FOOD TRAIN NORTH AYRSHIRE

That this House is deeply alarmed by the decision of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership to withdraw the funding of £75,000 from the Food Train North Ayrshire initiative, forcing it to close on 31 March 2018; understands the service has been providing weekly grocery deliveries for vulnerable elderly residents, facilitating the provision of nutritious fresh food and valuable social interaction; regrets the adverse impact the removal of this valuable service will have on the 172 older people, and two staff members involved in the project; applauds the industry of the staff and 40 volunteers who made this project possible; notes that no consultation with service users took place before the decision to withdraw funding was made; is concerned that the removal of this provision will have a negative impact upon the physical and mental health of those who benefit from the service, of which 43 per cent are aged 85 or over and are often frail and in poor health; is deeply concerned that as a result of this short-sighted decision, those who currently benefit from this vital service may be forced into hospital or have to be cared for in homes with all the disruption and distress this will inevitably cause; appreciates the efforts of campaigners and volunteers who have launched a campaign to Save our Service; and calls on North Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership to reconsider this decision and reinstate the funding to enable this valuable service to continue.