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A decade on from MP Jo Cox's murder, I am reminded daily that hope always wins, writes Olivia Field

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14.06.2026

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This week marks a poignant double milestone: ten years of Loneliness Awareness Week, and ten years since the murder of Jo Cox MP, whose legacy is deeply rooted in addressing loneliness.

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Our latest research, in partnership with More in Common, reminds us that loneliness is inextricably tied to community connection, and right now, too many of us are lacking those bonds.

Jo’s murder in 2016 was an act driven by extremism and division, and a stark reminder of what can happen when it is left to grow. But, in the days that followed, Britain and the world saw an outpouring of love and solidarity. People responded not with fear, but with something Jo believed in deeply: connection. At the time, we promised to address hate and division, and foster community and connection.

But have those promises been met?

Our research shows that many Britons feel their communities have become more divided in the last decade, and that their own connection to their community has weakened. Many blame social media and the decline of the high street for curbing social interaction.

Ahead of the ten-year anniversary of Jo’s murder, the Foundation, inspired by Jo’s legacy, is re-committing to........

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