THE future of social club activities for elderly and disabled people in East Renfrewshire looks bright after a local charity was awarded a five-figure funding boost.
Barrhead and Neilston Disabled Forum (Band F) is one of 49 organisations across Scotland to receive a windfall in the latest round of grants from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The money has been awarded to organisations for projects that will improve people’s health and wellbeing and help communities to thrive.
Band F, which was given £29,904, will use the funding to continue to provide a range of social club activities for up to 30 elderly and disabled adults living in Barrhead and Neilston over the next three years.
The windfall will also help cover the costs of providing free transport to the club’s meetings.
James Reilly, treasurer of Band F, said the team is “delighted” to be awarded the funding.
“We’re over the moon,” he told the Barrhead News. “We are approaching our 26th year and secured funding for the next few years, so we’re delighted.”
Mr Reilly said that a large part of the money has been ringfenced for the group’s bus and carers service, which is still to be guaranteed in the upcoming East Renfrewshire Council budget.
“We’ve got the money for the next three years but we are still waiting to hear if the council can supply the escort and carers, which are an essential part of the service,” he added.
“The Lottery money is ringfenced and we can only use it on what we ask for. If we say it’s for transport, it can’t be used for anything else.”
Band F has been operating in East Renfrewshire since 1994.
Supported by the East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), it has been able to offer activities, care and opportunities to socialise to a number of elderly and disabled residents visiting Dunterlie Community Centre, in Stewart Street, Barrhead.
It regularly organises days out to the seaside, as well as bingo afternoons, arts and crafts and chiropodist sessions.
Run as a partnership between East Renfrewshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, East Renfrewshire HSCP brings together services for children, families, adults and the elderly.
Neil Ritch, director of the National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland, said the generosity of Lottery players is helping to fund a range of projects such as Band F.
“This funding will make a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing,” he added.
To find out more about the efforts to support good causes through the National Lottery Community Fund, go online at www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk.
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