Supermarket information for NHS volunteer responders

Dark green Waitrose sign with light green and white text titled ‘Are you an NHS shopping volunteer?’ and reading ‘Please buy a gift card here or an e-gift card at waitrose.com/giftcards.’, from Waitrose & Partners, Finchley and of the type used in Waitrose shops during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020

NHS Volunteers Responders carried out a range of task such as delivering shopping and medicines, driving people to and from appointments or simply catching up with people in a phone call. They supported anyone who needed help, particularly those who were advised to shield due to their higher risk of COVID-19.

Many supermarkets, including Waitrose, launched ways of people paying for their shopping, when it was being delivered by a volunteer. If they had the means to they could purchase an e-gift card, which they could then forward to their volunteer either by e-mail or printing it out. It was a way to prevent contact between people. There was also concerns of people sharing their bank details or giving money to people they had never met. Those volunteering went through identity checks and further checks depending on their role. On arrival to a person's home, they had to show their identification page within the NHS Volunteer Responder app.