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NewsfromtheJoCoxFoundation.Embargo00.016thMay2017.

FAITHLEADERSUNITETOSUPPORTCELEBRATIONFORJOCOXMP“Opportunityforusalltostrengthenthetiesthatbindus”–JustinWelby

Leaders of the UK’s main faith groups have all thrown their weight behind a huge ‘GetTogether’inmemoryofthemurderedMPJoCox.Christian,Muslim,Jewish,Hindu,Sikh,Buddhistandotherfaithgroupsarejoiningtogethertocelebratewhatweholdincommonovertheweekendof16-18June.Tensofthousandsofstreetsparties,BBQs,picnicsandiftarsarebeingheldinallcornersofthecountry.BrendanCox,Jo’swidower,saidhewantedthefirstanniversaryofhermurderto bemarked by a joyous occasion that helped bring communities together. He said thiswouldbemorerelevantthaneverafterpollingdayintheGeneralElection,andwelcomedthefactthatsomanypeopleofallfaithsandnonewouldbetakingpart.TheArchbishopofCanterbury, JustinWelby, said theeventswouldbea fitting tribute to“hercommitmenttotheinclusionandflourishingofallpeopleinsociety”.TheChiefRabbi,EphraimMirvis, saidhe looked forward to takingpart inwhatwillbean“invaluableopportunityforcommunityengagementonanunprecedentedscale.”JehangirMalik,ChiefExecutiveofMuslimAid,said:“TheGreatGetTogetherisawonderfulwaytobringcommunitiestogetherthissummer-Ilookforwardtobeinginvolved.”RevCanonAledEdwards,ChiefExecutiveofChurchesTogether inWales,said:“TheGreatGet Together is a fitting tribute to Jo, whowe remember did somuch for refugees andothersinneedinoursociety.”RtRevdRichardAtkinsonandJatinderSinghBirdi,Co-ChairsoftheInterFaithNetworkfortheUK,said:“Thisisaveryspecialoccasion:onewherepeopleofdifferentfaithscancometogetherinaspiritoffriendshipandunity.”

OnWednesday 3rd May faith leaders came together and pledged to organise Great GetTogethers ineverycommunityoftheUK.Plansarebeingfinalisedforpeopletovisiteachother’splaceofworshipandholdjointeventstodemonstrateJoCox’sbeliefthat:“…wearefarmoreunitedandhavefarmoreincommonthanthatwhichdividesus”.Wednesday’s meeting was hosted by Near Neighbours, the Church Urban Fund's socialcohesionprogramme,whichisorganisingeventswithotherreligions inanumberof innercityareas.TheBritishHumanists,HinduCouncilUK,ChurchofScotland,ChurchesTogether inBritianandIreland,MuslimCouncilofBritian,CatholicBishopsConferenceandothergroupshavepledgedtheirsupport.BrendanCoxsaid:“Electionsarehugemomentsofnationalimportanceanddeservetobetakenseriously.Butwealsoneedtogetabetterbalance.Wespendwaytoomuchtimefixatedontheareaswedisagreewitheachotherandneedtocreatemoremomentswherewecometogetherasacountry. That’s what I’m focused on and after polling day, I am sure that’s exactlywhatpeopleallovertheUKwillbecryingoutfor. “I’mcertainthatTheGreatGetTogether ismore importantnowthan iteverwas. It’stherightthingattherighttime,andit’sbrilliantthatsomanypeopleofallfaithsandnonewillbetakingpart.” InamessagetotheChurchofEngland,ArchbishopJustinWelbysaid:“TheGreatGetTogetherisanexcellentopportunityforallofustostrengthenthetiesthatbindus–aslocalcommunitiesandasacountry–andtopractiseourvaluesofhospitality,welcomeandgenerosity,whichareagift that the followersof JesusChristcanmodel forthebenefitofourwidersociety.“TheGreatGetTogether isafittingtributetothe lifeand legacyofJoCoxMP,herpublicservice andher commitment to the inclusionand flourishingof all people in society. So IencourageyouwholeheartedlytohostaGreatGetTogetherinyourcommunityandtodoso in partnership with Near Neighbours, whose inspiring work has enabled localcommunitiesacrossthecountrytoworkandlivetogethereffectively.” ChiefRabbi,EphraimMirvissaid: “Breaking breadwith thosewe care about has been a cornerstone of Jewish culture formillennia.ThatiswhyIbelievethatthereisnobetterwaythanthe‘GreatGetTogether’toshare what we have in common with those of all faiths and none. This will be a mostappropriatetributetothememoryofthelateJoCoxMP.

“I am urging Synagogues throughout the UK to take full advantage of this invaluableopportunity forcommunityengagementonanunprecedentedscaleand I lookforwardtotakingpart!”JulieSiddiqi,nationalcoordinatoroftheGreatIftar,said:“I loveTheGreatGetTogether!ForMuslimsit isRamadanonthatweekendwhichmeanswe will be inviting people to share meals with us as we break our fast. Hospitality andfriendship are key to breaking down barriers and getting to know people as friends.Wemustkeepawayfromthedivisivenarrativethatsomearespreadingandinsteadreachouttoeachothermorenotless.Itwillbeagreatweekendwhichwillleavealastinglegacythatwecanallworkwithlongintothefuture.”PaulHackwood,ExecutiveDirectorofChurchUrbanFund,said:“Jocareddeeplyforothersand her life was a shining example of her vision - that we have more in common thandivides us. Thismessage is dear to the heart of theNearNeighbours programmeand itsworktoaddressunmetneedandpromoteintegrationandsocialcohesionincommunities.TherecanbenobetterwaytopaytributetoJoandtohonourherlife’sworkthantotakepartinTheGreatGetTogether.”Youcanfindouthowtotakepartatwww.greatgettogether.orgENDSNotesforeditors:Forinterviewspleasecontact:

Mike Buckley, Head of Faith, The Great Get Together, mike@moreincommon.co, 07866312996Paul Hackwood, Executive Director, The Church Urban Fund, paul.hackwood@cuf.org.uk,02078981625

TheGreatGetTogether:OntheweekendofJune16–18thepublicareinvitedtogettogetherintheircommunitiesacrossthe country inwhat is expected tobe thebiggest expressionofnationalunity since theDiamondJubilee.Eventsbeingplannedincludestreetparties,BBQs,picnics,coffeemornings,teapartiesandiftars. The Great Get Together has the backing of a wide range of supporting organisations andcharities including The Big Lunch, theWomen’s Institute, RSPB, RNLI, Royal British Legion, ScoutsandGuides,PremierLeague,TUC,CountrysideAlliance,AmnestyInternational,HelpforHeroesandmanymore. It has cross-party support and the backing of leaders of all the country’smain faithgroups. The Great Get Together was launched by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall, alongside JamieOliver,atClarenceHouse.www.greatgettogether.orgTheJoCoxFoundation:

JoCox’s lifewasmarkedbyhercompassionandbyherpassion.Sheworkedtirelessly fora fairer,kinder andmore tolerantworld. And she believed passionately that even the greatest challengescouldbeovercome.Jowasmurderedonthe16thJune2016intheplacesheloved–BatleyandSpen–doingtheworkshe loved,asanMPonbehalfofherconstituents.TheJoCoxFoundationhasbeenestablishedtosupportherfriends,familyandcolleaguesintheireffortstocontinueherworkandtohighlighttheissuesshecaredaboutsodeeply.Ledbyherexample,wearerestlessforchange.Justasshedid,webelieve in working together with individuals and organisations that share the commitment to afairer,kindermoretolerantworld.

www.jocoxfoundation.org