FUNDING cuts to lifeline services could leave thousands of older people in Glasgow ‘out in the cold’, according to a leading charity.

Age Scotland says the “devastating” cuts mean six of its groups supporting people at risk of isolation or poverty could be forced to close their doors.

The Glasgow Times revealed last week the city council’s proposals to reject 134 city charity, groups, programmes and organisations from £77 million worth of lifeline funding from the Glasgow Communities Fund.

Since then, Glasgow City Council has announced a £4 million “transition fund” for the advice sector, violence against women organisations, and communities of interest and equalities groups supporting many of those most severely impacted by the pandemic.

Announcing the fund, Councillor Jennifer Layden said: “This will bring our investment in the city’s Third Sector to more than £60m over the next three years, supporting valuable projects addressing poverty, inequality and discrimination in our communities. This includes millions of pounds provided to organisations that were shut out of the former grant funding process.”

Glasgow Times:

Staff at the Nan McKay Hall, a community centre which has provided health services, education, information and social activities in the Pollokshields community for 40 years, is to lose £92,000.

Manager Bill Lawns said: “We are a lifeline for local people. There is nothing else in the area. During the pandemic we made a lot of phone calls to people who were isolated, and they told us they’re desperate for us to reopen.”

He added: “We feel this decision took place behind closed doors, and we don’t know where we went wrong. It has devalued and undermined... everything we have been doing for 40 years.”

The Daffodil Club in Easterhouse, which normally provides a wide range of services and social activities, faces losing £130,000; Yoker Resource Centre, which supports older clients and those with disabilities will lose £98,000; while St Mungo’s Older Peoples Centre for Wellbeing, the Gorbalites, and Asra will also lose out.

Glasgow Times:

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “Centres such as Nan McKay Hall provide vital services..and will be even more crucial following the pandemic. It’s heartbreaking to think of them closing their doors after decades of service, leaving vulnerable older people out in the cold.

“We would urge councillors to reconsider these decisions as a matter of urgency.”