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Our 2025 Highlights

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By Will Fletcher, Interim CEO

2025 has been another important year for all of us here at The Jo Cox Foundation and we’re immensely grateful to all of our supporters who’ve helped make it possible. We’ve shared a few of the highlights for each of our programmes below.

It has been an immense honour to lead the Foundation as Interim CEO since September 2024, and I look forward to continuing as part of the team and working with Olivia Field, our newly appointed CEO, when she starts in the New Year.

The Great Get Together

In June 2025 we marked nine years of the Great Get Together. Once again, it was an impactful campaign with people running events throughout the UK to show that we have “more in common than that which divides us”. As a result, 88% of attendees said that they felt a greater connection to others in their community.

2026 will be an even bigger year for the Great Get Together as we will celebrate our 10th campaign just after the 10th anniversary of Jo’s murder. Planning for this is already well underway, and we’re really pleased to have raised over £17,000 through a crowd funding campaign to support next year’s Great Get Together, which will take place from 19-21 June 2026.

Respectful Politics

Much of our Respectful Politics work this year has focussed on continuing to make progress towards getting all of our Civility Commission recommendations adopted, with 23 of our original recommendations now either fully or partially adopted.

This year, with support from the JRSST Charitable Trust we’ve also consulted with partners and stakeholders on our forthcoming second call to action for the devolved nations. We look forward to publishing this new report in early 2026. 

The More in Common Network

The More in Common Network has continued to grow, and we’ve been delighted to welcome new members to the Network. We now have 17 groups and 4 partnerships, all carrying out their own work in their communities to bring life to Jo’s more in common message.

In May, we held our first in-person More In Common in Action event. This one-day event held in Manchester brought together 45 attendees from across the UK who all work to strengthen their communities. It was an exciting day where different members of the network had the opportunity to learn from one another. We’re looking forward to hosting our second event in 2026.

Tackling Loneliness

Thanks to funding from the Astra Foundation, we embarked on a new loneliness project, through which we have been establishing a Loneliness Policy Group for voluntary sector organisations, so that we can make the best case to government for going further to address loneliness.

This year has focussed on a lot of the groundwork, building partnerships and relationships with other organisations and working with the new secretariat for the APPG on Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities. We’re excited to continue developing this work going forward.

Bridging and Belonging

Our Bridging and Belonging project in Batley, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike has gathered significant momentum this year. Over the past 12 months we’ve worked with a Community Steering Group to engage over 500 members of the community through 21 listening events. As a result of this, we’ve co-produced a shared vision for the future of these three towns, which we look forward to sharing in early 2026.

With support from One Community Kirklees and the Sir George Martin Trust, we are now developing the next stage of this work, which will focus on community-led social action initiatives that can begin to bring this vision to reality.

Senior Leadership

It’s been a year of significant appointments for our leadership here at the Foundation. We welcomed Baroness Jan Royall as our new Chair in September 2025, and we recently appointed Olivia Field as our new CEO, who will join the Foundation officially in January 2026.

The Jo Cox Foundation Appoints New CEO To Lead It Into Tenth Anniversary Year

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Photograph of Olivia Field, newly appointed Chief Executive of The Jo Cox Foundation
Olivia Field, newly appointed Chief Executive of The Jo Cox Foundation

The Jo Cox Foundation is delighted to announce that Olivia Field has been appointed as the charity’s new Chief Executive. Olivia will start work in January 2026, taking over from Will Fletcher, who has acted as Interim CEO since September 2024.

The Jo Cox Foundation was created in the wake of Jo’s murder to carry forward work on issues that Jo was passionate about. The charity works in three areas: nurturing stronger communities, championing respect in politics and advocating for a fairer world. Underpinning this work is the understanding that we have more in common than that which divides us.

Olivia will join the Foundation at an important moment, as we prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of Jo’s murder in June 2026. A core part of marking the 10th anniversary will be the Great Get Together on the weekend of 19th-21st June 2026, the annual celebration of everything that unites our communities, which over the last 10 years has brought hundreds of thousands of people together through community events to celebrate unity and reject division.

Olivia Field joins The Jo Cox Foundation from the British Red Cross, where she led national advocacy on UK resilience, health and social care, and refugee support. She played a central role in tackling loneliness – serving on the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, managing the British Red Cross and Co-op loneliness partnership’s advocacy, and convening the original All-Party Parliamentary Group on Loneliness.

Olivia helped secure the country’s first cross-government loneliness strategy and later supported its implementation within government. With extensive experience in policy, research, and advocacy, Olivia brings a long-standing commitment to building connected communities and promoting respectful politics – reflecting Jo Cox’s belief that we have more in common than that which divides us.

