Milton Keynes author republishes ‘Generation Covid’ to mark five years since pandemic

A Milton Keynes author has republished her book documenting young people’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking five years since its original release.

Grace Spicer first published Generation Covid: How Young People Responded to the COVID-19 Crisis in 2021 at just 19 years old. The anthology captured real-time accounts from people aged 16 to 25 across the UK during lockdowns and the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Now aged 24, she has released an updated edition featuring new facts, reflections on the long-term impact of COVID-19, and additional material including a scrapbook section with government leaflets, NHS posters and personal mementos.

The book aims to preserve what Spicer describes as the “raw, unfiltered voices” of a generation navigating disrupted education, job insecurity and social isolation.

Figures highlighted alongside the release underline the scale of that impact. Youth unemployment rose sharply in 2020, with 16 to 24-year-olds accounting for nearly two-thirds of the fall in payrolled employment. Nearly half of young people said their social lives worsened during the pandemic, while more than a third reported feeling more alone than ever before. A quarter also said they had to use their savings.

Spicer said the project was driven by a need to ensure those experiences are not forgotten.

She said: “One day, COVID-19 will be just a point in history that future generations ask about. When they do, they won’t just read polished reports or statistics. They’ll want real, unpolished stories from young people who didn’t know what tomorrow would bring.”

Her own experience reflects many of the stories featured in the book. After leaving school in March 2020 with no clear plans, she spent months applying for jobs during lockdown before turning her focus to writing. In 2022, she spoke at TEDx at the University of Buckingham about how the pandemic reshaped opportunities for young people.

The anthology was created with support from I Have a Voice CIC, an organisation focused on amplifying young people’s voices in politics.

The updated edition of Generation Covid is now available online