With so much information coming from the news media and being spread across social media about the effect the Covid-19 pandemic is having on everyone’s livelihood, we know it is a very worrying time for the self-employed and freelancers in the creative industries.
Questions are being asked about what financial help is available to people who are self-employed and work on a freelance basis but not many clear and definitive answers have been given.
Further Announcement From the Government
Tonight at 7.30pm (25/03/2020) on the BBC, there is a further government announcement scheduled specifically to address the questions being asked by the self-employed and freelancers. Let’s hope this announcement gives the self-employed and freelancers the much-needed support required and some peace of mind.
Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund Announced
The BFI and The Film and TV Charity have partnered to create a new industry-backed Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund to help support the creative community, which like many industries, has been devastated by the pandemic.
The Film and TV Charity’s existing hardship fund is offering grants of up to £500 to provide stop-gap support. For details of the emergency relief fund announcement, eligibility criteria and how to apply, please click here or visit the Film + TV Charity website
The important thing is to also support each other. If you know of someone who is self-semployed or works as a freelancer then Share the information above with them.
Updated News 26/03/2020 2.30pm
As we all know when it comes to the Covid-19 pandemic, the information and announcements can change very quickly.
Sorry to get your hopes up, but it has just been announced on the lunchtime news that the scheduled government announcement for the self-employed and freelancers will now not happen tonight and that they hope to give more information out in the next couple of days
So in the meantime, if you are able to get through to the benefits agency, you can still try to claim the £94 a week that is currently in place.
