestion is to hold a community dog show where neighbours bring their canine companions out to the local park for a bit of a run around while their owners mingle at a safe distance.
Other activities include a community clean-up, a physically distanced bake-off, virtual book club, gardening supergroups and random acts of community kindness.
“Over the past 11 years, through Street Feast, strong and lasting relationships have been formed through our network,” said Neighbourhood Network founder Sam Bishop.
“We help communities connect at a hyper local level, while giving special attention to volunteering for cocooners. We want to extend our plans to providing resources and ideas for families and specifically children, outlining much needed activities with safe and clear instructions”
Neighbourhood Network is inviting all communities around the country to come and register their neighbourhoods, connect with other communities and share ideas and plans.
The first 200 neighbourhoods to sign up will receive a free activity pack containing posters, invites, street chalk, bunting, templates, a handy guide and more.
“We are excited to launch our all-inclusive, age-friendly website to further build communities, reduce isolation, kick-start community participation as well as rejuvenate the summer,” concluded Mr Bishop.
So far 169 groups have registered across 32 counties, including 14 Irish speaking groups.
To register your neighbourhood visit neighbourhoodnetwork.ie.