Food Train Glasgow faces closure as council officials recommend axing funding
The charity is appealing to councillors to step in and save "lifeline services" for older people from being lost
A charity which supports hundreds of older people across Glasgow faces closure after Glasgow City Council officials recommended its funding be axed.
Food Train is calling on councillors to overrule the recommendation to stop supporting its shopping delivery, home support and befriending services across the city.
Without the funding backing, its Glasgow branch faces closure in March.
The closure would also lead to the loss of 4 jobs.
Food Train’s operations across the city, based at Govanhill, have been supported by Glasgow City Council for the past decade.
But its application for funding of £447,000 over the next three years is on a list of funding bids that members of the City Administration Committee are being recommended to refuse.
'It makes no sense'
Food Train chief executive Michelle Carruthers said: “This is a scandalous recommendation - one which will put significant numbers of older people across Glasgow in danger of becoming malnourished and seriously ill if it’s carried through.
“To recommend pulling the plug completely on our funding has shocked everyone, particularly when keeping older people well at home is such a priority.
"To close a vital social support service when the NHS and social care is under huge strain, makes no sense.
“We’re talking about peoples’ lives. The lives of the older people we support, the lives of the people we employ and the work of the volunteers who work so incredibly hard to make what we do possible. It’s a complete kick in the teeth.”
Funding is not guaranteed
Food Train leaders are contacting councillors and MSPs in an attempt to rally support for the funding recommendation reversal.
However, Glasgow City Council argues that there is not an "infinite pot of money" for the increasing number of funding applications.
There has been an increase of around 90% in funding applications this year.
Councillor Christina Cannon, City Convener for Education, Communities and Equalities said: “This has been a comprehensive, robust open and transparent process that has resulted in £50 million of grant funding being distributed to 235 organisations across the city to help our citizens and communities most in need.
“A total of 445 applications were received – applying for 64% more money than the value of the grant funding available.
“Across the board, there was a 90.4% increase in the grant funding requested in comparison to 2022/23 applications."
'No infinite pot of money'
She added: “We know that organisations who have not been recommend for grant funding will be disappointed and officers will be offering feedback and meaningful support around capacity building and financial advice on other sources of funding.
“Unfortunately we do not have an infinite pot of money and we need to use the resources of the council – especially during these challenging, financial times – and use what we do have in the most supportive and effective way to meet the needs of Glaswegians and our communities.”