THE chairman of a disability rights group has pledged support to Barrhead and Neilston Disabled Forum in its hour of need.

Michael McEwan, of East Renfrewshire Disability Action (ERDA), is desperate to help Band F members who fear the club will cease to exist in a few months.

Last week The News told how volunteers feared for the future of the group as East Renfrewshire Council is still to confirm if it will continue to provide them with carers.

Service users believe the Christmas party organisers held a fortnight ago could prove to be the group’s last.

ERC has said it will not be able to let the group know its final decision until the local authority’s budget is announced in April.

However, Michael has assured Band F members they are not alone in their fight for survival and will receive as much support as they need from ERDA.

He said: “As soon as I saw this story I wanted to see if we could do anything because we don’t want an organisation like that going to the wall – especially if it prevents older people and isolated people from getting out and about.

“It’s not until you see groups like Band F going to the wall you say to yourself why? Because there’s a need for that in Barrhead and East Renfrewshire.

“Anything that we can do to help we will.

“It would be nice for them to become a member of ERDA and vice versa. I will put that forward to the committee because I think it’s something that we could help with.

“It’s another disability organisation that’s going to the wall and that’s not good.

“We’ll be happy to arrange a partnership and work together because one wee voice doesn’t help.

“But if you get a lot of voices behind you, that will help with the campaigning side of things and raising the profile of disability and mental health issues.”

Band F requires two carers for its once-weekly sessions at Dunterlie Resource Centre to assist members who have difficulties walking on their own.

Its running costs are supported by lottery funding.

However, the group is unable to afford the cost of its carers on an annual basis and will have to close its doors unless a solution is found before the end of March.

Group treasurer James Reilly thanked Michael for his support and spoke at length with the ERDA chairman about the current state of affairs.

James said: “The help is comforting but at the end of the day the council needs to supply the carers.

“I explained to him the situation and said thanks very much and told him I’d get back to him in a couple of weeks.

“The carers are the main thing because they go to the houses, pick the members up and at night they take them home.”

He added: “£7,000 pounds is a lot of money to you and me for the carers but I don’t know what it costs the council.

“We’ve got the money in the bank but it’s the carers we need. It wouldn’t matter how much money we had.”