Residents in Tower Hamlets urged to take part in national campaign in honour of Jo Cox

Tower Hamlets Council is encouraging residents to take part in a national campaign which tackles loneliness in honour of the late MP Jo Cox who lived in the borough.

Emdad Rahman with Leyton Orient captain Charlie Lee. Pic: THCouncil - Credit: Archant

The upcoming Great Get Together (TGGT) weekend from June 22-24 encourages neighbours, friends, family, community groups and colleagues to get together and share a meal or a cup of tea.

Jo, who lived in Wapping and was murdered in 2016, used her platform to raise the profile of the hidden crisis of loneliness.

Emdad Rahman, a council welfare advisor who has been volunteering for over 30 years, will be hosting a TGGT party.

He said: “There are all sorts of things, big or small, that you can do in your community to make someone feel less lonely and isolated and make them feel part of the community.”

Jo Cox at her home in Hermitage Moorings in Wapping. Picture: BRENDAN COX - Credit: Brendan Cox

The council is offering 30 free party packs with essential items such as paper plates, cups, plastic cutlery, table cloths and napkins for residents and community groups that hold TGGT events.

Hosts will need to register with TGGT and then apply for a party pack by June 13.

The packs will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.