December 2021

Covid Research

Throughout the pandemic our rigorous programme of research and industry collaborations has provided data-driven insights highlighting and raising awareness of the vulnerability of carers and parents throughout this pandemic, who have at various points faced round the clock caring and home school responsibilities. Our research has also identified that many carers and parents have taken on additional caring responsibilities for elderly and vulnerable people affected by Covid. The uncertainty of the future of the industry combined with the precariousness of care settings and education provision is for many becoming an untenable predicament.

On 28th January 2021 we published the PiPA Covid Report which identified:

• One in four women are doing 90% or more of the childcare.

• A mental health crisis with eight out of ten respondents reported significant stress due to the pandemic.

• Over one third of women with caring responsibilities reporting that they are overwhelmed or in fight or flight mode.

• Almost half (45%) of D/deaf and disabled respondents class themselves as ‘really stressed’ or in ‘fight or flight’ mode.

• Seven out of ten parents and carers (72%) are considering abandoning their careers. Women are 50% more likely than men to be uncertain about their futures in the performing arts.

Creative Freelancers

As a direct response to this we took part in the Mayor of London’s Programme Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery, with Fuel Theatre. We worked with freelance director Sarah Meadows who, as part of the programme, launched a survey in date to investigate the key challenges faced by freelance parents and carers, as well as supportive working practices which could enable them to meet work and family commitments.

The findings and recommendations from this survey have been shared with the GLA for review in early 2022. We have taken invaluable learning from this process and integrated it into the PiPA Charter Programme to ensure performing arts organisations are better equipped to support freelance parents and carers.


Remote Working Toolkit

A PiPA survey conducted in May 2021 identified significant appetite and opportunity among theatre sector workers for embedding remote working and a more robust and flexible infrastructure into daily working practices. Published in July 2021, in collaboration with SOLT and UK Theatre, PiPA designed a practical toolkit to support managers to assess the potential opportunities and challenges for organisations looking to implement various types of remote working strategies.

There are many factors to consider, and no singular approach to working in a post-Covid landscape. This resource provides clear guidelines and strategies for identifying various options and how they can be adapted depending on the size or remit of the organisation:

• You can download the free resource here: www.pipacampaign.org/resource/remote-working-toolkit

• Watch our webinar with case studies from Mercury Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Costume in Theatre, Entertainment and Arts here: https://youtu.be/M_jrDRV_tyQ

Earlier this year we were delighted to announce our partnership with UK Music as part of their Diversity Taskforce's Ten-Point Plan. Along with 12 other socially engaged charities and organisations we will be working to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion un the UK's music sector.

Parents and Carers are a sub-sector of every protected characteristic, and we are proud to be working with UK Music to the remove systematic barriers that push these experienced women and men out of the industry.

You can read all about the progress achieved in the first year of the 10 Point Plan, along with the challenges we still face, here in the Taskforce’s recent report with PiPA’s partnership with UK Music mentioned on page 15: Moving the Dial on Diversity: One Year On: A Transparency Review of UK Music’s Ten-Point Plan.