You or someone you know could need help if you:
- do not have your usual support from friends, family or carers
- have been asked to self-isolate
- are having money problems
- are ill with coronavirus and have no access to food or prescription medicine
- need social and wellbeing support
Volunteer services
Shopping
We’re working with an organisation called onHand to run a shopping service where you pay for groceries and someone will go to the shop for you, as well as run other errands. We can help you get any kind of shopping, from food and toiletries to prescription medicine.
If you need help getting shopping done sign up for the onHand shopping service. Or you may wish to sign up as a volunteer.
General support
Should you need additional assistance from a volunteer, for either yourself or a family member, please reach out to the NHS Volunteer Responders Programme by calling 0808 196 3646 or visiting https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/services.
Accessing food and other support
Other organisations that can help with access to food and medicine.
- Grocery shopping support is also available from major supermarkets such as ASDA, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose. They offer Volunteer Gift Cards which you can top up and have a neighbour do the shopping for you. Sainsbury’s (0800 917 8557) and Morrisons (0345 611 6111) offer telephone shopping services for collection or delivery for vulnerable residents.
- The Lambeth Larder website can help you find emergency food, advice and other support - they help connect local people to emergency food and providers of free/cheap/hot meals (e.g. soup kitchens, lunch clubs). They have a comprehensive list of food organisations in Lambeth.
- There are a number of foodbanks in the borough that have remained operational throughout the pandemic providing emergency food packages to local people in crisis. The AgeUK helpline and other agencies in the borough (e.g. citizen’s advice, children’s centres, housing or health visitors) are able to issue vouchers for emergency food packages along with identifying the cause of any crisis and offering practical guidance. Contact the MyCommunity Gateway helpline on 0333 360 3700 for further information.
- Due to the current pandemic, many local grocers and butchers have begun offering home deliveries of produce in pre-select parcels. For more information on businesses offering deliveries and their offer please visit the New Covent Garden Market website.
- Lambeth Mutual Aid groups are community-run groups organising support such as food and supply deliveries to neighbours who are self-isolating. Volunteers are organised by ward, and in some cases by smaller areas such as a street.
- Join the Facebook group to find your local Whatsapp group and post requests for support such as food drop-offs if you're self-isolating. Note these are volunteer-led groups so please be very careful about sharing your personal details and do not give people you don’t know access to your bank cards.
- Residents may use their Taxicard membership as a delivery service. Taxicard drivers can pick- up and deliver pre-bought groceries and essentials directly to members. Due to the current pandemic, members may also use their membership for friends and family to travel on their behalf to pick up pre-bought shopping. To make arrangements for a delivery, or for family/friends to travel on a member’s behalf, call the Taxicard booking line on 020 7763 5001 or send an email to taxicard@londoncouncils.gov.uk.
Citizens Advice Bureau
If you can’t afford food, you can speak to a trained and independent Citizens Advice agent for support and advice. The helpline 0808 2082138 (freephone) operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Please note this number is for people who do not have enough money for food.
Support for people living with dementia
- Get more information about accessing support services for people living with dementia during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Medication advice
Please only order the medicines you need at the usual time, to help keep supplies of medicines available for all patients during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please do not over-order medicines - this is causing additional pressure in the health system and also could disadvantage other patients. Medicine supplies for pharmacies are replenished daily by wholesalers.
GP practices might issues repeat prescription to your usual pharmacy by electronic prescription where appropriate. To arrange collection of electronic repeat prescription, please contact your regular pharmacy. If you wish to opt out or change your nominated pharmacy, please call your GP practice.
If you’re self-isolating and need help with delivery of medicines, please ask a neighbour, friend or family member to collect on your behalf in the first instance. Your pharmacy has limited ability to deliver medicine. If you still need help accessing your medicines, contact your usual pharmacy. If you’re really struggling, please contact the Lambeth’s coronavirus support helpline or Connect using the contact details opposite.
Visit www.nhs.uk/medicines for general medicines information and answers to common questions.
Get support over the phone or via email
The MyCommunity Gateway service, powered by AgeUK Lambeth, can help you with social support, advice and support to connect up with local services that can help you, whatever challenge you are facing. AgeUK Lambeth has also been working with other voluntary and community sector partners in the borough to provide friendship calls to people who are lonely or socially isolated.
You can ask for help for you or for someone you know. The service is for anyone who is over 18 in Lambeth.
Call Gateway on 0333 360 3700, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
or email mycommunity@ageuklambeth.org
COVID-19 symptoms and booking a test
The main Coronavirus symptoms are:
- a high temperature, (+37⁰c)
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change of smell or taste
If you have any of these symptoms you must self-isolate at home and immediately book a test via the NHS website or call 119.