For more than five years, Tim Pravda has been the most consistent, relentless voice for the Excluded community – the millions of people left without meaningful financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic. From self-employed workers and small business owners, to freelancers and contractors, countless lives were upended when government support schemes shut them out.
Tim has never stopped fighting to make sure that injustice is not forgotten. Whether speaking to MPs, raising awareness in the media, or standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the community, he has been a constant advocate for those who were left behind. He is well known by most MPs, and many MSPs too, because he never stopped campaigning, showing up, and making his voice heard.
Until now, Tim has personally funded his attendance at party conferences and countless other events, dipping into his own pocket year after year. But like so many in our community, he is still struggling to catch up from the devastating loss of earnings caused by exclusion – a blow made even harder by today’s cost of living crisis.
As a freelancer in the live events industry, Tim’s work was among the first to vanish when lockdown hit, and one of the very last to return. That double impact has been punishing. And yet, despite the personal cost, Tim never gave up. He became – and remains – a true legend of the Excluded campaign.
Now, Tim is preparing for his most important mission yet – to attend every major UK political party conference this season on behalf of the Excluded community.
Why this matters
Party conferences are where future policies are shaped, and where politicians, campaigners, journalists and decision-makers gather. If our community isn’t represented in these spaces, our voices risk being ignored yet again. By attending, Tim will:
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Ensure the Excluded remains visible in political conversations.
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Challenge parties directly on their commitments to fairness, accountability and justice.
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Build alliances with MPs, peers, and activists across the political spectrum.
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Keep the memory of exclusion alive and press for long-overdue acknowledgement and redress.
How you can help
Attending all the conferences comes with significant costs – travel, accommodation, and access. Tim has carried this load alone for five years, but now he needs the community’s backing. He needs your support to get him there.
Every donation, big or small, will help cover the costs and make sure the Excluded community has a strong voice where it matters most.
Standing together
Excluded is built on solidarity. We know the strength of our community when we come together to support each other. By backing Tim, we are all taking part in making sure our fight for justice is heard loud and clear.
“I’ve kept going because I couldn’t stand by and watch millions of people be written out of the story. The Excluded community has shown incredible resilience, and I promised myself I would never let our struggle be forgotten. It hasn’t been easy – I’ve sacrificed a lot personally and professionally – but this fight matters. I’ll keep showing up, I’ll keep asking the difficult questions, and I’ll keep holding those in power to account. With your support, I can take this fight into the heart of every party conference this year.” – Tim Pravda
