Lifeline clubs saved by new travel deal in Glasgow
Dozens of voluntary-run social groups should be able to stay open thanks to a new transport deal.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) will step in to manage the transport for almost 70 clubs on behalf of the Glasgow City Council, including those which support stroke victims.
The new deal will start in April next year.
The council wrote to 77 groups across the city over the summer to say it was planning to stop providing free minibuses and taxis to get users to weekly meetings.
It was part of a cost-cutting exercise to redirect £500,000 from the council’s social work budget.
The council said the free transport would stop unless the groups could prove they provide a “core service”.
The groups, which include the Eastenders Stroke Club in Shettleston, Govanhill-based Victoria Stroke Club, The Good Companions Club in Cathcart, plus Knightswood Friendship Club and The East End’s Allsorts Club, provide meals and activities such as art, dominos, bingo and outings as well as advice and support, for £1 to £2 a week for members
Many said without the free transport they would need to close.
But now SPT has worked with the council to come up with “more effective scheduling of journeys” and will manage the service using community transport and council vehicles driven by council and SPT staff.
The £300,000 cost will be split between the council’s social work and community planning departments.
However, the clubs will be asked to make up a £60,000 shortfall, and some may have to change meeting times and days to fit in with the plan.
Margaret Miller, 99, has run the Lightburn WRVS Harmony Club in Shettleston with daughter Jean for almost 35 years. She welcomed the plan but said whether they could afford it depended on how much they were asked to pay.
She added: “It’s wonderful. We knew there was a possibility of it going off altogether.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for Social Care said: “Crucially Social Work Services can still make savings from this deal which will be mainly redirected towards our services for vulnerable children.
“We will be looking for a small portion of the costs to be met by those who use the transport service.”
SPT chairman Alistair Watson said SPT has been working in partnership with Glasgow City Council since August, adding: “The most significant result of that collaboration was the proposal that SPT would become responsible for the co-ordination of community transport for the various voluntary clubs currently served by the Council. I am delighted that has now been agreed and SPT will now take over this part of the service in April next year.”
