Charities call on supermarkets to support ‘extremely

CHARITIES representing vulnerable people have written to supermarkets urging them to support those who are unable to leave their home during the coronavirus crisis.

The charities - Blood Cancer UK, British Lung Foundation, Asthma UK, Kidney Care UK, PKD Charity, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust - have written to six supermarkets outlining six criteria they want fulfilled.

The charities have heard that some people who are shielding, and their families, are finding it difficult to access online delivery slots.

In the letter to the bosses at Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Asda and John Lewis Partnership, the charities wrote: “As you know, across the UK there are more than 1.5 million people who are shielding, and so are unable to leave their home for at least 12 weeks.

“Many of the people who live with them will also be shielding to help protect them. Given that they are unable to leave their home, it is vital they can access food deliveries.”

The charities said they have developed a list of six criteria they say it is important for all supermarkets to meet if they are to support people in the “extremely vulnerable” category.

They said people who are shielding, and therefore in the “extremely vulnerable” category, should be given the single highest priority, even if they are not an existing customer.

The charities said people who meet the criteria for the “extremely vulnerable” category but have not yet received a letter should be able to access priority slots.

They have urged the supermarkets to make enough priority slots available to make sure everyone in the “extremely vulnerable” category can get a weekly delivery.

The charities are asking the supermarkets to prominently display a button on their website for vulnera