A distribution hub has been set up to ensure vulnerable people have access to food and other essential goods during the coronavirus outbreak.

Based in two warehouses in Lincoln Road, the centre will send supplies to people who do not have family or neighbours who can help them.

It will support people who have signed up for assistance as part of the Enfield Stands Together campaign – the local response to the coronavirus outbreak – along with people identified as extremely vulnerable by the NHS.

Household cleaning products and pharmacy pick-ups will also be available through the scheme.

As well as securing the warehouse space, Enfield Council has ordered £100,000 of food for distribution when the hub opens on April 1.

The Felix Project – a charity with a base close to the hub – will work alongside the council to distribute food to those in need.

It comes as part of a city-wide scheme, the London Food Alliance, involving two more charities, City Harvest and FareShare.

A call centre has been set up for the Enfield hub and is prioritising support for residents who are unable to rely on family or friends.

Enfield Council has announced people can ring the centre on 020 3821 1966 to receive support if the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the following questions and they cannot get help from family or friends.

  • Are you alone?
  • Do you need food?
  • Do you need any household cleaning products?
  • Do you need a prescription collected?
  • Do you need your electricity key topped up?
  • Would you like to receive a personal phone call to discuss your concerns?

Residents can register as extremely vulnerable under the Government’s scheme at gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable.

Council leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Labour, Jubilee) explained the importance of reaching people who may be in need but are not known to adult social care teams – including some NHS patients and those over 70 who have been asked to self-isolate.

She told the Enfield Independent the council will send a letter to every household in the borough asking if they need help.

Cllr Caliskan said: “I have made a commitment that anyone who needs help we will help, but we are in no doubt it is a really big operation.

“It was really important that the hub was in a part of the borough where we could have good connectivity and close to the Felix Project, which is one of our strongest partners.

“Local businesses have been amazing in their support.

“This project is a wonderful example of how Enfield Stands Together when times get tough, to show compassion and support for those people who need help the most.”

Felix Project chief executive Mark Curtin said: “The Felix Project rescues surplus food from wholesalers, supermarkets and restaurants and then delivers it to local food banks, schools and charities – rescuing it from being wasted and making sure gets to the people who need it most in our society.

“This is an extremely challenging time for all of us but we are pleased, as part of the London Food Alliance, to be delivering food to this new Enfield hub so it can get to the most vulnerable people in Enfield during this Covid-19 outbreak. It’s so important that we all work together to reach more people who are isolated.”

More information about the Enfield Stands Together project is available at www.enfield.gov.uk/est.