Politically Speaking with Kim Leadbeater MP: Coming together to strengthen our community
This month marks ten years since the murder of my sister, Jo Cox.
Many people will know the words she spoke in Parliament during her maiden speech: that we have far more in common than that which divides us. A decade on, we are reminded time and again that those words were never really about Westminster. They were about communities like ours here in Spen Valley and the people who make them special.
Over the past few weeks, I have seen that spirit everywhere.
At the Spen Valley Scouts Spring Fair in Birkenshaw, volunteers were giving their time to help young people build confidence and skills for the future. In Mirfield, the Piano Walk brought people together through music and helped showcase the vibrancy of our town centre. At Co-op Academy Heckmondwike, staff and volunteers at the Breakfast Club were ensuring children started the school day supported and ready to learn.
At Bespoke Day Services in Liversedge, I met service users, families and staff who demonstrate every day what a caring community looks like. At The Training Cave boxing gym in Birstall, local residents came together to discuss healthy ageing and wellbeing, showing the importance of looking after ourselves and each other, with our special guest Angela Rippon.
These events may seem very different, but they share something important. They are all examples of people coming together to strengthen our community. That is the spirit Jo believed in. Ten years on, it remains one of the defining strengths of Spen Valley and our country.
There will be a lot of events this month to commemorate Jo across the country. Among them will be the Run for Jo at Oakwell Hall on June 21 and events for the Great Get Together weekend across the June 20 and 21. I would highly encourage you to have a look for what’s going on in your local area and to get out and join in. Please have a look how you can get involved on the Jo Cox Foundation website here: www.jocoxfoundation.org
Community is so valuable and Great Get Together events are a brilliant opportunity to get to know the people in yours better.
As we remember Jo this month, we are reminded that her legacy is not simply found in speeches or anniversaries. It lives on in the countless acts of kindness, service and community spirit shown by people across our towns and villages every day.