It couldn’t be easier to host your own Street Feast. This year, we’re posting out FREE party packs to EVERY Street Feast host. Each pack contains a handy guide, invites, posters, bunting, balloons and colourful hats - All you need to get the party started! To find out more and to register your Street Feast visit www.streetfeast.ie
64% of people wouldn’t welcome a new neighbour to the area
Thursday 2nd May: Today launches the 3rd annual Street Feast at a rooftop lunch at Dublin’s Urban Farm. Street Feast, in partnership with Centra, are calling on people nationwide to come together at 12noon on Sunday, 23rd June to enjoy a bite to eat with their neighbours for a simple and fun way of reconnecting with those that live near them.
In years gone by, it was likely you knew all your neighbours, not just your next door neighbours. They were people you spoke to regularly, helped you when you needed support and likewise you lent a hand in times of need. Knowing your neighbours was a sign of healthier and happier communities.
Today that seems to have all changed. In a survey carried out by Centra to mark the launch of Street Feast 2013, less than half of those surveyed, just 47%, said they “knew their neighbours to say hello to but that was it”. Remarkably almost a quarter of people said they didn’t know their neighbours at all.
Back in 2010 Street Feast was started by a group of volunteers who were passionate about bringing people together through food, to rediscover neighbourliness as the launch pad for lasting improvements within communities. Almost 200 Street Feasts have been held across the country to date and this year Street Feast, with a lending hand from Centra, are planning to substantially increase the number of events held on Sunday 23rd June.
Organisers say there are lots of good reasons to have a Street Feast, but it’s really just a great excuse to eat good food, celebrate your local community and meet new people who live in your neighbourhood. It can even be as simple as gathering a few neighbours for a picnic in the area.
From the results of this latest survey, it seems that we really do need to get out and show a bit of community spirit. When asked when the last time they had spoken to their neighbours - 30% said they hadn’t spoken to their neighbours in the past six months, with 8% saying they had never spoken to their neighbours at all. 64% of people said they wouldn’t bother to go and welcome a new neighbour into their neighbourhood, though almost the same percentage of people (62%) said that they would like to be welcomed if they moved into a new area. A staggering 72% of people said they have no involvement in their local residents association or Group. When it comes to what celebrity neighbours they would like to live beside, Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman are clearly the nations favourite claiming 34% of the poll – with Bono surprisingly one of the lesser chosen favourites at just 7%.
Hosting a Street feast couldn’t be easier. People can register their Street Feast online at www.streetfeast.ie, where you’ll receive a free party pack which will be posted direct to your home. This pack provides a handy guide to help make your feast a success, as well as posters, invitations, balloons, party hats and bunting to get the party started!
Co-founder & coordinator of Street Feast Samuel Bishop said, “We are thrilled to be bringing Street Feast back for its 3rd year and calling on communities nationwide to get involved on 23rd June. People can spend as little or as much as they like and hold one anywhere from their street, front garden, a field or even their balcony! Street Feast gives us an excuse to get out there, share food and conversation, and help build stronger relations within the local community.”
Speaking about the initiative, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, Centra commented, “Centra, with 460 stores nationwide, is at the heart of local communities throughout Ireland. We are the local retailer and are the hub of and meeting point in many communities across Ireland. This initiative is a great way for people to get involved and reconnect within their local neighbours and the community around them. Sparkling local connections is what Centra is all about and we are delighted to be a part of this initiative - getting together over something to eat is a great way to celebrate, strengthen community and make new friends.”
Clare Mulvany, a previous Street Feast host in Rialto said, “Hosting a Street Feast was such an easy way to make friends in my community. I now feel safer and happier here, knowing there are people I can call upon if I ever need to”.
Find out more and register to receive your free Street Feast party pack on www.streetfeast.ie or www.centra.ie. Street Feast is encouraging everyone to sit down with their neighbours at 12pm on 23rd June.
//Ends
Press Photos Available here: FLICK PRESS PAGE
Twitter: @streetfeast Hashtag: #streetfeast2013
For further information contact:
Astrid Brennan, Fleishman-Hillard, DL: 01 6188475 E: astrid.brennan@fleishmaneurope.com
Lydia Tierney, Fleishman-Hillard, DL: 01 6188459 E: lydia.tierney@fleishmaneurope.com
Samuel Bishop, Street Feast. 0862121492 E: samuel@streetfeast.ie
Notes to Editor:
Survey
Brand Army fielded this online survey on behalf of Centra from 22 – 26 April 2013, in a nationally representative, nationwide survey among 500 respondents, of the employed adult population aged 18+. The gender breakdown for this survey was 247 females and 253 males.
