On a chilly, dark autumn night in October 2022, more than 100 people gathered on? Zoom to celebrate the publication of A Year Like No Other: Life on a Low Income During COVID-19. The event brought together experts of experience who read compelling accounts of their lives during a time of global crisis.
Kerry Hudson, Kate Pickett and John Harris also responded thoughtfully, emphasising the importance of the book and its underpinning programme of work Covid Realities. The audience included parents and carers involved with Covid Realities, people living on a low income, academics, health and social care sector workers, individuals with a general (often personal) interest in the project and those working in the anti-poverty sector.
The launch featured readings by 13 participants, a celebration of the work of the parents and caregivers working in Covid Realities, and a discussion of why change is more important than ever in light of the ongoing crises that poverty brings. Covid Realities has now ended, but its sister project Changing Realities continues and expands its work, documenting life on a low income during the current cost-of-living crisis.
In this blog, Faith, Emdad and Ana Q, who participated in Covid Realities, and are now part of Changing Realities, give their reflections on the launch and the book:
“This book means so much to me because in its 214 pages, I can relate to each and every individual and family who describe how life in the lower income bracket throughout the pandemic was far from an easy one. Fortunately, as my fellow participant Victoria describes, “… a study like this will be part of history. It will be part of university papers and archives.” A Year Like No Other is like a time capsule which never in our wildest dreams had we imagined to be asked to be a part of creating, alongside hard-working scholars.
The book launch got me thinking, during this never-ending gruesome cycle of the cost-of-living crisis, how would I hope to inspire those who are in a similar situation to mine? I’m a single London mum, with two children under five and a survivor of domestic violence. For my oldest child I have only one year left before I have to ensure I can afford to pay in credit for his school meals. As a financially struggling adult with dependants in a single-income household, I can wholeheartedly admit that knowing my son, currently in Year 1, has been fed a wholesome meal, with vegetables and sometimes fruit for dessert, makes me breathe a sigh of relief. Recently in dire times, I have had to ration our dinner out of a tin. I was more than grateful when the local food bank managed to save me from potentially starving small children. All because my beloved out-of-warranty washing machine all of a sudden broke down, heralding an eye-watering repair bill of £200!
It is in times like these that Charles Dickens’s unforgettable “Please, Sir, can I have some more?” comes to mind. This plea probably rings out daily at many schools around the country, from the mouths of children who are at the most entitled to one free meal (without the additional fruit or dessert that my son’s subsidised school can provide). But heartbreakingly, their daily food credit cannot permit them to ‘have some more’.
Children shouldn’t be left hungry. Our personal experiences of day-to-day struggles definitely matter and we hope you will feel inspired enough to join us on our continued journey to document the current situation and call the government to account. All across the country, both working and non-working family households are on the brink of poverty, and in urgent need of the state’s help. Writing about it has saved me from a breakdown of mental health by keeping my mind going, even against the grain. Hopefully reading the book will bring about a change in your reality too.” Faith
“Our launch of A Year Like No Other was fantastic. It provided an opportunity to read from our book and provide context: a very memorable moment. The launch was attended by experts, decision makers and politicians, and I was proud to be there. In my free time, I read books of a different genre. So, it was a surprise to read this whole book and keep it in my small collection for future reading. The title of the book is profoundly significant because, for me personally, it was unlike any other year, and I don’t want a pandemic to recur in my lifetime. It was a horrific experience to witness death around us and to worry for our survival.
This book reflects experiences from ordinary people living on a low income. Concerns, worries, depressions and anxieties are clearly and simply depicted. Now we are in a post-pandemic world and our household income falls lower everyday while food and energy prices continue to rise. On top of this Brexit and war in Europe lower our standard of living on a daily basis. Every day is a new day for us. I am hoping the new government can bring some magic into our life and next year truly will be a year like no other: but for far better reasons.” Emdad
“I had the greatest joy reading A Year Like No Other with my friends and colleagues. I was delighted to hear my own voice being recorded (the event can be watched back here); it was a novel chance, though I do believe there is still space for improvement in my reading. And most importantly, this book helped us feel like we were all in the same boat by compiling our experiences, ideas and tragedies. I live in a low-income family and currently my financial situation worries me. It is crucial now more than ever to take lessons from our concerns and past experiences.” Ana Q
You can watch our book launch here, find out more about Changing Realities and read articles by those involved in the project on the Changing Realities blog.
Covid Realities ran from 2020 to 2022 and was funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Changing Realities is funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust.
A Year Like No Other by Ruth Patrick, Maddy Power, Kayleigh Garthwaite, Jim Kaufman, Geoff Page and Katie Pybus is available on the Bristol University Press website. Order here for 14.99.
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Image credit: Catherine Fortey on via Changing Realities Media