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Great Get Together

The Jo I Knew: Why Her Message Matters More Than Ever

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By Nisha Jani
Nisha is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Jo Cox Foundation. Her life was immeasurably improved when she made friends with Jo Leadbeater (before she was Cox!) at university and as a Trustee she aims to carry on the work Jo cared about.

When I think back to my time at university, the memories are often a blur of late-night socialising essay writing and the overwhelming mission of trying to find my place in the world as a young mixed-race lesbian. I am still very proud of getting my degree, especially while challenged by feeling like an outsider in the world of tradition and privilege that both Jo and I encountered while at Cambridge.

These memories are tempered by the warmth of many important friendships made which I still hold dear today. My cherished friendship with Jo Leadbeater is all the more poignant and powerful now for the fact that it has been cut short. 

Before she was Jo Cox MP – the tireless campaigner and humanitarian the world came to know – she was simply Jo, my friend.

Photograph of Nisha Jani and Jo Cox. Nisha has her arm around Jo. They are both looking towards the camera and smiling broadly.

A Friendship that Started at University 

I first met Jo when she won a best sandwich competition that I hosted and judged (there is a photo but she’d be annoyed if I shared it). We were specially introduced as our mutual friend thought that fabulous women should know each other, and we quickly bonded over our complex Cambridge experiences. She was excited to be off to Indonesia to volunteer at an Orangutan sanctuary and then to start working in politics in London. 

On meeting her for the first time, I was immediately struck by Jo’s personal energy and massive ‘twinkle’ power – she was like a dynamo of bubbly magnetism – as well as her sense of fun, and love for and interest in others. She also had a sense of purpose and drive that was impressive in someone so young. She struck me as someone I definitely wanted as a mate, and we started a friendship we would both come to value through our lives.

Carrying the Torch

When Jo was murdered, the world lost an inspirational leader, but I lost a dear friend. I don’t get to have Jo in my life anymore, as I imagined I would, to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and spend random Thursday nights together. But I do have The Jo Cox Foundation and my role as a Trustee through which to continue Jo’s legacy.

Jo and I shared a fundamental belief in the power of kindness and care in human relationships which I have been worried and dismayed to find in increasingly short supply since her murder nearly a decade ago. 

It was an honour to become a Trustee of the Foundation in 2022, and to play my part in continuing the work that Jo cared about so deeply. Whether we are nurturing stronger communities or advocating for more respectful politics, I am constantly guided by Jo’s friendly and calming reminder: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Ten Years On: The Power of ‘More In Common’

As we mark ten years since Jo was murdered, the weight of her absence is still felt by everyone who knew her. However, the legacy she left behind has never felt more alive, or relevant.

Our new short film reflects on Jo’s legacy and the incredible impact the Great Get Together has had over the last decade. It’s a tribute to the street parties, the shared cuppas, and the thousands of conversations that have proven, time and again, that we really do have More in Common.

Join Us for the 2026 Great Get Together

The Great Get Together captures Jo’s spirit perfectly. It isn’t about remembering how she died; it’s about celebrating how she lived by bringing people together who might otherwise never meet.

As a Trustee, my goal is to ensure that Jo’s message and values continue to spark real change. There is no better way to do that than by participating in the Great Get Together. 

In 2026, we want to make the Great Get Together bigger and more inclusive than ever. Whether it’s a street party, a shared lunch, or playing sports together, these moments of connection are the best possible tribute to Jo’s life.

Will you join us by organising a Get Together this year?

Register your interest in organisation a Get Together

Jo would have been delighted and super-proud to see so many people continuing to come together to choose tolerance, respect and care for others and were she with us still, she would be joining in with her usual gusto and helping hand round the tea and biscuits!

I feel that her spirit strongly inspires me and, potentially, all of us to focus on our common humanity and contribute more energy to connection and love, despite the challenging times we currently face. It means a huge amount to all who loved her to see people across the country coming together in Jo’s name. Thank you for being part of it.

Press Release: Ten years since Jo Cox’s murder, her Foundation invite communities to join the tenth Great Get Together 

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To mark the 10th anniversary of a movement that transformed tragedy into action and brought people together across the country, The Jo Cox Foundation has today launched the tenth Great Get Together that will take place from 19–21 June 2026.

