Volunteer couriers supplying vulnerable people in Walworth

Deliveroo riders are usually the renegades of the road, bringing piping hot food to us on a Saturday night – though other delivery services are available.

But a band of neighbourhood couriers are proving to be the White Knights of Walworth.

A community centre has set up a volunteer-run free delivery service to bring food to residents unable to leave their homes or recently unemployed as a result of the lockdown.

The scheme, set up by Pembroke House in Walworth, has already delivered food, medicine and even cooked meals to hundreds of residents in the area, and there are plans to ramp up the project significantly in the coming weeks.

Southwark, where Pembroke House is based, is one of the hardest-hit regions in the country in terms of cases of Covid-19, with more than 1,000 in the borough testing positive as of April 17.

But this project, set up by Pembroke House staff and volunteers, is providing a lifeline to vulnerable residents in Southwark.

Starting from scratch last month, there are now more than 50 volunteer riders, who last week clocked up 144 hours in the saddle.

In one week they delivered to 323 households, dropping off more than two tonnes of groceries, along with 214 cooked meals and even one supply of emergency insulin.

The distribution hub in Pembroke House is carefully laid out to maintain social distancing throughout the process.

Arrows on the floor guide riders around the hub in a one-way system, where they visit different stations to collect the food parcels.

All riders go out with hand sanitiser, ensure they handle the food safely, and place the parcels on people’s doorsteps before stepping away.

The scheme has been a partnership with local groups including Southwark council, Fooditude, Bermondsey Employment and Skills Training, and Hubub.

Pembroke House volunteer Rich Mason, who has led setting up the bike deliveries, said: “I started out as a Deliveroo rider to make a bit of money while working on freelance projects, but I found the working conditions as well as the power dynamics shocking.

“For the past few months I’ve been thinking about how to create a more ethical food delivery service in London, and when the coronavirus crisis came along, I was poised to jump into action.”

Among the volunteers who have stepped up to help are furloughed cafe and bar staff, chefs, students, local councillors and builders.