Support available for those who cannot leave their homes from the CAB

Community Support

UDC, CVS Uttlesford and Volunteer Uttlesford have brought their teams together to make sure people who need help during this crisis can receive it. If you need help with food, medicines, advice and guidance or befriending call Uttlesford Community Response Team on 03333 408218 between 8am and 8pm and you will be matched with a volunteer who can help. If you are able to volunteer please call the same number and provide details of how you can help.

Members of your town or parish council may also be able to put you in touch with people offering local support.

Local community groups on facebook are also good sources of information.

Those living near Saffron Walden may like to join the Saffron Walden & villages Covid-19 Mutual Aid group

For the latest news in Essex go to www.essex.gov.uk/news/coronavirus

Uttlesford Citizens Advice is currently operating a telephone-based service.

Uttlesford Citizens Advice also works with a number of local charities who can provide emergency Trained advisers can offer free, confidential advice on benefit entitlements, employment rights, debt and budgeting. Financial support to those who are struggling.

For more information call 01799 618840 or email bureau@uttlesfordcab.org.uk

Grocery shopping and deliveries

Waitrose, Sainsburys, Ocado, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda all offer online grocery shopping in our area, with deliveries in one or two hour timed slots. There is usually a minimum order and a charge for this service. Many supermarkets are currently experiencing huge demand for online deliveries, which means that many items are limited to a maximum number per order and orders are not always being fulfilled. However, a number of the supermarkets are working to extend the number of delivery slots available and / or prioritise elderly and vulnerable customers.
Many of the large supermarkets are currently operating reduced opening hours and setting aside dedicated times for elderly or vulnerable customers to shop.

Currently these are:

