COVID-19 (coronavirus): Food shopping and support services
Below is a list of services that can offer help with food shopping and other practical support if you need to self-isolate or have been recently discharged from hospital during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Please note, services may vary depending on area and this is not an exhaustive list.
Barnet Council Community Help Hub
Telephone: 080 8281 3210 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
Or fill out an online form: engage.barnet.gov.uk/communityhelphub
High Barnet Good Neighbour Scheme (EN5 postcode area)
Telephone: 020 8441 5678 (Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm)
Website: www.goodneighbourscheme.org/
Helping Hands – Barnet
Telephone: 020 8275 8378
Email: helpinghands@fin-eastbarnet.org.uk
Camden Council
Website: www.camden.gov.uk/covid-19
Enfield Council – Enfield Stands Together
Please note people over 70 and people extremely vulnerable to coronavirus may be prioritised.
Telephone: 020 3821 1966 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm, and Saturday to Sunday, 10am-2pm)
Website: new.enfield.gov.uk/services/your-council/enfield-stands-together/
Hertfordshire County Council – HertsHelp
Telephone: 0300 123 4044
Website: www.hertshelp.net/our-services/tell-us-about-someone-who-needs-help.aspx
Age UK
Barnet telephone line: 020 8203 5040
Camden telephone line: 020 7239 0400
UK wide helpline: 020 8364 8600
British Red Cross Hospital and Community Support Project
Phone: 020 8944 0246
Email: london_enquiries@redcross.org.uk
On Hand
Doorstep drop-offs for food shops, prescriptions and out of home errands.
Telephone: 020 3488 2912
Website: www.beonhand.co.uk/
Trussell Trust
A network of foodbanks which provides emergency food and support to people in crisis.
Telephone: 01722 580 180
Companies that may be able to deliver frozen meals to your home
Oakhouse Foods
Telephone: 0333 370 6700
Website: www.oakhousefoods.co.uk/
Includes a range of pureed (level 4) and soft and bite-sized meals (level 6).
Simply Food Solutions
Telephone: 0191 456 0456
Website: simplyfoodsolutions.co.uk/
Includes modified texture meals (level 4, 5 and 6), traditional Indian meals, Halal meals, Kosher meals, Chinese and Afro-Caribbean meals.
Wiltshire Farm Foods
This company is only accepting orders from existing customers or the extremely vulnerable.
Telephone: 0800 077 3100
Website: www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/
Other avenues of support
Supermarkets
Most supermarket chains offer online shopping services you can use if you are unable to get to the shops. Otherwise, please ask family or friends if they can help.
You can register to request access to priority supermarket deliveries, if you do not have someone you can rely on to go shopping for you. If you already have a priority delivery slot with a supermarket, that will continue – you do not need to do anything further. When registering you will be asked for your NHS number. You can find it on any letter we have sent you, or on a prescription.
Registering on the site just gives you priority. It does not mean you will definitely get a delivery slot. If you want access to priority supermarket deliveries, you will also need to set up an account with at least one supermarket and book slots yourself.
If you need other forms of help, including support to register for a priority supermarket delivery slot, you should contact your local council directly. Find out how your local council can help.
Many supermarkets are running protected times and online delivery slots to serve the elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers. Please check with your local supermarket for more details.
COVID-19 Mutual Aid
Communication via Facebook groups to offer help to local residents,
Website: covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/
Advice for the extremely vulnerable
Extremely vulnerable people are those who are at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (coronavirus) because of an underlying health condition.
More information about those who fall into this group of people is available on the governtment website here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
If you have a medical condition that makes you extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (coronavirus), current government advice is that you should not leave your house or go out to get food shopping. The government are encouraging people to register for the support that they need. Support includes help with food, shopping deliveries and any additional care you might need. Please register using this website by Friday 17 July 2020: www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable. You can register yourself, or on behalf of someone else. It may take time for any support offered through this service to arrive so where possible please ask family, friends and/or neighbours to support you and use online services if possible.
You may have received a letter from the NHS telling you that you are clinically extremely vulnerable or been contacted by your GP or hospital clinician. If this has not happened, please contact your GP or clinician after you register with this service.