Brighton & Hove to Observe National COVID-19 Day of Reflection on March 9, 2025
Brighton & Hove will commemorate the National COVID-19 Day of Reflection on Sunday, March 9, 2025. This day provides a crucial possibility for the community to remember those who tragically died during the pandemic. It also serves to acknowledge the extraordinary service, resilience, sacrifice, and profound compassion demonstrated by countless individuals throughout the crisis.Council leader Bella Sankey has expressed deep gratitude to the care, health, and community sectors, as well as the many volunteers, council staff, and residents who supported the community in unprecedented ways. The day will be a moment to honor those who made significant contributions and to reflect on the lasting impact of the pandemic on the city.
A Day of Remembrance and Gratitude
The National COVID-19 Day of Reflection on March 9, 2025, will be a significant moment for Brighton & Hove. Residents will gather to remember those who lost thier lives during the pandemic. The day also serves to recognize the remarkable efforts of individuals and groups who provided essential support and care during a particularly challenging period in the city’s history.
Council leader Bella Sankey emphasized the importance of the day, stating:
As we approach the National COVID-19 Day of Reflection on Sunday, we pause to remember the profound impact the pandemic has had on our community.
She further highlighted the importance of honoring those who were lost and expressing gratitude to those who stood strong during the crisis, providing essential services and support to those in need.
Tributes to Community Heroes
Councillor Sankey paid tribute to the numerous individuals who went above and beyond to support the community during the pandemic. She specifically acknowledged the “heroic efforts” of those who continued to provide vital services, often making personal sacrifices to protect others from the spread of the virus.
She noted the strength and unity displayed by the community during the height of the pandemic:
the strength of our community was evident as individuals and groups came together to support one another. From delivering groceries to vulnerable neighbours to setting up support networks, these acts of kindness illuminated our community’s compassionate spirit during these challenging times.
Sankey also extended her gratitude to social workers, care home staff, teachers, health workers, and those who cared for vulnerable loved ones, recognizing their unwavering dedication and personal sacrifices during an unprecedented public health crisis.
Our social workers, including those working alongside their NHS colleagues in our hospitals in the city, care home staff, teachers, health workers and the thousands of people across the city who cared for vulnerable loved ones who have illnesses or disabilities displayed unwavering dedication, frequently enough making personal sacrifices to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others.
she added, highlighting the personal toll the pandemic took on many essential workers:
Many chose to stay away from their families to protect them. Their actions were nothing short of heroic, and we owe them an immense debt of gratitude.
Council staff were also commended for their tireless efforts to adapt and maintain essential services during unprecedented challenges, ensuring the city continued to function.
And I would like to share a heartfelt thanks to our council staff who worked tirelessly to adapt and maintain essential services, ensuring our city continued to function amidst unprecedented challenges. Their resilience and adaptability were crucial in navigating the uncertainties we faced.
Council’s Commitment to Ongoing Support
The Brighton & Hove council has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting those still living with the lasting impact of the pandemic. This includes providing bereavement services and community initiatives to help individuals and families cope with their grief and loss in the aftermath of the crisis.
Councillor Sankey stated:
We recognize that the journey through grief is deeply personal and ongoing. Support is available through our local services, and we remain committed to enhancing these services, ensuring that everyone has access to the support they need during such times.
The council also encourages those who are able to consider donating to charities that played pivotal roles during the pandemic, such as Martlets Hospice, which provided essential care and comfort to many in the community during their most difficult times.
We also encourage those who are able to consider donating to charities that played pivotal roles during the pandemic.Organisations like Martlets Hospice provided essential care and comfort to many in our community.
Annual Iftar Dinner and Day of reflection
On Sunday, councillor Sankey and her colleagues will join Mayor Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman at the Annual Iftar Breaking of the Fast Dinner, organized by the Multicultural Group brighton & Hove. This year’s event will be themed around the Day of Reflection, serving as an opportunity to remember the lives affected by the pandemic and to celebrate the collective strength shown by the community in overcoming adversity.
On sunday, I and many of my colleagues are proud to join the Mayor Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman in his role with the Multicultural Group Brighton & Hove, at the Annual Iftar Breaking of the Fast Dinner. The event will be themed around the Day of reflection and will serve as an opportunity to remember the lives affected and the collective strength we’ve shown.
