Edinburgh to host main 999 Emergency Services Day

Edinburgh will host the main national Emergency Services ‘999’ Day in 2019!

999 Day is an annual government-backed day across the UK held on 9th September with events taking place on the nearest Sunday.

Emergency Services Day is a FREE event with emergency services vehicles, stalls and animals. It’s aimed at promoting the work our emergency services do, educating the public about using the services responsibly, promoting service volunteer opportunities, it’s an opportunity for 999 charities to fundraise, and for people to engage with the emergency services and see the equipment and vehicles used to keep people safe.

The Emergency Services Festival of Thanksgiving and main national event for the Emergency Services Day will be held in Edinburgh in 2019, it has been announced.

The events, which are organised by the National Emergency Services Memorial, a registered charity which is raising at least £3 Million to build the first national 999 cenotaph, are held annually and are aimed at thanking the two million emergency services workers in Britain, and to remember the more than 7,000 personnel who have been killed in the line of duty.

The ‘Emergency Services Festival of Thanksgiving’ will be held at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh on Friday 6th September 2019 between 14:00 – 15:00.

The First Minister of Scotland, along with representatives from the British and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive, and emergency services personnel from across the UK have been invited.

Tickets can be applied for (first come first served) by emailing your name, service, service email address and how many tickets you require to contact@nesm.org.uk.

Members of the public are also very welcome to attend by applying for tickets.

The inaugural 999 Festival took place at Manchester Cathedral on Friday 7th September 2018.

The Emergency Services ‘999 Day’ takes place on 9th September, beginning at with two minutes’ silence at 9am to remember fallen personnel (9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month). The 999 Day consists of a national media campaign (#999DayUK / @Official999Day) and a series of open day style events across the country held on the nearest Sunday to 999 Day, with a main event rotating across Britain each year.

The main 999 Day event in 2019 will be held in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh on Sunday 8th September 2019 from 9am until 4pm.

The 999 Day will promote volunteering in the emergency services, educate the public about using the services responsibly, teach life-saving skills, and promote the work our brave services do on a daily basis.

The first NESM and 999 Day received the support of former Prime Minister Theresa May, who said: “I’m proud to support this National Memorial and the creation of an official emergency services day. The men and women of our emergency services are there for us when we need them most.

“As a nation, we are indebted to them for their courage and their sacrifice and it is absolutely right that we should honour their incredible service in this very special way.”

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said: “I am delighted Edinburgh has been chosen to host the second Emergency Services Day and Emergency Services Festival of Thanksgiving.

“The men and women of our emergency services demonstrate incredible courage and professionalism every single day. Time and time again, they are there for us when we need them most. As a country, we are indebted to them for their extraordinary commitment to the public, and these very special events are our opportunity to honour the work they do and say a heartfelt thank you.”

The Founder of the charity, Tom Scholes-Fogg, said: “We’re looking forward to going to Scotland and holding the second official 999 Day and 999 Festival of Thanksgiving.

“The men and women of the Scottish emergency services, along with personnel from across our United Kingdom do incredible work day in, day out. These two events highlight those sacrifices and are an opportunity for 999 personnel to engage with the public we serve. These events won’t be in Scotland again until 2023 so save the date!”