From today (Thursday, December 4), customers at Morrisons will be able to opt to check out at a new Talking Till - a slower check out where shoppers can enjoy a conversation with a member of the Morrisons team to help combat loneliness.
Many people, especially those who may be feeling isolated, say a trip to the supermarket can be one of the few opportunities to speak to someone in person.
The new tills will be introduced nationwide as part of Good Morning Britain’s ‘1 Million Minutes’ campaign, and Morrisons hopes to help create meaningful moments of human connection at a time of year that can feel especially difficult for some.
Talking Tills aim to make these everyday moments more supportive, sociable, and reassuring as part of the 1 Million Minutes campaign, now in its tenth year, with over 672 million minutes pledged.
David Scott, Corporate Affairs Director at Morrisons, says: “At Morrisons, supporting the communities we serve is at the heart of what we do.
"We know that for many people, especially at this time of year, a simple conversation can make a real difference.
"The Talking Tills campaign is designed to create space for those meaningful moments, offering customers the chance to slow down and chat if they’d like to.”
Daniel Robinson, Editor of Good Morning Britain, says: “In the 10 years since we launched our 1 Million Minutes campaign, we have brought together thousands of volunteers with thousands of people experiencing loneliness and isolation around the UK.
"And this year feels more urgent than ever, with rising prices in the shops and pressure on families, it’s so easy to feel disconnected.
“We all know what it feels like to feel lonely. And whether it’s a family member, a friend, a neighbour or a stranger, pledging just a few minutes of time can really make a difference.
"Our viewers have been immensely generous with their time over the years and I know this December is going to be something really special.”
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The initiative forms Morrisons' wider commitment to tackling loneliness with its charity partners this Christmas,
This includes a £50,000 donation from the Morrisons Foundation to fund 100 of Royal Voluntary Service’s festive spreads and providing 400 free Christmas meals in Morrisons cafés in partnership with Age UK.
The supermarkets' in-store Community Champions will also be donating thousands of Morrisons products to local festive events supporting isolated members of the community.
The initiative runs from December 4-7 as part of GMB’s ‘1 Million Minutes’ campaign to combat loneliness.
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