November 19, 2013 3.07 pm This story is over 124 months old

Neighbours in Lincoln get to know each other

Community cohesion: The City of Lincoln Council is using World Hello Day to encourage residents to meet their neighbours.
(L-R) Jake Marshall of Positive Futures, Neighbourhood Manager Noel Tobin, Emily McClean and Shannon Firby of Lincoln Castle Academy, Mclaren Staples, Brandon Atkins, Ali Thompson-Clay, Martyn Turner, Ethan Keely, Jacob Daniels and artist James Mayle with the St Giles graffiti wall. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

People in Lincoln can get to know their neighbours through a series of events in the city as part of World Hello Day.

Through the city of Lincoln Council, a number of events will be organised for people to meet other people on their street and learn more about each other.

Events include Meet the Street for West End local and student residents, young people painting a wall multilingually with “hello” in St Giles, a tea party with the Mayor of Lincoln and Eat Your Way Around the World cake sale at City Hall.

The annual World Hello Day on November 21 aims to promote peace and remove barriers between every nationality.

Everyone should try to say hello and a good day greeting to at least 10 people on Thursday.

The City of Lincoln Council uses the day to run community cohesion events in the city, promoting tolerance, understanding and respect between communities and people within the same community.

Local schoolchildren graffiti different ways of saying hello on a wall. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite.

Local schoolchildren graffiti different ways of saying hello on a wall. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite.

The wall once the children had finished. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The wall once the children had finished. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Cllr Brent Charlesworth, Portfolio Holder for Social Inclusion and Community Cohesion, said: “Lincoln is becoming an increasingly diverse city of people from all over the world, some who have come to study and some to settle and make Lincoln their home.

“We must try to make them all welcome.

“Also, we must not forget that there are many people who live alone, particularly older people, along with a significant number who have their day to day activities limited by illness or disability. They too need our care and concern – and a regular ‘Hello!’

“It is important both to celebrate differing cultures and improve our understanding of others and to give support to those in our communities who may need our help.

“The first step to understanding is by saying ‘Hello’. That’s surely something we all can — and should — do.”

The council believes barriers to people getting include language, age, disability or illness leading to isolation.

Events in happening Lincoln are:

  • Graffiti Wall – young people saying hello in different languages
  • Meet the Street – students and long term residents in the West End can meet up for a coffee, cake and chat. From November 18 – 22 at various locations in the West End.
  • Chad Varah School – Skype with a school in Gambia
  • Bishop King School – Tea party with the Mayor and others, learning to say hello in 10 different languages
  • Eat your way around the World — cake sale at City Hall celebrating food from different cultures
  • Health walk and learn to say hello in Polish, meeting outside the Phoenix health shop on the Cornhill at 10am on Thursday, November 21.
  • Christmas lights switch on by ‘Allo Allo’ star Sue Hodge
  • Apprentice job swaps between the city and county councils.
  • Revival, in Sincil Street — will be offering people new to Lincoln the chance to come in and say hello, and get a free tea or coffee and biscuit between 10am and 4.30pm.