Are you “extremely vulnerable”?

- being independent in shopping is what we would like too. So from what you've said, I need to register with supermarkets as vulnerable, even though I don't have a letter yet, is that right?

Heya

No, there was some confusion over how things were worded is all. At the moment, you just need to register on the government site as you have already done. They'll now put plans in place to make sure that you, and the others who are shielding, get all the food and medication etc that you need. 

What had been happening, before the government started a list, was that Sainsburys had been asking vulnerable and disabled people to call them, so they could be signed up for priority slots. However they have closed that down now, and stated that they will be giving priority slots to just those already identified, and the people the government has on their shielding list. Everyone else should physically go to the shop - which people like me can't do, so we're kinda getting screwed over at this point in time.

What Maybug has done, I think, is they have just signed up as a new customer for online delivery. Nothing to do with being vulnerable or not, just looking to use the service if they want/need to.

So you've done all you need to do at this point! 

Hope that helps! 

Lass

Xx

Hi Lass

Amazing thanks so much. My son has gone to stay at his Dads and we were managing no problem as he was dropping bits to us. But as of yesterday his stepmother is showing symptoms so our perfect set up has now just gone out the window! I have friends who will help, but if the same thing happens to them we’d be really stuck. Just need to make sure that we’re covered if we need to be. 12 is a long time to be in other peoples hands and I don’t want to burden anyone if I can possibly help it. 

Sorry to hear that this doesn’t apply to you. Is your local community offering any services at all?

Hi 

I’ve just had my letter from my GP advising me to do shielding. I’ve also had a slip through the front door from a community volunteer who can be contacted via the local council offices, offering to do shopping, pick up prescriptions or call for a chat. As things stand I don’t need this service as my friends and neighbours are helping me out but it’s good to know there’s a back up plan if needed. 

Is my area very well organised or have others had this kind of support offered? 

Heya, 

Sorry to hear that your plan is up the spout ! I'm glad that you have friends and neighbours to step in at the minute, and the government.... Whatever should hopefully be up and running by the end of the coming week if you should need it.

Are you on Facebook at all Jo? If you are, do a search for whatever your town or area is called. See if there's a community group that you can join. That just widens your pool of people to help you out and means that you can make a generic post asking for help and people can volunteer to help you. That way, you don't feel like a burden by always asking the same people time and again.

I'm actually really surprised by my community. I don't live in a very nice area, and there are constantly reports in the news of assaults, murders, etc etc. My mum watches that programme, police interceptors I think it is, and I'm regularly getting messages telling me she's seen my area or street on the show as the police chase a car around here! Lol. On the plus side, one of my cats LOVES the police helicopter! He's desperate to catch it one day! Lol

But anyways, I've joined our local FB group and there are lots of people offering help and support. The Sikh community are cooking and sending cooked meals to people in need. There's a sports club who are collecting donations from shops and then delivering packages of food and bits to people who can't get to shops. Individuals that I've never met have reached out and are off ING to shop for me. 

Then on top of that, the local council have set up a volunteer hub. So if you want to help, you get in touch with them and they put you on a list, even give you some training. Then if you need help in any way, you get in touch with them and they match you with a volunteer, or send you out vouchers to buy groceries with, and more. 

Then I just found that the real junk food project - for those who haven't heard of it, they're an organisation who take waste food from supermarkets and restaurants, and even corner shops before it goes to landfill. They then make up food boxes for people to collect and charge, I think it's £10 a box, but the stuff in it is worth way more. They also send food to pay as you feel Cafés, to schools for free, and to homeless shelters for free. Then what's left is given away to the public who turn up and donate whatever they want. So anyway.... - are doing boxes of fruit, veg, cheese, butter, loo roll, etc etc to vulnerable people who need it. For free.

So there is a LOT going on here in Leeds to help everyone get through this, and I think it's absolutely amazing! 

Lass

Xx

,

Hi Jo,

There are a lot of dedicated groups set up locally to help people in this sort of situation.  This link here should help you to find if there is one close to you.  The groups local to me all seem to link you to their facebook page which is frustrating as I have no intention of joining facebook  but there were links on their profile pages which would enable me to contact my local group directly.  As they are voluntary I suspect that they will vary a lot in how much they are able to do.

I hope that this is useful.

Gragon xx

If you tick that you have noone to get supplies for you, they are starting to deliver food boxes to people.  Apparently it has approx a week food supply for 1 person.  You can change your status by going back onto the form at any time if circumstances change.

I believe the supermarkets are being given access to the lists from the government to link accounts already set up to ensure delivery slots and will then contact all the other people.  I imagine the vulnerable that aren't registered will also be written to or emailed