Community groups, care and solidarity under Covid-19

Keywords: Community, care, Covid-19, austerity
Session Type: Virtual Paper
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 4/9/2021 08:00 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/9/2021 09:15 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 40

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has arisen in a context in which ten years of austerity cuts have already significantly undermined structures of care and support by the welfare state within communities, but also seen the development of new forms of provisioning from community and volunteer groups, for example food banking and period poverty initiatives. This paper will draw on new research with community groups and mutual aid initiatives in East Kent, to consider how their role has shifted during the pandemic and whether it has strengthened the position of voluntary organisations and structures as providers of care, material goods and forms of connection and solidarity within communities. The paper will discuss the potentials but also limitations and problematics of such initiatives and make the case for the ongoing importance of welfare state institutions and structures as the ‘public things’ (Honig 2017) which can support everyday lives and communities