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Home / Advice Northern Ireland urges 'shielders' to act on supermarket delivery slots

Advice Northern Ireland urges 'shielders' to act on supermarket delivery slots

By agency reporter
July 29, 2020

Advice Northern Ireland is urging people who were advised to ‘shield’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic to take action now to avoid missing out on support. 

In Northern Ireland almost 100,000 people with underlying diseases or health conditions received a ‘shielding’ letter advising that the safest course of action was to stay at home and avoid all face-to-face contact for at least twelve weeks.

Some of these people made use of the food box scheme which was part of the emergency response programme put in place by the Department for Communities, local councils, health trusts and local voluntary and community organisations during the pandemic. Others registered for a priority online supermarket delivery slot via NI Direct.

Due to easements in the shielding guidance, there are important developments taking place on 31 July 2020 in relation to both these important mitigation measures:

  • For those who are shielding and receiving a food box, the food box scheme ends on 31 July
  • The facility for any new registrations for priority online supermarket delivery slots will be withdrawn on 31 July

Advice NI is strongly urging anyone who received a shielding letter to carefully consider their position regarding accessing food, and not to miss the opportunity to register for priority online supermarket delivery slots, if they have not already done so.

Bob Stronge, Advice NI Chief Executive said: “We do not want anyone to miss out due to lack of awareness of these important developments that will take place in a matter of days. Whilst the food box scheme has been a vitally important lifeline for many people advised to shield, there is now the opportunity to access priority supermarket delivery slots and people who are still vulnerable should register via NI Direct.

"If anyone needs help and support, please ring the Covid19 Community Helpline 0808 802 0020.”

* People in Northern Ireland can register for priority delivery slots here

* Advice NI is the umbrella body for the Independent Advice Network in Northern Ireland https://www.adviceni.net/

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