how would you solve this problem?

[genfromgrimsby]

Perhaps I should ask them how to solve this problem:

1. Person is self isolating.
2. Person has nobody to call upon to get food. There is no local group of volunteers.
3. Person does not know any of their neighbours situations and can't go knocking on doors anyway.
4. Person has one family member in their 90s.
5. Person's fridge/freezer has broken down and the food is ruined.
6. They are on minimum wage and rely on tax credits.
7. No supermarket delivery slots are available.
8. Food in the cupboard has run out as they last shopped ten days ago.

Why are they self isolating? Very vulnerable can register centrally to access support. Could they call a local foodbank service?

Person could post on Facebook and would likely be inundated with friends offering to help. It’s not easy to ask for help but I’m sure anyone reading something similar from friends would do anything they could to help.

Alternatively, phone the nearest food bank?

Post on a local fb group or note through the postbox of neighbours.
Try volunteer groups like sure start.
Freecycle/gumtree/fb for freezer.

Self isolating due to symptoms. They don't use social media so setting up FB now wouldn't help.
The local foodbank has a voucher referral scheme which they are not entitled to.
They have FSM vouchers from their child's school but don't have anybody to get the food - I would but we have to self isolate too.

I would call the local council. They will be coordinating relief for people in this kind of situation.

Could you go on Facebook for them? I have seen a few people go on for other people who can't for whatever reason.

Can you use fb on their behalf ? Local church might have volunteers or try the school, as if kids are on fsm they could attend if not si.

Can you help them?

Or is it you?

No, it's not me. I am also SI so I can't help them - I have symptoms.

as if kids are on fsm they could attend if not si.

No, they are SI too.

I'll try a post on FB for them but I have less than 15 people on there so don't hold out much hope.

They need to knock on the neighbours door. I’m sure they will help

Phone social services, they will have access to local services that may be able to help out.

They go to the local shop or supermarket..

Join their local FB group, not just ask your friends. Ours is teaming with people offering to help out in this exact scenario.

As I understand it this is what the NHS volunteers will help with. If the person could contact their GP to explain the situation and say they'd like Check and Chat calls then any issues like this will be escalated to volunteers who can deliver some essential supplies. I have a neighbour like this and he has no fridge. I am trying to balance getting things from the shops for him with minimising going out. Its such a worry but I think helpers are mobilising now.

When you say no local group of volunteers, where have you looked?

Have you looked on local FB groups to that person? It doesn't matter about your small group of friends, the neighbourhood groups are what you need.

Find what the local council is doing to help the vulnerable- council website will have some info.

Thanks...I've told them to contact the GP surgery and I've found a local 'spotted' group for their area.

They go to the local shop or supermarket..

PP, even though they are self isolating with symptoms?

Well..yes.

You said they have no food and have children and have no way of getting someone to bring them food so symptoms or not (thousands of people have, a very small minority will have CV), they'll have to go to the shop.

SI is designed to reduce spread of the virus, but we still have to use common sense and if someone has no food and no way of getting it via an alternative, they have to go to the shop.

The other thing they could do as a stop-gap (not a long term solution) is order takeaway food to be delivered (or you could do on their behalf) - I know money is tight but something like a cheap pizza could be made to last several meals?

How are they contacting you? Are they relative or friend from work/kids school where they could have other contacts?

Local community groups are on fb or nextdoor.

There’s a thread about Morrison’s doing boxes of food essentials by post, you could order them one.

Can you go online for them and look up the local council website. In my local experience, councils are extremely well organised to help with exactly this sort of scenario and they have huge numbers of staff being redeployed as well as working with local volunteer organisations.

Also if their GP has social prescribers they can probably help but I would try the council first as Practices are under so much pressure

Sorry - just another thought. Any large local charity will be linked in to a support network so even if they can't help themselves, they may be able to sign post.