View source for Clap for Our Carers

{{Short description|2020 British social movement}}
{{Use dmy dates|date = April 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name               = <!--Uses page name if omitted-->
| logo               = Clap_for_our_Carers_Logo.jpg
| logo_alt           = Cartoon hands clapping with the text #clapforourcarers
| logo_caption       = Clap for Our Carers logo
| image              = Boris Johnson 'Clap for our Carers' 14 05 (49895563142).jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Former Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] with his partner [[Carrie Symonds]] taking part in 'Clap for our Carers' on the steps of [[10 Downing Street]]
| genre              = [[Social movement]]
| frequency          = '''2020''': Weekly (20:00 Thursdays)
| coordinates        = 
| country            = United Kingdom
| first              = 26 March 2020
| founder_name       = Annemarie Plas
| last               = 28 May 2020
| next               = 
| activity           = {{plainlist|
* Clapping.
}}
{{Listen
| filename = Clapping for Carers in Oxford, April 2020.ogg
| title    = Clapping for the NHS in Oxford
| embed    = yes
| plain    = yes
}}
| website            = {{url|https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/}}
}}

'''Clap for Our Carers''', also known as '''Clap for Carers''', '''Clap for the NHS''', '''Clap for Key Workers''' or '''Clap for Heroes''', was a [[social movement]] created as a gesture of appreciation for the workers of the United Kingdom's [[National Health Service]] (NHS) and other [[key worker]]s during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|global pandemic]] of [[Coronavirus disease 2019]] (COVID-19), which [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|spread to the United Kingdom]] in January 2020.

The idea originated in Europe<ref name="Clap for Carers precursors">{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus: Health workers clapped across the world for battling on the COVID-19 frontline|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-health-workers-clapped-across-the-world-for-battling-on-the-covid-19-frontline|website=Clap For Our Carers|date=24 March 2020|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-51895386|title=Coronavirus: Spain and Italy applaud health workers|website=BBC News|date=2020-03-15|accessdate=2020-12-03}}</ref> and was adopted in the UK by Annemarie Plas, a Dutch woman living in London, who promoted a campaign which took place every Thursday evening at 20:00 between 26 March and 28 May 2020. Many celebrities, influencers, politicians, and public figures supported the campaign.{{cn|date=December 2021}}

==Background and origins==
In December 2019, health authorities in [[Wuhan]], China, identified an unusual cluster of [[pneumonia]] cases. Subsequent investigations revealed this illness was caused by a new [[coronavirus]], [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]].<ref name="COVIDTimeline">{{Cite web|title=COVID-19 Timeline|url=https://bfpg.co.uk/2020/03/covid-19-timeline/|last=Holmes|first=Flora|date=2020-03-27|website=British Foreign Policy Group|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329004153/https://bfpg.co.uk/2020/03/covid-19-timeline/ |archive-date=29 March 2020 |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> On 11 March 2020, the outbreak was declared a global [[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]] by the [[World Health Organization|World Health Organisation]] (WHO) with 118,000 confirmed cases of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] in 114 countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=WHO declares coronavirus pandemic {{!}} World news |work= The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/11/who-declares-coronavirus-pandemic|date=2020-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311184930/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/11/who-declares-coronavirus-pandemic|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=11 March 2020}}</ref> The virus was confirmed to have [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|spread to the United Kingdom]] on 31 January 2020<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-31|title=Two coronavirus cases confirmed in UK|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51325192|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> and by 20 March, the number of cases there had surpassed 3,200.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus Update (Live)|url=https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/|date=2020-03-20|website=Worldometers.info|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320090312/https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/|archive-date=2020-03-20|access-date=2020-12-03}}</ref> As the number of cases grew, the public health response to the virus has also evolved.<ref name="Lake2020">{{Cite journal|last=Lake|first=Mary A|date=March 2020|title=What we know so far: COVID-19 current clinical knowledge and research|journal=Clinical Medicine|volume=20|issue=2|pages=124–127|doi=10.7861/clinmed.2019-coron|issn=1470-2118|pmc=7081812|pmid=32139372}}</ref> From 20 March, most schools, colleges and nurseries were closed. On 23 March, stricter [[social distancing]] measures were implemented to curb the spread of the virus.<ref name=gov.uk>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings|title=Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing social distancing in education and childcare settings|last=|first=|date=|website=GOV.UK|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331034333/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings |archive-date=31 March 2020 |access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref>

