Dynamic Sam Morgan, who works for local learning disability support organisation Cymryd Rhan, is organising a Big Lunch street party in Llandrindod on June 12.

When consulting with the community about the Big Lunch, Sam says she received an overwhelming response from the older community members reminiscing about the old street parties on the town’s main high street, Middleton Street.

“People started posting pictures and memories about the old parties that were held in the community,” she said.

There will be a complete road closure for Middleton Street, meaning they will be able to throw a full street party. With the Queen’s birthday celebrations taking place across the UK on the same day, Sam hopes that it will mean a lot to the older generation in the town.

Sam, 32, also organised last year’s Big Lunch – as part of her work with Cymryd Rhan - and said that the event acted as a catalyst for community action, bringing people together, while breaking down barriers about disability.

“Watching how the community dynamic worked on the day was amazing. The perceptions blurred and labels melted away, people didn’t see disability, just a bunch of people having good fun together. It didn’t matter who or what they were, it was such a relaxed atmosphere – almost festival like – it was wonderful to see everyone around each other enjoying something communally.”

The Big Lunch has had a huge impact in Llandrindod, with the entire community getting behind the project, and with many local businesses providing support.

The local pizzeria ran a pizza making competition, with the winning recipe featured on the menu in the weeks after the event, and local cafes and restaurants donated vats of soup on the day. Sam thinks the strong community interest built the momentum that made the day such a success.

“It signified that a day like this was what the community really needed, and that was immensely powerful.”

This year’s event will be even more far reaching.

“We’ve been asked about sharing ideas for feeding families on shoestring, so we’re planning for a few live food demonstrations on the day. For people struggling on very low incomes, that could be the difference in making them feel that they are coping and dealing with the issue rather than being beaten by it,” she said.

Sam is also part of an initiative called Llandrindod Soup, which was launched at last year’s Big Lunch.

Based on the Detroit Soup model, Llandod Soup organises regular soup nights where local groups, individuals or organisations are invited to pitch ideas or projects aimed at improving Llandrindod and the lives of the people who live there.

At the end of the evening the audience votes on the best pitch, with the winner receiving the total taken on the door, often between £100-150.

"This simple micro-funding initiative empowers people in the community to have ideas and take action to improve things for their local area. The last couple of Soups have funded local artists to create public art to brighten up an eyesore created by an abandoned industrial area in the town centre, as well as providing a local young carers charity with new play activities for when its young people come together,” she said.

Soup has also provided participants with opportunities to develop skills in pitching, articulating problems and selling solutions, empowering people to talking about what is valuable to them in their community context.

Sam said: “Since I’ve had my little boy, I feel like I need to do more in my town, things that will help – and to act as a role model for him. That’s how I would like him to be, helping his community and doing things to help people come together.”

For anyone wanting to take part in a Big Lunch, free packs are now available from www.thebiglunch.com. These include lots of ideas and info to help get the ball rolling.

The Big Lunch is made possible by the Big Lottery Fund.