Community experiences during the pandemic

In the previous chapter, we explored the impact of COVID-19 on language and information across various London communities, based on our questionnaire responses. We highlighted key themes and major findings from our study. In this chapter, we take a different approach by presenting data from follow-up questions and discussions during interviews, which delve deeper into topics from the questionnaire. Researchers had the flexibility to ask additional, non-mandatory questions based on initial responses, often focusing on participants’ positive or negative pandemic experiences. Some interviews were conducted in community languages, and responses were translated into English by field researchers. This chapter emphasises the qualitative data by incorporating direct quotations from participants. This approach allows the communities’ experiences to be presented in their own voices, giving readers insight into both the positive and negative impacts of the pandemic as reflected in the interviews.