We’re calling for the Prime Minister to implement a Temporary Income Protection Fund to support the self-employed during the coronavirus crisis.
We’ve joined a range of organisations who represent the UK’s five million self-employed and freelance workers in signing a letter to Boris Johnson regarding the support available to them during the pandemic.
The letter has been led by IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, and also signed by UKCP.
There is also a petition to support the calls for a fund, which already has more than 157,000 signatures.
Unprecedented
Martin Bell, our Deputy Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “We know that many of our members, particularly those working in private practice or for small organisations are anxious about how their business will cope over the next few months.
"We’re working hard to support our members during what is an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
“By signing this letter, we’re joining together with other organisations to urge the Prime Minister to provide support for our self-employed members by implementing a Temporary Income Protection Fund.
Act urgently
“We call on the Prime Minister to act urgently to support our members who are a critical part of the national effort in helping people cope with the current crisis and related uncertainly.
“Our members can support our call by signing the petition too.
“In addition to this we are engaging with all Governments across the UK to ensure the vital contribution of our members to the mental health of the nation is recognised and that access to counselling and psychotherapy can continue throughout this outbreak. We will be shortly be asking members to add their voice to that call.”