Jubilee

Residents looking to bring their local communities together to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee can take advantage of a range of support on offer from Hackney Council.

Events are being staged across the borough and nationally to mark Her Majesty’s 70 year reign, with the main focus around the special Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June.

As well as supporting those looking to organise street parties to celebrate the momentous anniversary, the Council is also providing grants of up to £500 as part of the national Big Lunch initiative with the emphasis on The Big Jubilee Lunch.

Street Parties 

Residents can now apply to organise a non-commercial street party, which temporarily closes the road to traffic, so that neighbours can get to know each other and celebrate Hackney’s cultural diversity. 

There are a few criteria that street parties need to follow including that

• fewer than 200 guests invited;
• all guests must be associated with the immediate area;
• no alcohol will be on sale (it is okay to serve alcohol free of charge);
• no formal entertainment (incidental entertainment such as music from a stereo is okay as long as you do not disturb others in the community);
• no tickets are sold for the event;
• no food or other merchandise will be on sale (but it is fine to bring food to share with your neighbours);
• no temporary structures (e.g. stages or marquees) are set up.

There is usually no problem in obtaining  permission to close quiet residential streets, but the  Council is likely to refuse permission to close major routes (classed A and B  roads), bus routes, or one-way streets where it thinks doing so will cause too much disruption to  surrounding traffic or impede emergency vehicles.

For more information and to apply for a street party see here

The Big Jubilee Lunch

The Big Lunch runs between May and June. The emphasis this year is on The Big Jubilee Lunch taking place over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend.

To support the festivities for the Queen’s Jubilee, Hackney Housing Services are once again offering up to £500 funding to support Big Lunch initiatives.

To be eligible for funding, applications must be made from a home managed by Hackney Council and events must be inclusive, accessible and benefit all local residents. In previous years, groups have organised themed events including face painting and international dishes that residents have produced and provided on the day. 

Groups, who have until Monday 4 April to apply for the funding, also need to have appropriate safeguarding procedures in place and carry out a risk assessment for the event or activity.

Details of how to apply and information on the range of other funding available through the Council to help communities come together can be found here

How to arrange a Big Lunch

Download a free pack, including invitations and posters from the Big Lunch website

If you live on a street

For more information to arrange a street closure see here  

If you live on an estate

Contact our resident participation team who can support groups in the planning of activities and identifying suppliers. They can be contacted on 020 8356 7845 or by emailing get.involved@hackney.gov.uk