The Jo Cox Foundation is currently asking people to support next year’s Great Get Together by donating to our crowdfunder, or by signing up to the Great Get Together mailing list to stay updated about the campaign, including how you can plan your own event. Together with your support, we can make the 10th anniversary our most unifying and impactful yet – a celebration powered by the people and communities who believe in Jo’s ‘more in common’ message and live it every day.

Announcing the appointment, Jan Royall, chair of the Jo Cox Foundation, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Olivia as our new Chief Executive. With her wealth of experience and proven leadership, she will guide the Foundation into its next chapter with vision and energy. Olivia will build on Jo’s legacy and the remarkable progress of the past decade, ensuring we continue to meet society’s challenges by empowering communities, bringing people together, fostering social cohesion, and tackling loneliness. She will also be a strong voice in championing respect in politics, helping us create a healthier and more hopeful democracy.”

Olivia Field said:

“As we approach ten years since Jo’s death, I am honoured to lead The Jo Cox Foundation. This anniversary reminds us how critically Jo’s vision matters today – urging us to strengthen communities, restore a more respectful politics, and remember that we have more in common than that which divides us.

“Looking to the decade ahead, my focus is on deepening Jo’s legacy: bringing people together, renewing hope, and helping communities bridge divides in ways that are meaningful, inclusive and lasting. With the Great Get Together next year, we have a powerful opportunity to celebrate connection and everything that unites us.”

Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater MP said:

“I am delighted to welcome Olivia as the new CEO of Jo’s Foundation. She has a proven track record of campaigning and is a passionate advocate for many of the issues Jo cared about. I am looking forward to working with her and the rest of the team at the Jo Cox Foundation ahead of the 10th anniversary of Jo’s murder to remember my sister and champion the values she held, which are so important in bringing our communities and our country together.”

Jo’s widower Brendan Cox said:

“Olivia will be a fantastic CEO with a track record of fighting on the issues Jo cared about. As we approach the ten year anniversary of Jo’s murder, Olivia is the right person to help the Foundation have even more impact in the next decade.”

The Jo Cox Foundation Names Baroness Jan Royall as Chair of Trustees

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Photograph of Jan Royall
photo (c) John Cairns

The Jo Cox Foundation is delighted to announce that Jan Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, has been appointed as the charity’s new Chair by the Board of Trustees, and will take up the role in September 2025.

The move comes following the departure of the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith as Chair in July 2024, since which time Rosamund Blomfield-Smith has led the Board of Trustees in the capacity of Interim Chair.

The Jo Cox Foundation was created in the wake of Jo’s murder to carry forward work on issues that Jo was passionate about. The charity works in three areas: nurturing stronger communities, championing respect in politics and advocating for a fairer world. Underpinning this work is the understanding that we have more in common than that which divides us.

Each year since Jo’s murder, the Foundation has helped to organise the Great Get Together, an annual celebration of everything that unites our communities, which since its inception has brought hundreds of thousands of people together through community events to celebrate unity and reject division.

Get Togethers are held across the country every year to remember Jo and the ‘more in common’ values she stood for. The annual ‘Great Parliamentary Get Together’ was held for the first time in the Speaker’s House at Westminster last month.

Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater MP was joined by senior political figures including former Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak and Theresa May, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper and the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. MPs from across the House, staff members and representatives of organisations supporting issues that Jo cared about joined the event. Jo and Kim’s parents, Gordon and Jean Leadbeater, and Jo’s children, Cuillin and Lejla were special guests.

This year’s Great Get Together was held over the weekend of 20-22 June with thousands of people attending community events that took place all over the country, from a Craft and Craic in Belfast and a walk on the Isle of Wight, to a tri-nations kabaddi showdown in Hartlepool and a Sunday lunch that brought Jewish and Muslim women together.

Jan has had a distinguished career in public life, notably serving as Chief Whip in the House of Lords and then Leader of the House from 2008-2010. She also served as Shadow Leader of the House of Lords from 2010-2015.

Prior to her parliamentary career, she was a senior adviser in the European Commission before heading its representation in Wales. In 2004 she was appointed to the Lords as Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and in 2005 became a Government Spokesperson for Health, International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Jan stepped down from frontbench politics in 2015, and since 2017 she has been Principal of Somerville College, a role from which she will step down this August. 

Jan is a trustee, patron and active supporter of many other charities and organizations including Full Fact, the Centre for Opposition Studies, Asylum Welcome and the ASHA Centre. She is co-chair of the Oxford inclusive Economy Partnership.  She was formerly chair of the People’s History Museum, Pro Chancellor of the University of Bath and Vice President of the Party of European Socialists.

