From May 2018 to May 2019, I was Mayor of St Helens. It was amazing being at the heart of our community, from attending local events to abseiling down hospitals for charity.

But then the coronavirus outbreak turned my life upside down. I have type 1 diabetes and because I have a heart condition, the NHS told me to shield, which means neither me nor my husband can do things others take for granted, like going out to the shops.

But instead of being supported by the Government to keep safe and eat well, I was let down like so many others. This needs to change.

When I heard the Government introduced priority supermarket delivery slots to support people who are shielding, it was a massive relief. But, every time I tried to get a priority delivery from supermarkets, they refused and told me the Government hadn’t told them I was shielding. I was left to struggle.

It’s been really tough, and I know so many others have faced the same challenges too. We’ve all had to rely on kindness from friends, family and volunteers – but not everyone has that to fall back on.

It’s not right we’ve been let down by the Government at such a crucial time for our country. After two months of just about surviving, I’m getting the food I need now, but only because of kindness and generosity in my community.

As shielding is paused, many people won’t know what support is available to them, and thousands of vulnerable people risk going without the food they need.

While I know that the risks of going out and about are reducing, I still have concerns about going to the supermarket. People don’t always keep social distancing, supermarkets aren’t always very good at providing support in-store, and there’s so much confusion about masks, which really frightens me.

Life isn’t going back to normal for us, and like so many others, now we need the Government to fight our corner too. Those in power must learn the lessons of this crisis to make sure people get the food they need before we go into winter and a possible second wave. Not everyone can get to the shops, and supermarket deliveries are still impossible to come by. We have to get it right, and that means:

• Making sure every Council offers support to provide priority delivery services to people who are vulnerable to coronavirus
• Communicating what support is available to people who are vulnerable to coronavirus or food insecurity
• Providing clear guidance and support to Councils and supermarkets to make sure everyone can get the food they need, both in and out of store
• Regularly reviewing what support is available, to make sure nobody goes hungry in the event of a second wave or local lockdown.

We’re #HungryForHelp – let's tell the Government it’s time to step up.