Agency within structures? Collaboration between local public authorities and mutual aid groups

Keywords: mutual aid, ethnography, UK, structure and agency,
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 73

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and transformed the lives of many people across the globe. At the outset of the crisis, and throughout, mutual aid groups mobilised quickly, responding to the immediate needs present in their communities. In so doing, they highlighted the political and procedural ‘gaps’ and geographic inequalities in public authority-led emergency response programs. There is a great deal to celebrate and learn from community action from the ‘ground up’, but groups and individuals working in this space often face barriers to their work and practice. The role, practices and approach of public authorities in their facilitation or otherwise of the work of these mutual aid groups has been cited as a key factor which has caused challenges for mutual aid groups. This paper draws on original ethnographic research undertaken across England which has engaged with mutual aid groups, public authorities and other partners. This has highlighted the tensions that were played out between public authorities and mutual aid groups. This paper will recount the experiences of local authority actors, wider actors and mutual aid groups to explore the agency individuals have, or perceive they have, within the structures they are situated within and how tensions were, and continue to be, negotiated. Procedural issues such as responsiveness, data security, safe practices as well as issues grounded in ideology and approaches to delivery were all seen as major challenges in delivering the support that was needed during the pandemic which has consequences for these partnerships in a post-crisis setting.