ABSTRACT
In the United Kingdom (UK), mutual aid groups were an essential means by which people were able to survive the Covid-19 crisis. Over 4000 groups mobilised during the early stages of the pandemic in March 2020 to help their neighbours with the challenges of self-isolation – providing practical assistance (e.g., groceries, prescriptions, food parcels), emotional support, and other assistance. In this chapter, we discuss some of the psychological, social, and political implications of participation in these groups, drawing upon data from a longitudinal mixed-method study. Specifically, we orient towards a number of key questions: (1) Who participated in Covid-19 mutual aid groups? (2) How did group members understand mutual aid?, and (3) What personal impact did participation have for members? We conclude by offering some reflections on the political implications of Covid-19 mutual aid generally and from a psychosocial perspective.