During the peak phase of the pandemic, around March to May/June 2020, the UK government's message was that the entire population, with few exceptions, should stay at home to protect themselves and others from infection, and "protect the [[NHS]]" (National Health Service), which was at risk of being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. UK media widely reported on the extreme difficulties and risks to their own lives, faced by NHS staff in particular, who initially lacked the necessary large scale supplies of personal protective equipment and life support equipment needed.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

As a result, a sense of widespread appreciation developed towards NHS workers, and also towards other key workers, who supported the population during this time. A weekly show of appreciation developed during which large parts of the UK population showed their appreciation, from the safety of their homes.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

Although similar activities had already been happening in [[India]], [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Spain]] and [[The Netherlands]] in the weeks prior<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|last=Penna|first=Dominic|date=2 April 2020|title=Clap For Our Carers: what time is the NHS applause tonight?|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/clap-carers-time-nhs-applause-tonight/|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-51895386/coronavirus-spain-and-italy-applaud-health-workers |title=Coronavirus: Spain and Italy applaud health workers |date=15 March 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=2020-03-02 }}</ref> the idea for Clap for Our Carers is credited to Annemarie Plas, a Dutch immigrant living in London who had appropriated a similar event that she had seen from the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clap for our Carers every Thursday at 8pm #clapforourcarers|url=https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Clap For Our Carers|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:The Shard against a pink sunset (49926044797).jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[The Shard]] illuminated in blue to appreciate the healthcare workers]]
The event is typically a round of applause outside a participating person's home or from one of their windows, however people have also taken part by banging pots and pans, playing music and setting off fireworks. Millions  are reported to have taken part.<ref name=Bowman>{{Cite news |last=Bowman |first=Verity |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/26/thank-nhs-tonights-clap-carers/ |title=Clap For Our Carers: How thousands of Britons thanked the NHS with a national round of applause |date=26 March 2020 |work=The Telegraph|access-date=2020-03-26 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> In the first campaign, at 20:00 on 26 March 2020, people across the UK clapped, cheered, and rang bells to thank NHS workers for their role during the pandemic.<ref name="COVIDTimeline" /> [[Prince George of Wales|Princes George]] and [[Prince Louis of Wales|Louis]], and [[Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015)|Princess Charlotte]] also supported the event from their residence at [[Anmer Hall]].<ref name="Telegraph" /><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/clap-for-our-carers-prince-george-charlotte-louis-royal-family-nhs-coronavirus-a9429411.html| title= Clap for our carers: Harry and Meghan join Prince George, Charlotte and Louis in applause for NHS workers| work=[[The Independent]]| date=27 March 2020| accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref>

On 2 April, appreciation extended to all key workers, including healthcare workers, emergency services, armed services, delivery drivers, people who work in shops, teachers, waste collectors, manufacturers, postal workers, cleaners, vets and engineers.<ref name="CFOCwebsite">{{Cite web|url=https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/|title=Clap for Our Carers every Thursday at 8pm #clapforourcarers|last=|first=|date=|website=Clap for Our Carers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323145224/https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/ |archive-date=23 March 2020 |access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref> That day, event founder Annemarie Plas wrote in an [[Instagram]] post, "tonight we will show our appreciation again! For ALL that go out to work so that we can stay in!".<ref name="Barr">{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Sabrina |date=5 April 2020 |title=How to join in with tonight's national 'Clap For Our Carers' event for NHS and key workers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-nhs-workers-applause-clap-for-our-carers-when-time-covid-19-a9426906.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327143852/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-nhs-workers-applause-clap-for-our-carers-when-time-covid-19-a9426906.html |archive-date=27 March 2020 |access-date=8 April 2020 |website=The Independent}}</ref>

