FEATURE I Mission and the pandemic
Wicked issues Dr Rebecca Harrocks concludes a series of weekly articles in which Research and Development personnel reflect on how our approach to mission has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic
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HE previous article in this series considered how the pandemic might exacerbate existing social inequalities, making some people more vulnerable. This week delves a little more deeply into the subject of inequalities, which was one of the most recurrent themes in the research. The ‘submerged tenth’ is the 10 per cent of the population that William Booth said was living permanently in poverty. He also used the analogy of a cliff fall to explain that, while saving a person who has fallen into the sea is appropriate, it is much better to tackle some of the issues at the top of the cliff that caused that person to fall in the first place. ‘Wicked issues’ is the name given to these kinds of social or cultural problems, which are complicated, interconnected and have no easy solutions. For example, the wicked issue of the pandemic is worsened by wicked issues such as climate change, homelessness, domestic violence, unemployment and other socio-economic factors, making it nearly impossible to resolve fully. Wicked issues can be overwhelming, but do not let this stop you taking action. These are some of the wicked issues that have been exacerbated by Covid-19:
DOMESTIC ABUSE Domestic abuse can take the form of physical violence but includes much more than this: emotional or psychological abuse, coercive control, sexual abuse, financial abuse, stalking and online abuse can all be forms of domestic abuse, and the psychological effects from abuse often last much longer than the physical ones. Domestic abuse disproportionately affects women, but it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation or social standing. UNEMPLOYMENT Unemployment related to the Covid-19 pandemic impacted some groups and sectors more than others, such as people working in hospitality, manufacturing, retail, the arts and the entertainment and recreation industries, as well as workers under the age of 25 and older than 65. The long-term economic impact of the pandemic on employment is likely to reverberate down the years. POVERTY The governments’ financial support measures prevented this situation from being much worse, although it is too soon to know what the long-term effects of the pandemic on poverty will be. The closure of the UK government’s furlough scheme, the ongoing impact on businesses, and long Covid – which 1.8 million people in the UK are currently suffering from – are some of the poverty-related challenges that are likely to echo long into the future.
DIGITAL EXCLUSION Digital inclusion was essential during the height of the pandemic for people to access education and services, attend virtual medical appointments, make essential purchases, access news and information, and stay socially connected. People who are more likely to face digital exclusion include those who are unemployed or on lower incomes, older people and people with disabilities. HOW DO WE EQUIP OUR RESPONSES? Jesus is regularly shown praying, especially around significant events, and so it should be with equipping our responses. The first step in knowing how to respond to the many inequalities caused or exacerbated by the pandemic is to approach the Lord in prayer and ask for his guidance and wisdom. The issues and inequalities are many and you may need to think prayerfully through the questions of what you can do, and who and which inequalities you will prioritise in your response. Social injustices and wicked issues are often closely interrelated. For example, if you are a woman living in poverty or someone with a disability, then you are statistically more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse. In turn, domestic abuse is often a factor in women’s homelessness, substance abuse and poor mental health, so planning support services for people who have experienced domestic abuse should also consider how to assist survivors with other common issues they may face. It is important to join the dots in our responses to these multiple and complex issues. As part of doing so and using resources wisely, you may wish to consider what other services or organisations are working in your community and whether you can work in partnership with any of them. Working in collaboration with others can open you up to new insights, increased capacity and new audiences, to name a few advantages. If you are clinically vulnerable, please consider a less frontline and high-risk role by responding in an equally valuable manner such as prayer support. O For
resources that delve more deeply into the themes of this series and how to explore them using the Faith-Based Facilitation model, visit salvationist.org.uk/resources
DR REBECCA HARROCKS Action Researcher Research and Development Unit, THQ
Salvationist 13 August 2022
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