Ten years ago, the murder of Jo Cox MP shocked and devastated the nation. But in the difficult days that followed, people responded with something Jo believed in deeply: connection. Neighbours came together. Differences were set aside. Communities united and have shared a Great Get Together every year since.

Sister of Jo Cox, Kim Leadbeater MP MBE:

“I find it incredibly hard to believe that it has been 10 years since my sister was murdered. We, as a family, miss Jo’s energy and enthusiasm – and always will – and as a country her compassion and strength of her conviction that we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us, are needed more than ever in today’s world. For a decade the Great Get Together has demonstrated the importance of Jo’s values and shown how we can put them into practice in our daily lives.”

Baroness Jan Royall, Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation, said:

“That initial response to Jo’s muder revealed something she lived by and fought for every day: that we are stronger when we come together and that we have far more in common than that which divides us. For Jo, connection wasn’t abstract – it was built through listening, talking, and treating one another with respect, even when we disagreed.”

In the years since, millions of people have carried that spirit forward. The annual Great Get Together is now a national tradition of street parties, community picnics, runs, coffee mornings and simple acts of togetherness. National polls estimate that more than 17 million people across the UK have taken part in Great Get Together events over the last decade.

Evidence from The Jo Cox Foundation shows these events help people feel more connected, increase belonging, reduce loneliness, and strengthen communities.

Olivia Field, Chief Executive at The Jo Cox Foundation, said:

“This anniversary is a moment of remembrance, but also one of incredible possibility. Over the last decade, we have seen that connection is a choice – and it’s a choice that people across the UK are making every single day. By acting on Jo’s belief that we have more in common than that which divides us, we can shape a more hopeful, connected future together. This year’s Great Get Together is one way to demonstrate that.”

This June, the public is invited to host an event in their local area. From 19–21 June 2026, the Great Get Together will once again see events – big and small – take place in every corner of the country. 

Whether you choose to organise a community-wide street party or a simple neighborhood cuppa, your event is a vital step towards a stronger, more connected future. The Foundation is calling on anyone who believes we have more in common than that which divides us to take part and help make this 10th anniversary the most connected year yet.

Laura Henderson, More in Common Llantwit, a long standing Great Get Together organiser added:

“Being part of the Great Get Together over the past 10 years has inspired so much of what we do locally — from hundreds of events including town trails, poetry workshops, and family picnics, to ongoing programmes that regularly bring people together, like weekly café meet-ups and our Community Cinema.

These events create spaces where people can connect, share, and feel supported. The spirit of the Great Get Together lives on, carrying on well beyond each gathering in the way people keep coming together, helping each other, and staying connected”

The Jo Cox Foundation has released a free 10th Anniversary Toolkit to help anyone organise an event. To get involved, visit: www.greatgettogether.org

To help mark the 10th anniversary as the most inclusive Great Get Together yet, The Jo Cox Foundation will also distribute £5,000 of micro-grants to community organisers across the UK, thanks to the support of GoFundMe. The grants will help cover practical costs such as venue hire, food and equipment, helping to ensure that those who might otherwise be unable to afford to host an event can take part.

John Coventry, Senior Vice President at GoFundMe, said: 

“GoFundMe’s partnership with The Great Get Together reflects our shared commitment to Jo Cox’s belief in the power of connection, continuing her legacy and bringing communities together when they need it most.”

The Great Get Together 2025: A Celebration of Connection

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This year marked the ninth Great Get Together since Jo Cox was killed in 2016 – and once again, communities across the UK came together to show that we have more in common than that which divides us.

From street parties and storytelling sessions to refugee-led cooking events and interfaith gatherings, the 2025 Great Get Together was a vibrant, nationwide celebration of unity. Events took place in parks, schools, care homes, and community centres, helping neighbours meet – often for the first time – and sparking friendships that continue long after the bunting comes down.

The impact was clear:

  • 88% of attendees felt a greater connection to others in their community
  • 79% met people from different backgrounds
  • 86% said they were more likely to help neighbours or others in their community
  • 89% signed up to or joined a new activity in their local area

Organisers and participants shared powerful stories of how these gatherings broke down barriers, built trust, and created spaces where people felt safe, welcomed, and valued. From refugee families leading cultural celebrations in Epsom to young and old connecting through music and crafts in Harrogate, the Great Get Together helped foster empathy, understanding, and a stronger sense of belonging.

These events didn’t just bring people together – they inspired action. Many attendees went on to volunteer, join local groups, or organise their own community initiatives. The ripple effect of kindness and connection continues to grow.

📖 Read the full 2025 Impact Report here:

2025 Impact Report

Help Us Make the 10th Anniversary Unforgettable

In June 2026, we’ll mark ten years since Jo Cox’s death – and we want next year’s Great Get Together to be the most powerful yet. But we don’t have dedicated funding to make it happen.

We’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £20,000 so we can support organisers, build partnerships, and create resources that help communities across the UK come together.

If you believe in Jo’s message – and the power of connection – please consider donating today.

Donate to our crowd funding campaign

Together, we can make next year’s Great Get Together a moment of real, lasting impact.

Help Us Raise £20,000 for Next Year’s Great Get Together

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Next year’s Great Get Together will take place from 19-21 June 2026. It will be a powerful moment to mark ten years since Jo Cox MP was killed – a tragic event that shocked the nation but also sparked a movement for unity, compassion, and connection. This legacy lives on through the Great Get Together, a nationwide celebration that brings people together across divides.

But here’s the truth:
The dedicated funding that once supported the Great Get Together has now come to an end.

But with your help, 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 message and live it every day.

That’s why today, we’re launching our crowdfunding campaign to raise £20,000, and we’re asking for your support.

Donate to our crowdfunding campaign now

Why This Matters Now

The UK is more divided than ever. Political tensions, rising hate, and social isolation are tearing at the fabric of our communities. The Great Get Together is a joyful, grassroots response – a chance to bring people together across divides and show what community really means.

Next year’s Great Get Together isn’t just another set of summer gatherings. It’s a chance to honour Jo’s legacy, heal divisions, and show what community really means.

Be Part of Something Bigger

This is your chance to stand up for unity. To say “no” to division and “yes” to community. To honour Jo Cox’s legacy in the most powerful way possible – by bringing people together.

If you can’t donate, you can still help: share this fundraiser, organise your own event, or simply show your support by attending a Great Get Together.

❤️ Together, we can demonstrate that we have more in common than that which divides us.

What Your Donation Will Do

We’re aiming to raise £20,000 and every pound will go directly toward making next year’s Great Get Together bigger, bolder, and more impactful than ever.

Your support will enable us to:

  • 👥 Dedicate extra staff time to coordinate the national campaign and support hundreds of local organisers
  • 🤝 Build partnerships with other organisations so we can reach as many communities as possible across the UK
  • 🛠️ Design practical, inspiring resources to help organisers plan inclusive, meaningful events
  • 🖨️ Print and distribute physical materials – banners, posters, activity packs, and more – that organisers can use on the day to bring people together

This isn’t just about one campaign. It’s about creating a ripple effect of kindness, empathy, and community across the country. With your help, we can make sure the 10th anniversary of Jo Cox’s legacy is a moment of real, lasting impact.

Donate to our crowdfunding campaign now

Whether you can give £5 or £500, every donation helps us honour Jo’s legacy and bring people together when it’s needed most.

Thank you for being part of this movement.

Refugee Families Take Centre Stage at Epsom’s Great Get Together

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Refugee families were at the heart of Epsom’s Great Get Together in June— bringing the day to life with crafts, cooking and musical performances. Attended by over 400 people, the event was co-hosted by Good Company and Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network as part of Refugee Week. It was a vibrant celebration of shared culture, connection, and community — bringing people together across backgrounds to build understanding and a sense of belonging.

We spoke to Nina Kaye at Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network, about what made the day so special — and why supporting refugees to take centre stage made all the difference.

Bringing ‘More in Common’ to Life

“For refugees who have left behind family, friends and culture, building community again in a new country is difficult. Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network has always prided itself in being a bridge to help connect refugees with people and organisations where they can start to build new relationships and find opportunities to give them a voice in our community. Our values align so closely with Jo Cox’s ‘more in common’ message, that it made sense to be part of the national programme.”

