We hope you, your family and community are safe and well looked after. If you’re anxious about the present and worried about the future, we want you to know that we are thinking of you.

We’re treating the situation with the seriousness it deserves. Staff at Unlock Democracy are now working from home to help reduce the spread of the virus, as many of you will also be. 

During such a serious public health emergency, those most impacted are at the front of our minds, as is what action the government is going to take to protect the health and wellbeing of people in the UK.

We’re thinking of people with disabilities or health conditions, who might struggle more than usual to access the services they need. The carers, nurses and doctors in our NHS. Workers in supermarkets and pharmacies ensuring others get the essentials they need. Gig economy workers and freelancers, and all those who face crippling job losses and uncertainty about how the government will help. 

The situation right now reminds us of how we are all bound together, and that even in times of isolation we can draw strength from community. We’re particularly inspired by the hundreds of mutual aid groups making sure the most vulnerable aren’t stranded.

You can learn more and find your local mutual aid group here

Each of us cares about democracy for connected and multifaceted reasons. Unlock Democracy has a long history of arguing that the values of fairness, justice, and equality are central to a modern democracy. Protecting those values is more important than ever when our political institutions are responding to a crisis as serious as this. 

Unlock Democracy is staffed by a small and dedicated team, and is overseen by a Council of elected, unpaid volunteers. We ask you to please bear with us while we adjust to the current environment. 

Right now, we’re closely monitoring the UK government's response, and will update you on the implications for the people of the UK and our democracy.

We are reviewing our campaign plans, so we can most effectively carry on fighting for a real democracy. We’ll let you know soon how you can help shape our next steps.

Wishing you and yours everything you need to get through these times together,

The whole team at Unlock Democracy

Ana, Matthew, Rob, Sam, Sarah, Simon, Tim, Trudie

Image attribution: "The Chancellor Rishi Sunak visits a coronavirus testing laboratory in Leeds" by HM Treasury is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0