Charity takes its fight for OAPS to Holyrood
Shopping service campaigns for better access to food
A charity that helps older people to eat and live well in their own homes has called on the Scottish Government to tackle food inequalities.
Food Train, which has teams of volunteers working in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, has made a series of manifesto asks ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament elections.
It has taken the step after volunteers and staff responded to unprecedented demand for shopping services last year, fuelled by the impact of the coronavirus crisis. At its peak, that was 70 per cent higher than the previous year.
Food Train chief executive Michelle Carruthers said: “Shopping and meals support for older people has been decimated over the last 20 years.
“The ‘social’ part of social care has been lost, giving rise to an unjust postcode lottery of support across Scotland for older people to access food.
“This must end. We need to not just acknowledge the reasons behind food security, but address them.”
She added: “People from regions where we don’t have a local branch tell us of the need they have for region-wide supported food access, such as a Food Train-style service.
“Sustained high numbers in our current branch areas demonstrate that.”
Volunteers with Food Train get food shopping for folk unable to go out themselves, deliver it to them and also help with household jobs, delivering books and providing vital social contact and meals.
Across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, Food Train is currently delivering shopping supplies to 270 customers through its home shopping service.
That is compared to 160 at this time last year.
The charity has made almost 30,000 deliveries of critical shopping supplies to older people since being set up in the area in 2013.
It first launched covering only Renfrewshire, expanding to East Renfrewshire in 2019.
Anyone interested in volunteering to support the work of Food Train in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire can call 0141 887 2557, email shopping@ thefoodtrain. co. uk or go to www. thefoodtrain.co.uk.