I just wanted to note for posterity: I have altered my project, this involved extra reading, reapplying for ethical approval, re-recruitment. I was due to start data collection in April this year, it is looking like it will be January 21. My scope and methodology has changed 1/ https://twitter.com/UKRI_News/status/1326549654482219010

Existing mental health conditions were exacerbated by Covid. I sought support from GP, uni and accessed DSA. All the things UKRI have suggested. I pushed on. But I am still 7-8 months behind schedule. I'm not sure what else I could have done 2/6

Even after breaking my ankle and foot, which necessitated me taking 7 weeks off the advisory teaching work I do, I carried on studying while in pain, because I had no guarantee of support or extension and obsessively tried to keep going. I don't recommend this. 3/6

This is besides the fact I have a 3 yr old with nursery closed, no access to family childcare, husband a key worker. And we must remember that I am privileged. I'm physically healthy, have a support network. But I'm scared, exhausted. And many students experienced much worse 4/6

This normative conception of what the student is, ignoring what we deal with outside of our studies, how our identities intersect, has been propagated for too long. As has the narrative of resilience. It is damaging and exclusionary 5/6

Please, established academics, show solidarity. Put UKRI under pressure. Help stop the neoliberal positioning of the student as consumer. And please support your students. We need your practical and emotional support right now 6/6