Commenting on her appointment, Baroness Jan Royall said:

“It is a privilege to be the new Chair of the brilliant Jo Cox Foundation, to carry forward its work fostering change in our communities, in politics and in the world.  This very special charity, guided by my friend Jo’s vision and values, becomes more relevant by the day with the need to bridge deep divisions in our society, restore respect in our politics and champion social justice in our world.”

Interim Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation, Rosamund Blomfield-Smith said:

“It has been a great privilege to serve as the interim chair of the Jo Cox Foundation for the past year but I look forward with great pleasure to handing over the reins to Jan. I am delighted that someone of her calibre, strength of character and commitment to so many of the causes and qualities which Jo held dear has accepted the challenge of leading the brilliant organisation founded in Jo’s name at this exciting time and I look forward to working with Jan over the years to come.”

Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater MP said:

“I’m delighted to see Jan Royall taking up the role of JCF chair. Like Jo she is a strong woman driven by compassion and a powerful determination to make a difference. She brings huge experience and expertise to the job and I look forward to working with her on the many issues that Jo cared about.”

Jo’s widower Brendan Cox said:

“Jo was a huge fan of Jan’s and they worked closely together over many years. She’d be delighted Jan has agreed to chair the foundation in her name.”

Announcement: senior personnel changes at The Jo Cox Foundation

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The Trustees of The Jo Cox Foundation are delighted to announce that Rosamund Blomfield-Smith has been appointed as Interim Chair. Rosamund has been on the Board since 2020, and is the Treasurer and the Chair of the Audit Committee. Rosamund will bring her knowledge and experience from 30 years in the City and 20 years in a wide variety of non-executive director and chair roles. Rosamund said “It’s a privilege to step up as Interim Chair. Jo was a greatly-valued friend, and I’m delighted to be able to lead the Board as we continue to do important work in her name”.

In a change to the senior team, after 5 years at the Foundation, CEO Su Moore will be stepping down at the end of the September. Su said “It’s been an absolute honour to work at the Foundation, and to make change every day on issues that Jo was passionate about.”. Will Fletcher, Head of Operations and Finance, will be taking on the role of Interim CEO. Will first joined the Foundation in 2021, and has a breadth of experience in the charity sector, including as Chair of Derbyshire Mind.

Details of the arrangements for the recruitment of a permanent Chair and CEO will be announced in due course.

Find out more about our team and the work we do.

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The Jo Cox Foundation makes meaningful change on issues that the late Jo Cox MP was passionate about. Our vision is of society underpinned by an enduring belief that “we…

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Jacqui Smith steps down as Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation

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Jacqui Smith speaking at the Jo Cox Civility Commission launch

Following the General Election, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith has been appointed as Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education, and therefore has stepped down as Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation. We congratulate Jacqui on this new role and wish her all the best in it and in her appointment to the House of Lords. 

Jacqui has served as Chair since 2019, and all at the Foundation send our thanks for her energy, time and knowledge over the past five years. Under her leadership, the Foundation has achieved considerable change on issues that Jo Cox was passionate about, including launching the Jo Cox Civility Commission call to action, delivering the successful Moment to Movement project, and championing the voices of the social connection sector through the Connection Coalition. 

Our Board of Trustees will commence recruitment for a new Chair shortly. 

Find out more about our team and the work we do.

Featured Page

About

The Jo Cox Foundation makes meaningful change on issues that the late Jo Cox MP was passionate about. Our vision is of society underpinned by an enduring belief that “we…

Read more

Blog: My Kickstart experience and understanding how I work best

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Our Stronger Communities Officer Ella describes her Kickstart experience and the importance of an understanding workplace.

My journey at the Jo Cox Foundation began with the help of a government initiative for 16-24-year-olds who were unemployed during the pandemic, called Kickstart. When the pandemic began, I was made unemployed like so many others across the country. I spent the duration of the lockdowns searching for a job, a difficult task at the best of times. It soon became apparent that as so many others had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, the candidate pool had increased in size dramatically and it was an employers game. 

During this period, I signed up for Universal Credit and was provided with a work coach with whom I had regular check-ins. They helped me scout out interesting jobs that I was qualified for and supported me through numerous interviews until I eventually came across an opportunity on the Jo Cox Foundation’s careers page as a Stronger Communities Assistant. Not only was I excited by the prospect of working for an organisation like the Jo Cox Foundation, I was also grateful to see the organisation hiring for Kickstart positions since they are such a useful career opportunity for many young people.

