Council reaffirms commitment to building stronger, safer communities for everyone in Wealden
Publish Date: 19 June 2026
This June marks the 10-year anniversary of the death of Labour MP Jo Cox. The Great Get Together, founded in her memory, is an opportunity to reflect on her legacy and what brings our communities together – kindness, respect and a shared commitment to the places we call home.
Following a motion unanimously agreed by Full Council in May, we are reaffirming this shared commitment to building strong, inclusive and welcoming communities across Wealden.
Across the district, our towns and villages are shaped by the people who live and work here. From local volunteers and community groups to businesses and partners, it is this collective effort that helps create places where people feel safe, supported and proud to belong.
As a council, we are committed to working with our communities and councillors to make decisions, investments and long-term plans that strengthen our district. Our towns, villages, and communities become greener, fairer and kinder places to live when we find common ground, come together and work collectively for the benefit of our communities.
We are investing in projects that support community resilience and wellbeing. This includes building new community health centres and sports facilities, upgrading village halls, celebrating our cultural and natural heritage through community events, improving the Cuckoo Trail, and funding community-led projects that help make our towns and villages more inclusive and welcoming.
We are also continuing to invest in Wealden as a place, protecting what makes it special while supporting it to thrive. Whether that’s enhancing public spaces, supporting the local economy, or working with partners to create new opportunities, our focus is on building inclusive and welcoming communities.
Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Labour Party) and lead councillor for Housing, Benefits and Revenues, said: “For some, society can often feel more volatile, divided, and intolerant than it once did. We can all be inspired to live by Jo’s enduring belief that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us”.
This anniversary and the culmination of the Great Get Together this weekend is not only a time for remembrance, but also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of respect for one another. Many people who choose to serve in public life face the unacceptable threat of abuse, as do members of our community for their faith, gender, race, origin, or status.
While The Great Get Together is a moment in time, I hope we can come together more often in our communities by focusing on what unites us. By acting in a spirit of kindness, respect and understanding, the towns and villages of Wealden can be somewhere everyone feels safe, valued and able to thrive.”
The Great Get Together is a reminder that strong communities don’t happen by chance. They are built through shared values and respect, everyday actions and a commitment to looking out for one another. Together, we can continue to shape a district where people and nature thrive, and where everyone feels safe to live, work and spend time – a place we are all proud to be part of.
NOTES TO EDITORS: