Ross Kemp, Gary Lineker, Gareth Southgate, Levi Roots and Lorraine Kelly are among big names launching plans for this year’s National Thank You Day.
The event is aiming to help build the country’s biggest-ever thank you party on the final day of The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, Sunday 5, June 5.
The National Thank You Day is hoping to break a British record - with aims to see over 10 million people take part in the country’s biggest ever Thank You Party, to say a thank you both to The Queen and to each other and to get together with neighbours to share a Big Jubilee Lunch.
The plan is backed by some of Britain’s biggest businesses, organisations, and institutions from the NHS, The National Lottery Community Fund, and the FA, to the Royal Voluntary Service, the Scouts and the Church of England.
Launching the call for the public to ‘put the date in your diary’ a host of big names have released a short film including their own personal ‘thank yous’.
They include Ross Kemp, Lorraine Kelly, Gary Lineker, Gareth Southgate, Ellie Simmonds, Levi Roots, Prue Leith, Alan Titchmarsh and Anne Wafula Strike.
Launching the plans, Ross Kemp said: “Sunday 5th June is the culmination of The Queen’s 70th Jubilee Celebrations. Let’s celebrate by making it the biggest Thank You Party this country has ever seen.
“It’s our chance to say a great big thank you to The Queen for 70 years of service, but also to each other - the people in our own lives - families, streets and communities, who we rely on every day. The people whose support we couldn’t do without.
“On Thank You Day we hope millions of us will get together as neighbours and communities, to celebrate together whether that’s through a Big Jubilee Lunch street party, or any other way you can think of to mark the day.
“Make sure everyone is invited - rope in the neighbours, ask people from the next street over, get the local band to play. Let’s make this a truly great day, with the biggest party ever, to say the biggest thank you ever!
“So put the date in your diaries now – and get planning for the biggest party this country has ever seen.”
Peter Stewart, Executive Director of the Eden Project and The Big Jubilee Lunch said: “There are more reasons than ever to get together this year and we’re really excited to be bringing the spirit of the Jubilee into every neighbourhood with The Big Jubilee Lunch this June.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring people together and to say thank you to our neighbours and communities after all we have been through over the past two years.
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said: "I’m delighted that Thank You Day will be taking place during the incredibly special Platinum Jubilee Weekend.
"There are so many people, including volunteers, who have gone the extra mile over the last two years and I look forward to getting together with others on the day to celebrate and recognise their contribution.”
Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “On behalf of families and patients across the country, I want to say a huge thank you to the thousands of NHS staff, care staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to care for their communities over the last two incredibly demanding years, and who continue to face the challenges posed by the pandemic head-on.
“The NHS and the Monarchy are two of this country’s most treasured national institutions and bring the country together, particularly during difficult times such as those caused by Covid.
“Our brilliant NHS teams, alongside volunteers and our partners, have treated more than half a million Covid patients and delivered more than 115 million life-saving vaccinations as part of the fastest and largest vaccine drive in NHS history – all while continuing to provide routine care and rolling out innovative new treatments that offer us hope for the future and that can be life-changing to patients.
“We are hugely grateful to all those who have played their part in our response to Covid and who have undoubtedly saved many lives.”
For more information, visit www.thankyouday.org.uk.
