COVID-19 Support and Guidance for Freelancers and Creatives

Illustration by Hassan Rahim

Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many creatives have had their jobs suddenly cancelled or postponed indefinitely. Designers, freelancers, artists, or anyone working to shape our cultural landscape, we have all been affected. 


In these tough times, it is important to have a community and digital space to connect with people and stay informed. We want you to keep creating, working and helping each other. Yugen has now created a digital place where we can come together to share job opportunities and availability, as well as ideas and helpful resources.


Join our community HERE


We have also collated a list of helpful information, loans, allowances, as well as,  reading, music and movies lists (see below) We hope you find this information helpful and informative and most of all we hope you stay connected and inspired to keep working and being productive. If we have missed out any information or you feel like you can contribute further to the links below please do not hesitate to email verginia@weareyugen.com We would love any feedback and recommendations. 

Stay safe and take care! We are in this together. 


Much love and positive vibes, 


Yugen Team 



GENERAL ADVICE:

Government's coronavirus advice to the UK’s creative industries.

Official government advice including sections for employers and businesses

The coronavirus bill – what it will do

EU guidance on COVID-19

Budget 2020 support for those affected by COVID-19

GUIDANCE FOR SELF-EMPLOYED:

Advice from IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed)

Government tax helpline to support freelancers being affected by Coronavirus

Employment Support Allowance

Universal Credit

BECTU survey findings

Key things to consider if you’re freelance and worried about coronavirus

Simple labs is running live webinar tomorrow (19 March) supporting, freelancers, remote workers and creatives

A guide on how to navigate taxes if you are self-employed during the COVID-19 isolation.

Coronavirus: an essential guide for self-employed. They explain how the Coronavirus Self-emplyement Income Support Sceme works, as well as other benefits available to the self-emplyed. 

GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES:

Government support for businesses 

Government tax helpline to support businesses being affected by Coronavirus

Federation of Small Businesses guidance for small businesses

ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) workplace guidance for employees and employers

Bates Wells blog, which includes useful employment operations advice

Facebook loans for small businesses will be launching soon. Sign up to receive updates at the link.

Convert tickets into donations with the Spektrix ticket converter

What Next? are currently collating mitigation strategies from different cultural organisations. If you have drafted a risk mitigation strategy for Coronavirus that you are willing to share, then please send to Lizzie: lizzie@culturallearningalliance.org.uk

COVID-19 checklist for brands guiding them trough and giving advice. 

COVID-19 SOS guide that helps businesses jump-strat their remote services and receive payments online. Included are case studies from forward-thinking businesses, plus how to set up an e-commerce store. 

LEGAL ADVICE

Legal advice from Bates Wells around Coronavirus

TOURING ORGANISATIONS:

Foreign travel advice. Get advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings. 

ARTS COUNCIL GRANT RECIPIENTS:

If you are a National Portfolio Organisation or Music Education Hub, please contact your Relationship Manager if you have a specific question or concern about your organisation and the effects of the Coronavirus.

ACE have also set up a central email address for all other queries: Coronavirus-queries@artscouncil.org.uk

SECTOR SPECIFIC SUPPORT:

There is also specific advice, guidance and legal support provided by unions and sector support organisations. You are advised to contact these organisations directly for specialist advice.

Architects - all the architects needing help can find it in this article hereRIBA is working hard to provide members with all the information and tools they need to navigate your way through the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Authors - The SoA is the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers. The page is designed to keep you updated on what any changes might mean for you. They will revise this information regularly to explain how we are adapting our working practices. 

Authors - The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) is a trade union representing professional writers. Read their response to the government's announcement of financial support for the self-employed during the COVID-19.

Bectu - a union fo creative ambition brings together all their advice on coronavirus. Do check back here on a regular basis as it will be updated each week as new information emerges.

Equity - a union of performers and creative practitioners, united in the fight for fair terms and conditions in the workplace. Is providing advice regarding coronavirus. This will be updated regularly so please check back.

Film - BFI - British Film Institute's Chief Executive's Ben Roberts message about Coronavirus to industry. 


Film Directors - COVID-19 FAQs for Directors UK members. They have produced a resource page with expert advice on coping with COVID-19 from a health and employment perspective

Film Industry - Coronavirus film and TV latest. They will post the latest updates on this page as they happen, linking to each story on the subject.

For those living in Wales - Arts Council Wales responds to Coronavirus and offers the latest updates, including information for those working as artists, freelancers and in publicly funded cultural organisations.

For those living in Scotland - Creative Scotland is sharing the latest advice for artists living in Scotland. 

For those living in Scotland - Federation of Scottish Theatre is sharing their professional advice during the isolation.

Games Industry : A guide of how to prepare a coronavirus policy for your games business from UKIE - The UK's games and interactive entertainment industry

Helpline - UKIE and Sheridans team up for Covid-19 Contract Helpline.  

Musicians - Association for Independent Music offers COVID-19 business guidance for music SMEs

Musicians - Help Musicians is an independent UK charity for professional musicians of all genres sharing advice relating to COVID-19. 

Musicians - Incorporated Society of Musicians shared recommended courses of action.

Musicians - The world’s largest professional community of music managers presenting the keys points for overcoming the COVID-19. 

Musicians - Musicians Union offers advice and the latest news on Coronavirus for musicians.

Photographers - British Journal of Photography shared some tips on how you can help the photography community and beyond. As freelancers, galleries, festivals, and publishers begin to feel the effects of worldwide closures and cancellations, they offer some suggestions of what we can do to help.

Theatre - Theatre Company Pied Piper is sharing with us hints for working at home. 

Theatre - A Younger Theatre. Theatre publication nurturing emerging creative talent. 

 PUBLIC HEALTH:

Advice for patients is available on NHS Choices regarding symptoms

Public Health England have published a Q&A about the virus on their blogpost.

MENTAL HEALTH / HOLISTIC SUPPORT

Support from Leapers on mental health during the Coronavirus emergency

Mind – Coronavirus and your wellbeing 

Intellect is a new mental health app offering a practical approach to modern therapy. 

Coronavirus tips: How to curb your anxiety about COVID-19 virus according to psychologists

WORKING FROM HOME ADVICE

Top tips for self-isolating from Creative England

Digital marketing recommendations during COVID-19

Slack like a pro with Wired

Remote working resources guide from Guild

Working well from home under self-quarantine for Coronavirus.

NICE STRESS BREAKS

2,500 Museums You Can Now Visit Virtually

How to experience art while practising social distancing 

Classical music to stream at home 

200 Years of Advice from the Old Vic Theatre

All the books to read in March

The books that always cheer us up 

A guide to streaming in (self) isolation

Netflix Party – watch your favourite Netflix shows with friends and family (from a safe distance) 

The Science Museum’s Online Collection

Virtual museum tours from Google Arts and Culture

Seven movies going online early

Gareth Malone’s Home Chorus bringing together isolated singers 

The platform bringing together light-hearted suggestions and practical advice on coping with the outbreak

The visual artist is asking people to use the sheer boredom of self-isolation to their advantage in a series of weird and wonderful creative challenges

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND JOBS 

In its first open brief to the creative community, the United Nations is asking for designers to help produce concise and impactful visuals to help share life-saving information on COVID-19.

V Magazine Launches Initiative to Support Emerging Creative Talent in the Era of COVID-19.

The One Club launches free COVID-19 jobs board for creativesThe resource hopes to connect people with agencies, studios, brands and production companies on full-time and freelance project work, despite budgets tightening on a global scale.

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