'Shopping! I'm good at shopping - it's the perfect role for me!'

Corinna has been shopping for older people in Barnet who were not able to leave their homes. During the first lockdown she was shopping for three households – a couple and two single women and she now shops for one lady and one man who are not capable of leaving the house.

'My husband and I always said we’d like to volunteer when we retired. But then the pandemic hit, and as I only work part of the week, I had spare time and I just felt I wanted to do something.

'I felt sorry for everyone, but particularly for old people who couldn’t leave their houses to get essential food, and the idea of being lonely on top of this broke my heart.

'Then I thought "Shopping – I’m good at shopping - it’s the perfect role for me!" And it was a great – and legal – excuse to get me out of the house!

'It’s been lovely getting to know and chatting to people when I drop off their provisions. It’s never a case of leaving the shopping on the doorstep and rushing off. The people living on their own particularly appreciate a good chat and it doesn’t take much to lift people’s spirits.

'I’ve met so many different characters – and they all show their gratitude in different ways. The man I shop for now takes great delight in reading out his own poetry for me at the door.

'One lady found out I was going on holiday and gave me £100 in a card as spending money – although I couldn’t accept it personally, and she was happy to donate the money to Age UK Barnet, she just wanted to show how much she appreciated what I was doing. I was particularly moved by the comment from one couple I was shopping for. Their son lives abroad and they said I was the daughter they’d never had. It’s touching moments like these that make your week.

'Overall I think that the people I’ve supported have coped incredibly well – I’m so impressed by the way they have adjusted to new way of being. However, I have been surprised by how particular some are about the food they want to buy!! They know what brands, what types of food and are much more specific than I thought they’d be. But that’s all great – and you very quickly learn what people like.

'During the pandemic it was good to have something to do and get out. It was a bit scary at the beginning thinking ‘Am I going to catch this?’ but luckily I never did!

'It’s been an anxious time and volunteering was a great way to take my mind off the situation and feel more in control.'