Food Train makes 'heartbreaking' decision to close Renfrewshire branch after funding cut

A charity for older people has made the “heartbreaking” decision to close its Renfrewshire branch after funding for its services was brought to an end.

Food Train has written to the 150 residents, aged 65 and over, to whom its volunteers drop off shopping each week and informed them their final deliveries will be at the end of this month.

It said this follows the withdrawal of funding from Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), which provided £65,000 on an annual basis.

Alan Dalziel, Food Train’s Paisley-based chair, said: “The unfortunate reality is that, without Renfrewshire HSCP’s financial support, our services cannot continue.

“Closure is a heartbreaking but unavoidable decision that our board was forced to take.

“We thank the Renfrewshire branch’s dedicated volunteers for their incredible contributions and our hardworking staff who so often went the extra mile.

“We are extremely disappointed for them and our amazing members that we have not been able to find another way to continue operating locally.

“The services Food Train provides are a lifeline. We understand that our members will be understandably upset and concerned about what closure means for them.

“Our priority now is helping to ensure, where possible, they have access to the food and support they need.

“We are working with the HSCP and other organisations to try to arrange alternative provision.”

A redundancy consultation with the charity’s three members of staff in Paisley is also underway, it has been confirmed.

Its leaders said they have spent months exploring ways in which the services for its members in the area – almost half of whom are over the age of 80 – could be saved.

Food Train, which operates local shopping services across Scotland, had been supported by the local authority on an ongoing basis since 2013.

It explained the majority of those who benefit from its services live alone and almost a fifth of its members across Renfrewshire are aged 90 and over.

Most of them receive a weekly phone call from volunteers to support them to make a shopping list and plan their meals for the week before groceries are collected at Morrisons, Paisley, then delivered to their homes. Volunteers can also help put items away.

Chief executive Rosie McLuskie said: “Food Train is more than just a shopping service.

“Our fantastic volunteers play a critical role in stopping older people falling ill because of malnutrition and loneliness.

“They ensure they have the food they need to eat well and provide enjoyable company so they live well.

“We appreciate the financial strain that public services are under, but are concerned that the loss of our cost-effective services is a false economy which risks increasing pressure on NHS and social care services in Renfrewshire.

“Should there ever be a change of heart by the HSCP, we would, of course, be keen to explore how our services could operate in the area.”

A Renfrewshire HSCP spokesperson said: “We have been in discussion with Food Train over recent months to look at an alternative model of providing the service.

“We were hoping that Food Train could remain an option for people in Renfrewshire through self-directed support.

“Our current financial challenges mean we are faced with difficult choices in maintaining the same levels of funding previously provided and we must prioritise the budget we have available to us.

“We will continue to work with them to ensure that all people who are assessed as needing support from our services will continue to receive the best care and support we can provide for their circumstances.”

Food Train said its one-to-one Meal Makers and Eat Well Age Well services will remain available for people in Renfrewshire.