The campaign was subsequently repeated at 20:00 every Thursday until 28 May, as lockdown restrictions began to be eased throughout the UK. The campaign received coverage from media such as [[Sky UK|Sky]], [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], [[Channel 4]] and the [[BBC]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52130552 |title=Coronavirus: Applause for key workers rings out across the UK |date=2 April 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> Notable people who participated in the event include [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]], [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[Rishi Sunak]], [[Jeremy Corbyn]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Sir Paul McCartney]], [[Kylie Minogue]], [[David Beckham]], [[Daniel Craig]], [[Phoebe Waller-Bridge]], [[Naomie Harris]] and [[Sir Elton John]].<ref name="Mohdin2April2020">{{Cite news|last=Mohdin|first=Aamna|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/02/pots-pans-passion-britons-clap-their-support-for-nhs-workers-again|title=Pots, pans, passion: Britons clap their support for NHS workers again|date=2 April 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 April 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Elizabeth II|The Queen]] referred to the Clap for Our Carers campaign as an “expression of our national spirit”.<ref>[https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/acknowledgements Acknowledgements, ''Clap for our Carers'']. Retrieved 5 June 2020</ref> Landmarks such as [[The Shard]], [[Tower Bridge]], the [[London Eye]], [[Blackpool Tower]], the [[Tyne Bridge]], the [[Radio City Tower]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Alex |date=7 May 2020 |title=Join us by taking a minute to applaud our NHS staff and key workers in #ClapForOurCarers |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/city/uk/news/nhs-clap-for-our-carers/ |website=Radio City}}</ref> [[The Kelpies]],<ref name="Ruck26March2020">{{Cite news|last=Ruck|first=Joanna|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/mar/26/clap-for-carers-applauding-the-nhs-during-coronavirus-in-pictures|title=Clap for carers: applauding the NHS – in pictures|date=26 March 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=8 April 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[MediaCityUK]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Speare-Cole |first=Rebecca |date=3 April 2020 |title=Clap for Our Carers returns tonight after calls for Brits to repeat mass applause for NHS coronavirus heroes |work=[[Evening Standard]] |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/clap-for-our-carers-nhs-mass-applause-coronavirus-a4404706.html |accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref> and [[Windsor Castle]] were illuminated in blue during the event.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/royalssociety/queen-elizabeth-clap-for-our-carers-selfisolation-windsor-castle-a4406026.html| title= Queen Elizabeth makes grand Clap For Our Carers gesture from self-isolation in Windsor Castle| last=Hills| first=Megan| work=[[Evening Standard]]| date=4 April 2020| accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref>

A Clap for the NHS was organised for the afternoon of 5 July 2020, the 72nd anniversary of its establishment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-05/leaders-pay-tribute-to-nhs-ahead-of-nationwide-clap-to-mark-72nd-anniversary|title=Nationwide clap and Spitfire flypast mark 72nd anniversary of NHS|website=ITV News|date=5 July 2020}}</ref> An annual Clap for Our Carers Day was initially planned for the last Thursday of March each year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Clap for our Carers every Thursday at 8pm #clapforourcarers|url=https://clapforourcarers.co.uk/|website=Clap For Our Carers|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

==Response==
[[File:NW-ThankYouCollage.jpg|thumb|''Thank You'' collage by [[Nathan Wyburn]], 2020 (click to show individual faces)]]
Clap for Our Carers inspired [[Nathan Wyburn]] to produce a digital collage made up of more than 200 images of NHS workers, to pay tribute to their work.<ref name=BBCNews30March2020>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CniBrxRI8PY BBC Wales News "NHS Thank You" Art by Nathan Wyburn]. BBC News. You Tube. 30 March 2020.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-03-30/artist-nathan-wyburn-thanks-nhs-workers-with-photo-collage-tribute/ |title=Artist Nathan Wyburn thanks NHS workers with photo collage tribute |date=30 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/18352935.artist-pays-special-tribute-front-line-nhs-workers/|title=Artist pays special tribute to front-line NHS workers|last=Draper|first=Joseph|date=2 April 2020|website=Penarth Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404091557/https://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/18352935.artist-pays-special-tribute-front-line-nhs-workers/ |archive-date=4 April 2020 |access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref>

The practice of applauding has been criticised by some political commentators and medical workers as an [[Slacktivism|empty gesture]] amid budget cuts and equipment shortages for the NHS.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 April 2020 |title=NHS workers don't want applause, they want PPE |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/19/nhs-workers-dont-want-applause-they-want-ppe |work=The Guardian |accessdate=15 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Owen |date=23 April 2020 |title=While the UK's key workers lack PPE, ministers clapping for them is an insult |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/23/uk-key-workers-ppe-ministers-clapping-protect-nhs |work=The Guardian |accessdate=15 May 2020}}</ref>

In January 2021, Annemarie Plas and her family received online abuse for bringing back the movement under the name "Clap For Our Heroes".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55579680|title=Muted response as Clap for Heroes returns|work=BBC News|date=7 January 2021|accessdate=7 January 2021}}</ref> Plas later released a statement announcing she was distancing herself from the event, while stating that she had no intentions of politicising it. The comeback attempt was not well received by the public and very little turned out, thus causing its permanent ceasing.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

== See also ==
* [[Thank You NHS]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://clapforourcarers.co.uk}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories}}
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[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:March 2020 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:April 2020 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:May 2020 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:National Health Service]]
[[Category:Social movements in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic]]

[[es:Aplauso por los trabajadores de la salud#Reino Unido]]