FAQs

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

Your Great Get Together can look however you want. Events can be all sizes – from just a few people up to thousands. Feel free to be creative with the format of your event – it could be a football match, a street party, a jumble sale, a concert, or just a gathering of neighbours!

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

Check out the resources centre here for items to download to help decorate your event.

I don’t want to host an event but I’d love to attend one. How do I find out more?

Keep an eye on the map (coming soon) to see what’s going on. Organisers upload their events throughout the year, so do check back if you don’t see something near you at the moment.

We also share news on social media, keep an eye on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for details on all the wonderful events happening.

Why not sign up here so we can keep you updated on what’s going on?

Once you add your event to the map, we’ll email you with downloadable resources giving help and advice about organising your event and items to help you brand it before and on the day.

You can also join our Facebook group which will be regularly updated with more resources, updates and news from other organisers across the country.

We have a series of guides which are full of ideas and recommendations on the different types of get together here.

You can also join our Facebook group which will be regularly updated with more resources, updates and news from other organisers across the country.

If you want help with anything specific, please email us at hello@greatgettogether.org, and we’ll try and help!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Yes, you can. Find out how here.

Lots of schools are already involved, doing everything from special assemblies to themed lunches. You can find out more here.

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.

Getting insurance for your event depends on the kind of event you are planning to organise! If you are planning a small event and using a private space then you won’t need to get insurance but if you are planning a bigger event, insurance and carrying out a risk assessment might be necessary. Your local authority will be able to provide you with some advice and an insurance company will be able to provide more information about the costs and types of insurance available to you.

Public Liability Insurance might be required by your council if your event means that you are closing down and using any public spaces, as you will be responsible for anything that happens there. This normally covers against any accidental injuries to third parties and volunteers, damages to other people’s property and any legal costs which may arise from any of the above. If your organisation has employees, you may need to take out Employers’ Liability Insurance as well.

In general, for smaller events, common sense will apply to keep everyone safe and happy!

Common sense applies. Set up your BBQ somewhere safe and make sure that an adult is supervising it at all times. It’s also a good idea to have a first aider there on the day.

Organising small, private street parties and community events should be simple and things like risk assessments, licenses and health and safety certificates are not normally required. In guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Food Standards Agency has confirmed that one-off events such as street parties aren’t usually considered food businesses, so there are no forms to fill in and you don’t need a food licence.

Everyone involved should take responsibility for themselves and those preparing food should make sure they do so in a clean and hygienic environment. If you are planning a larger event that anyone can attend or if you are selling tickets to your event, then there may be other processes and requirements that you need to consider. Your local council will be able to advise you on this.

Guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government states you can play music without a license at your event as long as amplified music is not one of the main purposes of your event.

You can contact your local council for support to plan your event. Some local councils have ‘Communities’ teams which may be interested to know what you’re planning and, in some cases, may be able to offer you some financial support.

You can find out what your local council is and what services they provide using this gov.uk website and by entering a postcode (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council). You can also find them here on this A-Z list of local authorities. If you don’t hear back from your local council, why not try writing to your local elected representative or attending their surgeries? They have a responsibility to reply to their constituents! You can find out who your local representatives are here.

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.

Not at all! A Get Together doesn’t have to be big or complicated, it can be a few friends in your home, or a picnic in the park!

If you do want to close your road, some extra planning might be needed. Get in touch with your local council as early as possible to find out more information and they will able to guide you what you will need to do.