Feeling Seen, Heard and Valued

The Great Get Together created a warm and welcoming space where refugees, asylum seekers and local residents could come together, relax, and enjoy themselves.

“There was so much enjoyment, laughter, warmth and friendship among all the refugees and asylum seekers who attended.”

The event’s warm and welcoming atmosphere was the result of thoughtful planning to ensure everyone felt included, safe and valued — something that clearly resonated with attendees, as shown in a heartfelt message from an Eritrean refugee who has been supported by the network for six years:

“Thank you so much for organising this beautiful Family Day event. Today was truly unforgettable, filled with love, warmth, and a deep sense of safety. It was inspiring to see so many vulnerable refugee families brought together with the wonderful Epsom community. Thank you for creating such a special atmosphere and for all your efforts.”

Building Community Connections

The day in Epsom showed how events that intentionally create opportunities for refugees and local residents to meet, relax, and celebrate side by side can foster shared experiences that can powerfully shift community relationships.

“There is nothing quite like sharing food, music and sport for people to realise how much they have in common. When different groups of people come together to share a good experience, it makes everyone realise that they can connect with people who come from different backgrounds and have such varied life-experiences.”

One of the event’s greatest achievements was supporting refugees to participate in ways that mattered to them.

“Everyone left with a feeling of happiness and contentment. Many of the clients we support were helping on the day with craft, cooking and entertainment. It was really important to them that they were able to take an active role in delivering the event.”

Thanks to a legacy donor and corporate sponsor, the entire event was free—including entrance, entertainment, food, and activities—making it accessible to everyone. Families enjoyed a variety of activities and diverse foods like Turkish gözleme, Afghan biryani, and homemade treats, plus free ice cream for every child. Entertainment featured Epsom’s Ukrainian choir, a refugee brass band, and a Disney sing-along. Attendees were also given the option to opt out of photos with bright green stickers to respect their privacy. MP, Helen Maguire, and mayor, Robert Leach, were there for the whole time, talking to everyone and enjoying themselves—something that meant a lot to the organisers and those at the event.

Looking Ahead

The event has sparked enthusiasm and confidence among the refugee community to participate in more local activities. A number of the refugees who took part have already said they would be keen to support similar community events in the future.

“We are looking for opportunities for the Ukrainian choir and some of the ladies who do craft to attend other local events. The Great Get Together has definitely given them more confidence to be seen at other community events.”

Would you like support with organising a Great Get Together that brings people together across different backgrounds in 2026? Contact us at [email protected] or visit our resources page

Find out more about Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network here 

More In Common Nottingham Women’s Group: A Great Winter Get Together art exhibition

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Dr Sally Olewe-Richards

Chair, Empowered Women UK and founder of the More In Common Nottingham Women’s Group

Sally Olewe-Richards set up the community group Empowered Women UK in 2022 to get funding to run workshops and gatherings for women from a diverse range of backgrounds around Nottingham. In 2023 they set up a Women’s More in Common group and held their first art exhibition at a local community centre in January this year. Here we speak to Sally about the build up to the exhibition and what it has meant for the community and the women involved.

Dr Sally Olewe-Richards at the Nottingham Great Winter Get Together art exhibition

The build up to the exhibition: A Beautiful Success and Growing Confidence

“In 2023, I secured funding to run women’s art wellbeing activities as part of our More In Common work in Nottingham. I reached out to Marija, a local artist, to run a workshop for the Great Get Together in June. At first, she was hesitant because she’s self-taught and creates for her own wellbeing, she also wasn’t sure about whether people would be accepting of her being Lithuanian. But after I reassured her it would be a safe space, she agreed, and we included her background on the event posters as she requested.

The event was a huge success, and the women who attended asked if the art workshops could be held more frequently. So, from October to December 2024, we paid Marija to lead a fortnightly session for us at a local community center, with 6 to 9 women attending. We had great feedback from them about how it was boosting their confidence and well-being. Marija, too, was growing in confidence and suggested we showcase the women’s art. So, we worked with the community center, and in January, we held an exhibition for the Great Winter Get Together.

