AQW 28718/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 26/01/2022
Answered On Date: 24/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities what steps she is taking to provide support to freelance workers in creative industries within the hospitality sector who have been affected by the Omicron variant and the associated restrictions.

Answer:

In September, I acted on the recommendation of the Culture Arts and Heritage Recovery Taskforce and launched the Creative Individuals Recovery Programme. This provided awards of up to £2,000 to help creative freelance and self-employed individuals reactivate, or enhance their trade, vocation or profession within the creative economy.

I am pleased to say that 1433 people received just under £3 million.