Covid-19: Conscience Collective Community Reflections

One year ago, the Government declared some incredible measures that were necessary to try and combat the spread of Covid-19. As the months passed, it became increasingly clear that those with less socio-economic privilege, from particular racial groups and in ill health were in particular danger. A UK Government Report ‘Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19’, published in August 2020, used more detailed analysis of survival rates amongst different groups to show that:

After accounting for the effect of sex, age, deprivation and region, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity had around twice the risk of death than people of White British ethnicity. People of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Black Caribbean and Other Black ethnicity had between 10 and 50% higher risk of death when compared to White British.

Within an already complicated picture of the societal impact of Covid-19, it is clear that an intersectional lens was necessary to understand how the pandemic affects people differently. As well poverty and types of work accounting for differing outcomes of the pandemic on people’s everyday lives, an EU Commission Report, published in March 2021 found that  the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women's lives and there is now ‘ample evidence that the hard-won achievements of past years have been “rolled back”...progress on women's rights is hard won but easily lost.’ These Reports highlight that deep-rooted change is necessary to address pressing issues for social justice both nationally and globally. 

With this in mind, we asked our community to reflect on their experiences in a year that has been shaped by Covid-19, multiple lockdowns, incredible difficulties and losses, and disproportionate impacts for people of colour and women. Since self care is central in creating sustainable long term change, we wanted to check in with members of the Conscience Collective community, to find out what they had been doing to overcome the challenges we all faced. 

Many of the community suggested that it has been easy to feel overwhelmed and out of control. The challenges of loss, loneliness, mental health and  job role insecurity were all mentioned: 

“The main challenge in 2020 was staying motivated. Working from home and not being able to see family and friends was a massive challenge for me and can be incredibly disheartening. It was important to keep making sure I picked myself up and stayed positive. This was definitely the biggest challenge but I feel like I did manage to overcome this and I’ll keep doing so in 2021.”

A loss of loved ones, or missing aspects of the routines that normally structured our lives, including spending time with family, friends and colleagues, impacted our positivity and optimism. Losing these everyday structures had consequences for confidence, well-being and securing a sense of achievement. 

Nonetheless, our community has been strategic in the need to focus on staying as positive as they can. They have shown incredible resourcefulness and resilience, recognising the need for good mental and physical health alongside financial stability, for themselves and their loved ones. 

Although diverse in age (between 13 and 86 years old) and circumstance (studying, in work, or retired, mothers, grandparents), there were remarkable parallels and similarities in how the Conscience Collective community set goals as a way of boosting wellbeing. The goals varied, but each person spoke of the importance of these, especially as we entered our third lockdown. 

The CC community spoke of aspirations that related to our families and social lives, and ways of being in the world centred on values and acts of kindness, and also learning new things and pastimes. There was a desire to change meat-eating habits, develop careers, engage in further study. Critically, these goals remained an important focus as they afforded a sense of achievement and moving forward despite the difficulties that everyone faced. 

Realignment of ways of living

Our community spoke of framing lockdown as an opportunity to be creative. Several spoke of the importance of their creative outlets:

“Achieving some sort of standard with painting including developing my technical ability and approach to colour”;

“Being creative for me has always been a huge part of my life, it’s an intrinsic part of who I am”;

Filming ‘The Art of Oppression’; 

Sewing, knitting and crocheting: upcycling; mending; for example, making face masks or dog coats. 

The Conscience Collective community is wise to their circumstances. They are aware that they need to be financially astute and ‘Be wise’. Being wise also extended to trying new things, knowing yourself and keeping positive:

University “freshers try-outs definitely pushed this one, and whilst most were a pleasant surprise, I don’t think I’ll be playing mixed lacrosse again any time soon.” 

This time also represented a chance to re-evaluate priorities, appreciate small things, restructure aspects of their lives, and foreground self care:

“Not allow other people or situation to take away your power to be who you want to be - you have agency over your response even if you can’t control things beyond yourself”;

“By doing what I can to be as informed as possible; by planning and by networking”;

“Looking out on clear nights, trying to identify planets and stars and enjoying the beauty of it.”

