“More than just neighbours”- Gateside Awarded UK’s Friendliest Street!

July 31, 2012

Author: Emma

When the community of Gateside in Fife got together for their Big Jubilee Lunch, the aim of the day, as well as paying tribute to Her Royal Highness, was to make everyone feel included and welcome, to share lunch together and to enjoy each other’s company.

“That’s what Gateside is all about”, one of the organisers, Kathryn, described, “We are much more than just neighbours!”

It is this sentiment that has seen the community recently awarded the title of Tesco Magazine’s UK’s Friendliest Street 2012! Congratulations Gateside!!

Having received 32% of the public vote, they have been presented with £5000 to spend on a community celebration of their choice because of their ‘outstanding acts of kindness and community spirit.’ Although only being a small village, everyone got behind the competition and the community is delighted with the result!

As it may now be clear, Gateside is a small but very friendly place, with locals demonstrating the ethos behind The Big Lunch really well- values to do with community, working together and communicating with each other. The Fife village are an active community, helping each other out in practical ways through skill-swapping. One neighbour acts as maths tutor, another fixes bikes and many more skills are shared, expertise exchanged. They have set up neighbourhood gardening projects and ensure the maintenance of the village and green spaces are kept up between them. Raising funds through coffee mornings and ceilidhs lets the village organise bus trips for older residents and parties and discos for the kids.

Proactive and pioneering, Gateside demonstrate what can be achieved by residents when you collaborate with one another and are a great Big Lunch example to other neighbours wanting to come together in order to start some conversations and build up community ties. Their new title is well deserved and we hope Gateside enjoy their celebration!!

How is your community working together? Let us know at yourstories@thebiglunch.com