COVID-19 collaborations : researching poverty and low-income family life during the pandemic

Epdf and ePUB available Open Access under CC BY NC ND licence. The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone – but, for some, existing social inequalities were exacerbated, and this created a vital need for research. Researchers found themselves operating in a new and difficult context; they needed to act quickly and think collectively to embark on new research despite the constraints of the pandemic. This book presents the collaborative process of 14 research projects working together during COVID-19. It documents their findings and explains how researchers in the voluntary sector and academia responded methodologically, practically, and ethically to researching poverty and everyday life for families on low incomes during the pandemic. This book synthesises the challenges of researching during COVID-19 to improve future policy and practice. Also see 'A Year Like No Other: Family Life on a Low Income in COVID-19' to find out more about the lived experiences of low-income families during the pandemic. Front Cover Covid-19 Collaborations: Researching Poverty and Low- Income Family Life during the Pandemic Copyright information Table of contents List of figures and tables List of abbreviations Notes on contributors Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction Covid Realities and the ‘COVID- 19 and families on a low income: Researching together’ collective Austerity and pre- existing inequalities Documenting family life on a low income during the pandemic Existing precarity was exacerbated by the pandemic Social security changes (Lack of) support networks Outline of this collection References Part I Social security in the spotlight 1 Bringing up a family and making ends meet: before and during the COVID-19 crisis Introduction Method Key findings The extent of change over time Work and income stability, and financial situation Employment Social security issues and adequacy Managing increased costs Support networks Physical and mental health: ‘the second, silent pandemic’ A comparative look Cassie Lisa Conclusions and contributions to policy Job and income security The need for an adequate social security safety net Access to formal support and services Note References 2 Welfare at a (Social) Distance: accessing social security and employment support during COVID-19 and its aftermath Introduction Findings Navigating the benefits system during COVID-19 Formal and informal sources of support Methodological note on interviewing ‘at a social distance’ Research in a context of social and temporal disruption Adjusting our interviews to this social and temporal disruption Notes References 3 Families navigating Universal Credit in the COVID-19 pandemic Introduction Social security support measures during the pandemic Reducing cash benefits for families with children The experience of claiming Universal Credit before and after COVID-19 Holly and Ralph Kate and Pete Policy reflections Notes References 4 Complex lives: exploring experiences of Universal Credit claimants in Salford during COVID-19 Introduction The project and methods Exploring pre-COVID-19 experiences Financial adequacy Health and wellbeing Experiences during COVID-19 The ‘£20 uplift’ and financial ‘stability’ The continuing importance of family and support networks Illness, isolation, and mental health Policy implications Notes References Part II Intersecting insecurities in action 5 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families living in the ethnically diverse and deprived city of Bradford: findings from the longitudinal Born in Bradford COVID-19 research programme Introduction Overview of findings Financial insecurity: “sometimes it’s eat or heat” Mental ill health: “it’s a battle not to slip each day” Qualitative findings on children’s mental health: “her whole little life has changed dramatically” Physical activity: “I’m scared to go out” Methods reflection: free-text responses Policy and practice implications of our findings Impact of our research and future research Acknowledgements Notes References 6 A tale of two cities in London’s East End: impacts of COVID-19 on low- and high-income families with young children and pregnant women Introduction Characteristics of Tower Hamlets and Newham Families in Tower Hamlets and Newham studies Survey participants Overview of main findings Food and housing insecurity Networks of support Policy implications Acknowledgements Notes References 7 Size matters: experiences of larger families on a low income during COVID-19 Introduction Our methodological approach Impact on employment Impact on meeting and accessing basic needs Impact on mental health Conclusions and implications Notes References 8 Caring without Sharing: how single parents worked and cared during the pandemic Introduction Overview of findings Caring without sharing: an impossible balancing act A shift to home-working Experiences of job insecurity Case study Policy implications Conclusion References 9 The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young fathers and the services that support them Introduction Following Young Fathers Further The trajectories of young fathers Increasing employment precarity and family finances Informal support and community participation Service sustainability and relationship building at a distance Community support for young fathers: an illustrative case study Creating a digital support offer Implications for policy and practice Note References 10 Social security during COVID-19: the experiences of military veterans Introduction The Sanctions, Support and Service Leavers project: background, methods, and participants Responding to COVID-19: changing our focus and methods Background to our participants Welcome reprieve? Experiences of the COVID-19 benefits system The absence of ‘family’: the importance of peer support Policy implications Notes References Part III Innovating in sharing experiences during COVID-19 11 “Together we are making a difference”: participatory research with families living on a low income during the pandemic Introduction Key themes Getting by Social security Locked down, locked in: compounded pressure Mental health Alex and Victoria Implications of this work for policy Notes References 12 Living through a pandemic: researching families on a low income in Scotland – findings and research reflections Introduction Methodological reflections Approach Methods Recruitment and safeguarding Analysis Findings and para-data8 Challenges Families’ experiences of social security during the pandemic Families’ experiences of mental health The impacts of digital exclusion on families Conclusions and recommendations Research implications Policy implications Notes References 13 The Commission on Social Security and participatory research during the pandemic: new context, abiding challenges Introduction Findings: urgency, inclusion, and capacity building The urgency to act versus long-term planning The realities of inclusion and accessibility Challenges around capacity building Methodological reflections Notes References 14 UC:Us now? Reflections from participatory research with Universal Credit claimants during COVID-19 Introduction The UC:Us approach: participatory, co-produced research, utilising arts-based approaches Main findings Living on a low income during the COVID-19 pandemic Caroline Deirdre Joanna Being a part of UC:Us Caroline Deirdre Joanna Hardship intensified: experiences of UC in the pandemic Methodological reflections: navigating virtual participatory research during a pandemic Will you ever see us? The UC:Us approach and implications for the future References Conclusion Introduction Theme one: financial and employment precarity Theme two: social security changes Theme three: (altered) support networks Policy recommendations Employment Social security Increasing provision for support services COVID-19 collaborations: working together to research family life on a low income References Afterword Index Back Cover Index Epdf and ePUB available Open Access under CC BY NC ND licence. The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone - but, for some, existing social inequalities were exacerbated, and this created a vital need for research. Researchers found themselves operating in a new and difficult context; they needed to act quickly and think collectively to embark on new research despite the constraints of the pandemic. This book presents the collaborative process of 14 research projects working together during COVID-19. It documents their findings and explains how researchers in the voluntary sector and academia responded methodologically, practically, and ethically to researching poverty and everyday life for families on low incomes during the pandemic. This book synthesises the challenges of researching during COVID-19 to improve future policy and practice. Also see 'A Year Like No Other: Family Life on a Low Income in COVID-19' to find out more about the lived experiences of low-income families during the pandemic.Epdf and ePUB available Open Access under CC BY NC ND licence. The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone - but, for some, existing social inequalities were exacerbated, and this created a vital need for research. Researchers found themselves operating in a new and difficult context; they needed to act quickly and think collectively to embark on new research despite the constraints of the pandemic. This book presents the collaborative process of 14 research projects working together during COVID-19. It documents their findings and explains how researchers in the voluntary sector and academia responded methodologically, practically, and ethically to researching poverty and everyday life for families on low incomes during the pandemic. This book synthesises the challenges of researching during COVID-19 to improve future policy and practice. Also see 'A Year Like No Other: Family Life on a Low Income in COVID-19' to find out more about the lived experiences of low-income families during the pandemic