We Need the Great Get Together More Than Ever

By Baroness Jan Royall, Chair of Trustees

I’m honoured to have recently joined The Jo Cox Foundation as Chair – and I do so at a time when Jo’s message feels more urgent than ever.

That’s why I’m delighted that we’ve already raised over £15,000 of the £20,000 target for our crowdfunding campaign for next year’s Great Get Together.

Across the UK, we’re seeing deepening divisions. Political polarisation, rising hate crime, and growing social isolation are leaving many people feeling disconnected and disillusioned. The headlines reflect it, and so do our everyday lives – from the tensions in our communities to loneliness behind closed doors.

But amid this, there is hope.

Jo believe that we have more in common than that which divides us. That belief is at the heart of the Great Get Together – a weekend where people come together to share food, stories, and laughter. It’s a celebration of community, compassion, and connection, and a powerful antidote to the forces pulling us apart.

This year’s Great Get Together showed just how much it matters. From refugee-led cooking events in Epsom to interfaith gatherings in Belfast, thousands of people came together across divides. They built trust, formed friendships, and reminded each other that kindness still matters.

As someone who has spent my life in public service, I know how vital it is to strengthen the bonds between us – especially in difficult times. That’s why I’m passionate about the work of The Jo Cox Foundation. Because it doesn’t just honour Jo’s legacy – it builds on it, creating real change in communities across the country.

Next year’s Great Get Together will be especially significant. From 19-21 June 2026, we’ll mark ten years since Jo was murdered. It will be a poignant moment to reflect, to unite, and to show that her message lives on.

Thanks to our supporters we’ve already raised over £15,000 to help fund community-led events across the UK, support local organisers, and provide the resources needed to ensure people from all backgrounds can take part.

Please help us reach our £20,000 goal.

If you’ve already donated, thank you so much. Your support is making a real difference. And if you’re able, sharing the campaign with your friends, family, and networks is another powerful way to help.

Please donate today and help me ensure that Jo’s message – that we have more in common than that which divides us – continues to unite communities across the UK.

Together, we can make the 10th anniversary of the Great Get Together a moment of real, lasting impact.