Jarrow shopkeepers recognised on Channel 4's Britain's Unsung Heroes for incredible efforts during the pandemic

Since the Covid-19 pandemic put the country into lockdown in March, brothers Nico and Taz Ali – who run the Premier shop in Jarrow’s Scotch Estate - have become a lifeline for vulnerable residents in the area.

Nico, who has been behind the counter for 30 years, has been out every day delivering around 3,500 free loaves of bread and pints of milk to residents who can’t leave their homes.

Now his efforts have been recognised nationally after the pair appeared on Channel 4’s Britain’s Unsung Heroes on Wednesday, May 27.

The documentary celebrated key workers up and down the UK, who are keeping the country going during the crisis.

It followed Nico as he was out delivering essential food packages to residents in Jarrow.

In the last three months, the shopkeepers have also donated items such as bread, milk, toilet roll and hand sanitiser on a weekly basis, to a raft of local food banks.

Dozens of food packages have been delivered to local hospitals, emergency services and cancer wards – as well as hundreds of bottles of water dropped off for NHS staff in South Tyneside.

Nico has also been surprising residents with birthday gifts and Easter Eggs and teamed up with the Cake Box in Newcastle to provide 100 cakes to the community for VE Day.

“I have never stopped supporting my local community and will continue to support them for as long as I can,” said Nico.

“My heart and soul goes out to the people and their families who have died from COVID-19. It is not just about a big number, this is people’s lives we are talking about and I wanted to show my support to everyone on the frontline.

“Taz has helped me and supported me all the way by running our business. I am doing this because I needed to give back to the community. Every day I have been emotional and what makes me smile seeing the faces of my local community.

“I have learnt it’s not about money, it’s about loving and caring for people.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

How to subscribe to the print edition:

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of.

Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.