Exhibiting the Work: A Celebration of Community and Art for the Great Winter Get Together

We had the small ‘opening’ event, where we provided soft drinks and a chance for people from the community to come together and socialise. The artwork is spread across the cafe and hall at the centre and it will be in place for a few weeks. 

Everyone has been really thrilled and it’s helped to build confidence. It’s a very white British area, so seeing artwork from a range of local women, including those from Ukraine and Lithuania, has helped make them feel more accepted and created a different dialogue within the centre. At the event there were people with physical and learning disabilities, those from the black African community, LGBT+ attendees and a range of ages from a baby to 70s.

One of our attendees is here from Ukraine under refugee status. She really enjoyed the session and it gave her and Marija (the art workshop leader) a chance to converse in Russian together, which they both greatly appreciated. Kateryna’s work has been very popular and admired at the community centre cafe and she is keen to do more sessions. 

For me, I’ve grown up in this area but haven’t been involved with the community much until recently. Partnering with the community centre to run the art wellbeing sessions and then this exhibition for Great Winter Get Together has allowed me to feel a greater sense of belonging and to get to know more people in the area.

It’s all been really positive and well received and the community centre manager has said the art work has created a great talking point for people coming to the centre. It’s also attracted a few people who’d not used the centre before but went along for the event and have now started to use the cafe (including myself!).

Visitors to the Nottingham Great Winter Get Together art exhibition view the artworks on display

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the More In Common Nottingham Women’s Group?

The manager of the community centre is delighted with the outcome of the exhibition, so it’s been really positive and we hope to run a few more across February and March. We will be running more art well-being sessions as we know there is a desire for them. I have been into the community centre cafe 1-2 times a week since the event and recognised people to chat to, whereas before I never went in there.

For one of the women from the group, it has led to her taking on a public artwork piece at a local hospital:

I loved the abstract art sessions so much so it has given me the confidence and inspiration to paint a picture for our local children’s hospital, in remembrance of my late mum who worked there. The joy of art and sharing it to make others feels better is just a gift.

After connecting with Kateryna, from Ukraine, and becoming aware of the need for women from Ukraine to have more befriending support, we have applied for funding to see if we can pay her on a freelance basis to run a project from March 2025 – we are waiting to hear the funding outcome. Whether we’re successful or not, it’s a nice outcome for her that she’s made new friends and knows that we believe and trust in her abilities.

Impact of the Great Get Together 2024

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The Great Get Together, inspired by the late Jo Cox MP, brings people together each June to celebrate what we have in common.

Over 600 Great Get Togethers took place across the UK in June 2024; from sing togethers, street parties and living history events, to refugee walks and brews and chats between neighbours.

During times of division and polarisation, community events associated with a national moment are a powerful tool for fostering feelings of community. In 2024, 85% of Great Get Together organisers set out to bring people from different backgrounds together. 

In this report we share some of the impact that the Great Get Together 2024 had on people and communities. A huge thanks, as always, to the thousands of organisers around the country who put on a local Great Get Together. You are the ones building community resilience and bringing Jo Cox’s ‘more in common’ message to life each year. We are incredibly grateful.

Report: The Great Get Together 2024

This year’s Great Get Together will take place on 20-22 June 2025. Please think about what you could do and consider adding the Great Get Together on 20-22 June to your calendar!

From moment to movement: How to evaluate community events and have a long-term impact

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The Great Get Together (21-23 June 2024) is the UK’s annual celebration of everything that unites our communities, inspired by Jo Cox’s belief that we have more in common than that which divides us.

To support those organising Great Get Togethers, we recently delivered a series of webinars, including one on how organisations can use community events to make sustainable, long-term change, with speakers from Spirit of 2012 and York Cares joining us to share their top tips.

Watch the recording of the webinar
Photo of someone holding a pen and completing a Great Get Together survey

In this blog, Amy Heaton-Finch from Spirit of 2012 shares top tips for evaluating your event to create long-term change:

Many of us working on events will be familiar with them being described as “catalysts” for wider change. Whilst this is very much the expectation of big events like the upcoming Olympics, we know that community organisers often point to an event as the start of something special. 

