Three more charities get shopping support at SPAR

SPAR has extended shopping support scheme to three national charities.

Volunteers working with SPAR’s national charity partner Marie Curie, sight loss charity RNIB and Parkinson’s UK can now use designated SPAR stores to shop on behalf of vulnerable people, similar to the partnership between the convenience retailer and the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) to support NHS Volunteer Responders.

“When we heard how much pressure these charities are under trying to deal with the huge increase in the number of enquiries they are receiving, we extended our help to allow their volunteer networks to shop with ease in our stores,” said Louise Hoste, managing director of SPAR UK.

The retailing group has provided a list of stores that are able to work with charities, including a number of independent stores and company owned stores serviced by three of Spar’s wholesalers in England and Wales, AF Blakemore & Son, Appleby Westward and James Hall & Co.

“We have worked hard at providing our stores with the right information to help those who need it most at this time. Where possible we have adapted our payment services to allow volunteers to shop in our stores,” Hoste added.

“In order to help shoppers who cannot visit stores, we have also introduced a telephone ordering service, telephone and collect or indeed a home delivery service in a number of stores.”

The government is encouraging those who are vulnerable and need help accessing food to refer themselves to the NHS Volunteer Responders programme by calling 0808 196 3646 to be connected with a local volunteer who can shop on their behalf.

Sam Ward, director of services and deputy chief executive of RVS, said:“Due to the success of the NHS Volunteer Responders programme, we are delighted to confirm that we are working with more charities to ensure the people they support are able to access the service. We can’t thank SPAR enough for actively promoting safe shopping for vulnerable people.”