There was a connection made between caring for loved ones, self care and care for the planet. These were not isolated one from the other but represented an inter-connectedness that was made clear to many in the context of the pandemic: 

“Take care of the ones I love. Take care of myself. Live in harmony with Mother Nature and respect the connectedness in nature.”

“Keeping my mind and body strong in 2021 is a key priority for me, particularly during this turbulent time.  If I am in a good place then I can manage my life so much better and this feeds into my second priority: if I maintain the health of my mind and body then I can be a good support to my loved ones - my family and my friends who mean the world to me and who make me who I am”.

Setting personal goals

The Conscience Collective community spoke of being proud of doing whatever they were doing to the best of their ability. Some are students making job or internship applications, or working hard for exams. Even though they may have missed out on normal exam processes, they expressed pride in their discipline around goal setting and ‘making applications despite Covid implications’. Others did not have work or study imposing a routine on their day-to-day lives but they still spoke of devising their own schedule to help them:

“I have a weekly routine which is fluid because keeping a balance and listening to my body, and to not push, push, push when it’s not feeling good is absolutely necessary”;

“Started journaling to alleviate the pressure I put on myself”;

“I listen to positive music, if I start to struggle I get up for a cup of tea or a glass of water, and I remind myself to be thankful for what I have.”

This helped our community to keep feeling good about themselves. It also kept them motivated when this might not be easy to do: 

“Finding motivation for 7am turbos on zoom is slightly harder than showing up to the track surrounded by your training partners!”

“One of the priorities I’ve written down is to be kind to myself and I think admitting I’ve got so much going on at the moment that I’m not in the right frame of mind is me responding to that priority. Fitness for me is an outlet that even if I don’t feel like it a walk, a bike ride or an online class will make me feel better.”

Setting goals also helped our community set themselves up in the future where they could make a difference:

“Proud that I’ve not eaten meat since January 1, it shows me that I am able to make a positive impact on the environment by doing simple things.”

Fitness supporting achievements 

Through setting fitness goals from walking “around the block” to running “particular distances” and recovering after injuries, there was evidence of greater confidence because their fitness reaped rewards physically and psychologically. It was possible even in these circumstances to achieve something by putting your mind to it, and even where there was a need to recover from injuries: 

“Fitness plays a huge role in my life in general. It provides me with headspace I need to resolve problems (at home and work). It has allowed me to grieve in a positive way”;

“It also gives me the confidence (and physical power) to try new things.By following monthly challenges or programmes  in strength building, weight loss, running or yoga, I have formed goals I have strived to achieve and have felt good in myself for doing so”; 

“Currently something I’m doing is running for charity, it’s currently ongoing. I started at the beginning of February and I’ll keep running till March in order to hit the target of running 56 miles. I’m quite proud of this because I’m really not a runner and it’s hard to pick yourself up and run after sitting down all day for work.”

Pride in what has been achieved 

The Conscience Collective community said that they were proudest of staying safe, and helping their family and communities do the same. They also were proud to have stayed positive through keeping busy even though this has not always been easy to do. They have pursued ambitions and skill sets that they might not have previously expressed. They had set up businesses, returned to study, made numerous applications, kept fit and set goals around creativity, communication and developing a community. Many spoke of remaining positive as a source of pride given that the circumstances were so testing:

“I found a better work-social life balance which enables me to do what I need to get done. Acknowledging when it has been difficult is also important so that I can reflect and successfully build up my ability to navigate these challenges.”

“Keeping busy, positive, high standard of school work despite quarantining and three lockdowns; cooking and helping around the house to keep it clean and safe for everyone in my immediate family; being a good friend although difficult in lockdown. And being technical support to grandparents!”

Together with the Conscience Collective, we were true to our values and affirmations:

“I am enough”;

“I am good enough”;

“I can make a difference”.

Listening to what our Conscience Collective community has to say about our past year, has reminded us of how we can face uncertainty with courage and determination, and that together we are stronger. 

Thank you Conscience Collective community for being inspirational.

Written by Amirkaur - Conscience Collective