Working together to support our community

Lincolnshire Co-op has been working with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum to identify groups that can support the community in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

With the Forum’s help, the Society has mapped out each of its food stores and pharmacies to a community group which can pick up essential groceries or prescriptions and take them to isolated people in the area.

A list has been created with the groups we've identified already, which you view by clicking here.

Members of the group will be given a pass to enable them to pick up essential groceries like milk, bread, butter, pasta, toilet roll and paracetamol from food stores (subject to availability) and prescriptions and medical supplies from pharmacies.

From a local group?

We’re still working on this list with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, so if you can’t see your local area on here, but are aware of a group that can help, please get in touch with our Community team on (01522) 544632 or email community@lincolnshire.coop.

Need help?

If you need support, please get in touch with your local group or contact the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum Communities and Volunteer Co-ordination Cell on (01522) 787034 or email CEC_CVC@lincoln.fire-uk.org.

Community Manager Sam Turner said: “It’s a hugely challenging time for us all. Each of our outlets is a community service and we’re working hard to keep these open in as many locations as possible for as many hours as possible each day. We’re also working with our supply chain to keep our shelves stocked.

“Many larger retailers have introduced a ‘silver hour’ for vulnerable shoppers but because our stores receive deliveries throughout the day, it’s not something we’re able to do as we couldn’t guarantee there’d be the right items available.”

“So, we’ve taken a co-operative approach and by working with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, we can link our branches directly to their local community group. It’s really heartening to hear about all the groups who are pulling together to help their neighbours. We would urge each group to work together in a community so we can have a co-ordinated approach, protect those who are vulnerable and get essentials to those who are isolated”.