I'm in the camp that feels the Carthys have done a LOT for the UK folk scene (as well as British Isles music), and richly deserve any support we can give them. Also, remember that Norma has been seriously ill and unable to work for more than ten years now, and caring for her has had an impact on how much time Martin and Liza could spare for gigging, long before Covid hit.

A friend of mine tweeted the following, and I don't think he'll mind my excerpting it here:
"When I was first discovering the folk scene, over 30 years ago, more than one folk club organiser told me the story of the night Martin Carthy saved their club.

"Even as audiences were declining, Martin would fill any club, and if the club was struggling, he'd often do it for a very low fee. He didn't have to. He didn't have to walk away from Steelye Span to go back to playing solo gigs in small rooms above pubs.

"He didn't have to put all the songs he made out of fragments into the public domain. He doesn't have to greet everyone who recognises him like an old friend. He could, so easily have taken the same road as Bob Dylan... or Paul Simon, both of whose talent just about matches his.

"But of course he didn't. He wouldn't be the Martin so many of us know and love, if he had done that...

"Right now, the entire Carthy family in Robin Hood's Bay: Martin, Norma, Eliza and her kids have Covid. The pandemic has completely buggered their ability to gig and put food on the table..."

Here's a proper link to the Guardian article in the original post and here – for those who are so inclined – is a proper link to the fundraiser, along with the accompanying text:

"Right now the Carthy family, as many others, is struggling to survive the pandemic. Martin and Norma are 80 and 82, Norma being unable to perform for years due to illness. She is currently in hospital with pneumonia. Eliza and her two young children moved back home to help care for her 11 years ago; for the last 2 the family's income has dried up. There have been almost no concerts, club dates or festivals: everything has been moved.

"They urgently need funds to tide them over until the pandemic lifts and Martin and Eliza can return to touring and again become self sufficient. During the pandemic Eliza recorded a new album. Once touring resumes there will be that extra income stream plus the small income derived from the limited releases of the Waterson Family Archive. Until then the family is hard-pressed, and any donations you can make will be greatly appreciated."