The Big Lottery Fund has granted £3.5m to run community networking project The Big Lunch for the next three years.

The Big Lunch was launched by the Eden Project in 2009 as a means of encouraging neighbours and community groups to spend time together. Citizens are provided with a step-by-step guide of how to plan a Big Lunch and ideas and inspiration for what kind of event to host, "from a simple lunch to a full-blown streer party".

The Big Lottery Fund was involved in last year's event as a partner alongside MasterCard, EDF and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Anna Southall, Big Lottery Fund interim chair, said: "The Big Lottery Fund is delighted to help The Big Lunch bring even more local communities together over the next three years. The Big Lunch is firmly establishing itself as a simple way to bring people together who might otherwise not have had the chance to meet."

The 2009 event inspired almost one million participants holding an estimated 8,263 community parties. In response to the announcement of this year's event, which will be held on 5 June, North Yorkshire County Council has issued guidance on organising street parties.

Last year the Big Lottery Fund awarded £437m in grants to community and voluntary projects, but received over £1bn worth of applications. Some £3.6m has been set aside by the Fund to support community projects inspired by the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in April.