Documenting the crisis: diaries of family life in the UK during COVID-19

This webinar brought together four projects which have all asked participants to keep diaries to chart everyday life in 2020. We explored how family life has been affected by the pandemic, and reflected on what we have learned through and across these four projects. 

During the webinar there was an opportunity to hear key findings from each project. We also heared directly from some of those who have been keeping diaries; documenting a historic year for their family but also for the UK. In the discussion, we reflected upon the value as well as some of the challenges of using diaries in social research. 

At the webinar, we heard from:  

• Michaela Rhode from Britain Thinks on their Coronavirus Diaries project 
• Dr Eve Avdoulos from The Young Foundation on how intergenerational relationships and responsibilities have changed as a result of COVID-19
• Dr Ruth Patrick, Dr Maddy Power (University of York) and Victoria (diary participant) on early findings from the COVID-19 Realities project
• Sara Rizzo from Ecorys on young people’s experiences of growing up under COVID-19 

Responding and reflecting on the policy consequences arising from these diary projects was Kathy Evans (Children’s England). The webinar was chaired by Alex Beer, Nuffield Foundation.   

This webinar was organised collaboratively with the Covid Realities research programme.