The Co-op, has teamed up with TOTUM and students’ unions to help some of the thousands of students who find themselves in localised lockdown, as a result of Covid-19 outbreaks. An estimated 3,000 students are currently being told to self-isolate following localised coronavirus outbreaks on a number of campuses across the UK.

To ensure they still have access to high quality, good value essentials the Co-op has pledged to donate £10,000 worth of stock to relieve those currently living in the worst affected areas including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford and Swansea. Local students’ unions will be able to pick up basics including rice, pasta, toilet roll, bread and noodles from their local Co-op and distribute it to those students most in need.

On top of this, students in selected major cities across the UK who do their Co-op shop online will receive their shopping within two hours of placing their order – availability of slots permitting. Students can access the offer by downloading the TOTUM app, verifying their student status and place of study, and then grabbing their code. 

Chris Whitfield, Chief Operating Officer, Co-op Food, said:

It’s important we pull together to support our student communities during these difficult times and we want to help ease the current situation by ensuring that students under lockdown are kept well stocked up with groceries and essentials. 

Elizabeth Bone, Communities Director at TOTUM said: 

With many students confined to their halls of residence – and some even confined to their own rooms – we’ve pooled resources with the Co-op and students’ unions to help them right now as they struggle to obtain adequate amounts of food.  We hope it will provide a little bit of positivity at what is undoubtedly a really tough time, and show them that we are thinking of them.

National Union of Students National President Larissa Kennedy said:

Access to food is a basic need and we all know the impact that worries about this place upon a person’s mental health and wellbeing.

Photo: Brighton Students Union Food Co-op