UON proud to support Thank You Day

The University of Northampton will be joining organisations from across the County on Sunday 4 July to pay tribute and say a big thank you to the people of Northamptonshire as part of the national ‘Thank You Day’.

National Thank You Day will see people across the UK come together to show appreciation to all those who have helped throughout the pandemic. It is a day where everyone is encouraged to pause and thank those that have assisted during the past year.

After such a challenging time we all have different people to thank, from family members to key workers, good neighbours to volunteers.

Since January 2021, each Thursday, the night sky has been lit with messages from the local community celebrating their local Covid heroes. To mark Thank You Day, the hundreds of messages received from the people of Northamptonshire will be shown on the University’s Power Tower.

The impressive 26-meter-tall tower and the 12-meter-high screen, which is part of the on-campus energy centre, will display the thank you messages celebrating the work of university staff and students, local fitness instructors, volunteer groups, teachers, police officers, NHS staff, and more.

Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton said: “It has been humbling to see the sacrifices people have made to keep the wider community safe, and so wonderful to see the lengths to which people will go to help and bring joy to others throughout the pandemic.

“I’m delighted that the University is able to be part of Thank You Day and celebrate the people across the university and within the wider community who supported others during the pandemic.

“I want to extend my personal thanks to all the people across the university, students and staff who have stepped forward to help out with many good deeds and endeavours throughout the pandemic.”

Examples of UON students and staff members’ good work during recent months include:

• Hundreds of rooms in vacant student accommodation were given to house healthcare staff and social care patients. 154 were finally used
• Other, empty student rooms were temporarily given to 26 rough sleepers to help them get on their feet and into permanent accommodation
• Over 400 students stepped up when the NHS needed those from nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, and paramedic science to provide extra people hours
• UON supported the Red Cross when they needed a base to store food for delivery to vulnerable people across the county. Several members of our Security and Campus and Estates Services volunteered to pack boxes
• The Waterside campus housed a temporary assessment clinic for people with COVID-19 symptoms who needed to see a healthcare professional. As well as opening as a community testing facility for those people with covid symptoms
• Countless students and staff supported local charities through fundraising efforts, to enable vital work to continue
• Donations we’re made by students, and the University to support local food banks
• Students living in halls received first-class support from University staff to help them get through the pandemic safely. Staff rallied around to provide food parcels for those who were self-isolating, welcome packs for international students, and provided a listening ear with UON’s Check in and Chat service.

Find out more about how the University of Northampton’s students and staff have been supporting the community in a crisis here.