COVID-19 - Food and Shopping - Caring For Plymouth

Updated 30 July 2020

Advice for vulnerable people

There are a number of ways that those who are shielding can access food and other essentials: 

• Make use of the supermarket priority delivery slots that are available for this group. When a clinically extremely vulnerable person registers online as needing support with food, their data is shared with supermarkets. This means if they make an online order with a supermarket (as both a new or existing customer), they will be eligible for a priority slot. 
• Use the many commercial options now available for accessing food, including telephone ordering, food box delivery, prepared meal delivery and other non-supermarket food delivery providers. 
• A free, standardised weekly parcel of food and household essentials. If you have registered for this support online before 17 July you will continue to receive weekly food box deliveries until the end of July.  

From 1 August, clinically extremely vulnerable people will continue to have access to priority supermarket delivery slots if you have registered online before 17 July for a priority delivery slot.  

NHS Volunteer Responders will also continue to offer support to those who need it, including collecting and delivering food and medicines. 

NHS Volunteer Responders

NHS Volunteer Responders offers help to people in need of support or who are avoiding public places during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is run by the NHS in England, supported by Royal Voluntary Service and operates across England. Its aims are to supplement existing voluntary support within communities, help people to stay well, and reduce avoidable demand on NHS services. 

• I'm a Volunteer Responder
• Need help from a Volunteer Responder?
• Refer someone who needs help

Find out what support you can get if you're affected by coronavirus

Use this GOV.UK service to find out what help and advice you can get from the government and other organisations. You can use it for yourself or someone else.

You can find support with:

• what to do if you're feeling unsafe where you live, or if you're worried about someone else
• paying bills, rent, or your mortgage
• getting food
• being made redundant or unemployed, or not having any work
• what to do if you're worried about going in to work
• having somewhere to live
• mental health and wellbeing, including information for children

If you need medical help, go to NHS 111 online.

You will not get direct support from the government or organisations through this service.

Start now

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page needs updating.