FAQs

Your Great Get Together can look however you want! Feel free to be creative with the format of your event and take a look at our list of ideas. However, in all instances, we ask you to follow the safety guidelines for social distancing:

Looking for socially distant Great Get Together ideas? Here are a few of our own:

In your street or neighbourhood:

Community singalong: pick a song, share lyrics, and schedule a time to step outside and sing together
Wishing Trees: leave a tupperware out with labels and pens for people to leave their wishes for a post Covid world
Pass it on stories or poetry: write a line, send it to a neighbour to add a line and so on.
Chalk pavement obstacle course: get chalk and get creative outside your house
Create an intervention on your pavement: a woman in Michigan created her own “Ministry of Silly Walks” outside her home to create a space for something silly. What could you create outside of yours?
Start a collaborative chalk art mural: invite passersby to add their bit
Run a dance/exercise class outside for your neighbours to join in
Community recipe book: share a recipe per household and create a recipe book
Organise a dance competition in your cul-de-sac
Weekend wave: everyone comes outside at the same time to wave and say hello
Have your own Bake-Off: bake and present your masterpiece to your community for judging
Share a garden: grow one type of vegetable and get the community to do the same. Share what you grow and perhaps use it to make the same recipe
Street disco: set a time and day on your street, take requests, and turn it up!
Home front morning coffee: share a cuppa over the hedge or balcony
Design a Treasure Hunt (think of things to hide in your windows and gardens children could find on their daily walks)
Send postcards or deliver flyers of encouragement along your street

On the phone or virtually:

Take a walk for someone who can’t: call someone isolated on your daily walk and describe what you see, smell, hear, and feel
Organise a telephone tree to reach those most isolated
Set up a Whatsapp group for your street to stay connected
Call an old friend
Host an album listening party
Have a virtual Open Mic night
Use the House Party app and invite your whole street to tune in
Story Circle over Zoom and share your thoughts and wishes for a post Covid world

Let us know any other unique and bright ideas you think of!

Below are answers to a lot of commonly asked questions. Got a question that isn’t answered here? Get in touch at [email protected]

Who organises the Great Get Together?

The Great Get Together is organised by the Jo Cox Foundation, which is a registered charity (charity number 1170836).

What should a Great Get Together look like?

There are loads of resources available to help you decorate and theme your event. Check out the resource centre here.

How can I connect with other Great Get Together organisers?

The best way of connecting with other get together organisers is through our Facebook group.

We hope that hearing about other people’s triumphs and challenges along the way will support and inspire you to throw the best Get Together possible. You might even make some new friends along the way.

Can we fundraise at our Great Get Together?

Absolutely! You’re free to fundraise for a worthy cause at your event.

Did you know the Jo Cox Foundation, who organise the Great Get Together, are a charity? We’d love it if you wanted to fundraise for us, to help us expand our work. Find out more here.

Is The Great Get Together party political or about Brexit?

Not at all! The idea for The Great Get Together is about bringing communities together to celebrate what we have in common. It has cross party backing and is supported by some of the most prominent Remain and Brexit campaigners, but it is completely outside of party politics and the Brexit debate.

The official date for The Great Get Together doesn’t work for me. Can I still take part?

Of course! The most important thing is bringing people together, so if the date doesn’t suit you go ahead and choose another date.

I live outside the UK, can I have a get together?

Yes – of course. The most important thing is bringing people together! You can sign up here to get all the latest information and resources to help you plan your own Get Together.

We're a business, can we take part in or support The Great Get Together?

Yes, you can. Find out how here.

How can my school get involved?

We welcome schools getting involved. Depending on your school’s current situation, we suggest anything from special assemblies to themed lunches.

Is there any funding available?

The Jo Cox Foundation is not able to offer funding to individual organisations who are running Great Get Togethers. However, some local councils and organisations have funding available that you may be able to apply for. We keep a list here.

You don’t need to spend loads of money to have a great day. If you do need a little bit of money – for decorations or equipment hire, you could ask people to contribute through a traditional ‘whip-round’ or run a small crowdfunding campaign.
It is also always worth speaking to your local council! Some local councils have ‘Communities’ teams which may be interested to know what you’re planning, and in some cases, they may be able to offer you some financial support.

Should I tell you about my event?

Yes please! Once you know the details of your event, please log it on our interactive map. (Coming soon)

Don’t worry if it’s a private event – you’ll be able to mark that on the map and your details won’t be shared publicly.

You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and you can share your story, photos and videos with us using the hashtags #greatgettogether and #moreincommon.