Charities demand 'urgent action' for vulnerable customers struggling to access food

A group of leading charities has called on the Scottish Government and supermarkets to take urgent action to ensure that vulnerable customers are given more support to access essential food supplies.

Action on Hearing Loss Scotland, Age Scotland, Carers Scotland, Guide Dogs Scotland, RNIB Scotland, Royal Blind and Scottish War Blinded, and Which? have come together to raise the ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities, are older and those who are more vulnerable through this crisis.

In a letter to the First Minister, the group makes the following calls on the Scottish Government and supermarket retailers:

Supermarkets to work with the Scottish Government to ensure all vulnerable consumers, of any age, and their carers receive the support they need to access food. This should be consistent across the industry and clearly communicated to all customers, not just relying on online communications and with new customers not excluded from registering.
Supermarkets to build on the steps they have already taken and adapt services to better meet the needs of older and disabled people.
The Scottish Government to involve our organisations in work it is undertaking to identify those in need to prioritise them for home deliveries or support with getting food supplies, and therefore keep them healthy and protect the NHS from avoidable admissions
Improved coordination between the Scottish Government and local authorities, the food industry and local charities so that all options for providing food deliveries – from supermarkets to local shops and volunteers – are fully exploited.
The charities acknowledged the efforts that supermarket have made since the beginning of the crisis, including an hour set aside for older customers, those with disabilities and their carers, and priority online delivery slots.

Research by the charities has found that two and a half months into the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of customers across Scotland are still reliant on food parcels as they cannot access supermarkets in person or online.

A recent Age Scotland survey of older people found 32% of respondents struggled to get food from a supermarket and 39% faced difficulties getting an online delivery.

One in five respondents to a RNIB survey said they have had to ration food during the current lockdown period.

A survey by Carers UK & Carers Scotland found 64% of carers had some or significant problems accessing basic necessities.

As lockdown eases and fewer people are self-isolating, the charities have raised concerns that the situation could become more acute for those who are most at risk from coronavirus and their carers, making it even more challenging for them to access essential supplies.