Stevenson Signals Support For Food Train

A grocery shopping service for older and disabled people is to receive Scottish Government funding, Minister Stewart Stevenson announced today.

The Food Train charity will receive £35,000 from the Third Sector Enterprise Fund to help it further expand services to other areas of Scotland.

Speaking during a visit to the charity’s Dumfries base, the Minister said:

“I’m delighted to have been able to visit Food Train and see for myself the real difference they make to the lives of people in Dumfries and Galloway.

"As a Government, we want to see organisations like Food Train play a greater part in helping us create a more successful Scotland and we have demonstrated this commitment by increasing third sector funding by 37 per cent.

“In an economic downturn, it is vital that we harness the ability of Scotland's third sector to connect with some of the most vulnerable people in society and create valuable employment opportunities.”

Michelle McCrindle, Chief Executive of Food Train, said:

“Today’s fantastic funding announcement comes at such a welcome time for Food Train. As a growing charity trying to expand across the country, this funding will cover much of the development and infrastructure work necessary for us to become a national charity and service provider to many more older people in Scotland.”
Food Train has been in existence since 1995 and is a thriving charity with six local bases, 10 delivery vehicles, 19 local shops supporting 15,000 annual deliveries to over 500 people across 2,500 square miles.

The increasing numbers of older people with growing dependency led the company to develop Food Train 'EXTRA', which provides regular household and home safety support combined with the befriending element of increased social contact. Volunteers visit customers monthly for up to two hours doing a variety of jobs from fridge cleaning to changing light bulbs.