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
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)
Creative Industries Federation
HW Fisher – chartered accountants
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
