Support for National Day of Reflection for bereaved gathers momentum

Charities, businesses, membership bodies get behind National Day of Reflection on 23rd March

A national day to remember those who have died during the pandemic, and to show support for everyone who has been bereaved, is gaining support from a swathe of organisations.

Spearheaded by end of life charity Marie Curie, and set to take place on Tuesday 23rd March – the anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown – care organisations, charities, businesses, membership organisations, community groups and many more have committed to supporting the National Day of Reflection  ,¹ with more joining every day. They add their support to over 50 MPs, and a host of celebrities who are backing the day.²

Marie Curie estimates that over 3 million people have been bereaved since the pandemic began,³ yet many have been unable to properly say goodbye to loved ones or grieve.

The National Day of Reflection includes a minute's silence at midday to reflect on those who have died, daffodils (fresh, drawn or crafted) placed in windows, as a symbol of hope; and Online talks featuring people who are bereaved, celebrities and expert panellists sharing experiences and answering questions. As night falls, the nation will appear on their doorsteps with candles, torches or simply lights from their mobile phones - for a minute of silence in the evening, sharing a beacon of support in these incredibly tough times.*

Marie Curie Chief Executive Matthew Reed said: "We need to mark the huge amount of loss we've seen this year and show support for everyone who has been bereaved in the most challenging of circumstances – be that from covid or any other cause. We've had a huge response from individuals, organisations, businesses, schools and groups from across the UK wanting to support the day - testament to how much people need and want to come together.

Shirley Woods Gallagher, from High Peak, Derbyshire father died of covid-19 in May 2020 aged 77 years. Shirley is Clinically Extremely Vulnerable. Shirley was shielding and was medically advised not to attend her dad's funeral. Sharing her experience Shirley said:

"On the day my father was dying, with just a minute's notice, I was given a video call to say goodbye that lasted no more than 5 minutes. It was brutal. I was then told that under no circumstances could I attend my Dad's funeral as I am in the shielding category. Instead, I wrote the eulogy and pre-recorded it to be played at the funeral. I never even saw the funeral, there's an assumption that they [funerals] can happen virtually – but there was no wifi or cameras at the crematorium so there was no possibility of doing an online funeral for us.

"I couldn't let the way we'd said goodbye over a hospital video phone be the end of it. So with the help of my husband, I managed to get 5 minutes in the chapel of rest on the day of the funeral in begged and borrowed PPE to have a personal meaningful goodbye with my Dad.

"It's not just the funeral service that brings you comfort after a death. It's sharing stories with others who loved that person too, but my mum had to do a socially distanced wake. All these limitations make grieving more difficult. I had to drive away from my mum's house after the funeral. Mum placed a cloth heart on the boot of my car what my Dad had had under his pillow in hospital whilst she and Dad were apart.

"Ordinarily people have scaffolding in place when they are bereaved, they have support from seeing family, friends, colleagues. People have had none of that during this time. That scaffolding has disappeared, and its absence is being felt by so many and will have long-term consequences.

"I hope a day for the nation to come together, to remember the precious people who have died, like my Dad, will help start to build a foundation of support for us to move forward with. We can't move on from this crisis without acknowledging it and ensuring there's sufficient support in place for people to rebuild their lives."

Marie Curie has been supporting bereaved people as well as caring for dying people with and without coronavirus throughout the pandemic. The charity warns that without the right support for people who have been bereaved, the devastation that the pandemic has caused will impact the lives of people for generations.

Chief Executive of Marie Curie, Matthew Reed continued: "We cannot simply stand by and not recognise the effects the pandemic has had on the bereaved. We know people are in shock, confused, upset, angry and unable to process what has happened. We invite everyone to join together on the 23rd March to reflect, remember and celebrate the lives of everyone that has died during these challenging times – from Covid and other causes."

To find out more about the National Day of Reflection visit dayofreflection.org.uk  . #DayofReflection

-Ends-

Notes to editor

For case studies and interviewees please contact: Marie Curie Press office on 0845 073 8699 media@mariecurie.org.uk.

Indicative outline of the day, Tuesday 23rd March 2021:
• One minute silence at midday.
• Daffodils (fresh, drawn or crafted) placed in windows.
• Nation appearing on doorsteps with daffodils, candles or simply torches and lights from their mobile phones for a minute of silence in the evening (timing tbc).
• Free Virtual Events / Talks from 11.45am – 19.45 (exact timings and topics tbc)

o A moment of Reflection
o Grief School
o Grief in the Workplace: Building Compassionate Organisations
o Tackling Inequalities: the Need to Close the Social Care Gap
o Finding Hope and Meaning Beyond Covid-19: Panel Conversation
o When You Walk Through a Storm: How Music can Help Heal Across Time
*There are many more amazing activities planned in communities across the UK.

