21 venues turned blue in emotional show of support for NHS

In a moving show of support for NHS workers, 21 event venues, up and down the UK, took part in the #lightitblue campaign. The Association of Event Venues has collected images to create the powerful tribute. In all over 60 theatres, bridges and cathedrals, castles, sports stadiums, venues and national landmarks were contacted by the #lightitblue campaign, including 20 AEV member venues who joined the initiative last week. At 8pm on Thursday night, 26 March, the blue lights were switched on nationwide, coinciding with the public campaign to #clapforourcarers. A spokesperson for the #lightitblue campaign said, “The events and entertainment industry finds itself in an unprecedented state of enforced inaction. The best thing we could do, apart from staying home and looking after our families, was to send out a massive thank you to all of the healthcare professionals who are risking their own health to save people made seriously ill by the Covid-19 pandemic.” AEV member venues ACC Liverpool, The Brighton Centre, Business Design Centre, Event City, ExCeL London, Farnborough International, Harrogate CC – Royal Theatre, ICC Wales/Celtic Manor, Liverpool Convention Centre, Manchester Central, NEC, The O2, Olympia London, The QEII Centre, Ricoh Arena, The Royal College of Physicians, SEC – Hydro and Armadillo, Stadium MK, Telford International and The Yorkshire Event Centre, all took part in #lightitblue. Rachel Parker, AEV director, said, “We are proud to have been a part of the #lightitblue project team, and I’m delighted so many AEV members were able to take part in #lightitblue without risking the health of their employees. Dozens of other members wanted to join in too, but social distancing and travel guidelines made this impossible. Nevertheless, the NHS has the wholehearted thanks and support of our entire membership, and this was an imaginative and spectacular way of demonstrating it.” A gallery of British landmarks taking part can be found at the official #lightitblue website.