We first started working with The Jo Cox Foundation back in 2019, and we also had grants with Springboard, a Belfast-based organisation that regularly uses events to bring communities together, and WOW Foundation for its Women of the World Festivals. All three organisations were using the initial “moment” of an event to lead to a wider “movement” of community change. We wanted to unpick what was happening between the initial “moment” that made it more or less likely to lead to something beyond the event.  

This work is captured in inFocus Moment To Movement report, produced alongside an e-learning module for time-pressed event organisers to think through how to address some of the success factors and barriers in more detail. 

One of the recurrent questions was: how much was movement building in the control of the organisers themselves? Many of the barriers we identified boiled down to ownership and capacity: Who is responsible for acting on an event’s potential? 

The answer to that will vary from event to event, and needs to be completely pragmatic. Some of the best “catalytic potential” from events that we have seen has not required follow-up actions from the event organisers. They’ve created the conditions for new partnerships and surprising connections to form, and made it clear that others can pick up the baton if they’ve been inspired. In other cases, events are part of a longer-term vision with follow-up actions deliberately planned in advance. 

And what about evaluation? Above all, evaluation should be useful.   Either for instrumental purposes (ie. to help get more resources or secure the future of the event) or to help you learn.

We worked on a template and toolkit with University of the West of Scotland to guide you through proportionate evaluation. 

Here are five top tips on evaluating your event:

  1. Think about what you want from evaluation as early as you can in the process, not at the end.
  2. Finding out accurately who attended with some basic demographics like the first part of a postcode takes effort itself – decide how you will monitor attendance, what you want to know and why.  
  3. Zero in on one or two survey questions that you really want to know the answer to, and think about simple ways to capture responses, such as postcards, or stickers to put up on boards on the way in and out. 
  4. Use it as a chance to build your momentum – but only if you have the time to act on it. So if you ask people to provide details if they’re interested in getting more involved, assign someone to contact those people within a fortnight of the event while they’re at their most engaged.
  5. Build in time for a proper debrief where you consider any data and evidence that you’ve collected (otherwise all those post-it notes and survey slips will languish forgotten in a tote bag somewhere!)   

Found these tips useful but wish you could’ve attended the webinar? Watch back the recorded webinar now and sign up for the Great Get Together newsletter so that we can keep you up-to-date with future opportunities.

Find a Great Get Together near you Great Get Together map screenshot.

Find a Great Get Together near you

Join in the celebration of everything that unites our communities by finding an event near you.

Register your event

Register your event

Planning your own Great Get Together? Register it today to add it to the map.

National Great Get Together to take place on Jo Cox’s 50th birthday

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Photo of person at a Great Get Together event with a sign that says "We have far more in common than that which divides us" Jo Cox

Over the weekend in which Jo Cox would have been turning 50, and with the General Election approaching, communities across the UK will be celebrating unity and rejecting division this weekend through the Great Get Together (21-23 June). The events bring to life the message from Jo Cox’s first speech in Parliament: ”we have more in common than that which divides us”.

Run by The Jo Cox Foundation, each year the Great Get Together takes place on the weekend closest to Jo Cox’s birthday (22 June) and it has become the UK’s annual celebration of everything that unites our communities.

The over 400 Great Together events planned for this weekend include the huge Bankside Great Get Together in London, a Poetry and Pints night at a pub in Llantwit Major (South Wales), and a printmaking workshop in Huddersfield around the themes of ‘home’ and ‘special places’, as well as barn dances, street parties, pizza parties and barbecues in neighbourhoods across the country.

Su Moore, CEO of The Jo Cox Foundation, said: 

“All around the UK this weekend, Great Get Together events will be community spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together, get to know each other, and – in many cases – begin friendships. Just as there are countless things that unite us, there are countless ways to run a Great Get Together, with events taking place this weekend in parks, pubs, streets, and libraries. Over the last eight years, millions of people have taken part in the Great Get Together and anyone can join in by hosting their own or heading to our map to find their nearest.”

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation and Former Home Secretary, said: 

“The need to celebrate unity and to reject division is as relevant now as it was at the first Great Get Together in 2017. This weekend, on what would have been Jo’s 50th birthday, we’re looking forward to seeing how her ‘more in common’ message is continuing to inspire people to bring their communities together. The Great Get Together is an opportunity for us all to remember Jo’s life and values as we celebrate all that we have in common.”

