'Heartbreaking closure of lifeline charity branch as funding withdrawn

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.

- JACK THOMSON, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

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.