Marking The National Day Of Reflection

Today (23^rd March 2021), on the anniversary of the UK’s first Covid-19 lockdown, our charity has taken a moment to reflect on the contribution of its colleagues, communities and partners over the past 12 months, whilst also paying condolences to the many lives that have sadly been lost throughout the pandemic.

To mark the day, Community Integrated Care encouraged colleagues and people supported by our charity to take part in the minute’s silence at midday. Each of our 460 services across the country received a commemorative candle, allowing our teams to take a moment to pay their condolences to the special members of the Community Integrated Care family that we’ve tragically lost over the past 12 months.

To give everyone the chance to pay their respects, today our charity has also launched its very own online Memorial Wall. Here, people will be able to share pictures, thoughts and personal messages of condolences – honouring the special lives that have passed away over this last year. The special website is open to friends, family and everyone connected to Community Integrated Care, and you visit it here.

In support of today’s National Day of Reflection, our charity has been proud to join a coalition of doctors, nurses, carers, teachers, local councils and politicians to call for a formal Covid Memorial Day every 23 March.

Our CEO, Mark Adams, back the campaign, which is organised by March for Change campaign, saying: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the entire social care sector has faced the most challenging circumstances, and yet our teams have continually gone above and beyond for the people we support.”

He continued, “An annual Covid Memorial Day would not only serve as a formal occasion to remember those we have sadly lost, but to also give an opportunity to recognise the bravery and sacrifice of those on the frontline. Their heroic efforts should not be forgotten and we all need to continue to demand real change for social care”.