References

1 – Supporting Organisations (confirmed as of 12 February 2021)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association Hospice UK
Assist Loss and HOPE
At a Loss Legal and General
Amsterdam The Majonzi Fund
Beth Johnstone Foundation Morrisons
BME Voices Names not Numbers
Care for the Family National Activity Providers Alliance
Care Provider Alliance National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO)
Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) National Care Forum
Child Bereavement Network Opening Doors London
Church of England Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF) Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Compassionate Communities Savers
Co-op Funeralcare SPAR UK
Covid Families for Justice UK Superdrug
Covid19 Bereaved Families Yellow Hearts to Remember Campaign
Cruse Bereavement Care Widowed and Young (WAY)
Forest of Memories
Fujitsu
Good Grief Festival (University of Bristol)
Hallmark Care Homes

2 – Supporting Celebs include: Alison Steadman, Greg Wise, Megan McKenna, Laura Hamilton, Mark Lewis Jones, Dean Burnett, Dr Ranj Singh, Dame Judi Dench, Paul Chuckle, Sherrie Hewson, Jason Isaacs, Gaby Roslin, Chris Kamara, Jim Carter, Bonnie Tyler, Nina Nesbitt, Hamza Yassin, Amy Dowden.

Supporting MPs:
MP name Party Constituency
George Howarth Labour Knowsley
Mark Hendrick Labour Preston
Sarah Champion Labour Rotherham
Bell Ribeiro-Addy Labour Streatham
Mohammad Yasin Labour Bedford
Debbie Abrahams Labour Oldham East and Saddleworth
Dan Jarvis Labour Barnsley Central
Andrew Rosindell Conservative Romford
John McDonnell Labour Hayes and Harlington
Claudia Webbe Labour Leicester East
Caroline Lucas Green Brighton, Pavilion
Tim Farron Liberal Democrat Westmorland and Lonsdale
Andrew Gwynne Labour Denton and Reddish
Hilary Benn Labour Leeds Central
Esther McVey Conservative Tatton
Peter Aldous Conservative Waveney
Ian Byrne Labour Liverpool, West Derby
Stephen Crabb Conservative Preseli Pembrokeshire
Feryal Clark Labour Enfield North
Giles Watling Conservative Clacton
Ian Lavery Labour Wansbeck
Munira Wilson Liberal Democrat Twickenham
Daniel Poulter Conservative Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Sharon Hodgson Labour Washington and Sunderland West
Paul Maynard Conservative Blackpool North and Cleveleys
Liz Saville Roberts Plaid Cymru Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Layla Moran Liberal Democrat Oxford West and Abingdon

3 – Number of people bereaved, based on deaths (Covid and all other causes) w/e 27 March 2020 - w/e 29 Jan 2021). Based on an average of 5 people impacted by every death - Shear, K et al (2005). Treatment of Complicated Grief: A randomised controlled trial. Available at: http://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Shear-et-al.-2005.pdf
- 3,097,690 (UK)
- 2,569,625 (England)
- 167,360 (Wales)
- 282,300 (Scotland)
- 78,405 (Northern Ireland)
Data sources:
o England and Wales: Office for National Statistics (2021). Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional statistical bulletins. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/previousReleases.
o Scotland: National Records of Scotland (2021). Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland. Available at: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/covid19stats.
o NI: NI Statistics and Research Agency (2021). Weekly deaths bulletin. Available at: https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/weekly-deaths

About the National Day of Reflection - A day to reflect, grieve and remember – 23 March 2021
The National Day of Reflection on 23 March 2021 marks the first anniversary of the date that the first lockdown started. Over 3 million people have been bereaved since the first lockdown began. Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for their loved ones. Many of those bereaved have not been able to hold loved one's hands as they were dying, properly say goodbye, comfort or even hug each other. They have been unable to mourn as they would in 'normal' times and will be more likely to struggle with the long-term effects of grief.
The National Day of Reflection will give the nation and communities a moment to remember, grieve and celebrate everyone who has died during this time and show support for our families, friends and colleagues who are grieving. The day is being led by Marie Curie and has been developed in partnership with other organisations who will get involved as part of a movement to support each other.
www.mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection
#DayOfReflection

About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the UK's leading end of life charity. The charity provides frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. Marie Curie is committed to sharing its expertise to improve quality of care and ensuring that everyone has a good end of life experience. The charity believes it is important to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement to improve experiences at end of life and to help reduce the lasting effects of grief. The National Day of Reflection provides an opportunity for the Nation to reflect, remember and celebrate the lives of everyone that has died during these challenging times – from Covid and other causes.
www.mariecurie.org.uk
Please note we are 'Marie Curie' (not 'Marie Curie Cancer Care').