Royal Mail workers could be asked to check up on vulnerable residents during rounds, despite some postal staff relying on foodbanks and struggling to make ends meet themselves.
The scheme will be trialled in Northumberland, with Royal Mail's chief executive telling The Times their "great, trusted teams see things that others don't" because they "go everywhere, every day". Paul Chadwick, who's worked for Royal Mail in sorting and delivery for 42 years, agrees because "people get to know the customers, people get to know everyone in that little community".
The 58-year-old, who's been invited to meals and Christmas nights out by customers, added: "It's always been a matter of pride to have been treated like that. Now, obviously with people using foodbanks, it's now getting to the stage where people are rushing around to get the work done. They don't have as much time to speak to people on the ground. But they'll go back in their own time and they will help people."
