The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has today (Wednesday 1 April 2026) announced its future plans for its archive of tens of thousands of people’s stories that have been shared via Every Story Matters, the largest public engagement exercise in UK inquiry history.
These stories are an invaluable record of what life was like for people across the country throughout the pandemic, and in many cases whose lives were changed forever. Around 58,000 experiences shared with Every Story Matters have provided the Inquiry with valuable insights and will continue to support the Chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, to write her reports and make her recommendations.
The most recent Inquiry report, Module 3 ‘Healthcare’ which concluded that the UK’s health systems came close to collapse during the pandemic, was published on Thursday 19 March. The next report, Module 4 ‘Vaccines and Therapeutics’, will be published later this month on Thursday 16 April.
Long term, the stories submitted to Every Story Matters are due to be housed at The National Archives who will hold them in a “closed’ state for 100 years. So they can further inform research and public policy sooner, the Inquiry now intends to loan the entire archive to a trusted research environment at the UK Data Service – the UK’s largest collection of social research data. The move means that accredited researchers, including from government and academia, can be granted restricted access in a secure and controlled virtual environment, for research purposes only. The Inquiry has chosen the UK Data Service – the UK’s largest collection of social research data – to hold these stories securely.
We want every story submitted to the Inquiry to have as much of an impact as possible. Working with the UK Data Service to share our archive means these stories – a real-life record of life during the pandemic – will continue to make a difference for future generations, even after the Inquiry’s recommendations have been implemented.
“This is a major milestone for Every Story Matters – the largest listening exercise ever conducted by a UK public Inquiry. I am delighted that the UK Data Service has recognised how important the pandemic experiences shared through Every Story Matters are. I trust that these stories will be of value to researchers following the Inquiry’s closure.
“I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to contribute their story and participate in this historically significant work.
People across the UK shared their pandemic experience with Every Story Matters. Stories were gathered online, in person at public events, and through interviews and focus groups on different topics. The Inquiry travelled to towns and cities across the country to gather stories in person at 44 locations, from Enniskillen to Ipswich and Oban to Swansea.
Stories shared through Every Story Matters are already helping the Inquiry to better understand what happened during the pandemic and shape recommendations so that the UK is better prepared in the future. The Inquiry has published ten Every Story Matters records in total, covering topics such as healthcare, vaccines, bereavement and mental health during the pandemic. Every Story Matters has also been used by Counsel to the Inquiry to question witnesses to ensure the Inquiry’s investigations relate directly to the experiences of the UK population.
These powerful testimonies capture the lived experiences of people across the country during an unprecedented moment in our history. By archiving them, we are ensuring that these voices will not be lost to time, but will continue to inform research, understanding and public dialogue for generations to come.
“This collection transforms individual experiences into a lasting national record. In doing so, it expands the impact of every contribution and ensures that people’s stories help shape the history that is written about this period.
In line with the Inquiry’s legal requirements under the Public Records Act, the Every Story Matters archive will also be transferred to The National Archives, the official archive of the United Kingdom, at the end of the Inquiry.
After The National Archives have held the stories in a “closed” state for 100 years, they will make the records publicly accessible in their original, unredacted form as part of the official public record.
How is the Inquiry protecting the privacy of contributors to Every Story Matters?
To protect the privacy of all those who contributed to Every Story Matters, the Inquiry is ensuring that any personally identifiable information is professionally removed. To read more about how the Inquiry is protecting contributors’ personal information please read the updated Privacy Notice.
Contributors to Every Story Matters who do not wish for their story to be made available to trusted researchers or held by The National Archives can withdraw it using their unique code and completing the Every Story Matters withdrawal form. The unique code is the eight-character mix of numbers and letters contributors received when they submitted their story. This is the only identifier by which the Inquiry is able to find and withdraw a story.
Support
We understand that reminding you of the time you shared your story with the Inquiry can bring up difficult feelings. If you find you need wellbeing support, we welcome you to access our support services webpage, where we have resources and support to guide you.