Although you may feel like rioting, now is not the time. There are so many ways you can remain an activist and ally, even if it isn’t shutting down workplace misogyny/bullsh*t or donning your placards for a rally. It is possible to make a difference from your sofa. In fact, this might be the least daunting form of activism yet…

Here’s your quarantine activism toolkit to help you support your local community, brush up on some feminist reading, or make sure your daily Instagram scrolls include VITAL feminist influencers.

Donate

Charities have seen a decrease in donations because of the coronavirus outbreak, which will have a massive impact on the services they provide. If you have the funds to do so, please consider donating to a charity. Here are some suggestions:

Food banks

Due to recent panic-buying, food banks have received fewer food and monetary donations. Food banks can be a lifeline for so many, and are even more important with more and more being forced to sign up for Universal Credit. It is possible that some food banks will need more volunteers too. Check out the Leeds food banks - or find a food bank near you - to see how you can help.

UK QTIBIPOC Emergency Relief

This emergency relief and hardship fund is for Queer, Trans and Intersex, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTIBIPOC) in the UK who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The fund will provide short term support to those who are immunocompromised, chronically ill, asthmatic, in quarantine, or elderly, as well as those in precarious situations because of the lockdown. Their goal is £20k, and are getting closer every day! Donate to the UK QTIBIPOC Fund here.

Mermaids

Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. They provide a helpline, webchat, email support and text support services, which are currently operating as normal. By donating, you will help them to reach more people and continue to fight for the trans community, who may be even more in need during the lockdown. Donate to Mermaids.

Follow

Screen time reports getting you down? Well, those numbers don’t actually count if you’re spending your time checking out the many women on Instagram who are doing GREAT things (during lockdown and every other normal day). Here are a few incredible women to follow:

@candicebrathwaite

Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. Candice uses her platform to share her lived experience of the inequalities black women face during childbirth and in motherhood. She’s an influencer, blogger and founder of Make Motherhood Diverse, a space dedicated to giving all versions of Motherhood a chance. On top of that, she has also made a point of taking the bins out in her ballgown during lockdown, if you needed any excuse to dress up…

@florencegiven

Florence is an artist & author. As well as empowering videos of her dancing around in her (very nice) flat, she shares eye-opening resources about white supremacy, white privilege, and queerness (have a look at the ‘Resources’ highlight on her profile). There’s also a healthy dose of her telling you to dump your useless boyfriend, which I suppose is a given in these trying times. Give her a follow on Insta, and if you love it you can even buy her prints! Check out Florence Given's prints here.

@scarcurtis

Scarlett is an author, journalist and activist who co-founded The Pink Protest. Her two books Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies) and It’s Not Okay to Feel Blue (and other lies) are two essential books to add to your feminist reading list. Scarlett shares frank accounts of her mental health and severe chronic pain - as well as book recommendations, hair dying tips and pictures with her famous pals. I think Scarlett’s internet presence has made many of us better activists - and given her entire following severe wardrobe envy. Buy Scarlett Curtis' books here.

Read

The following books, written by fantastic women, should help fuel the fire for the revolution when we are freed from lockdown. If you can, try and support your local independent bookshop when buying your new reads!

Eat Up! Food, Appetite and Eating, by Ruby Tandoh

“You can sit in front of the campfire with toasted marshmallow melted into your beard because, goddammit, life goes on.” – Ruby Tandoh

Fighting the patriarchy makes you hungry, right?

Eat Up! celebrates the joy of food, from favourite meals, to shopping hacks, to the symbolism of food and sex. Ruby Tandoh, former contestant on The Great British Bake Off, tackles our relationship with food, arguing that it really is okay to have five wagon wheels for your dinner if you feel like it. There is no shame in anything you consume. Ruby will arm you against the endless noise that surrounds us about diets, and so-called ‘clean’ eating. Eat Up! will not only educate you, but will teach you to be a good cook, with plenty of comforting recipes included too.

The Guilty Feminist, by Deborah Francis-White

“My goals were noble but my concerns were trivial. I wanted desperately for women to be taken seriously in leadership roles all over the world, but I also wanted to look good sitting down naked.” – Deborah Frances White

If, like me, getting ready has sometimes made you late for a demonstration; then let The Guilty Feminist wash away any shame you may have. Comedian and self-confessed guilty feminist Deborah Francis White discusses the trials and tribulations of trying to be a good feminist. It is a hilarious and inspiring book, that won’t make you feel so bad about binge-watching (for the second time) Love is Blind. Deborah Francis White also created the The Guilty Feminist podcast, so give that a listen while you’re at it.

Volunteer

There are plenty of ways to get involved in volunteering during the coronavirus crisis. If you are healthy and low risk this might involve delivering food parcels or collecting prescriptions. Or, if this isn’t suitable for you, you could sign up to a ‘Phone a Friend’ scheme, to help combat loneliness in your local area.

Leeds Community Care Volunteer Programme

Community Care Volunteering is a city-wide volunteer programme, to ensure systems are in place to care for people and communities during the pandemic. There are a range of different roles, depending on availability and preference. Volunteers can sign-up to offer practical support for vulnerable people (such as shopping deliveries, preparing meals, or checking in over the phone), or can sign-up to help within their own neighbourhood in more general ways. Volunteer for Community Care here.

Nationwide Volunteer Centres

There are plenty of opportunities that might be available to you locally. Volunteer Centres are local organisations that provide support and expertise within the local community. They are a great resource for potential volunteers, existing volunteers and organisations that involve volunteers. You tell them what you're interested in doing, and they’ll try to match you with a suitable volunteering role for local charity or organisation. Find your local Volunteer Centre here.

Check in

Reach out to your friends who are struggling (and those who aren’t). This is an incredibly challenging time for us all; but it will be particularly hard for those of us who may have had to return home to turbulent relationships with families.

Being in lockdown with family might be difficult due to a person’s gender expression or sexuality (or for a multitude of other reasons). The best thing you can do as a friend and ally is bolster them and offer support should they need it. Why not organise a virtual activity to keep you both occupied? Or, go old school and send them a postcard. Any glimmers of joy at this time are so welcome.

Title image by Lydia Tissier.

Polly Cuthbert is a producer, creator and theatre maker from the North of England. You can find her on Twitter as @pollycuthbert_ and Instagram as @pollycuthbert__