UK urged to mark National Day of Reflection 2022
Press release published
As the two-year anniversary of the first UK lockdown approaches, end of life charity Marie Curie is urging the nation to take part and mark the National Day of Reflection on Wednesday 23 March 2022.
Celebrity supporters including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Alison Steadman, Jim Carter, Greg Wise, Mel Giedroyc, Levi Roots, and Julia Samuel join over 200 organisations* who have already pledged to support the day. Last year the first National Day of Reflection saw widespread support and connected the nation in grief in the first event of its kind.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes said: When Marie Curie marked the National Day of Reflection for the first-time last year, it gave everyone the opportunity to come together after what had been an incredibly challenging time, when we had been so detached from one another. With the loss suffered during the pandemic etched in our hearts, this day continues to hold the same significance for millions of people who have been bereaved.
To take part, people are encouraged to visit mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection and join one or more activities on the day:
• Observe a minute's silence at midday, wearing your Marie Curie daffodil pin
• Shine a light at 8pm, or display flowers in your window
• Visit a Wall of Reflection or remember a loved one in your own way
• Join one of seven online Marie Curie organised talks and panel discussions*
New for 2022, an interactive online map will display a UK wide network of Walls of Reflection where people can go to remember the loved ones they have lost and where the local community can come together to support those who are grieving.
Prominent buildings and landmarks will light up yellow at night to mark the occasion. Last year, over 100 lit up - from Smeaton's Tower in Plymouth, Devon to Ness Bridge in Inverness, Scotland.
Marie Curie Chief Executive Matthew Reed said: It's clear from the outstanding engagement and reaction we saw to the National Day of Reflection last year that the day was very much needed and profoundly resonated with people up and down the UK.
And while life may be beginning to return to normal for some of us, let's not forget there are still millions of people living with the deep trauma of losing a loved one during the pandemic. Grief doesn't have a lifespan. We need to come together, once again, to reflect on the lives of the people we've lost and support those who are grieving.
The last two years have reminded us how much harder grief is when you are isolated from those you care about and those who support you.
To find out more about the National Day of Reflection and how to get involved visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection
Notes to editor
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the UK's leading end of life charity. The charity provides essential frontline nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK. Marie Curie is committed to sharing its expertise to improve quality of care and ensuring that everyone has a good end of life experience. Marie Curie is calling for recognition and sustainable funding of end of life care and bereavement support.
Marie Curie's annual flagship fundraising appeal, the Great Daffodil Appeal is taking place throughout March. The money raised helps to support the charity's nurses, doctors, and hospice staff so they can continue working on the frontline giving expert care to people at the end of life, and their families. For more information on how to fundraise or donate, visit: mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil
The National Day of Reflection on 23 March 2022 is a day to support the millions of people who've been bereaved during the pandemic and to reflect on the lives of the people who have died. Find out more and pledge to take part at mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection
Please note we are 'Marie Curie' (not 'Marie Curie Cancer Care')
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* Organisations supporting the National Day of Reflection include:
Church of England
Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA)
UK Hindu Council
British Sikh Nurses
At A Loss
The Ubele Initiative
NHS Charities Together
Together Coalition
London Ambulance Service
KPMG
Superdrug
Morrisons
twinkl
* National Day of Reflection Online Talks and Conversations Programme (Information correct at time of going to press):
1. A Moment of Reflection
11.50am, 23 March 2022
15 minutes
Join Marie Curie ambassador and Downton Abbey legend Jim Carter to build up to the nationwide minute's silence at noon.
As part of the programme, Jim will introduce the first ever reading of a special poem that was written for this year's National Day by Casey Bailey.
Recommended for: everyone
Featuring: Jim Carter, Casey Bailey
2. The Memory Kitchen
6pm, 23 March 2022
45 minutes
The humble kitchen table can sometimes be at the heart of the grieving process. It can be a natural gathering place for sadness, laughter and night-long conversations in the wake of a bereavement. And it's often the backdrop to fond memories of loved ones too.
In The Memory Kitchen, TV presenter Mel Giedroyc brings some special guests together around the kitchen table to share family recipes and discuss the role of food in grief.
Recommended for: everyone
Featuring: Mel Giedroyc, Romy Gill, Levi Roots, Nikesh Shukla, Danny Malin (Rate my Takeaway)
3. The Grief Toolkit
5pm, 23 March 2022
What if we had a better understanding of grief as a normal process that everyone will face? And what if we had a set of tools and practices to help us manage during these times of loss? Would this help us have healthier, more tender conversations around death and grief?
Exploring these questions will be Julia Samuel, one of the UK's leading psychotherapists and bestselling author of Grief Works and This Too Shall Pass. In this event, she talks to Dr Kathryn Mannix, who worked for Marie Curie for many years, and is author of bestsellers With The End in Mind: How to Live and Die Well and Listen: How to Find the Words for Tender Conversations.
Recommended for: everyone
Featuring: Julia Samuel and Kathryn Mannix
4. Workshop: Mindfulness for grief
3.30pm, 23 March 2022
60 minutes
Sometimes, grief can make you feel overwhelmed or out of control. In this session, therapist Neil Morbey of Positively Mindful explains how you can use mindfulness to train yourself to manage grief.
Neil will run through two simple and effective methods to help you choose how and when to process grief on your own terms.
You'll be guided and encouraged to do only as much as you feel comfortable with. And you can revisit this session on catch-up whenever you need to.
Recommended for: everyone
Featuring: Neil Morbey
5. Workshop: Yoga to explore emotions
8am, 23 March 2022
60 minutes
Sometimes, grief can make you feel overwhelmed and anxious. But yoga can be a very effective way to release the tension and stress that feels trapped inside our bodies.
In this online event, we welcome experienced yoga teacher Pip Roberts, who'll show you how to use breathing, gentle movements and rest to help release physical and emotional tensions.
You'll learn gentle yoga moves from the comfort of your own home, and you're totally free to pause at any time (you can rewatch the session as many times as you like too). The programme will be suitable no matter what your experience level – even if you've never tried yoga before.
Recommended for: everyone
Featuring: Pip Roberts
6. Instagram Live: Breathwork and natural ways to stay calm
12.30pm, 23 March 2022
30 minutes
Sometimes, the skills or resources you need to carry you through a challenge – like overcoming trauma – turn out to have been within you all along. You just need to be able to access them.
During this exclusive Instagram Live session, leading psychotherapist and best-selling author Julia Samuel will introduce you to some natural approaches to dealing with trauma, anxiety and grief, including Trauma and Tension Release Exercises (TRE), shaking and breathwork.
Recommended for: everyone
Featuring: Julia Samuel
7. Should we recognise bereavement in the workplace?
3pm, 23 March 2022
60 minutes
Over the last two years, many employers have transformed their approach to employee wellbeing in response to the challenges of working through the pandemic. But we think there's still room for greater bereavement support in the workplace.
In this online event, our panel brings together expertise in HR, wellbeing and grief to debate the role of the employer.
We hope this session helps you reflect on the role your organisation plays in supporting bereaved staff, and whether it could do more. There'll be plenty of practical examples and inspiring ideas, including a personal perspective from a bereaved employee.
Recommended for: HR professionals and employers at companies of all sizes
Featuring: Sam Royston (Marie Curie), Jo Mackie (People Director, Superdrug), Neil Morrison (HR Director, Severn Trent Plc), Rachel Suff (Employee Relations Lead, CIPD), Lucy Dennis (Cancer Research UK)
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