Business boss is planning Big Neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt for second year under the pandemic

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

The Big Neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt was created by Sunderland business boss Fiona Simpson last year. Now it is making its return in 2021.

It was first held by Fiona in the early weeks of the first lockdown and got 5,000 people making Easter egg paintings to put in their windows for people to spot as they walked by.

This year, nearly 80,000 people have become part of the ‘Big Neighbourhood’ community.

The Big Neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt which is back for a second year.

What a year it has been for Fiona who reflected on that very first ‘Big Neighbourhood’ project.

Fiona, boss of award winning company ARTventurers, which has had franchises in Hartlepool and South Tyneside, said “It was an idea that I had just a few days before Easter to create a safe and fun Easter activity that everyone could take part in when they were doing their daily permitted exercise in their local areas.

"Within a few days we had nearly 5000 people join a community group I'd created.

"Children from up and down the country were taking part by displaying paper Easter eggs in their windows for other children to spot.”

Fiona Simpson pictured during the first Big Neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt.

In the months that followed, other themed events were held such as The Big Neighbourhood VE Day Family Festival at Home in May.

Then came The Big Neighbourhood Pumpkin Trail in October.

“They've all had the same aim,” said Fiona, “to bring people and communities together whilst apart, keep kids creative and to give people something to look forward to.

"The idea behind The Big Neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt is a really simple one - just pop an Easter egg in your window,

Sam and Will Weightman with their mum Pam taking part in the Easter Egg Hunt.

"Then on Easter weekend, children and their families can go out and about with our special Hunt sheet and see how many eggs in windows they can spot! “Whilst we know lockdown restrictions are slowly going to ease over the next few months, we'll still be limited in what we can do at Easter 2021 and so this is something fun that everyone can safely enjoy.”

“The Facebook group now has nearly 80,000 members taking part from up and down the UK and it's great to see everyone's creative and colourful egg decorating ideas.”

Key opening dates for shops, gyms, pubs, hairdressers and leisure centres - as G...

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.