Kind-hearted private hire and taxi drivers from all over the UK have been offering the elderly and vulnerable people free lifts to supermarkets to take advantage of new shopping rules as well as to pick up food, prescriptions and medical supplies for those who are housebound or self-isolating. Some of the nation’s biggest stores announced that the first opening hour will be dedicated exclusively to those who might otherwise struggle to get essential supplies during the Covid- 19 stockpiling panic. Cab firms around the country are making sure people in need are able to get to their local branches to beat the coronavirus panic-buyers as well as transporting key workers including medical staff to and from hospital. The following pages give examples of how the trade has stepped up to the mark in these challenging times to help those in desperate need in their communities and prove that we really are the fourth emergency service!
YELLOW TAXIS, WEST BRIDGFORD COLLECT PRESCRIPTIONS AND SHOPPING
Yellow Taxis in West Bridgford has offer- ed to pick up pre- scriptions and pre- paid shopping ord- ers and deliver them free of charge for people who are self-isolating or vul-
nerable. A spokesperson said: “We have a list of drivers who have volunteered to pro- vide this service, free of charge. “These journeys will be undertaken when
drivers are free from fee paying bookings, so during busy times there may be a short wait for the delivery, but I am sure that peo- ple will understand the situation.”
COVID-19: FIRMS STEP UP - HOTLINE CARS, STREETLY - FREE FOOD
PARCELS TO ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE
Big-hearted PH dri- vers and staff from Hotline Cars in Streetly have taken to the roads to deliver free food parcels to residents in need in their area. They have delivered more than 50 bags of essential supplies to elderly and vul- nerable people. Director Zahir Ab- bas said: “In these unprecedented times, Hotline Cars see it as our duty to assist the communi-
Zahir Abbas and call centre manager Emma Baldwin deliver a food parcel
ty we have served since 1989. We have
been overwhelmed with the response.”
SCOTTS CARS, MANCHESTER OFFERS FREE RIDES FOR KEY WORKERS
Scotts Cars, Manch- ester posted the following on social media: “We want to help! It’s crucial to stick together in sit- uations like this. We want to offer a free taxi service for all
NHS staff, and all support staff includ- ing carers and teachers who are still hard at work. We are also provid- ing a free shopping service for the elderly or vulnera-
ble. If there is any other help or assis- tance you require, please call or email. “Please share this with all your friends and family and any- body else you think may benefit.”
DERRY TAXI DRIVERS JOIN ‘COMMUNITY ARMY’ IN FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS
Derry taxi drivers have vowed to con- tinue working to provide a vital ser- vice to the local community. North West Taxi Proprietors (NWTP), which represents taxi drivers in the city, held a meeting where drivers said they felt duty bound to maintain the ser- vice despite risks to their own health. NWTP spokesper- son Eamonn O’Don- nell said that a col- lective decision was
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made to keep taxi offices running to support the commu- nity. He explained: “Some of our taxi drivers have defibril- lators and throw
lines to look after people so I have no doubt they will step up and support the community and medical staff where possible.”
APRIL 2020
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