A Glasgow charity that delivers lifeline shopping supplies to the city's elderly is facing closure after Glasgow City Council officials recommended their funding be axed.
Food Train operates across Glasgow, providing food and support to at least 200 elderly people every week.
The charity now faces closure within the next 10 weeks without the council's funding and the removal of critical support for over-65s already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
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Regional manager, Chris Curtis, told Glasgow Live: "The people who use our service are older and don't have anyone else to help them with these things for whatever reason.
"I've had sleepless nights knowing what I know and seeing what I see through this charity and when I found out the council were planning on axing our funding it was really like my worst fears had been realised.
"What are the council going to do to support these people who will be impacted by our closure?"
The charity not only provides shopping but also has volunteers who help with household jobs and provide much needed social interaction for many over-65s who are unable to leave their home and miss out on day-to-day life.
Chris added: "We don't just deliver food, we're sometimes the only ones keeping an eye on these people.
"We then help them ourselves if it's something we can do or we pass them on to other relevant organisations or charities.
"These people would slip through the cracks without us and we are absolutely a necessary service."
The council are set to hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the funding available and which services will receive the sought after grants.
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.
“This is a huge investment in the third sector and organisations who will deliver a variety of support across the three main aims of the Glasgow Communities Fund (GCF) – equalities, arts and culture and supporting communities.
“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.
“There then began the comprehensive process of assessment of the applications that included input from strategic officer leads across the council family – including Glasgow Life, HSCP, Education, Financial Inclusion and Economic Development.
“This was dovetailed by Sector Panel Reviews in three areas of the city and which comprised of cross party elected members, community representatives and third sector officials to review all applications to give a local perspective ahead of the decisions being made.
“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.
“This has been delivered to groups throughout the GCF funding period – with specialist help offered in the way of workshops and bespoke support to help organisations to become future proof.
“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.”
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