Greene King partners with Eden Project Communities
The event sees on average seven million people take part across the UK every year, and Greene King pubs will be joining in and hosting their own events throughout June.
Greene King has announced a two-year partnership with the Eden Project Communities as it launches its new “Closer Communities” programme reaching 1,600 managed pubs across the UK.
Greene King’s “Closer Communities” programme will aim to help reduce loneliness and social isolation by providing opportunities for people to come together and connect.
To support the programme, Eden Project Communities will help Greene King with research to understand the needs of their communities better, as they reach out and invite people everywhere to come together to share friendship, food and fun at The Big Lunch throughout the Month of Community in June.
As part of the Closer Communities programme, Greene King will be sponsoring Eden Project’s “The Big Lunch”. The event sees on average seven million people take part across the UK every year, and Greene King pubs will be joining in and hosting their own events throughout June.
Research from the Charity has revealed that 77% of participants feel a stronger sense of belonging in their community following The Big Lunch, with 11.7million people saying it helped them feel less lonely.
Last year, a number of pubs took part in Greene King’s Christmas Community Tables initiative. Team members across its pubs, breweries and support centres have raised over £17m in its 12-year partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, whilst sales from Greene King IPA have generated over £680k for grassroots sports clubs as part of its Proud to Pitch In Scheme.
Assad Malic, chief communications and sustainability officer at Greene King, said: “Thanks to modern technology, we’re now more connected than we have ever been, yet despite this, the need for in person-connection has never been higher, as many people feel isolated and disconnected from their local community.
“Research has shown that four in five Brits2 (82%) believe that pubs are important for their local communities and we’re firm believers that pubs play a pivotal role in helping people feel more connected and less isolated.”
Malic added: “Many of our pubs already play a very active role within their community and with the launch of Closer Communities, and through our partnership with the Eden Project Communities team, we’re showing our commitment to help tackle isolation by bringing people together and putting our pubs at the heart of the communities that we serve.”
