CORONAVIRUS: Join the Clap for Carers - and show your appreciation of the heroes on crisis frontline

Alison Marriot, of the SOS Pilgrim - Call to Action group, is urging people to join the Clap for Carers campaign tomorrow (Thursday) evening.

“It’s important that we show our support during what is already the most difficult time in their careers, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better sadly,” she said.

“We need to remind them that the public appreciate the sacrifice that they are making - they are literally risking their lives for us. All while trying to look after their own loved ones, and keep them safe from this disease. Many of them have children and need to stay around for them.

“So we hope that everyone will join in the Clap for Carers (#clapforcarers) at 8pm on Thursday 26th March. You can do this from your lounge, your window, your garden, balcony, front door - anywhere as long as it’s safe and at least two metres away from others!”

But she stressed: “The main message is not the round of applause that we’re inviting everyone to join in with at 8pm on Thursday 26th March, as important as that is.

“The main message is that we ALL need to take this pandemic seriously. It is not like anything we have experienced before, whether we are nine years old or 90.”

Alison said Clap for Carers originally came from Spain, where the public have been applauding frontline workers every night during the Coronavirus crisis. The idea has been copied in the UK. with many groups and individuals sharing it on social media.

Alison is co-ordinating the rallying call for the event in Boston and Skegness but it is due to take place across the UK.

She said she is hoping to do a Facebook live event and wants people to share their photos of the Clap for Carers.

She said: “As more people become unwell, their working hours will become longer and longer, as their colleagues show symptoms of Coronavirus and have to stay at home, or worse, end up in Intensive Care like we are sadly seeing already in the UK.

“Some people have been saying it’s a bit like the war again. But it’s not, on so many levels. We are being asked to stay at home, not go out on the battlefield. It’s the least we can do to protect the elderly, vulnerable and our precious NHS staff and carers.

“And ourselves, as who knows when you or one of your loved ones may need a hospital bed? Other serious illnesses will not suddenly stop because of this pandemic.

“The people working in our hospitals, care homes and supermarkets are the ones on the battlefield. We need to protect them by staying at home, asking for help to keep well at home, and accepting offers of help, even if we are normally proud and independent people.

“So we hope that everyone will join in the Clap for Carers at 8pm on Thursday 26th March. You can do this from your lounge, your window, your garden, your balcony, your front door - anywhere as long as it’s safe, fits within the new restrictions, and is at least two metres away from others!

“I want to go out in my garden at that time on Thursday and hear the applause for our carers. But most of all, I and they want you to STAY AT HOME!”