As restrictions lift, many people still remain cocooning or in isolation. The organisers behind Street Feast want to continue to help communities to reach out to their neighbours at this time, in a fun and light-hearted way
On the 6th August Street Feast launches its new Neighbourhood Network Activity Guide online, at www.neighbourhoodnetwork.ie, providing over 20 activities suitable for every age group. The ideas are designed to be fun, responsibly instructed, and enable social distancing, while celebrating our neighbours and building community spirit. The first 200 neighbourhoods to sign up will receive a free activity pack
Some of the creative ideas featured on the website are:
Tea-at-Three – one of the first community initiatives launched during lockdown. Inspired by Helen O’Hara in Mayo, it’s a wonderfully simple idea that encourages communities to check-in with their neighbours at a safe social distance. At 3pm every Saturday, invite your neighbours to share a friendly cup of tea from their doorstep, in separate gardens, from separate balconies, over the phone, or across a video call.
Make your trees twinkle! Add a bit of sparkle to your neighbourhood by putting fairy lights up in your front garden. It’s a fun and simple way to decorate your area and get everyone’s houses twinkling.
Go on a Window-Scavenger Hunt! Brighten up your windows and get the community out and about with a neighbourhood scavenger hunt! All you will need for this cheery activity are a few willing neighbours, and some keen eyes. Get crafty with whatever you choose to stick in your window, then send the kids out to see what they can spot! Seeing a neighbourhood full of bright and colourful windows is a sure-fire way to spread some joy.
Hold a Community Dog Show. A pawsome day of fun and games with your canine companions is a great way to get your neighbours together! Head on down to your local park with some chew toys in tow and enjoy the opportunity to get to know your community. Dogs may be man’s best friend, but why not extend the welcome to all animals and have a pet parade!
The site is jam packed with fun and games for all ages, there’s also a community clean-up, a physically distanced bake-off, virtual book club, gardening supergroups, random acts of community kindness, and so much more!
Founder of Neighbourhood Network, Sam Bishop, says: “Over the past 11 years through Street Feast, strong and lasting relationships have been formed through our network. We help communities connect at a hyper local level. Through our new Tea-At-Three initiative, we receive frequent and positive feedback. 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!
Following the impact of COVID-19 on this year’s Street Feast, we changed our focus towards supporting communities around Ireland. We give special attention to volunteering for cocooners and 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. Out of Street Feast, Neighbourhood Network has been born as a sister project which adapts to the current needs of the country and the Covid response plan.”
Want to get involved? Neighbourhood Network provides a platform whereby members in communities can register their neighbourhood and connect with other communities around the country, sharing ideas and plans through fortnightly webinars for example.
The first 200 neighbourhoods to sign up will receive a free activity pack, with great resources to get you started; These include posters, invites, street chalk, bunting, templates, a handy guide and more.
Register your interest today at www.neighbourhoodnetwork.ie
Neighbourhood Network is supported by ChangeX and WebSummit.
