A Glasgow pensioner who began using the Food Train charity service after ending up in hospital malnourished has said the axing of council funding is 'horrific'.
Walter Izatt has motor neurone disease and is housebound, relying on Food Train volunteers bringing him his weekly shopping.
The charity, which delivers food and support to at least 200 elderly people each week, is set to close within the next ten weeks after it's funding through the Glasgow communities fund has been axed.
READ MORE: Glasgow Food Train charity could close within days after vital funding axed
Walter told Glasgow Live : "When my wife, Margaret, died I just couldn't eat.
"I couldn't get to shops for food and was in a really bad way, everything was getting on top of me. My motor neurone disease was getting worse, I couldn't get food and I was just really missing my wife.
"I ended up in hospital severely malnourished and was in there for two months.
"When I got out, one of my housing officers suggested Food Train to me and by that point I had realised I just couldn't do it all myself.
"Food Train gave me my appetite back because I didn't have to worry about how I was going to get shopping, they really came to my rescue and it's really upsetting to see how they're being treated, it's really horrific and unfair."
Walter says getting his shopping delivered and put away for him every Wednesday is a lifeline and doesn't know what he'll do if the charity is forced to close down.
The 69-year-old added: "Every single volunteer is just brilliant. They deliver my shopping with a smile on their face and it's such a lifeline.
"I've gotten to know some of them really well and we have a good natter about all sorts of things while they put my shopping away.
"It really is essential that they are funded because there are so many people who totally depend on Food Train.
"It cannot be measured against anything and without them delivering my shopping I will starve, I don't mean to be dramatic but I really can't see any other outcome."
Walter previously worked as a prison officer on the east coast before moving through west to study at Glasgow Royal School of Nursing and loved Glasgow so much he has stayed here for the past 40 years.
"I just love Glasgow, the people are amazing," he said. "I couldn't live anywhere else, the community spirit here is excellent."
Chris Curtis, regional manager of Glasgow Food Train, said: "At the end of the day our primary concern is the people like Walter, hundreds of them, that need our support.
"We rely on the Glasgow Community Fund's support and if this decision isn't changed then we will close. We are all fighters and feel like we can't give up on these people but we just have no other options.
"I can't help but feel like the people who have made this decision do not understand how important the work that we do is and really I feel like it's a cruel and heartless decision.
"As a citizen of Glasgow myself, taxpayer and voter, I am just utterly appalled.
"I understand that there are so many great community organisations doing work in Glasgow having worked with them myself in the past but people can't eat art and culture.
"At the end of the day people need food to survive. What is going to happen to the people who are stuck in their own homes and can't get out to access other services?
"The older people that we help are hidden away and it seems quite convenient that they are just out of sight and out of mind. There has been no indication of what is going to be done to help the hundreds of people we support.
"Surely it's going to cost them even more money to come up with a solution to a problem they've created themselves?"
During yesterday morning’s city administration committee meeting, the charity had its funding axed after it was deemed “not a high enough priority” by the council. Councillors agreed to commit more than £55 million to fund various groups over the next five years, with £6.5 million awarded to organisations with the Glasgow Advice and Information Network for financial and legal advice.
Other successful applications included Achieve More Scotland, AFRICAN CHALLENGE SCOTLAND, British Red Cross, Buddies Clubs and Services (Glasgow West) Limited, Cerebral Palsy Scotland, Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights and Common Wheel.
Councillor Christina Cannon, City Convener for Education, Communities and Equalities previously told Glasgow Live: “This has been a comprehensive, robust open and transparent process that has resulted in £50 million of grant funding being distributed to 235 organisations across the city to help our citizens and communities most in need.
“This is a huge investment in the third sector and organisations who will deliver a variety of support across the three main aims of the Glasgow Communities Fund (GCF) – equalities, arts and culture and supporting communities.
“We know that organisations who have not been recommend for grant funding will be disappointed and officers will be offering feedback and meaningful support around capacity building and financial advice on other sources of funding.
“This has been delivered to groups throughout the GCF funding period – with specialist help offered in the way of workshops and bespoke support to help organisations to become future proof.
“Unfortunately we do not have an infinite pot of money and we need to use the resources of the council – especially during these challenging, financial times – and use what we do have in the most supportive and effective way to meet the needs of Glaswegians and our communities.”
READ NEXT:
Mum who escaped fatal Cameron House fire with son says it has had 'horrendous' impact
Driver killed brother and two others in horror Bothwell crash while high on drugs
Blue's Lee Ryan found guilty of 'chocolate children' slur at crew member on Glasgow flight
Ukrainian refugee living in Glasgow returned to war zone due to long GP wait times in Scotland
