Healthcare and other frontline workers are to receive the Freedom of the City of Belfast, to recognise their work throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Health and social care staff, along with representatives from key public and frontline services and the community and voluntary sector, will be among those honoured, following a motion agreed by Belfast City Council in May 2020.
Over 1,800 key workers have been invited to attend The Belfast Mixtape - Songs from Lockdown, an evening of personal reflections and unique musical performances.
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It will take place at the Waterfront in Belfast this Thursday, and is where frontline workers will receive the Freedom of the City. A special meeting of Council will also be held on Thursday at 4pm to mark the occasion.
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Thursday's event will feature performances by Ryan McMullan, Foy Vance, Brooke Scullion, Saint Sister, the Open Arts Community Choir, the Belfast Trust Here4U staff choir and the Ulster Orchestra. It will also include a short dedication ceremony, led by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black.
The event will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Sounds on Friday 25 August, from 7.30pm-9.30pm. It will also be televised on BBC NI and BBC iPlayer later this autumn.
Additionally, the event will form part of material being developed for the new #BelfastStories tourism destination, showcasing key moments in the city’s development, as told by its people.
The individual sacrifices of those working on the frontline, and the critical role music played in supporting them, will be the central themes of the evening.
Guests were invited to nominate songs which helped them carry out essential duties, and their selections have been incorporated into the event setlist to create a mixtape of sounds, both upbeat and reflective. They include a specially arranged version of David Holmes’ remix of ‘Belfast’ by Orbital, performed live on stage by the Ulster Orchestra.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black said: “This is a unique Freedom of the City, which looks back at efforts of those workers who put their own concerns to one side to help care for others during very difficult days for our city.
"It’s a chance for all of us to say thanks to those staff for their selfless courage and compassion, a message which will be especially poignant for those personally impacted by loss during the pandemic, and those whose lives have been changed.
"In asking frontline workers how they wanted to mark their Freedom award, music was a common theme – in particular, the value that an uplifting song or reflective piece of music can have in really difficult times.
"The Belfast Mixtape – Songs from Lockdown has taken inspiration from that feedback, and will use music and song to showcase personal stories and provide a chance to reflect and remember, while also demonstrating the spirit of resilience evident in all those who share in this Freedom of the City honour.”
The audience for Thursday's event includes staff from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, NI Ambulance Service, Public Health Agency, NI Fire and Rescue Service, Belfast City Council, NI Civil Service and the Education Authority.
As well as this, community pharmacists, health and social care staff who travelled to Belfast as part of their work, and those working in the independent retail and social care sectors will also be in attendance.
During the event, ICU nurse Lyndsey Adamson, who served as Lead Nurse for the former Nightingale Hospital, will receive the Freedom of the City on behalf of all those attending.
She will be presented with a specially designed artwork consisting of two hands touching, representing the crucial role of hands during the pandemic – to heal, comfort and help.
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