A lifeline Glasgow charity that faced closure this month has been rescued by the National Lottery.
Food Train Glasgow ensures hundreds of elderly people across the city do not go hungry. However, their future was plunged into crisis after Glasgow City Council, which funded the bulk of the charity’s operations since it launched a decade ago, rejected its latest three-year funding application in January.
The National Lottery Community Fund has offered the team a £75,000 grant, saving them from immediate closure.
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The incredible team deliver shopping to over 400 people aged 65 and over, sometimes being the only people the elderly see throughout their day.
Volunteers worked tirelessly at the beginning of the year, rallying to stave off closure. City residents and organisations also came together to raise thousands of pounds via a Crowdfunding campaign which kept operations going after the funding ended in March.
Douglas McCallister, a volunteer with the charity for the past two years, said: “The reaction we’ve had at every home has been one of relief.
“Without Food Train, many of our members didn’t know how they were going to get their shopping and look after themselves. The immediate threat we faced was causing real stress and anxiety.
“The older people we support are often housebound, isolated and overlooked by others. For some, we’re the only people they get to speak to for days on end. Removing all that we do would have had a real negative impact on their health, in so many ways.”
In the past 10 years, Govanhill-based Food Train Glasgow has made more than 67,000 grocery deliveries.
Chief executive Michelle Carruthers said: “We are delighted and relieved to have secured this amazing support from The National Lottery Community Fund. This will reduce the risk of our older members in Glasgow from becoming lonelier, malnourished and seriously ill over the coming year.
“The effects on the wellbeing of our members has been a big worry for our team, and particularly worrying for our fantastic volunteers who are like extended family to many of our members. But the way the community has rallied behind us has been so heartening, highlighting the positive difference that Food Train makes to the lives of many older people. We’re grateful to everyone who has got behind our fight for survival so far.
“While we’re all relieved to know that we can continue to be there for the next year, our focus now is to secure a way of being there for the longer term too - easing uncertainty and hopefully supporting even greater numbers of older people across Glasgow.
“We hope that talks with other potential sources of funding for the next financial year - as well as those commissioning support services for older people across Glasgow - will begin shortly.”
Kate Still, Scotland Chair of the National Lottery Community Fund, said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. Food Train Glasgow, is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others. National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work and to help communities thrive.”
In the aftermath of the council funding cut decision over 5,000 people also signed a petition calling on authorities to find some way of supporting Food Train’s work in Glasgow.
To learn more about Food Train Glasgow visit here.
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