Theresa Villiers, Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet, joined families in Woodside Park this weekend to take part in The Great Get-Together in memory of Jo Cox, the MP who tragically lost her life on the 16th June last year.
The Great Get Together is jointly organised by the Jo Cox Foundation and a yearly community initiative called The Big Lunch. The Big Lunch, funded by the National Lottery, happens each June and encourages neighbours to come together. The Jo Cox Foundation, set up after her death, aims to support the causes she advocated, such as combatting loneliness. People took part across the UK in celebration in Jo Cox’s memory. The aim of the Great Get Together was to bring communities together and celebrate what unites them – in line with Jo Cox’s maiden speech in Parliament. The Great Get Together was partnered with Big Iftar events hosted by mosques and community centres around the country.
Theresa joined a street party in Linkside, Woodside Park, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnet, Brian and Kate Salinger and ward councillors, Richard and Alison Cornelius and Caroline Stock.
Speaking afterwards, Theresa said: “These last few weeks have seen some terrible events at the Grenfell Tower, in Manchester, and in London. The Great Get Together gives us all the chance to speak out on the importance of friendship, community, and bringing people together. I was honoured to be able to say a few words to the Linkside Big Lunch to highlight the memory of Jo Cox and celebrate the values that she championed.”