COVID-19: how has it affected you so far and what will it mean for you this year?

Picture of Martin Reed

Martin Reed

Martin was the SoA's Head of Communications from 2016 to 2024.
The first 2021 round of our Authors in the Health Crisis survey is now open.

Illustration © Antonio Rodriguez

The Chancellor’s Budget is set for 3 March. We need your help to continue to press the case for financial support for authors and freelance creative professionals, as well as for better educational materials, public libraries and our Authors Contingency Fund.

Taking part in this latest survey will help us to build the evidence base we need to make a credible case to politicians and policymakers.

Please spare 5 minutes to tell us how your work, your income and your wellbeing has been affected – and share with your author networks.

Take the survey

How your responses help

Last year, we published our Six-Point Plan for Authors – an evidenced set of policy calls for Government, which included more support for self-employed creative professionals, ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

This was only possible because of over 2,100 responses we received to the three rounds of the Authors in the Health Crisis survey in 2020. We need your continued support to keep that evidence base up to date as we continue to lobby Government and industry.

Author resources

With the rapidly changing nature of the coronovirus outbreak, information and advice from Government is constantly being updated. You can find the current Government advice at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

You can find specific author resources on funding, professional guidance, wellbeing information and more on our dedicated page.

Looking for financial help? Apply for a small grant from our Authors’ Contingency Fund. And, if you are able to do so, help us keep the Fund going by fundraising, donating or shopping online as you normally do. Here are three ways to help

6 December 2022

ALCS report on author incomes shows 60% drop in median incomes since 2006

25 March 2022

A joint statement from the Society of Authors, the Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses network, Inklusion, and the SoA’s Poetry and Spoken Word Group

12 July 2021

The fifth round of support under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) opens at the end of July. SoA members can apply anytime on or before 30 September 2021.