Laura is an organiser from the Halton More in Common group, which has been a part of the More in Common Network since its inception. As a working mum and because of the discrimination that she experienced in the workplace because of this, Laura found that she connected with Jo Cox and her message.
The More in Common Network is a nationwide network of groups and partnerships who are united in Jo Cox’s message that “we have more in common than that which divides us”. As the network has grown over time, so too has the Halton group. As a network, we are made stronger by the growing confidence and expertise of our groups. Laura has herself had a wealth of experiences that led her not only to form the Halton group, but also led her to a career in politics.
Laura attributes her motivation for celebrating her community to Jo Cox and the outpouring of love and support that followed her death. Particularly moved by the fact that Jo “basically had gone to work and that happened, I felt like it just really stopped me in my tracks.”
In 2017, Laura was motivated by the first Great Get Together to run a community event in Halton. Along with other passionate members of the community, she organised a free family fun day for the community. Laura says that the event was a massive success because of the fantastic and because “it just captured something in people’s minds because of the story behind it.”
Since this first event More in Common Halton have held many more to engage the community and raise money for causes such as the local food bank. Among these, Women Shall Overcome – an event which focuses on celebrating local women who have faced difficulty and overcome it – has become a regular event put on by Laura and the rest of the team. They also hold annual awards to celebrate and empower the women within their local community.
As a self-proclaimed ‘accidental activist’, Laura found that by volunteering in this way, she was motivated more and more to champion her community. Using social media as a way to spread the word of any events, Laura caught the attention of local councillors who were keen to support the work. Through these connections, Laura learnt of a vacant role in the local Member of Parliament’s office and also went on to become a local councillor herself.
Laura’s journey into politics and continued passion for supporting her community is a testament to the power of the “more in common” message as an instrument for building unity in a community.
Click here to learn more about the More in Common Network or find your local group. And if you’d be interested in setting up a More in Common Group, contact India via [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you and to support you in setting up a group in your area.