Prince William urges Batley folk to volunteer this festive season

The Great Winter Get Together, run by the Batley-based Jo Cox Foundation, aims to help people stay connected over the festive period.

The Duke and Duchess visited Batley Community Centre in Upper Commercial Street on Monday afternoon to meet volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), one of the UK’s largest charities of its kind.

The Duke urged people to make that first step and become volunteers.

The RVS has teamed up with the Jo Cox Foundation to help combat loneliness and bring people together.

The Duchess secretly became a ‘check-in and chat’ volunteer through the RVS and phoned up Len Gardner, 85, who lives in Carlinghow with wife Shirley, 84, striking up a friendship that resulted in this week’s Royal visit.

Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater said the foundation had come up with many ideas and suggestions on how people could help.

The month-long campaign, also backed by pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor, runs from December 14 to January 18.

Ms Leadbeater said while vaccines were on the way, the pandemic was far from over and people were still isolated and on their own.

She added: “With vaccines on the horizon we can look forward to much better days but we still need to get through the winter months.

“I believe that the best way to do that is by taking inspiration from the wonderful community spirit we have seen across Yorkshire this year.

“I know more than most the importance of pulling together in a

crisis and if we continue to support each other we can and will come out the other side of this pandemic a more connected, caring and compassionate society.

“The team has come up with lots more ideas for how you can reach out, say thank you and stay connected during the month-long campaign and beyond so please do join us by going to our website:

(www.greatgettogether.org/winter_get_together) or giving RVS NHS Responders a call on 0808 196 3646.