Today, people across the UK are uniting to say a huge thank you to each and every person who went out of their way to make life easier for others during the difficult 18 months we have had living through a global pandemic and all its consequences. You can join in the national toast to say Thank You at 5pm today, find out more here.
Our volunteers and team here at Scotland in Union, usually to be found on the campaign trail, were ready to help. They did so in different ways, including making Care Calls to fellow supporters to offer friendship at a lonely time, and by volunteering with Viral Kindness Scotland and the Red Cross to give practical support, for example picking up food shopping and prescriptions for those who were not able to. Thank you so much for everything you did, by reaching out you let others know that they were cared for.
In so many walks of life we saw people remain on the frontline in their day job despite the risks to themselves in order to care for others and provide essential services, including all of our NHS and care workers; those in other emergency services and essential public service roles; retail, warehouse and delivery workers; cleaners and many, many others who kept us safe and fed and kept the country going. Thank you for all that you have done and are still doing. This service must never be forgotten.
In the years to come, we will remember those who we lost from Covid-19 and the terrible impact on families and we will remember the frustration at facing the challenges that curbs on our usual freedoms brought to all of us. We will also remember that this time has brought out the best in many and reinvigorated a sense of community which I hope stays with us. Life is better when we look out for each other; we are stronger together.