Join together to celebrate community

Harborough District Council is teaming up with the organisers of Market Harborough parkrun to encourage people to take part in national celebrations over the weekend of 17 and 18 June 2017.

The Big Lunch, the Jo Cox Foundation’s Great Get Together and dozens of other groups have joined forces nationally to invite people to come together with friends, neighbours and others they don’t yet know for picnics, sports events, barbecues, bake-off competitions and activities in local parks. It follows the first anniversary of MP Jo Cox’s murder on 16 June last year.

Locally, it is hoped the activities will begin with the Market Harborough parkrun, with people from across the district being encouraged take part in the 5k run from 9am in Welland Park before gathering at the park café for extra activities including football, rounders, table tennis and lawn games until midday. A few picnic blankets will also be available to borrow.

People are also encouraged to bring picnics to their local parks, and hold further activities of their own, over the weekend.

Parish Councils have also been encouraged to hold events in their respective communities.

A Harborough District Council spokesman said: “We have a wonderful sense of community in this district so I hope this occasion brings people together, who might not necessarily know each other, whilst providing an opportunity to have a lot of fun too.”

Find out about other sporting and physical activity events taking place across the district at www.harboroughsport.org.uk

Anyone hoping to host larger scale events of their own over the weekend should refer to the council’s events management toolkit available at www.harborough.gov.uk/events-toolkit

The Government’s guidance on holding street parties, which contains a straightforward two page form for residents wishing to hold this sort of event, can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-guide-to-organising-a-street-party