To get involved, find your nearest event on the Great Get Together map or host your own. Join the conversation and share your event on social media with the hashtags #MoreInCommon and #GreatGetTogether.

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Great Get Together

The GREAT Get Together 19 – 21 JUNE 2026 The Great Get Together is the UK’s annual celebration of everything that connects  our communities, inspired by Jo Cox’s belief that…

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Story: Nottingham Women More in Common group launch with a Great Winter Get Together

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Through the More in Common Network, we’re building a movement of people who are skilled and confident in identifying and bridging divides. Nottingham Women More in Common group was one of two new additions to the Network in November 2023 – and they have been busy since! Having already been running events as Empowered Women UK, the group have made quite the splash with their Great Winter Get Together 2024 events being attended by around 140 people and we know that there is so much more to come.

The Great Winter Get Together took place Friday 12 January-Monday 15 January 2024, with community events around the UK that provided opportunities for meaningful connection, inspired by Jo Cox and her commitment to the issue of loneliness.  Many groups and partnerships in the Network participate in the Great Winter Get Together as an opportunity to engage with their communities and be part of a national celebration.

We asked Sally Olewe-Richards, one of the group’s organisers, what prompted them to join the More in Common Network in the first place. She said:

“The work of the More in Common Network is very aligned with our own ethos and we found that activities we ran attracted women from different faith and ethnic backgrounds but long-standing friendships and a sense of sisterhood has been the key thing we’ve seen as an outcome from our work. Being officially part of the network gives some kudos to your work and helps connect you with other organisations and training.”

Choosing to launch their More in Common group in time for the Great Winter Get Together, Nottingham Women planned an event for the Friday which encouraged women in the area to come together over some hot drinks and discuss ideas for how the group should grow. On Saturday the group hosted an incredibly successful arts and crafts session which was open to all. The event attracted people of all ages and abilities – with participants ranging from 18 months old to people in their 70s. 

Photo of two women at a table painting.
Photo of women around a table journalling on pieces of paper. The table also has lots of cups of tea and tulip flowers on top.

Debra Webster, the organiser who ran the event, was invited to speak about the event on BBC Nottingham. Whilst speaking to the show’s host, Becky Measures, Debra says the event is open to everyone and that it ‘breaks up a grey January day’. 

Sunday was jam-packed for the group, with two events happening. One of which was open only to women and focused on creating a safe space for wellbeing. The Nottingham Women More in Common group encouraged participants of the event to journal and to reflect with one another to build meaningful connections. The other Sunday event invited participants to engage in a workshop run with Fatoumata Keita to learn more about the traditional food of West Africa and try some samples. The event was open to all and was received brilliantly by the community. 

Sally explained how “the people that came had mostly never tried African food but loved it” and that this has prompted the venue to plan a whole West African food night on Saturday 9 March. This event will be ticketed and hosted in aid of International Women’s Day, with proceeds going to a charity based in West Africa that focuses on helping women get medical care. 

Sally says that the group’s projects and events “see deep friendships develop and a sense of sisterhood [that] supports women’s social, physical and mental health”. In 2024, the group plan to “develop and expand [and] create a volunteer network to build more capacity for women to come together for friendship and support.”

We couldn’t be prouder of the impact Nottingham Women More in Common group has made in their launch and can’t wait to see what else is in store!

The More in Common Network is a collection of groups and partnerships across the UK who champion Jo Cox’s powerful ‘more in common’ message to bridge divides in their communities. 

Learn more about the More in Common Network, including finding a group near you or getting in touch about starting your own.

Press release: Great Winter Get Together events this weekend show that winter doesn’t have to be lonely

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The Great Winter Get Together (12-15 January), a campaign run by The Jo Cox Foundation, will see community events across the UK act as places where people can find meaningful connection, inspired by the late Jo Cox MP and her work to tackle loneliness. 

While December is often a time of busy schedules and making social plans, January can be a difficult and isolating month for many, with fewer opportunities for connection after the festive period has come to an end.

Beginning this Friday (12th) and culminating on so-called Blue Monday (15th), Great Winter Get Together events will be providing opportunities for communities to come together and make meaningful connections.

97% of participants in last year’s Great Winter Get Together reported improved mental health and wellbeing, with 78% saying they felt less lonely.

This weekend, the events taking place across the UK include:

  • A Great Cricket Get Together in Glamorgan, South Wales, with the cricket club visiting local primary schools to help students to connect.
  • A ‘Craft, Craic and a Cuppa’ event in Belfast to help beat the winter blues.
  • The National Trust in Manchester opening up their new Guidance Hub Garden for people to enjoy food, hot drinks and activities.
  • Monica Lennon MSP in Hamilton, Scotland, hosting people for tea, coffee and home baking at a local church.
  • 25 events at GLL leisure centres across the UK, including free community sports sessions and social walks.

Su Moore, CEO of The Jo Cox Foundation, said:
“It’s crucial that we ensure there are accessible and inclusive opportunities for people to connect with others in their communities throughout the year, but especially in January when the days are still cold and dark. We’re encouraging everyone to go along to their nearest Great Winter Get Together this weekend, particularly if you are feeling isolated.”

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation, said:

“The Great Winter Get Together is inspired by Jo Cox’s passion for strengthening communities and improving the UK’s response to the loneliness crisis. Each year we are inspired by all those people who volunteer their time to organise an event in their community and thank them for their efforts, because we see the remarkable impact that these Great Winter Get Togethers can have on people’s wellbeing.”

From board games afternoons, to craft workshops and winter walks, anyone can participate in the Great Winter Get Together this January.

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Great Winter Get Together story: Day of the Soup

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Located in the diverse neighbourhood of Butetown in central Cardiff, St Mary’s Church is deeply committed to its local community and to Jo Cox’s message that ‘we have more in common than that which divides us’. The Church was an early supporter of the More in Common Cardiff Partnership and has worked hard to place itself at the heart of the community, aiming to build a stronger, and more cohesive Butetown.

The Church recognised the challenge of loneliness in the local area and so, for the Great Winter Get Together, decided the congregation wanted to do something which would create connection and bring people together across Cardiff. To do this, they reached out to three other churches, as well as other faith groups to run ‘The Day of the Soup’, which involved people making and bringing along a soup for people to taste and enjoy together.

While these days were hosted in Cardiff churches, this was a true interfaith effort with people from a range of different faiths and backgrounds contributing volunteers, soups and advertising the event. Partners in the event included local schools, mosques, refugee groups and day centres – this collaboration allowed people from different backgrounds to share their cultures with one another.

In order to encourage cultural sharing and connection, those donating soup were encouraged to share their ‘soup stories’, explaining the background to their soup and providing recipes for those who wanted to have a go at making it themselves. To encourage conversations to happen, the churches didn’t provide signs explaining what each soup was, instead you needed to ask the volunteer serving it, which naturally led to conversations and connection.

The three soup days were run in three separate churches in the city; St Mary’s in Butetown, St Saviour’s in Splott and St Paul’s in Grangetown, as well as at a smaller school event for parents. Across the four events, over 400 people attended and benefitted from both soup and connection.

There was connection and cooperation at every stage of the process, from the soup-making to the soup-eating and even the washing up! Children who were involved in the cooking increased their sense of confidence and pride by making the food, sharing it and seeing others enjoy what they had made. Adults formed new connections as well, with two soup makers creating a friendly competition about who was making the best soup and making intergenerational connections at the same time. 

There were challenges of course. The largest of these was mobilising enough volunteers over the festive period when people’s attention is elsewhere; Christmas, Hanukkah and the Fast of 10th of Tevet, as well as school holidays, all presented a challenge but people were incredibly generous by working around these to make the events go so well.

Overall, ‘The Day of the Soup’ was a huge success, bringing together the city and the community to alleviate loneliness. The concept was a simple one but very effective, with attendees asking for similar events to happen again in the future. St Mary’s and its neighbouring churches are already planning more soup events in 2024, which hopefully can even extend beyond January’s Great Winter Get Together to take place in different venues and involve even more people.

From 12-15 January 2024, Great Winter Get Together events around the UK will connect communities and show that winter doesn’t have to be lonely. Find out more and register your Great Winter Get Together.

Find out more and register your Great Winter Get Together