Get to know your community and take part in 'The Great Get-Together'

Local youngsters Robert Wilson 12 , Courtney Wilson 10 and John Wilkie 10 help themselves to food at the eighth annual Big Lunch, a project by the Eden Project and supported by Big Lottery Fund which took place last year. (Martin Shields)

TENS of thousands of community get-togethers are being planned across the UK on June 17 and 18, in what could be the biggest community event since the Jubilee.

People are encouraged to come together with friends and neighbours for street parties, picnics, barbecues and their very own summer bake-offs. The event follows the first anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder on June 16 last year.

The weekend will be an opportunity to celebrate all that Britain’s diverse communities hold in common. Peter Stewart of The Big Lunch said: “The Great Get-Together will be a fantastic celebration. We are delighted to join forces with the Jo Cox Foundation and dozens of other groups this year to invite more people than ever to come together and celebrate in their communities. The Big Lunch is all about sharing food and coming together with your neighbours.”

‘We have far more in common than that which divides us‘

Jo’s husband, Brendan Cox, said: “Jo loved a party and she would have been thrilled by the idea of The Great Get-Together. As she said in her maiden speech in parliament – we have far more in common than that which divides us. Jo wanted a chance to bring our communities together to celebrate what unites us. There could be no more fitting tribute to her memory than The Great Get-Together helping to do just that”.

Jamie Oliver said: “There’s nothing better than a good get-together with friends, family and amazing food. The Great Get-Together takes it to a whole new level! Food connects us to the best things in life – it breaks down barriers, and gets people talking and sharing happy times like nothing else. This is an awesome initiative, and I’m really proud to add my support.”

The Great Get-Together is supported by charities, faith groups and other organisations including the Women’s Institute, the Countryside Alliance, the RNLI, Help for Heroes, Mumsnet, the Glastonbury Festival, the TUC, the Premier League, Hope Not Hate, Amnesty International, Oxfam, Save The Children and the NSPCC.