Neighbourhood Watch and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity have announced a fundraising initiative that will bring neighbours together to share a meal and raise money for both charities.
Together for Good: The Neighbourhood Watch Big Curry will run for the entire month of September with supporters of both charities coming together to share a meal, swap their stories and build new friendships. Each meal will be a chance for supporters to give to each charity through small individual donations as well as getting neighbours talking to one another.
Events can be held on a small scale – taking place in someone’s living room with a handful of supporters, to bigger events in a community hall where everyone in a street is invited, for example. The important thing is that people come together to get to know their neighbours over some lovely food to raise money for two well-loved charities. Organisers pay the money they have raised via The Soldiers’ Charity website with the funds split evenly between Neighbourhood Watch and The Soldiers’ Charity.
Neighbourhood Watch is the largest crime prevention movement in England and Wales with over two million members. A significant focus of Neighbourhood Watch is to build active, more engaged communities where people know and trust their neighbours.
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of the Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: “We’re known as an organisation that focuses on crime prevention and reporting but getting neighbours talking and interacting positively with one another is a huge priority for us. Communities are most resilient to crime when neighhbours look out for each other. There’s no better way to get to know your neighbours than by sharing a meal with them. We’re really proud to be partnering with The Soldiers’ Charity on this special project.”
The Big Curry is an ongoing fundraising initiative from The Soldiers’ Charity which encourages neighbours to share a meal and raise money for soldiers, veterans and their families. You can download Big Curry posters and recipes for free by heading over to the website and clicking ‘Resources’.
Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added: “We are incredibly proud to be working with Neighbourhood Watch and are looking forward to bringing people together over the Army’s long-standing tradition of a love of curry. This tradition originates from the British Army’s long service in India and elsewhere in the Asian sub-continent, particularly during the days of the British Raj under Queen Victoria.
“We hope that everyone taking part will thoroughly enjoy themselves. Whether they will be eating together in someone’s home or sharing with the wider community, they can have the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping the Army family. We very much appreciate all the effort put in by everyone to make this special project happen.”
If you are interested in hosting a Neighbourhood Watch Big Curry, visit The Soldiers’ Charity website for more information or email bigcurry@soldierscharity.org to find your local Soldiers’ Charity representatives.