Local people and businesses have been thanked for supporting the hugely successful Great Big Green Lunch in Southport on Sunday (8th June 2025).
The welcoming community event was among several Big Lunch gatherings taking place across Sefton, thanks to funding through Sefton CVS and the Making Energy Greener company in Southport.
The Great Big Green Lunch was organised by The Hearth CIC and took place inside Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport.
Funds on the day were raised for the Elsie’s Story and Bebe’s Hive charities.
The Hearth aimed everything as sustainable as possible as dozens of people came together to enjoy lunch along a long table.
Food was kindly donated by local restaurants and local people; diners were asked to bring their own plates and cutlery; plastic was minimised; decorations were hand-made using recyclable material.
There was a baking competition on the day, with five categories as people brought their home baked cakes, biscuits, or other baked goods.
The venue was kindly provided free of charge by Wayfarers Arcade.
The day was opened in style by Southport Town Crier Kevin Ruane, with superb live music thanks to the Ukrainian Harmonia choir, talented local singer Via Grace and accordion player Ion.
Clown Eckie, who runs the Little Museum of Buffoonery in Wayfarers Arcade, kept children entertained with his performances.
The Hearth is a non-profit Community Interest Company based in Sefton that aims to put the heart in home.
The Hearth directors Rebecca Armstrong and Nadia Speers-Robinson said:
“We’d like to say a huge thank you from The Hearth to everyone who supported Southport’s Great Big Green Lunch!
“We’re absolutely thrilled to share that thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised £430.79 in our donation buckets! But that’s not all…
“An extraordinary donor has stepped forward with a gift of £569.21, ensuring that both Elsie’s Story and Bebe’s Hive will each receive £500 from Sunday’s event.
“And let’s give a huge round of applause to 13-year-old Eloise from It’s Not Knitting, who raised just shy of £200 for them with her beautiful crocheted bees and butterflies — what a star!
“To everyone who came, donated, crafted, volunteered, and cheered us on: thank you. We couldn’t have done this without you. You’ve made a real difference.
“What an incredible day! Over 100 people came together to share food, laughter, and community spirit — and it wouldn’t have been possible without YOU!
“To all our amazing volunteers and generous donors — thank you for your time, energy, and kindness. You made the day run smoothly and beautifully.
“A special shout-out to Roxana Budoi for the mouthwatering sandwiches, croissants, cannoli, and salads — they were a hit!
“Thank you to Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons for keeping everyone refreshed with juice, fruit, and crisps.
“Big love to Totally D’vine for the delicious chilli and rice, and to Dilaras for the crowd-pleasing pizzas.
“And a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful Dilek for the unforgettable Kurdish biriyani, za’atar and coriander breads, cookies, and teacakes — what a feast!
“To everyone who entered the baking competition or brought food to share — your generosity helped feed over 100 people. We couldn’t have done it without you!
“Huge thanks to our creative stars:
Jess from A Book of Petals
Jen from Knot Me Macrame
Eloise from It’s Not Knitting
Natalie from The Engine Room
Emmy from Emmy Oranges and Art Ease CIC
And to our community champions:
Kevin Ruane, Southport’s Town Crier
Charlie from Merseyside Police and his lovely wife Hannah
Debs, Dave, Craig, Allison, and every single volunteer who made the day so special.
And also a huge thank you to Ukrainian Harmonia, Via Grace and Ion who all brought such beautiful music to the day.
“We fully support Sefton Council’s new Zero Waste policy, which is all about encouraging people to live more sustainably, make better choices, reduce food waste, and move to a more circular economy.
“You’ve all helped make Southport greener, kinder, and more connected. Let’s keep the momentum going!”
The Hearth is a new community organisation that hosted its first big event, Earth Day, at Wayfarers Arcade in April.
This free, family-friendly event celebrated sustainability and empowered attendees with practical ways to save money on energy bills while making a positive impact on the planet.
Plans are already underway to make next year’s Earth Day event even bigger and better.
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