  • Tesco, Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow: Priority for vulnerable customers from 9- 10 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Store open from 6am to 10 pm
  • Waitrose, Saffron Walden: Priority for vulnerable customers between 7-8 am. Store open 7am to 7pm.
  • Aldi, Saffron Walden – Store open 8 am – 8 pm
  • Sainsburys offer a telephone ordering service for people who don’t have access to the internet and will deliver across Uttlesford. Call 0800 328 1700 to register your details. There is a charge of £2.95 to place a telephone order, minimum order value £40, delivery charges vary depending on the time and day of the week. After your first shop, your list is kept on a database and can be recalled. Orders can be placed up to 3 weeks in advance; payment is taken on day of delivery. Customers can request a telephone call to let them know their delivery is imminent.
  • Waitrose offer a delivery service for customers who have shopped in store. Call the customer service desk in your nearest store to book a delivery slot – under normal circumstances slots can be booked up to 12 weeks in advance. Collect your paperwork from the desk when you arrive and hand to the cashier at the checkout when you have finished shopping. Your shopping will be packed for you and delivered within your arranged time slot. There is a delivery charge of £5 for customers spending less than £50, falling to £3 for those spending more than £50
  • The Co-op in Great Dunmow offers a free, local delivery service for customers shopping in store, when staffing levels allow. There is a £25 minimum spend. Groceries will be delivered within a two hour time slot to anyone living within a 5 mile radius of the store, later in the day.
  • Nisa in Saffron Walden accepts telephone orders on 01799 525263 and will deliver groceries to addresses in the town on Thursdays. Minimum spend around £15. No telephone payments accepted. Pay in store, or cash or cheque on delivery.
  • Newport Village Stores provide a free delivery service to anyone in self-isolation, for food and other essentials OR any elderly or person concerned about the virus that does not wish to leave their home. Quietest times to shop are 7 pm – 10 pm Monday to Saturday and Sundays 1 pm – 4pm. Deliveries within a 5-mile radius of the store after 4pm daily.
  • Burtons Butchers are now offering next day delivery from their Saffron Walden retail shop to the town and surrounding villages for anyone who is self-isolating and unable to leave their home. Minimum order £15. Email sales@burtonsbutchers.com or call 01799 522270
  • Cafe Cou Cou, Gilbeys Butchers, Saffron Fish Co. and Blue Nature Fruit & Veg in Saffron Walden are working together to offer deliveries to local residents who are unable to leave their homes. Call Gillbey’s for more info on 01799 513704
  • Dorringtons have launched an online ordering for Click & Collect essentials including loaves of Bread, Bread Rolls & Sausage Rolls. 2 days’ notice on all orders, bread loaves limited to 2 per order, bread rolls to 12 per order and sausage rolls to 8 per order. https://dorringtons.com/shop/essentials/ If you are unable to order online call 01279 722375. If you are collecting for a friend or family member please have the order number with you. If you would prefer to collect your order from outside the shop, please phone your collection shop when you arrive to let them know. All shops phone numbers can be found here https://dorringtons.com/our-shops/
  • Berry Best Produce are a family run fresh produce supplier to the catering trade. During these difficult times and to help those that are vulnerable or self-isolating, they can deliver fresh fruit and vegetables to homes in Saffron Walden and surrounding villages, Monday to Friday. Additional items such as Eggs, bread, juices and dairy products can be added to your order at an extra cost. To place an order or to find out whether they cover your area, email: berrybestproduce@yahoo.com Double fruit and veg box (10 varieties of fruit & veg): £12.50, Family fruit and veg box, (14-16 varieties): £17.50, Large Family fruit and veg box (at least 20 varities): £22.50
  • Fisher and Wood, Shirehill, Saffron Walden is currently open to the public, selling baskets of essential items including Fruit, Veg, Milk and Cheese. Open until 4pm Monday to Friday. Call 0844 2092666 to enquire about deliveries if you are self-isolating.
  • Olympic Foods, based in Harlow, deliver to the catering trade but have decided to branch out to home deliveries to help people get essential supplies. Lots of their items come in larger packaging, i.e. 2kg grated cheese, beans, tuna, pasta, bread products, bacon, sausages, water, fizzy drinks etc. They offer a Monday to Friday delivery service and have a £40 minimum order value. As long as you order before 5pm you can have the next (working) day. Get together with friends/family or neighbours to share the cost and decant into smaller containers. Email: marcus@olympicfoods.co.uk or call 01279 425577
  • The Fighting Cocks, Wendens Ambo are offering free deliveries of fresh produce to those in self isolation, at risk groups, the disabled or any of you that feel it prudent to just stay at home during these unprecedented times. Collection also available from the back door of the pub by appointment. Orders taken from 9AM on Monday 23rd March 2020 by calling 01279 260075 Monday to Friday 9-5. For orders that are placed by 12 noon Mon-Thurs we will endeavour to deliver next day, for orders placed on Fridays we will deliver on Mondays. Delivery within a 10 mile radius of CB11 4JN. Minimum order £28, card payments only at point of order. https://www.thefightingcocks.biz/fresh-food-deliveries. All Alcohol orders placed Monday to Friday will be delivered on Tuesday and Wednesday the following week to run in line with our weekly delivery.
  • Saffron Wholefoods are now focusing their efforts to provide a delivery service to our more vulnerable customers – the elderly, disabled and those who are self-isolating in our community. Please email saffronwholefoods@gmail.com to ask about this delivery service or call 01799 526453. Products include beans, nuts, pulses, grains, nuts, seeds and eggs.
  • Great Garnetts are a family farm based in Barnston. Collection or delivey of bacon, gammon, pork and sausages Orders placed by 5pm Wednesday ready on Friday, after 5pm ready the following Friday. www.greatgarnetts.co.uk/ 01245 234331
  • Radwinter Wild Game Company. Wild, free range game, sausages and burgers, collection or delivery Tuesday to Friday.. 01799 599883 http://radwinterwildgame.com/
  • The Modern Greengrocer, Great Dunmow. Fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to your door. www.themoderngreengrocer.co.uk/
  • Days Food Hall, Great Chesterford are trialling a telephone order service; orders can be paid for over the phone or on collection. Volunteer led delivery service available to Great Chesterford residents. Call 01799 218060.
  • Animall, Littlebury are currently stocking a limited amount of fresh produce, bread and milk. Prescription deliveries
  • Plumbs dairy, Linton. 01223 893033. Deliveries of milk, fruit juice, honey and fruit and veg to
    Saffron Walden and surrounding area. www.plumbs-dairy.co.uk
  • Milk and More 0835 606 3606. Delivery to Saffron Walden and surrounding area of dairy
    produce, meat, eggs, bakery items and fruit and veg. Currently not accepting new customers
    due to high demand.

Chesmists

  • Boots the Chemist offer a paid for delivery service across Uttlesford, either from the Saffron Walden (01799 522342) or Bishop’s Stortford (01279 653294) store. However due to high demand this is currently only available to existing subscribers. Prescriptions can be collected by a friend or relative.
  • Well Pharmacy, Saffron Walden. 01799 528344
  • Newport pharmacy
  • Lloyds Pharmacy offer an online NHS repeat prescription service with free delivery if you’re over 18 and your GP surgery is in England. It’s available whether you are NHS exempt or you have to pay NHS prescription charges. http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/info/online-prescription-services
    Thaxted Pharmacy offer a free prescription delivery service. 01371 830260
  • Ropers the Chemist, Great Dunmow 01371 872669 Yogi Pharmacy, Great Dunmow 01371 873325

Prepared Meals

Essex County Council no longer provide a ‘meals on wheels’ service. Ready meals can be ordered online from supermarkets.

Alternatively, frozen meals are available from:

  • Oakhouse Foods – 0333 370 6700
  • Wiltshire Farm Foods – 0800 077 3100
  • COOK – King Street, Saffron Walden (01799 796101) and North Street, Bishops Stortford (01279 501484) sell a wide range of frozen meals. Call to place an order and pay over the phone for friends or family to collect (no minimum order) or order online for home delivery at https://www.cookfood.net/ (minimum order £35).

