This blog was was first posted on 13th June. It was written by Robin Falconer, MPH student at the University of Stirling.

Over the past few months since we were hit with the significant health, social and economic burden of COVID-19 we have witnessed a surge in efforts across the country attempting to mitigate, as much as possible, the critical damage that has been caused to many people’s lives. As if the devastation from the loss of life from COVID-19 was not enough, individuals and communities have been battling with the impact of lockdown – including food shortages, an increase in mental health challenges and exacerbation of a wide range of other issues; too many to list.

It is extremely encouraging that so many people have united to provide support to others during these challenging times. However, and this is no criticism whatsoever of such efforts, I question why it has taken a global pandemic for others to take notice of the struggles that are faced by many on a day-to-day basis. It seems either naïve or a case of applied blinkers to believe that before COVID-19 our country was not experiencing these issues I refer to and that no such problems existed that warranted widespread public attention and efforts to address. The reality is that these issues of individuals and communities struggling to feed their families and battling daily anxiety along with a multitude of other challenges existed long before they came to light as a result of the pandemic. We have been living in a society of growing poverty and health inequalities for longer than some may wish to acknowledge. Furthermore, we are discovering that even a virus does not affect everyone equally, as is evident from the greater proportion of deaths from COVID-19 experienced by those in the most socioeconomically deprived groups.

I would argue that we are allowing this to happen and we can all bring about change going forward if there is willingness to do so. However, we must also face the truth that temporary efforts of unification and solidarity is not enough. The risk is that this becomes a token gesture for us all to say that we did our bit during a global crisis. We must recognise that this crisis does not end when our government announces that the spread of coronavirus is under control. It also does not mean that we simply just need to keep on making sure that others have access to a little more food and little more support. There are fundamental structural issues and inequalities that require attention. For example, it is a helpful gesture to make a donation to a local food bank but this is far from being a radical, sustainable way of ending food poverty. We must do more than ameliorate these difficulties and it requires everyone to think differently and act together to hold our government and others to account to ensure adequate social and economic policies that benefit everyone in society; not only those who have generated wealth through offering poorly paid, insecure employment to others. This is the reason I believe we should take more notice of the value of community development going forward.

For those working within community development roles, including as part of grassroot organisations, nothing I have written will come as a surprise and there are others who have far more knowledge and experience than me in responding to the challenges discussed above and will be able to provide an even stronger analysis of the realities of lived experience within local communities. Prior to COVID-19 community development values and approaches have already formed the basis of collective efforts to improve people’s lives through advocacy, activism and widespread support for those who are disproportionally affected by the burden of inequitable government policy as well as the pressures of the consumerist world in which we live. In my view, community development exists through social interdependence and the willingness and desire to support each other. It also exists where collective action is required because of the unwillingness of others to otherwise take notice. I hope that COVID-19 has achieved at least one positive outcome – we are finally recognising the need to concentrate more on cooperation rather than competition.

My key message and ask is that we continue to recognise that post-COVID-19, the struggles do not end for many people and are likely to worsen. We should recognise the significant efforts of those who have united to provide support during these challenging times however, we should also recognise that a large number of people through community development movements and organisations have been attempting for some time to address the struggles many have faced in the context of growing health, social and economic inequalities. My ask for everyone is that you consider where your values lie and ask yourself: once this is all over will you revert to how your life was pre-COVID-19 or will you join others who have already been making attempts to tackle inequality and achieve social justice?