Neighbourhood Day with the church

What is neighbourhood day

Every 4th Saturday in September, Burendag is held, an initiative of Douwe Egberts and the Oranje Fonds. Neighbourhood Day is about getting together as neighbours and doing something good for each other and the neighbourhood.

Why should you participate in Neighbourhood Day as a church?

Being a missional congregation starts with listening and paying attention. Neighbours' Day is then a very simple and natural way to connect with people. Open the doors to meet and chat with people from the neighbourhood in an approachable way. In this way, Neighbourhood Day is an opportunity to build a relationship with local residents, in which faith naturally becomes a topic of conversation.

Neighbours' Day can also have a diaconal angle. The Oranje Fonds says about Neighbours' Day: "Involved neighbours ensure that everyone can participate and no one has to stand alone." Organising something social together with your neighbours gives you the opportunity to gauge what is going on in the neighbourhood and what you as a church could do for the neighbourhood.

How do you organise a neighbourhood day with the church?

1. Devise an activity together
   You can do something for the neighbourhood, but of course it is much more fun to do something together with the neighbours organise.
   1. coffee or high tea with home baking
   2. bouncy castle, a games circuit
   3. communal meal
   4. exhibition featuring artworks made by people from the church and/or the neighbourhood
   5. treasure hunt through the neighbourhood
   6. bingo
   7. neighbourhood flea market
2. Register your neighbourhood at the Neighbours’ Day website and request an official neighbourhood day pack.
3. Think about your budget. Are you short of cash? You can apply for a grant from the Oranje Fonds. Take a look at the ‘Financial support’ tab on the Frequently asked questions about Neighbours’ Day.
4. Use the script you receive when you register, or create your own script:
   1. Agree who does what before, during and after the activity.
   2. Think about what you need in terms of materials and space and make sure it is there on time.
   3. Arrange any permit on time and consider whether it might be useful to inform the neighbourhood police officer about your neighbourhood party.
   4. Check a day in advance to make sure everything is settled.
5. Invite all neighbours. You can download posters and flyers below.
6. Put up a guest book and ask neighbours to write down their tops and tips. Use that feedback for the activity you organise with the neighbourhood.
7. Offer your neighbours the opportunity to sign up for news from your church.

Downloads

Here you will find posters, flyers and posts for Facebook and Instagram. Click on the buttons to view and download them.

Not what you're looking for? On the official site of Neighbours' Day you will find the standard posters as well as colouring pictures and scripts. Of course, you can also make your own posters.