Charity calls for older people without the internet to be included in parcel service

Age Scotland has written to the Royal Mail asking that the new parcel pick-up service be expanded to include older people without access to the internet.

The country's leading charity for older people welcomed the introduction of the service which will be a great help to those who can't get to their local post office. But at present it is only possible to book a slot for parcel pick-up online.

In Scotland more than 500,000 over 60s don't have access to the internet and will be excluded from using the service.

Michelle Supple, Deputy Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said:

"A service where your regular postie pick up parcels from your front door will be of huge benefit for hundreds of thousands of older people who find it difficult to get out to their local post office.

"But many of those people will be excluded from using the service because they don't have access to the internet, which they need to book a slot.

"We have written to the Royal Mail highlighting the fact that more than 500,000 people over the age of 60 in Scotland don't use the internet. For them it will be impossible to take advantage of a service which could be of enormous help, especially during the pandemic and in the run up to Christmas.

"Making the service available offline, perhaps by offering a telephone number to call, would give older people and those with mobility issues the chance to use a safe and secure service to send or return parcels without having to leave their home."