The organisers of This Is Tomorrow Festival have announced a free festival for NHS workers, set for 2021. The festival is going to take place on bank holiday Monday, May 31st in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park. The event is a “huge thank you to those individuals who are risking their lives to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Free tickets are being offered to Newcastle and Northumberland NHS workers and care workers to enjoy some time off at an event that is going to raise money for various NHS Foundation Trusts. Tickets for the festival will go online on Friday May 22 at 10AM here.
Sam Fender, Gerry Cinnamon and Royal Blood are going to headline the festival, but festival organisers are promising a festival “line-up of heavyweight household names across music and comedy, all of whom will be donating their time to show their appreciation for the region’s frontline health workers.”
Whilst NHS workers can attend the event for free, they are welcome to bring their family and friends along, adult tickets are priced £25, kids tickets cost £15, with all proceeds being donated to regional NHS trusts.
Introducing This is For the NHS, a free festival for our local heroes to recognise the courage and bravery of NHS staff and care workers.
Huge line up TBA, all proceeds donated to local NHS, tickets available Friday 10am.https://t.co/tfm9mjhuta pic.twitter.com/exRDvNUa1p— This Is Tomorrow (@ThisIsNCL) May 20, 2020
“We’re donating This Is Tomorrow’s festival site to give NHS workers a big day out and say a massive thank you to the key workers who are putting their own health at risk to keep us all safe”, says Steve Davis, the festival’s Managing Director. According to the statement, Davis himself has worked for the NHS for 18 years, as a radiographic practitioner. After speaking to his former colleagues, he realised “just how hard it has been for NHS workers. Considering the amount of risk that they have had to face on a daily basis and with the number of NHS staff that have died as a result of the disease, it is commendable that they have continued to go to work while everyone else has been able to stay safe at home.”
“The care workers also need to be recognised for the courageous protection of the elderly in care homes and hospices. I hope we can give them a day to remember with their colleagues in May.”
Davis explains how spectacular the plans for the festival are, “pulling out all the stops in showing its thanks”, the statement reads and adds that a charity banquet dinner and big prizes are also in the talks.
This year’s This Is Tomorrow festival had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak but is aiming to return in 2021. “But without the incredible work being done by the NHS, the festival might never have gone ahead again, their hard work will ensure we get over this difficult time.”
