PACT Covid-19 Audit Report
PACT Covid-19 Audit Report
The 2020 lockdown in the UK, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, has highlighted vulnerabilities amongst populations living in social and financial deprivation. Women living in Southwark who would ordinarily be accessing support through the community organisation PACT (Parents and Communities Together) were interviewed over the phone. This report looks at the problems these women discussed, by way of (1) highlighting the biggest challenges experienced during lockdown, and (2) examining their main barriers to engagement in services they require. The top three biggest challenges raised were concerns over children, basic needs not being met and the management of Covid-19. Isolation and the consequences of staying indoors were also raised. Barriers to engagement with services included language barriers, confidence with using the internet and access to devices. Mothers preferred ways to stay in contact varied between individuals, but text and whatsapp appealed most due to their functional familiarity and efficiency, with phone calls and Zoom also appealing due to the interpersonal connection they give women.