The National Day of Reflection is taking place once again this year.
It’s an opportunity to remember those who died during the pandemic, support people who are grieving, and connect with others.
Here’s everything you need to know about the event.
Who started National Day of Reflection?
Marie Curie launched the National Day of Reflection in 2021 to remember those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic, and support those whose grief was affected by lockdown.
More than 850 organisations took part in 2022, with King Charles III among several public figures supporting it.
The event, which takes place today on Thursday (March 23) is the third annual day of reflection on the anniversary of the first lockdown organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie.
What is National Day of Reflection?
Marie Curie said the day was a “one-a-kind opportunity to reflect on any death of a loved one, from any cause and at any time”. It said this year will be significant following the deaths of several public figures, including Queen Elizabeth II’s in September.
Celebrities including singer Sir Tom Jones OBE, actress Alison Steadman and Downton Abbey’s actor Jim Carter are supporting the event.
Sir Tom said: “Losing someone you love is devastating — and it’s also something almost all of us have in common. Grief can so often feel very heavy, which is why Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection is so important.
“It gives us all a moment in time to come together with our friends and families, to remember and celebrate the people who aren’t with us anymore.”
Jane Murray, bereavement services manager at Marie Curie Hospice in the West Midlands said the day would allow people to “feel supported and know they are not alone in their grief”.
She said: “(This is) a day where anyone who has been bereaved, no matter how long ago or the cause, will come together to remember loved ones who have died.
“The national outpouring of grief following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last September was palpable. People who themselves had been bereaved personally were united and used that time to grieve for their own loved ones. It was acceptable and encouraged.”
When is the minute’s silence?
A minute’s silence is held across the UK, including in Scotland, at midday on March 23 as part of the third annual National Day of Reflection.
What is happening to mark the day?
A series of new free online events will be held throughout the day on March 23, giving people more ways to connect with others.
People are also being encouraged to create a Wall of Reflection as a way to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died.
This can be done through sharing memories, photos, poems, music, objects and more.
An online toolkit can be downloaded at Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection website, which provides everything needed to prepare for March 23.
Hybrid work
Lockdown may seem like a memory, but some of our habits have stuck.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that before the pandemic, about 12 per cent of adults reported working from home. However, during the lockdown, almost half of us were doing it. Today, 19 per cent of Londoners solely work home.
Londoners have the highest levels of hybrid working than anywhere else in the UK. Four in 10 are balancing working from home with commuting into work, the ONS data says.
