WRITERS’ VOICE
A helping handout
Martin Reed describes how the SoA has been supporting authors through the pandemic
T hroughout the health crisis, the Society of Authors has shared around £1 million in hardship grants with authors.
‘It is no exaggeration to say that this grant helped me, and my family, to survive.’
This was writer Rob Young’s response to receiving a Contingency Fund grant from the Society of Authors in April. Like many professional writers, illustrators and creatives, the early days of the Covid-19 health crisis were filled not only with adapting to life in lockdown – but they were also defined by email inboxes filled with cancelled contracts, projects, events and performances.
Rob continued: ‘Writing is, was and always will be a precarious profession but these are remarkable times. I have been a full-time writer for 22 years and the risk of losing all I’ve worked for is a raw and tangible thing.’
The Contingency Fund