Clap For Our Carers: Wakefield clock tower to turn blue tonight in support for frontline NHS workers

The whole country will turn into a beacon of blue tonight as sporting and entertainment venues, along with city and town landmarks, are illuminated - to honour our NHS.
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And in Wakefield, the council will be lighting up the clock tower later this evening to as a salute to the NHS and the courageous efforts of everyone involved in the nation's health system,.

It will join buildings across the UK lighting up, while our communities show their own thanks to NHS workers by hosting a national round of applause.

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Thousands of people are also expected to take part in the Clap For Our Carers project, which encourages people on lockdown to open their doors and windows at 8pm and offer a round of applause to NHS workers who are on the front line of the coronavirus crisis.

The whole country will turn into a beacon of blue tonight as sporting and entertainment venues, along with city and town landmarks, are illuminated - to honour our NHS.The whole country will turn into a beacon of blue tonight as sporting and entertainment venues, along with city and town landmarks, are illuminated - to honour our NHS.
The whole country will turn into a beacon of blue tonight as sporting and entertainment venues, along with city and town landmarks, are illuminated - to honour our NHS.

The #lightitblue campaign has been organised by a collective of leaders from the events and entertainment industry to show a simultaneous display of gratitude for those working tirelessly look after those who are ill with COVID-19.

All #lightitblue venues will use existing LED technology to create the spontaneous flash of blue on facades and screens to ensure the campaign adheres to the critical message from the British Government for people to stay at home.

Gary White, who co-started the #lightitblue campaign, said: “The events and entertainment industry finds itself in an unprecedented state of enforced inaction.

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“The best thing we can do - apart from staying at home - is to use our skills and networks to say thank you to everyone who is supporting the NHS and risking their own health to help others during this pandemic.

“We also feel a huge sense of responsibility for the mental wellbeing of many people within our industry who, having lost their jobs, are feeling anxious and confused about the future.

“We believe the #lightitblue campaign, inspired by the existing #clapforourcarers initiative, will galvanise their enthusiasm and pride in a mass gesture of solidarity.”

The campaign also invites everyone to join in at home by creating blue-themed images and videos and sharing them online with #makeitblue, and challenging others to follow suit.

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People can take part while staying safe indoors, by painting their bodies blue, wearing blue accessories or turning their social media backgrounds blue.

In a widely circulated poster for the event, organisers said: "During these unprecedented times they need to know that we are grateful.

"Please join us for a big applause (from front doors, garden, balcony, windows, living rooms etc.) to show all nurses, doctors, GPs and carers our appreciation for their ongoing hard work and fight against this virus."

The #ClapForOurCarers event will take place at 8pm tonight (Thursday, March 26).

Planning on taking part? We want to hear about it!

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Send us your photos and videos on Twitter and Facebook, or email [email protected] to tell us why you're taking part.

And remember - while this might be an exciting evening, it's still important to follow social distancing rules, so take part from your garden, balcony or the safety of your home.