A local business owner is supporting the UK wide National Day of Reflection today, which marks one year since the country was first placed in national lockdown.

The National Day of Reflection is spearheaded by end-of-life charity Marie Curie, and a host of organisations, MPs, including the PM Boris Johnson and celebrities are backing the day.

The remembrance will take place in the form of a series of online events and activities and a minute’s silence taking place at 12 noon.

The organisers are aiming to get as many families and households with children across the UK to join in and invited ARTventurers, who run art and creative play classes for children, to help them by designing some templates and colouring sheets.

Pam Weightman is the owner of ARTventurers Carlisle, Penrith and Keswick , running ARTventurers classes in Carlisle.

“Our team were really honoured to be asked by Marie Curie and their team to be part of the National Day of Reflection,” said Ms Weightman.

“It’s an opportunity for the whole nation to come together to remember, grieve and celebrate everyone who has died during this time and show support for our families, friends and colleagues who are grieving.

“We would love as many people as possible to show their support for the day by putting spring flowers in their windows.

“Yellow is a colour that symbolises hope and positivity and we’ve designed some templates and colouring sheets that are now on the Marie Curie website to download.

“Parents can print them off and get their children to paint or colour them in and then display them in their window and on social media on the day using the hashtag #DayofReflection.

“It will be a lovely way of getting the younger generation involved – we've all been affected by the pandemic, children included, and doing activities like this together can be a real opportunity to open up conversations about thoughts and feelings, as well as looking forward to brighter times ahead”.

Other events taking place on the day together with a minute’s silence at 12 noon include online talks and conversations, television coverage of the day and a doorstep vigil at 8pm where people are invited to stand at their doors with a light or a candle and reflect on the past year.

You can find out more about the National Day of Reflection and download the ARTventurers templates to use at home at https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/day-of-reflection