Accessing Bereavement Support
For those seeking bereavement support, the Health and Adult Social Care directory offers a extensive online listing of services and organizations in Brighton & Hove.This directory provides valuable resources for individuals and families navigating the grieving process and seeking professional help.
Remembering & Rebuilding: A COVID-19 Reflection on Community Resilience
Over 6 million lives were lost globally in the COVID-19 pandemic—a staggering figure that underscores the enduring need to honor the lives lost and celebrate the strength of communities in the face of unprecedented adversity.
Interviewer (Senior Editor, world-today-news.com): Dr. Eleanor Vance, a leading expert in public health and community resilience, welcome to world-today-news.com. Brighton & Hove’s upcoming National COVID-19 Day of Reflection highlights the importance of remembering pandemic losses and celebrating community support. What are the crucial long-term psychological and societal impacts of a pandemic of this scale, and how can communities effectively address them?
Dr. Vance: Thank you for having me. The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact transcended the immediate health crisis. We’re seeing lasting effects on mental health, with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly among frontline workers and those who experienced severe illness or loss. Societally, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities, widening the gap between the privileged and vulnerable. Addressing these long-term impacts requires a multi-pronged approach.
This includes:
Investing in accessible mental health services: providing readily available support for individuals struggling with pandemic-related trauma and mental health challenges.This necessitates a range of services, from counseling and therapy to peer support groups and community-based initiatives.
Strengthening social safety nets: ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to essential resources like food, housing, and healthcare, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. This also includes tackling systemic inequalities that contributed to disproportionate pandemic impacts on certain communities.
Promoting community engagement and resilience: fostering a sense of collective obligation and mutual support. Initiatives that promote social connection, community participation, and collaborative problem-solving are vital for fostering resilient communities.
Establishing robust public health infrastructure: for early detection, rapid response, and effective communication during future public health emergencies. This is crucial for minimizing the societal and economic disruptions caused by pandemics.
Interviewer: The Brighton & Hove initiative emphasizes the role of essential workers and volunteers. How crucial was—and continues to be—their contribution to community resilience during and after the crisis?
dr. Vance: the contributions of essential workers and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic were absolutely invaluable,forming a critical part of the collective response to the crisis. Their unwavering dedication and remarkable efforts—sometimes at significant personal cost—kept communities functioning, provided life-saving care, and maintained essential services amid tremendous uncertainty. Their actions exemplify the spirit of community resilience. Their continued support, in the form of ongoing mental health resources and community programs, is still essential to help both communities and the workers themselves. We need to implement policies that recognize and improve the conditions and support for essential workers.This includes offering fairer compensation, better benefits, and improved working conditions.
interviewer: Brighton & Hove is also highlighting the importance of remembering those lost. How can we create lasting memorials and commemorations that foster healing and remembrance?
Dr. Vance: Creating meaningful memorials requires a sensitive and inclusive approach. These commemorations should not just list names, but tell the stories of those lost, celebrating their lives and contributions. This could involve community-led initiatives like creating memory gardens, establishing scholarships in their name, or developing community projects that honor their memory. Memorialisation also needs to create space for collective grief and shared experiance. Public events, art installations, and digital projects can achieve this.
Interviewer: Beyond the immediate aftermath, what are some long-term strategies for bolstering community resilience to future public health crises?
Dr.Vance: Building community resilience against future crises requires proactive measures, including investing in public health infrastructure, promoting health equity, and strengthening social safety nets. This should include fostering a culture of preparedness by educating communities on how to respond to public health crises and improve community-level emergency response systems. Strengthening lines of communication between public health officials and the public is vital to build trust and help manage misinformation.
Interviewer: Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
dr. Vance: The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a stark reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerability. Commemorating the losses, supporting those affected, and building stronger, more resilient communities are not just acts of remembrance, but essential investments in a healthier and more equitable future for all. Let’s transform grief into action, ensuring that no community is ever left unprepared or unsupported in the face of future challenges.
Let’s discuss this in the comments below—share your thoughts and experiences on how communities have demonstrated resilience,remembrance,and support. Let us continue the conversation on social media using #CommunityResilience #COVID19Reflection.