After following the necessary Kickstart application process, I was over the moon to be offered an interview and subsequently a role as the Stronger Communities Assistant at the Jo Cox Foundation. Getting this role after job hunting for over a year of the pandemic felt like a huge weight off my shoulders, especially as the work of the Foundation aligns directly with my own interests and values. 

Alongside my role at the Jo Cox Foundation, I had 6 months of learning and personal development training with Koreo who had partnered with Kickstart. Over the 6 month period, they provided learning opportunities that supported my role and entering the civil society workspace. In virtual seminars, which often had over a hundred Kickstarters across the country attending, they provided tools which enabled me to develop practical skills which have helped me on a day-to-day level as the Stronger Communities Assistant, along with transferable skills which will aid me in my career development. These ranged from understanding how I like to work, the communication styles I find most practical and accessible, peer coaching, reflective practices, employability skills and coaching.

As this position at the Jo Cox Foundation was my first experience working as part of a team in an office environment, developing these skills has proved useful in making sure it was an easy transition. In fact, a few weeks after I completed this learning experience, the whole team at JCF created a ‘User Manual’ document, open to all to add to, to help us understand how each team member likes to work. It’s a fantastic exercise to ensure that you can work with your colleagues in the best possible way!

Alongside this personal development opportunity from Koreo, working at the Jo Cox Foundation has allowed me to expand my understanding of the important work the charity sector does and the huge role it plays in harnessing the power of community action. While at the Foundation, I have split my time working in two teams. Firstly, the Connection Coalition, a network for organisations across the country to work collectively to ensure that communities have the ability to build and strengthen social relationships. This has been such a wonderful experience, particularly in opening my eyes to the importance of the individuals behind community action. It is so important for them to have a space where they can discuss their achievements and challenges and turn to others for support and collaboration. Through this work, I’ve met some amazing individuals doing important and inspiring work to help tackle loneliness up and down the country. 

The other side of my work at the Foundation has been working on our national campaign, the Great Get Together. This has been an amazing opportunity to see the level of commitment that thousands of people across the country have towards bridging divides within their communities and harnessing the power of their community to build positive spaces where Jo’s More In Common message is celebrated. My role varied from interacting directly with organisers and attendees, to rallying support from well-known names and MPs in Westminster. I was also engaging with our audience through our fortnightly newsletter, encouraging them to get involved through organising or attending an event. It has been wonderful to hear all the amazing stories of new connections made over the last two summer campaigns. I’m certain the impact of the Great Get Together will only increase year after year. 

Working with the team at the Jo Cox Foundation has really highlighted the importance of an understanding workplace. A fundamental element of the way we all work together at the Foundation is that we understand that everyone has their own way of working and times of the day when they are at their most productive. When we came together as a team to produce our ‘how we work’ cards, I and other members of the team really felt seen and acknowledged, and a sense of trust and respect was built within the team that each individual’s way of working would be respected as much as possible. I think this is such an important exercise to do with any team, especially a team who mostly works remotely as it allows us all to better understand each other.  

I’m so grateful for my time spent at the Jo Cox Foundation and all that it has taught me and the opportunities for personal and professional development it has allowed for. From joining in May of 2021, nervous about starting my first job but excited for the challenges it would bring, to leaving a year and a half later feeling confident and with a passion to take the values of the Jo Cox Foundation forward with me in any future opportunities. I have truly enjoyed my time and am looking forward to the next steps in my career. 

Announcement: Su Moore appointed new CEO of The Jo Cox Foundation

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The Jo Cox Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Su Moore as The Jo Cox Foundation’s new Chief Executive. 

 

 

 

Su joined the Foundation in December 2019, originally as Great Get Together Campaign Director. In October 2020 she moved to the role of Stronger Communities Director, and was appointed Interim CEO in February of this year. Su has a varied background in the arts, charities, media and sports organisations. Outside of the Foundation, she is a Trustee of the Bishopsgate Institute and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust.

Announcing the appointment, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, chair of the Jo Cox Foundation, said:

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to welcome Su Moore as our new CEO. She really impressed us as the interim CEO with her ability to get things done whilst providing calm leadership for our staff and partners. She brings great experience and knowledge of our work and the wider sector; and a real commitment to Jo’s values. We’re all looking forward to working with her on exciting plans for the next phase of the Foundation’s development. Congratulations Su!”

Su Moore said:

“Working at the Jo Cox Foundation is a genuine privilege. I’m very proud to be appointed CEO, and to help carry on Jo’s legacy every day, striving to build stronger communities, to encourage civility in public life and to advocate for a fairer world. I look forward to continuing to work with the fantastic team, the Board, Jo’s family and our inspiring partners over the coming years.”

