Article cover image: Support for writers during the COVID-19 crisis

Support for writers during the COVID-19 crisis

We know that many writers and others in the creative industries will be struggling financially due to the COVID-19 outbreak. So we have collated a list of funding and other sources of support for any ALCS members who may need it. We’ll update this with new resources as they become available.

Guidance and advice

ALCS

Association of Illustrators has worked with the Society of Authors and the Association of Photographers to produce resources around mental health and creative freelancers

Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE)

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU)

Create Jobs

Creative Industries Federation

Directors UK

HW Fisher – chartered accountants

National Union of Journalists

Society of Authors

Society of Authors has released advice around what writers can do if their contracts are cancelled as a result of the outbreak

The Authors Guild (for US-based authors)

Writers’ Guild of Great Britain

 

Funds for writers and freelancers

Arts Council of Wales announces £7 million Resilience Fund, with at least £1.5 million due to be paid out to individuals

The BBC has established the Hardship Fund for freelancers who have been financially affected by the crisis

Creative Scotland has launched three funding programmes, totaling £11 million, to help support the creative community

Directors Charitable Foundation has expanded its Directors Support Scheme, which will offer short term support to directors

Royal Literary Fund helps writers from across the spectrum

Screen Scotland will provide £1 million worth of funding for independent TV and film production companies

Society of Authors’ Emergency Fund is providing grants of up to £2,000 to writers. The Fund is supported by ALCS, Arts Council England, Royal Literary Fund and T S Eliot Foundation, in partnership with English PEN and Amazon

The UK Government will provide grants through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to self-employed or freelance workers

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain has a welfare fund to help support their members

Please note if you apply for more than one fund, you may only be able to accept funding from one source. Please read the terms and conditions of the fund before you apply.

 

Show your support

ALCS is calling on writers to contact their MPs and share proposals developed to improve the Self-employment Income Support Scheme

BECTU is asking creators to write to their MPs to show their support for freelancers

Create Jobs and the Creative Society want to know how young creatives (18-30) are coping during the current lockdown

Writers’ Guild of Great Britain is asking writers to complete a short survey about the impact the lockdown has had on their incomes

 

This list will be updated with new resources as they become available.

Last updated 10 July 2020