National day of reflection: 23 March

March 21, 2023

On Thursday 23 March 2023, the ‘National Day of Reflection’ will mark the third anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown.

This annual awareness day was put in place to show support for the millions of people in the UK who’ve been bereaved during the coronavirus pandemic and to give everyone a chance to reflect on the lives of the people we’ve lost.

As a result of the pandemic, people from all walks of life have had to say goodbye to loved ones.

At a time that is already unimaginably hard, grief and trauma during the pandemic was exacerbated by restrictions. Families and friends were precluded from being with their loved ones in their final moments and the ability to grieve for them at a funeral or similar gathering was also taken away.

The ‘National Day of Reflection’ is a way for us, as a nation, to come together and acknowledge this lasting pain. With compassion and love, we can show those who are grieving that they are not alone.

To mark the National Day of Reflection colleagues are encouraged to take time to stop and show our support for each other, both now and in the years to come, observe a minutes silence or simply speak to someone about your experience.