Archive, March 2020: This report describes the government’s first food deliveries during COVID-19 shielding. The support scheme described below applied in 2020. For current local food support, visit High Peak Foodbank at Zink.

In March 2020, the government announced the first free food boxes for people in England who had been advised to shield from COVID-19 and had no family or friends to help them obtain essential supplies.

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

“This weekend sees the start of extraordinary steps to support the most clinically vulnerable, while they shield from coronavirus.

We will support these people at this difficult time, and the scale of an operation like that has not been seen since the Second World War.

This is an unprecedented package of support and I want to thank the food suppliers, local councils and everyone who has come together to create this essential service in just a matter of days.”

Andrew Selley, CEO of Bidfood, and Hugo Mahoney, CEO of Brakes, said: 

“At a time of national crisis the foodservice industry’s two largest distributors are coming together to work with the Government to create packages of food and essential supplies that will be delivered to vulnerable people as part of the Local Support System.

In these difficult times, we’re proud to join forces and play such a vital role in supporting people in need during their period of isolation. Together we are experts in food service and our distribution networks reach into every corner of the country. Our highly professional drivers and warehouse teams will be keeping the wheels turning in this vital national endeavour.”

At the time, government, suppliers, councils and voluntary groups worked together to deliver support.