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Covid-19 Update
NEWS SPECIAL
MSPS HAIL ‘UNSUNG HEROES’ IN RETAIL
LABOUR MSP ANAS SARWAR HAS LODGED A PARLIAMENTARY MOTION HIGHLIGHTING THE OUTSTANDING EFFORT LOCAL RETAILERS HAVE MADE IN SUPPORTING VULNERABLE CUSTOMERS.
MSPs have praised the vital ‘frontline’ role of Scotland’s 44,000 convenience store staff in supporting communities through the COVID-19 crisis. Senior Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar has lodged a Parliamentary Motion which highlights the outstanding effort convenience stores have made in supporting vulnerable customers. The Motion has been endorsed by MSPs from across the political spectrum at Holyrood.
The Glasgow MSP said: “Shopkeepers in Scotland’s independent convenience stores are the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that vulnerable people are receiving essential groceries and other products, particularly in rural locations where they are often the only shopping option. Shopkeepers in independent stores are at the heart of their communities and are using their local knowledge to make sure vulnerable people are being looked after. When we applaud the key workers who are fighting the coronavirus on the frontline, let’s not forget the shopkeepers.”
£300M CAMELOT COMMUNITY FUND
National Lottery operator Camelot has created a £300m fund to support communities across the UK through the coronavirus pandemic. The money will be made available to support the most vulnerable in communities.
Money will be distributed to charities and local voluntary organisations over the next few months to help support communities through the crisis from helping support food banks, to causes that combat loneliness and isolation, support for the elderly and projects that support health in the community.
100 FORECOURTS CLOSED
The Petrol RetailersAssociation (PRA) hasestimated that around 100 UKfi lling stations have alreadyclosed because of coronavirus.Reports from members showfuel sales are down by upto 85% although sites withfull convenience stores arereporting growth of up to 50%.
UNITAS DONATION
Members of Unitas Wholesaleteamed up with Mondelez todonate and distribute morethan 78,000 Easter eggsto foodbanks, care homes,hospitals, frontline NHS andemergency workers across theUK over the Easter weekend.
SPAR SANDWICHES
Spar Scotland wholesalerCJ Lang & Son has donated8,000 sandwiches to a numberof good causes includinglocal charity Dundee Bairnsand foodbank Gate Church.Dundee Bairns has providedover 180,000 meals to meetsome of the greatest levels ofneed in some of the areas ofhighest multiple deprivation inScotland.
PREMIER STORE COMMUNITY HARDSHIP FUND HITS £9K
EDINBURGH RETAILERS DENNIS AND LINDA WILLIAMS RAISE £9KWITH INNOVATIVE IDEA TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
Edinburgh Premier retailers Dennis and Linda Williams have raised an astonishing £9,000 in recent weeks for a Hardship Fund the community-minded couple set up to help local shoppers who are struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We only set a target of £300 and wondered if we’d reach it,” said Linda. “Within about 40 minutes of launch we had already hit the target and it has just kept growing and growing.”
Dennis and Linda themselves decided to add £1,000 while donations online and in the store have continued to flood in.
“It’s been overwhelming, it really has,” said Linda. “The money has allowed us to hand out dozens of bags of free shopping as well as electricity and gas top ups for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
One of the fund’s first recipients was a young vulnerable person who was not able to buy food over the weekend, while the local foodbank was closed. Thanks to the fund they were provided with a basket of food and money for electricity.
People who require help from the fund can apply to Linda and Dennis in “complete confidence”. Linda explained: “This is not charity, it’s help and we all need help sometimes.”
SAFE SHOPPING POSTERS IN THE POST
SGF and SLR have been working together to create and distribute free posters to Scotland’s retailers helping them to advise customers on how to shop safely.
A copy of the poster will be included within the May issue of SLR magazine.
HANDS-FREE ACCESS
Finnish company Fortumhas created a sustainablehands-free door handlemade of recycled plasticallowing people to opendoors with their arm.
HANDS-FREE SANITIZER
IDS Media UK haslaunched a digitalcontactless handsanitising unit featuringa contactless dispenser.The unit also has abuilt-in 21-inch digitalscreen that plays adverts in 10-25 second loopsthroughout the day.
