KIND Snacks has today unveiled a statue of the nation’s kindest resident on the pavements of London’s iconic Southbank – but you’ve but you’ve probably never heard of them.
Unsung hero and inspiration, Jo Newby, 52, from East Yorkshire, has received the incredible accolade thanks to her tireless efforts to help hundreds of members of the community during the past two decades and better the lives of local pan-disabled youths and children in need.
In a bid to encourage the country to be more kind, Jo Newby herself unveiled the poignant 4-metre-tall statue takes pride of place at Observation Point on London’s Southbank, with the world-famous St Paul’s Cathedral and iconic City of London skyline in the background. KIND Snacks has selected Jo among the some of the country’s most admired and awe-inducing landmarks, to celebrated as equally treasured and inspiring.
Jo was unearthed following the launch of KIND Snacks’ nationwide ‘#MyKINDHero’ call out in August, encouraging Brits to nominate the kindest person they know. Budding from their beliefs that kindness should be abundant but not go unnoticed, the callout received nearly 500 heart-warming submissions. Jo’s story was submitted by her beloved husband of 21 years, Chris, whom she also nursed through pancreatic cancer.
Following an extensive judging process, big-hearted Jo was bestowed the honour after devoting her life to others through a number of selfless acts. Over the course of the last 19 years, Jo has opened up her home and fostered an astonishing 92 children, alongside nursing her adopted son through a brain injury coma.
To provide support and help, she also became a co-founder of Barton Inclusive Football Club Hull (BIFC Hull for short), consisting of three competitive pan-disability football teams for children and young adults in the area, after realising there were no competitive teams in her region that catered to the community. The club holds three different teams; under 12’s, under 16’s and young adults, to help various ages get involved.
Her selflessness, generosity, and unfathomable life-changing impact on the lives of so many make it KIND’s pleasure to express their gratitude and awe for her lifetime of generosity, compassion and, ultimately, kindness.
In a heartfelt nod to Jo’s football club endeavours, the statue will be posed with its foot resting on a football and holding football boots, as well as holding up 92 real balloons with the other hand – each representing a child she has fostered.
Jo Newby, 52, of East Yorkshire said: “It’s all so surreal…I can’t believe it! I just get on with my day to day and don’t ever stop to think about the wider impact that I may be having – all I think about is the children and making sure they feel happy, included and safe.”
“I’m so honoured to be chosen by KIND as the UK’s KIND hero, and for my husband Chris to have nominated me without my knowing. The world is so full of sadness and anger…I just hope that people can see what an impact kindness has on others.”
Jo’s husband, Chris Newby of East Yorkshire, said: “To me, Jo is the most amazing, kind and selfless woman in the world, so when I saw KIND’s #MyKINDhero callout I had to nominate her.”
“That she has received this deserved recognition and has been identified as the UK’s kind hero makes me so proud. I hope she’ll now believe the phenomenal impact she has had on countless people, and how many lives she has touched and changed for the better. It’s amazing that the rest of the country can see her for what she is: a hero.”
KIND Snacks has launched the commemorative statue to inspire Brits to follow Jo’s lead and commit more of their own acts of kindness.
Sam Wainwright, Senior Brand Manager at KIND Snacks said: “We’ve been taken aback by the incredible stories of kindness shared with us over the past couple of months. It’s shown us that while we hear of bad things happening in the world all too often, people in communities across the UK are going above and beyond to help each other every day. None more so than Jo!”
“If anyone deserves their own statue, it’s Jo. The impact she’s had through her commitment to helping others in need of support is truly inspiring, especially over such a long period of time. we’re just happy to help celebrate someone so deserving of recognition”.
