Like almost everyone in early 2020, I saw first-hand the impact the pandemic had on public services. I was working in the Department for Education and over the coming months I watched as Covid-19 turned the lives of the nation’s children and students, parents and teachers upside down. And like everyone I watched the nightly updates on the grim toll it was taking on the public as a whole.
When I heard that the government decided to set up a public inquiry, I knew I wanted to get involved. The pandemic had a profound effect on people’s lives. Hundreds of thousands lost loved ones and many of us are still living with the effects of Covid-19. To look in detail at such recent history and make recommendations for what could be done better next time was, and remains, an important mission.
Public inquiries take time but the inquiry’s chair, Baroness Hallett, is determined to publish her recommendations as soon as she can. Her first report, into the nation’s preparedness for a pandemic, was published last year.
Throughout my career I’ve seen the importance of listening to those who are affected by the recommendations we make as civil servants. After such a widespread and, for many, life-changing pandemic, listening to those with a story to tell is vital. Baroness Hallett wants to put the human impact of Covid-19 at the centre of her inquiry. That is why we created Every Story Matters.
Every Story Matters is the biggest outreach programme ever undertaken by a public inquiry. To date, more than 53,000 people across the country have shared their stories. More than 16,000 people have come along to more than 100 events across the UK. All contributions are anonymous and all experiences are valid.
We have heard many stories of bereavement and loss, alongside inspiring stories of community spirit and reaching out to help others. Now we want to hear from civil servants.
Civil servants in every nation of the UK played an incredibly important role in responding to the pandemic. Many people assume that if they weren’t bereaved or don’t have Long Covid, the inquiry doesn’t need to hear from them. But your insights matter.
The inquiry’s final module will look at the impact on public services and society as a whole. Whatever role you were in at the time, you were providing vital services to the public while adapting to the huge disruption to your daily life. Your story will help us learn lessons for the future.
Every story shared helps us to understand and assess the full picture of what happened during the pandemic. They will help inform the chair's recommendations so that we get things right for future generations.
“It was an extraordinary time in the long and proud history of the civil service. You can play your part in making sure the work of the inquiry captures everyone’s experience and views”
Since the UK Covid-19 Inquiry started its work, we've heard from former and sitting prime ministers, decision-makers, scientists and experts across many fields and from those directly affected by the pandemic.
Last year we held hearings in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, as well as in London, hearing about the different challenges facing those making decisions in every part of the United Kingdom. My team is based right across the UK and having a presence in all four nations helps us to avoid London-centricity and focus on experiences around the UK.
It has been truly humbling speaking to people face-to-face and hearing their stories. Now the inquiry wants to hear yours.
When the pandemic hit, civil servants had to adapt and do things very differently, and we had to learn lessons very quickly. Established ways of working were thrown out the window and aspects of all our lives became unrecognisable overnight. Isolation, uncertainty, adapting to home-schooling or caring for loved ones, all while keeping the UK machine running, alongside thousands volunteering to support the NHS with the vaccine roll-out and in other first-responder roles.
It was an extraordinary time in the long and proud history of the civil service. Some of you may already be contributing to the inquiry by providing evidence or supporting witnesses. It is such important work – working collectively across the civil service to learn lessons for the future.
For those of you not involved, you can play your part in making sure the work of the inquiry captures everyone’s experience and views by contributing your personal experience as a civil servant and citizen. You can contribute online at everystorymatters.co.uk in a variety of formats, or request a paper form to fill in at your convenience.
We also have three more public engagement events planned for early 2025 in Manchester, Bristol and Swansea. We would love to see you in person if you’re based nearby.
All details are on our website now. Whenever and however you choose to tell us your story, we want to hear it.
Ben Connah is secretary to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry