If you're struggling to get your shopping due to self-isolation and are looking for a way to receive help without handing cash to volunteers, these supermarkets now have schemes in place which allow you to purchase vouchers (this can be done online)
Morrison's Food Boxes (all areas)
Morrison's are offering a Food Box delivery of essential food and household items delivered to your door. A meat-eater and vegetarian option are available. See the webpage Morrison Food Box webpage for more information and to place an order.
Morrisons and Deliveroo
Morrisons and Deliveroo are announcing a partnership to enable customers to order from 70 essential household items from Morrisons stores for on-demand delivery.
Currently the service is available from more then 130 stores nationwide, including the Lincoln store in Lincolnshire and customers are able to order on the Deliveroo app.
Aldi food parcels
Aldi are offering a food parcel filled with 22 food and household items and even a few treats. See the webpage Aldi food parcels for more information and to place an order.
The main supermarkets are looking to support vulnerable and older people by offering protected shopping times, see below for the current arrangements:
- Tesco: Elderly/vulnerable customers will be prioritised between 9am-10am every Wednesday and Sunday (browsing only). NHS and emergency services staff are allowed to go to the front of the queue at all times.
- Morrison's: Have introduced an NHS hour at all of its stores Monday to Saturday from 6am-7am and between 9am-9.30am on Sundays.
- Sainsbury: The elderly, disabled and carers can shop between 8am-9am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. NHS and social care workers will be able to shop 30 minutes before supermarkets open, from 7.30am-8am, Monday to Saturday.
- Marks and Spencer: For older and vulnerable customers, the first hour of trading in the supermarket is on Monday and Thursday. For NHS and emergency workers, it is Tuesday and Friday (but only if there is a queue).
- Waitrose: The first opening hour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be prioritised for elderly and vulnerable shoppers (this may vary by store). NHS staff and social care workers have priority at all other times.
- Asda: NHS workers have priority queuing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am-9am and priority entry for browsing on a Sunday from 9am-10am.
- Aldi: Elderly and vulnerable customers get access 30mins before opening Monday - Saturday. NHS and emergency workers get priority in queues and also 30mins early access before tills open on Sunday.
- Co-op: Elderly and vulnerable customers and key workers get prioritised shopping Monday - Saturday 8am-9am and Sunday 10am-11am.
If you are isolating and need support with your shopping, it is helpful to consider what payment options are available if you are using a volunteer to help with your shopping
- Supermarket click and collect service – you can place the order online and share a reference number with the volunteer who can go and collect the shopping on your behalf
- Phone, pay and collect – if you are able to, check if your local trusted shop will allow you to place an order for shopping and make payment over the phone. When it's ready, the volunteer can then go and collect on your behalf. Please note major supermarkets are unable to support this process
- Payment over the phone at check out – this allows the volunteer to go to a local store, collect items and then payment details can be taken over the phone by the shop assistant. You will need to check if your local store has this option, most Spar stores have confirmed this payment option. Give the volunteer a shopping list and a code word, once at the till, the volunteer will share the code word with the shop assistant for you to feel comfortable paying over the phone. Please note major supermarkets are unable to support this process
- Prepaid cards – if you have a physical prepaid card, you can give this to the volunteer to pay for your shopping. They will need to collect in advance and return when finished
- Paying with cash – as a last resort, if the above options have been exhausted, pay for the shopping with cash. Ensure the volunteer comes to you beforehand to collect the cash before going shopping. Once they return, ensure you receive a receipt for the goods purchased and any change that is due. It is recommended that the maximum value of cash that be exchanged is £45
- Cash access scheme (Post Office) – if your bank allows, you can ask for a one-time barcode to be issued and sent via text, email or post for a stipulated amount. A volunteer can go to the Post Office and exchange this for the cash requested. You will need to tell you bank exactly how much and allow the volunteer to collect on your behalf. Call your bank to see if they offer this service