Takeaway Food

With local pubs and restaurants closed to eat-in customers, many are offering takeaway and / or delivery services instead. The restaurants on this list are in addition to take-away restaurants that are already well-known in the area. Opening hours, delivery charges and areas vary; some have minimum orders. Please call direct for menus and details or visit the restaurant’s website or facebook page.

  • Eight Bells, saffron Walden www.theeightbellssaffronwalden.com
  • The Crown and Thistle, Great Chesterford. 01799 530278 https://www.thecrownandthistle.pub/ The Plough, Great Chesterford. 01799 531651 https://www.theploughgc.co.uk/
  • MAZE by day MEZE by night, Saffron Walden 01799 525429
  • The Restaurant on Church Street, Saffron Walden 01799 526444. www.trocs.co.uk
  • The Crown, Little Walden. 01799 522475 www.thecrownlittlewalden.co.uk The Three Hills, Bartlow. 01223 890500
  • The Bell Inn, Wendens Ambo 01799 540382 www.thebellinnpub.co.uk The Red Cow, Chrishall 01763 838792 www.theredcow.com
  • White Hart, Wimbish 01799 599030 info@whitehartwimbish.co.uk.
  • The Plough at Debden 01799 541899 theploughatdebden.com
  • Axe and Compasses, Arkesden https://www.axeandcompasses.co.uk/
  • Fleur de Lys, Widdington 01799 543280 www.TheFleurDeLys.co.uk
  • Anantas, Wicken Bonhunt 01799 543519 https://www.anantathaifood.com/pub/ Fox and Hounds, Clavering 01799 550321 www.foxandhoundsclavering.co.uk
  • Cricketers, Clavering 01799 550442 https://thecricketers.co.uk/
  • Poppy’s Barn Tea Room, Clavering. 01799 551313 https://poppysbarn.co.uk/ Farmhouse inn, Thaxted 01371 830864 https://www.farmhouseinn.org/
  • The Stag, Little Easton 01371 870214 www.thestaglittleeaston.co.uk
  • Square 1, Great Dunmow 01371 859922 http://www.wearesquare1.co.uk/
  • 2 Eddies, Great Dunmow 01371 876289 www.2eddies.com
  • Flitch of Bacon, Little Dunmow 01371 821660 www.flitchofbacon.co.uk
  • Angel and Harp, Great Dunmow 01371 859259 http://www.angelandharp.co.uk/ The Black Lion, High Roding 01371 872847
  • Axe and Compasses, Aythorpe Roding 01279 876648 www.theaxeandcompasses.co.uk
  • Dukes Head, hatfield Broad Oak 01279 718598 www.thedukeshead.co.uk
  • Cock Inn, Henham  01279 850347
  • Dog and Duck, Stansted 01279 812047 www.dogandduckstansted.co.uk
  • www.theblacklionhighroding.co.uk

Books and Newspaper delivery

  • May and Brett in Great Dunmow can deliver newspapers across Uttlesford. Call 0871 2227805. Open 8.30 am – 4 pm Monday to Saturday.
  • Harts Books in Saffron Walden is offering a delivery service. Payment can be made over the phone. Call 01799 524552
  • Talking Newspapers
    • If you are blind or visually impaired, talking newspaper can keep you up to date with local news. Memory sticks are sent on a weekly basis by Royal Mail. The service is free to use.
      Saffron Walden talking Newspaper – 07949 201612 Herts and Essex talking Newspaper – 01279 505654
  • Glovers Newspapers or magazines delivered to your door. You can choose to have a daily paper, just weekends or any particular day to suit. Covering Saffron Walden, Wendens Ambo, Arkesden, Little Walden, Littlebury, The Chesterfords, Hinxton. Call 01799 500420 or email gloversnewspapers@hotmail.co.uk

Church services

  • The Saffron Walden and Villages Team Ministry have created a ‘virtual church service’ on YouTube for Sunday March 20th. The hope is that this will be a regular weekly service in these rather troubled times. You will find the service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW-vobBlk..

Essex Library Service

Essex Libraries have been closed in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. All loans have been extended, overdue charges will be automatically waived and reservations suspended.
They are working to enhance their digital service for people to continue using the library service.

  • eLibrary is online 24/7 with thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, eMagazines and eNewspapers available through Borrowbox, RBdigital and PressReader. Access it through their website https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/
  • New customers joining online will soon be able to access these services quickly without needing to collect a library card from a library.

Opticians

You may qualify for a free eye test at home if you are unable to visit an optician due to a physical or mental disability and are also over the age of 60, registered blind or partially sighted, diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma, receiving benefits or on a low income.

Opticians that provide this service are:

Specsavers Homecall – 0800 198 1132 Visioncall – 0845 050 1831
Homesight – 0800 080 6095