The Inquiry, announced two years ago by the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson,will look at the impact of the pandemic and oversee evidence from experts and bereaved family members.
But with the pandemic affecting every single person in the country, only a tiny minority will get to air their views at the hearing centre in west London. So how can you have your say?
Whatever your experiences of Covid-19, here’s how to submit your evidence and make your voice heard.
How to have your say in the Covid-19 Inquiry
Anyone can record their experiences anonymously at Every Story Matters, a dedicated website for the Inquiry. You don’t need to have had Covid-19 to do so.
There are five easy steps on the form and almost all sections are optional – the only compulsory ones are ‘Tell us about your experience’ and ticking boxes on at least one category you’d like to share your views on, such as vaccines.
You don’t have to share your age or other personal data such as ethnic group if you prefer not to, and the site doesn’t ask for your name, email address or anything that could identify you.
Stories submitted via the website ‘will be collated, analysed and turned into themed reports, which will be submitted into each relevant investigation as evidence. Any data which would identify you or others in the text will be made anonymous.’
The stories will also be archived and form part of the historical record of the pandemic for future researchers.
Why submit to the Inquiry?
The Inquiry acknowledges that the ‘pandemic affected every single person in the UK and, in many cases, continues to have a lasting impact on lives’ and aims to answer three key questions:
- Was the UK properly prepared for the pandemic?
- Was the response appropriate?
- Can lessons be learned for the future?
It says: ‘While we can’t change the past, by sharing your experience with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, you can help us to understand and assess the full picture of how the pandemic impacted lives.
‘Every story shared with us will be used to shape the Inquiry’s investigations and help us to learn lessons for the future.’
The Inquiry, chaired by crossbench life peer Baroness Heather Hallett, is split into six modules, with public hearings scheduled to conclude by summer 2026.
The first module will run for six weeks, until July 20, 2023. Lady Hallett is planning to publish reports for Module 1 and 2 (core UK decision-making and political governance) next year.
What can I submit?
The website allows you to submit as much or as little detail as you like.
You can choose as many of the topics that you wish, which include the effect of the pandemic on everything from jobs to families, education, worship, mental health, vaccines, care homes, Long Covid, parenting, shopping and holidays.
Forms are also available on the site in different formats and languages, including ones to send by post.
When can I submit my evidence?
The Every Story Matters website will remain open while the Inquiry is ongoing. You can also save your progress when submitting so you don’t have to do it all at once.
A detailed list of support services is also available for anyone who finds discussion about Covid-19 and the pandemic triggering.
MORE : Boris ‘deliberately misled MPs over Downing Street parties’, report set to find
MORE : New early detection system ‘will help protect UK from future pandemics’
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Covid-19 News Click Here