 

The Great Get Together, the fifth to be held since Jo Cox’s murder in 2016, will take place next weekend from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 June 2021, on the weekend closest to Jo’s birthday. People across the UK are invited to come together with friends, family, neighbours and to make new connections, in celebration of all that we have in common across our many diverse and vibrant communities.

Be part of the Great Get Together

The Jo Cox Foundation team bids farewell to CEO Catherine Anderson

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CEO Catherine Anderson is moving on from The Jo Cox Foundation to become the new Executive Director of The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

 

Rt.Hon. Jacqui Smith, Chair of the JCF Board, said Catherine had made a tremendous contribution to The Foundation’s work since joining in September 2018.

Jacqui Smith said:

“I want to say a huge thank-you to Catherine for her dedicated and enthusiastic leadership of the Jo Cox Foundation for more than two years. During that time JCF has expanded and been put on a sounder financial footing. Catherine has achieved a three-fold increase in staffing levels, with a greatly increased turnover to match, as part of our first ever multi-year strategic plan. The impact of the Foundation across an expanded range of programmes has grown every year thanks to the team Catherine has successfully built up. The Great Get Together, held annually to help build stronger, more united communities, has gone from strength to strength. And Catherine has put tremendous energy into our campaigns on the issues Jo cared deeply about – loneliness, tackling abuse and intimidation in public life, and a fairer world. We wish her every success in her new role with The London Marathon Charitable Trust.”

Applications for a new Chief Executive will be advertised in due course.

Building Jo’s Legacy: 4 Years On

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Today marks The Jo Cox Foundation’s 4th anniversary. Over the next week, we will be celebrating the many ways in which Jo’s values, passions, and spirit live on in the world today.

It’s been such a challenging year for us all. And yet, thanks to our brilliant supporters and partners, together we have achieved a huge amount over the past 12 months in Jo’s honour.

Today, we are proud to share a new film which tells the story of the thousands of individuals around the world who have helped continue Jo’s legacy over the past four years, and our plans for building a kinder, more compassionate society in Jo’s memory.

We are so proud of what we have achieved together, but there is still so much more we can do. Our vision for the Foundation is ambitious and long-term, and we need as much support as possible to ensure Jo’s legacy makes an impact for years to come. 

Today, please consider making a donation to help us continue building stronger communities, a better public life, and a fairer world as part of Jo’s legacy. Together we can achieve so much!

Announcement: Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith Appointed to Chair the Jo Cox Foundation

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The Jo Cox Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of the Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith as its new Chair. Jacqui takes over with immediate effect and replaces Nick Grono, who has served the board with great distinction since the Foundation was established.

 

 

Newly appointed Chair Rt Hon Jacqui Smith with CEO Catherine Anderson and Ambassador Kim Leadbeater.

 

Jacqui said: “I’m enormously excited and honoured to be taking over as Chair of the Jo Cox Foundation at such a challenging and important time. Never has Jo’s message that we have ‘more in common than that which divides us’ been more relevant. Many people feel that this is a divided country with an increasingly toxic level of public debate. Jo wouldn’t have stood for that. She would have reached out and built a movement for positive change – strengthening local communities, leading respectful national debate and advocating for a fairer world. I’m going to use my national experience and the inspiration of having known Jo to support the Foundation in delivering some really exciting plans over the coming years. I’m looking forward to meeting all of those who share Jo’s vision and who want to work with us to make it happen.”

Jacqui’s appointment was welcomed by the Foundation’s CEO, Catherine Anderson:

“We are truly thrilled and very fortunate to have Jacqui Smith join our board as the next Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation. She brings a real depth of experience and connection to Jo – as a mentor to Jo on the Labour Women’s Network, as a woman in public life herself, and through her work both nationally and in communities in the UK. Jacqui will be helping to guide and shape the Foundation’s work at this exciting time, particularly on our work on intimidation in public life and women in public life. I can’t wait to work closely with her on all of the issues that mattered to Jo – and to continue to build a truly positive, transformative legacy for Jo.”

Kim Leadbeater, Jo’s sister, said:

“We are delighted to have Jacqui join as chair of Jo’s Foundation. For my parents and I it means a lot that somebody with such a wealth of experience and enthusiasm is heading our board. Jo knew Jacqui and respected her enormously so she really is the perfect person for the role.”

Jacqui Smith was MP for Redditch from 1997-2010 and was Britain’s first female Home Secretary. She currently works in health, social care and international political development and is regularly appears in the media discussing politics, current affairs and social policy.

The Foundation’s board, team and Jo’s family would like to thank Nick for his inspiring leadership over the past 2 and a half years.