'Great Christmas Get Together' to tackle loneliness

Published on 27 November 2017 10:12 AM

After the success of 'The Great Get Together' in memory of Jo Cox in June, 'The Great Christmas Get Together' will invite people to share a 'Mince Pie Moment' with somebody who might be feeling lonely over the festive period.

Mince Pie Moments' will take place all over the UK, from big Christmas lunches to much smaller examples of sharing time and food with neighbours or members of the community experiencing loneliness.

People are being asked to Spare a Chair at home or deliver a mince pie to somebody they know who would appreciate a smile and a bit of a chat over Christmas.

"Jo believed in stronger communities as the best answer to loneliness, and that's even more true at Christmas. That's the idea behind mince pie moments, an excuse for all of us to reach out to someone who is lonely, or strike up a conversation with someone in our street. It doesn't take much to change someone's day for the better and we hope mince pie moments might help us take the first step. We don't have to be a nation of strangers, especially at Christmas."

– BRENDAN COX. JO COX'S WIDOWER

The Great Christmas Get Together will take place on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Kim Leadbeater, Jo's sister, will be helping to hand out mince pies and warm drinks in Batley on Christmas Eve and is helping to organise a lunch for 150 people in Dewsbury on Christmas Day.

Source: ITV

Click HERE and find out Age UK Lambeth's plans for the most socially isolated older people this Christmas and how you can help!