Helen Grant MP

This column has focused, somewhat unavoidably, upon divided opinions recently and I think everyone has had just about enough of politics, for a while at least. It is therefore with pleasure I write this week about something that brings people together.

A really great scheme has been launched by the Big Lottery Fund called ‘Celebrate’. It’s all about helping people bring their communities together.

Lottery research reveals 60% of people can’t remember the last time they came together to celebrate and they want to change this. One lottery-funded example is the annual www.thebiglunch.com where a poll showed more than 80% of people felt closer to their neighbours and better about their neighbourhood after taking part in the get together.

It is up to people to come up with ideas – perhaps a celebration of something in the local history, remembering a community hero, or holding a street party to get to know the neighbours better. I attended a perfect example last year in Yalding; the community put on a fantastic street party to celebrate the 70th anniversary of VE day with 500 villagers, many in 40s costume, dancing and partying for hours. That was a fairly elaborate event, but you get the gist.

In England there’s a total of just under £4 million available, divided into grants of between £300 and