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1. Sainsburys Online Delivery Slots For Vulnerable

The online shopping boom: Sainsbury's set to add delivery slots as orders double in just six months. By Neil Craven, Financial Mail on Sunday. Published: 16:50 EST, 26 September 2020 Updated: 06. Nov 27, 2020 Sainsbury’s online is still showing a healthy supply of food delivery for the week, with the earliest delivery available on Sunday. You can also do Click & Collect when shopping at Sainsbury's.

As we continue to navigate these tricky times during the coronavirus pandemic, many of us will be in the same boat - trying to ensure everyone in the family has all the vital essentials in their cupboards. If you're keen to help the elderly relative (or neighbour) in your life, and help them organise a home delivery slot at Sainsbury's, we have all the details.

After Prime Minister Boris Johnson told elderly and vulnerable people to take themselves out of society for three months, Sainsbury’s said it would be giving disabled and elderly customers priority on its online delivery system, and the supermarket also opens only to the elderly and vulnerable for its first hour of trading.

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Shoppers eager to do their lockdown shopping at Sainsbury's

But if it's a home delivery slot you're after for an elderly or vulnerable person, this is what you need to do:

Follow instructions from the text message or letter you received to register as vulnerable on the HMRC website. If you didn't get contacted, you can register at gov.uk, and then contact your GP to request a letter.

If you haven't been contacted by Sainsbury's already, then you should be soon. A Sainsbury's representative tells HELLO!: 'As of Wednesday 25th, we had proactively contacted 270,000 customers who had already given us information that meant we could identify them as elderly or vulnerable. We had also booked slots for 115,000 elderly and vulnerable customers. Our customer careline is working at full capacity and we are able to give an additional 8,000 customers a day access to delivery slots over the phone so we urge everyone to keep trying.'

If you've not been contacted already there is a phone number to call for the Careline should you need it. Understandably, Sainsbury's is currently experiencing high levels of demand for the service, but the number to call is 0800 328 1700 and is available Monday to Sunday 8am - 11pm.

RELATED: Supermarket opening hours during lockdown

Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe said: 'Many of you have written to me to tell me you are elderly or vulnerable and are struggling to book online delivery slots. We are doing our absolute best to offer online delivery slots to elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers. These customers have priority over all slots. Our customer Careline has been inundated with requests from elderly and vulnerable customers – we have had one year’s worth of contacts in two weeks.'

MORE: Online food delivery services available over lockdown

Sainsbury’s has introduced policies restricting customers to only three of any grocery item or cleaning product, and Mike shut down the cafes and fresh food counters in order to redeploy staff elsewhere in stores.

So the message is, don't give up. And it doesn't have to be the vulnerable person who signs up either, so long as you all live together. 'It is extremely busy so we can only urge customers to keep trying,' the Sainsbury's rep tells HELLO!. 'Customers who have a vulnerable member in their household can register with us to receive this service.'

Sainsbury's shopping times you need to know about:

If you're not on the vulnerable list but are over 70, Sainsburys is opening from 8am - 9am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and reserving this slot for elderly customers.

The supermarket is asking customers in-store to stand one metre away from colleagues wherever possible and pay with card rather than cash at tills.

RELATED: Supermarket shopping list during lockdown

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The government has now released its list of clinically vulnerable people who qualify for support during the coronavirus crisis. Supermarket bosses will have received this list and will be in the process of contacting their vulnerable customers to offer them priority booking for online shopping services. If you're a vulnerable person or live with someone who is, you may be looking for advice on what to do next regards grocery shopping. We've rounded up information from five major supermarkets to help…

Sainsbury's

The latest information on Sainsbury's blog says: 'We are giving our customers who are vulnerable priority access to our online home delivery service. So far we’ve been able to identify and prioritise hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people across the UK.

'The government have identified and shared with us the customers who they consider the most vulnerable, and we’re in the process of contacting these customers to offer them priority access to home delivery slots. We are waiting for the databases for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and will contact vulnerable customers in those areas as soon as we are able.'

Sainsbury's has a number to call if you haven't received a vulnerable person letter

How do I book a Sainsbury's home delivery slot for a vulnerable person?

You need to follow instructions from the text message or letter you received to register as vulnerable on the government's website. If you didn't get contacted, you can register at gov.uk, and then contact your GP to request a letter. If you haven't been contacted by Sainsbury's already, then you should be soon.

There is a Sainsbury's phone number to call for the Careline should you need it. Understandably, Sainsbury's is currently experiencing high levels of demand for the service, but the number to call is 0800 328 1700 and is available Monday to Sunday 8am-11pm.

Tesco

Tesco's CEO Dave Lewis said: 'On Thursday, we were given an initial list of 110,000 clinically and socially isolated people by the Government. From these, we were able to match 75,000 existing customers and we’ve already contacted them to let them know we’re making home delivery slots immediately available to them. As we receive more data from Government, we’ll make even more slots available.'

Tesco has contacted its vulnerable customers

How do I book a Tesco delivery slot for a vulnerable person?

To book a slot, you need to go to tesco.com/groceries and log in. Vulnerable customers can book a priority slot with an eight-hour window for delivery.

If you don't currently have an account with Tesco but have received a letter from the NHS because you're classified as clinically vulnerable, you can create an account on their website or call Tesco on 0800 917 7359. The store can then check if you are on the government's list.

Ocado

A representative for Ocado told HELLO!: 'We have received the government’s vulnerable shield list and have cross-referenced it with our customer database to help support those in need. We have already identified our customers on the vulnerable list and reached out to offer them delivery slots with ocado.com. We will continue to do our part as the government updates its shield list.'

You can reach Ocado on the 'Contact Us' section of their website

How do I book an Ocado delivery slot for a vulnerable person?

Follow the instructions you have received from Ocado's correspondence with you. If you haven't heard from the online supermarket, visit gov.uk to register onto the government’s list. Ocado also suggests getting in touch with them using their 'Contact Us' online form.

Asda

The Asda website says: 'We have been working closely with the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and some of our fellow supermarkets for the last couple of weeks to understand how to ensure essentials reach those with no support network.

'The data we’ve received from the UK Government has allowed us to email our customers to offer first access to delivery slots, ensuring they get what they need while they stay safe at home. We’re also working on similar programmes for customers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.'

Asda priorities their most vulnerable customers

How do I book an Asda delivery slot for a vulnerable person?

A representative for Asda told HELLO!: 'People who’ve been identified on the government’s vulnerable person list will have received either an email or a letter and all the information they need is in there.'

In terms of booking a slot, Asda's website says: 'During this busy time we'll only show slots for the next 7 days to allow us to prioritise our most vulnerable customers.'

Morrisons

How do I book a Morrisons delivery slot for a vulnerable person?

Like other supermarkets, Morrison's vulnerable customers will have received communication from them about priority online booking. The store is adding a fast track queue system so its vulnerable customers can be prioritised.

Morrisons is launching a telephone ordering service

The chain has introduced other measures to help vulnerable customers too. On March 23, the store launched a new range of food boxes containing grocery and household essentials for home delivery. There are five variations of food box, with prices ranging from £30 to £45.

Sainsburys Online Delivery Slots For Vulnerable

Morrisons is also launching a customer call centre for orders to be taken over the phone so that people who do not shop online can still order food. In the meantime, their online shopping customer number is 0345 322 0000.