Jo Cox More In Common Centre officially opened

The Jo Cox More in Common Centre  at the University of Huddersfield has been formally opened in the presence of Jo's sister Kim Leadbeater MP  and parents Jean and Gordon Leadbeater.

David Lammy MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin were also in attendance as a plaque was unveiled to officially open the new facility that replaces the Faith Centre that had been a feature of the Huddersfield campus for many years. 

Jo’s family and other visitors were shown around the centre and met with members of the University’s varied faith societies, together with staff and contractors involved with the development of the project since its inception in 2021.

“It was a real honour and a genuine pleasure to be here for this very special and very personal event,” said Kim Leadbeater.

“We take great comfort that we have so many fantastic things that bear Jo’s name  and today is a fantastic example of that. I felt very emotional walking up to the building to see her name on it this morning.

“The centre is ‘very Jo’! It is a place for people to come together, for contemplation, faith, reflection, friendship and support.”

Kim Leadbeater MP

It is the first building at the University to be built to the WELL  Standard, enhancing sustainability, health and wellbeing through improved air, water, light and other factors. It features a ‘living wall’ at the building's entrance which features mosses that also contribute to the WELL Standard, as well highlighting Jo's ethos that has inspired the establishment of the Centre - “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Mr Lammy added, “Thank you for naming this wonderful building after Jo for the wonderful work that will go on here, supporting students with their wellbeing, faith, counselling and the opportunity for them to grow as people to achieve what they want to do in their lives.”