Local Assistance During COVID with AVOW

Our Covid19 email account is now closed.

Our Helpdesk is now closed

For further assistance for local carers and further support please see the information below.

If your enquiry is urgent then please contact the emergency services on 999.

Mental Health Support

If you are struggling with your mental health then please phone:

• C.A.L.L 0800 132737 or text ‘help’ to 81066
• Mind Cymru on 01244 638488
• Advance Brighter Futures 01978 364777

Please make sure you ask your family members, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, support and or social workers before you contact the local authorities or other organisations for support with your enquiries.

Presciptions

If you require support with prescriptions, then please contact Red Cross 01745828330.  This is on an emergency and short term basis only.

If you are 50+yrs then contact a Community Agent if there is one in your area via the Community Agents list on the AVOW website.

There is a list of Community Contacts available through the AVOW website or contact Wrexham CBC 01978 292000

Shopping

COVID19 – Services offered by supermarkets for elderly, disabled, vulnerable people, carers, and key workers

Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) should have received a letter from the Chief Medical Officer asking them to self-isolate. The letter explains they should contact their local authority for support to get essential food supplies if friends or family can’t help.

All supermarkets in Wales offering home delivery have been sent datasets of those who are shielding. Those who are vulnerable, or self-isolating but not shielding should ask friends, family or neighbours who are well to go out and get food and other essentials or use online services. If this is not possible, then the public sector, business, charities, and the general public are gearing up to help. Voluntary organisations that can help can be found at the Third Sector Support Wales website. There is advice on support available to help with such activities as food shopping.

Most of the major supermarkets have ways of paying online, such as e-vouchers or gift cards. The person shopping on their behalf can use them in-store. To find out about payment options, visit:

• your supermarket’s website
• Morrisons Doorstep Delivery 0345 611 6111 (if you have no internet access)
• Wrexham Foodbank  07538 547971
• UK Finance (the collective voice for the banking and finance industry)

Information about Supermarkets

Opening Times – Hours for elderly, vulnerable, carers, key workers etc.

Online shopping and delivery

Local convenience stores and corner shops have also started to offer home delivery services. These are often advertised via social media or a local dedicated website.

Volunteer gift cards

These can be purchased online and used by people other than the purchaser to buy shopping in store for them.

These are generally purchased on-line, and then an email is sent with a barcode to either the purchaser, or a nominated recipient who can then use this to purchase goods in store. This enables contactless payment for both volunteers and store staff.

Several supermarkets have now developed these.

Tesco – Tesco Gift Cards

• Minimum maximum value – £5-£150
• Helpline number: 0800 50 55 55
• Card can be emailed to the purchaser or volunteer to then use in store.
• This can be redeemed in store printed or on a phone screen. It cannot be spent online.
• It cannot be topped up, but can be used until all the money on the card is spent.
• To check the balance you can call 0345 0757757.
• Bulk/ corporate purchase are available on the Tesco corporate website
• Corporate number: 0345 6000 968 and email: customerservices@tescoforbusiness.com

ASDA – ASDA Gift Cards

• Minimum – maximum value: £5-£150
• Helpline Number: 08005193333
• Card can be emailed to the purchaser or volunteer to then use in store.
• It can be topped up online.
• Also sells a reloadable physical card which can be topped up online and sent by post to a person of choice.
• This can be redeemed in store printed or on a phone screen. Not certain if they can be used online, other ASDA gift cards can. Bulk/ Corporate Purchase via their corporate website
• Corporate card phone number 03332079661

Sainsbury’s – Sainsbury’s Gift Card

• Minimum – maximum value: £5-£250
• Helpline Number: 03712001597
• Card can be emailed to the purchaser or volunteer to then use in store.
• Gift cards cannot be sent by post.
• You can view your balance online but it is not certain if they can be topped up online.
• The purchaser will receive an email when the card is opened by email and each time it is accessed.
• This can be redeemed in store printed or on a phone screen. The card cannot be used online.
• There are certain products that cannot be purchased with a gift card, the only food item being infant formula.
• Bulk/ Corporate purchase via their corporate website.

Morrison’s – Morrison’s Gift Card

• Minimum – maximum value: £10 – £250
• Helpline Number: 03443815042
• Provides both physical and e-gift cards, with the physical cards being posted to the recipient, or being sent by email as an e-card
• They can be used in any Morrison’s Store, printed or on a phone screen, including on self-service check outs. They cannot be used online.
• The balance on the card can be checked by calling a number on the back of the card, or for e-cards online, but the card cannot be reloaded.
• Gift cards can also be purchased for organisations in bulk at Morrison’s website.

Waitrose – Waitrose Gift Card

• Minimum – maximum value: £10 – £500
• Phone order/helpline : 03301230350
• Card can be emailed to the purchaser or volunteer to then use.
• Physical gift cards can be bought online, but this is not linked to the “volunteer card” launch.
• Waitrose has a telephone number so the cards can also be bought over the phone.
• The card can be redeemed in store or online.
• Corporate/ bulk purchase: normal corporate gift cards can be purchased, but these are not linked to the volunteer card scheme https://www.johnlewis.com/business/corporategiftcardsandgifts

M&S – Marks and Spencer Gift Card

• Minimum – maximum value: £10 – £500
• Helpline Number: 03330148444
• Card can be emailed to the purchaser or volunteer to then use.
• Can be used online or in store
• Physical gift cards can also be purchased from M&S, but these are not linked to the volunteer card scheme.
• Bulk Purchase can be made via the M&S Corporate gifts page

Co-op – Co-op Gift Card

• Co-op Corporate card phone number: 03330148444
• Co-op – Launched vulnerable shopper initiative for shielding/ self-isolating via the Co-op website
• Call 0800 029 4592 – dedicated co-op phoneline
• Purchase gift card shared with volunteers etc.
• Helpline can also point people in direction of local authority volunteer support schemes

ALDI – Aldi Gift Card

• Vouchers can be purchased online and posted to others to shop on their behalf.
• Available in denominations of £5 and £10, no additional postage cost
• Customer service phone: 0800 042 0800
• Can purchase a blue voucher (only excludes lottery) or an orange voucher (excludes alcohol and lottery) – Contact vouchers@aldi.co.uk for organisation purchases.
• If purchase is less than cost of voucher then no change is given and amount not kept on voucher.

SPAR

• Linked with Royal Voluntary Service to allow volunteers to shop for those who need it.
• Can include company owned and independent spar stores.

Additional contacts

All other enquiries please contact Wrexham CBC Adult SPOA 01978 292066 or Contact Centre  contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk

For further suppport for Carers please contact NEWCIS via their website.