On 1st October Food Train Friends received the Services for Older People Award from Age Scotland at its annual Scottish Parliamentary Reception. See the video in which Regional Manager Helen McAnespie pays tribute to volunteers, and an Project Manager Scott McGill talks about the difference the service makes.
Food Train provides grocery shopping delivery and home support services to older people in the Dumfries and Galloway area. Its Food Train Friends service was developed three years ago in response to evidence that social isolation and loneliness was a major issue amongst older people locally. It offers telephone befriending, one to one matches, and group outings and activities. It also runs reminiscence and IT groups and has established strong links with local High Schools in Dumfries.
105 older people are registered with the service and are supported by 60 trained volunteers. The service has plans, funding permitting, to roll out across the whole of the Dumfries and Galloway area, in which there is no other befriending service for older people.
Brian Sloan, Age Scotland Chief, Executive said: “This Award is truly well deserved, as Food Train Friends has demonstrated dedication and dynamism in meeting the needs of isolated older people in the Dumfries and Galloway area.”
The Services for Older People Award is sponsored by Specsavers at Home. It is for groups and organisations which have given older people ‘that little bit of help’ they need to continue to enjoy independence and a high quality of life in their own homes and communities.
Congratulations also to runners up:
- Tiree Resource Club
- Midlothian Garden Services
- Cowal Elderly Befriender’s SCIO
- Keeping in Touch Edinburgh (KITE)
The Age Scotland Blog 
Keep up the good work! I bet the people you serve really appreciate it