Well perhaps there is - with community grants. Have you enquired whether funding is available for a Street Feast or another project in your county? County & City councils usually have an allocation of funding to distribute for community and environmental initiatives. These deadlines are fast approaching. For an example, here’s Kilkenny County Council’s funding info page - Their deadline is this coming Tuesday 30th April.
If you have links to other grants for communities, please post them below!
Day 32 - ‘A Toastie Map of Dublin’
This is an idea I’ve been trying to get together for a while now, and part of the problem with getting it done was which pubs to include. I’ll be whittling it down for a Sunday afternoon tour soon…
So we love this. Who doesn’t love a good toastie?
Samuel Bishop, co-founder and coordinator of Street Feast, will be giving a talk on the multitude of creative and inspiring social food initiatives that are taking off across the globe. He’ll also introduce Street Feast, and give a quick workshop on ‘How to host a Street Feast.’
“We started it because we wanted to see more life on the streets, find more friends closer to home, and kickstart a celebration of the community around us. There’s never been a better time to shine a light on the communities, networks and organisations that are holding everything together. Street Feast gives us an excuse to get out there, share food and conversation, and help build stronger neighbourhoods.”
Food is a great way to celebrate and strengthen community. Come along on Tuesday evening to hear more about Street Feast and how food can bring people together and change a community around.
Doors at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm
Street Feast is on Sunday 23rd June. It’s time to get planning your feast! Check out our downloadable guide on www.streetfeast.ie for great suggestions and tips.
How cute is this?! Here’s an invitation to a Street Feast Talent Show that Louise Williams in Harold’s Cross recieved in her letterbox from her 10 year old neighbour Lauran. It’s great to see the young people getting excited and planning their own feast!
The kids in Harold’s Cross Cottages in Dublin 8 are already planning their 3rd annual Street Feast for the 23rd June. We love their creativity. It leads us to wonder, what events are you planning for your Street Feast? Please let us know!
It’s time to feast again!
To mark the end of summer, and the close of the Hack the City exhibition, Street Feast and the Science Gallery are whipping up a Closing lunch time Feast on September 7th.
OF course, we’d love you to join us! It’s easy to sign up; please register on the Science Gallery’s event page.
It’s been over a month since Street Feast took to the streets across Ireland with music, tasty food and colourful bunting. It was a beautiful day of community celebration right across the country.
Over the last month we have loved hearing stories, tales and photos from the day come in to us.
The street feast team took a bit of a break afterwards, and are now back in action gathering some of the stories and plotting and planning for how we grow and develop the Street Feast idea.
As some of you may already know, we have an installation in the Science Gallery in Dublin, with an opportunity for café visitors to share their ideas for improving the community. If you are passing through, do pop along and add your thoughts to the gallery wall.
Photo Competition
The closing date for the photo competition is this Friday 27th July. Please send your images or video to hello@streetfeast.ie (hint hint: the one which best captures the community spirit of the day will be the likely winner!)
The prize is a meal voucher for two from Clodagh’s Kitchen in Arnotts, Dublin. Yum!
Story Time
Over the next few weeks and months we are also looking to share stories and learning from Street Feasts around the country, so if you were a Street Feast host, or attended one, and you have a tale to share, or a lesson to learn, do write us a few lines with a photo of your feast. Your story will be part of a blog-post about your individual Street Feast. Send your submission to hello@streetfeast.ie - thank you!
We also have some more news and announcements from Street Feast coming soon, so watch this space…
Welcome to the Street Feast blog!
Street Feast is a national event to celebrate community.Street Feast isn't any old shindig. It's a not-for-profit, all-for-fun, do-it-yourself celebration.
Street Feast is a neighbourhood street party that is hosted by us and our neighbours, and happens in communities all over Ireland at the same time.
This 23rd June, at around 12noon, communities across Ireland will sit down for a feast to celebrate community. They can be anywhere really - out on the street, in a local park or in our front gardens.
There are lots of good reasons to have a Street Feast. Most of all it's a great excuse to eat good food, meet new people who live near you and have a bit of craic.
www.streetfeast.ieIf you would like to contact the Street Feast team for any reason, please email us at hello [@] streetfeast.ie
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