A local shop is refusing entry to single parents

[Throwaway667]

I feel completely enraged by this. With delivery and collection slots now going to the vulnerable (as they should) it’s becoming more difficult to buy essential shopping as it is.
To remove access to essential goods based on the person having a dependant they can’t leave at home is upsetting imo.
Surely this is discrimination?

Unfortunately the fact is that children or any further people in a shop does put more people at risk. You'll need to join one of many support groups online and ask someone to help you do your shopping. Send money and they leave on doorstep.

Over here all shops have stopped parents with children coming in not just local ones. A lot of kids were running around not respecting social distancing and often coming in with coughs and colds. Blame other parents for this policy not shops.

That is an aggressive act because you are doing it to try and force them into something

Nope. Recording what they’re doing. Whether they do what I need them to do or not.

Yes. Yes. You are right. I forgot it's the only shop selling food AND that the shop assistant made that rule themselves

Emm, you do realise that in some places that will be the only shop selling food? Not everyone is living in a town or city with lots of options. Not everyone is living within walking distance of loads of other shops! I don’t think I’m the one being ignorant here. Think beyond your own little bubble.

(I never said anything about the shop assistant making the rules)

I can imagine that's frustrating if you have no alternative but to bring them. it's not "frustrating". It's a family going without food (single parent families are still families despite what some think). If all the shops local to them are doing it what the hell are they supposed to do? Leave them outside according to some! When I bet they would never leave their own young child outside.

I had to give money to a neighbour I have never met to get me food - I am in the shielded group. The official advice is give me small bits of money for a few items at a time.

No one is saying this is easy, but you are acting as if only single parents are affected by this when the truth is most single parents will have at least 1 shop that will let them in with kids.

I would like to point out that many people on here in favour of this are the problem.

It’s eye opening isn’t it? The contempt isn’t far below the surface at all.

Time for slots to be opened up for all single parents with kids under 10 i think. Only way forward if a single mum can't shop. If all shops do this no kids rule it's pure discrimination.

I'm going to write to my mp tonight

@WaterOffADucksCrack then find someone to help. Netmums has good local groups, or family, friends, parents of your kids friends.

@Wannabangbang there are not even enough slots for those in the shielded group.

You do NOT make shop staff target by streaming them or recording them!

Whisking up phone and doing "I am recording so I can show head office/others/aliens what you are doing" would escalate the situation. Staff would very rightfully ask you to stop. Then it would end up in argument, others joining in and with everyone in uk being so freaking hysterical that they can't even shop like normal people elsewhere, it would probably end up physical.

Leave the shop staff alone.

Of course people will take advantage. There have already been cases of people being scammed.

There are also report of scam emails being sent to FSM parents redirecting them to websites that ask for their bank details.

Another ironic twist since in normal times mnetters are notoriously private and antisocial refusing to open doors and reporting anyone who even looks at their children. Now everyone is being encouraged to give money, addresses,schedules and vulnerability status to every Tom ,Dick and Susan.

JuanSheetIsPlenty Go ahead, try it. It’ll just become one more shop you can’t go into.

@PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock yeah no way would I put a rainbow on my house to everyone knew I had kids.

Another ironic twist since in normal times mnetters are notoriously private and antisocial refusing to open doors and reporting anyone who even looks at their children. Now everyone is being encouraged to give money, addresses,schedules and vulnerability status to every Tom ,Dick and Susan

And if the advice is give small amounts then erm arent u basically gonna be back to square 1 in a couple of days?

Whenever you volunteer you do so at some personal cost. I would be willing to buy items up to a certain value, text or email the receipt, bring the shopping to an agreed place, and be paid by bank transfer on exchange. Yes both sides take a risk, but there are ways to try to reduce that.

In the end, this whole situation involving risks....the risk of getting sick if you go out, the risk if running out of food if you don’t go out or are otherwise prevented from buying food....

@JuanSheetIsPlenty There is zero contempt. Every thread I have seen on here complaining how terrible it is about a new rule to do with this pandemic, has been started by fairly healthy people whose usual routine and life is being interrupted. These is always zero awareness shown of just how bloody difficult life is for some now.
Most people will have a shop or more than one they can still go to. It might a bit further away in terms of walking or might not be your preferred shop, but it will exist. Others can leave their kids with older kids. Others do have family or friends who can help out.
That leaves a small minority who can post on places like local netmums groups asking for help.

@SarahTancredi you have to keep asking. Do you really others are not already having to do this!

Oh how wonderful, another policy which will disproportionately affect females; I was just waiting to see how long before society finds a way to kick women in the arse in the pandemic, and here we are. Didn't take long.

Also, this is Mumsnet - where a child cannot be left unsupervised for a fraction of a nanosecond as ANYTHING could happen, and now you're advocating for leaving a 4yo in the car??!!

Go ahead, try it. It’ll just become one more shop you can’t go into.

They’re not letting me in anyway! 😂😂😂 and i certainly wouldnt be falling over myself to hand them my precious pennies once order has been restored.

Now everyone is being encouraged to give money, addresses,schedules and vulnerability status to every Tom ,Dick and Susan.

Not everyone, just the already vulnerable.

@alloutoffucks are you a Netmums advertiser or something?

There is zero contempt.

Oh please!

I do not work in retail. If I was a manager and you filmed a member of my staff I would permanently ban you from the shop.