Lib Dems continue to support lunch clubs

12.00.00am GMT Tue 17th Feb 2004

Lib Dems will be continuing to support lunch clubs after listening to people's concerns over proposed lunch club savings. The Lib Dems are now proposing that both the Claremont Central Mission and Whittington Park lunch clubs continue to get funding but at a reduced level more in line with other lunch clubs. This will mean that older people who currently use those lunch clubs will mostly continue to be able to. The Claremont can still continue to provide 200 lunches per week for the elderly funded by the council, only 50 less than are currently funded and the Whittington will still provide 140 lunches per week, only 35 less than currently. The council will still fund lunches for over 1700 of Islington's elderly people in total. There is also good news for the Mayville Club whose funding will be increased to £1500 after the Lib Dems stepped in to safeguard its future. This comes on top of the current £6000 subsidy the council gives to the club and they will also be working more closely with the club to help them find funding from other sources. Commenting on the changes, Cllr Meral Ece, Lib Dem Executive Member for Health and Social Care said: "Lunch clubs provide a very valuable service for many of our local elderly people. That's why we've listened very carefully to their concerns and taken the time to talk to them about these changes. What we're now proposing will still mean that many elderly people can take advantage of the excellent services which both the Whittington and the Claremont provide. At a time when many other boroughs have cut back on their lunch clubs we'll still be funding lunches for over 1700 older people." "I'm also very glad that we can offer extra support and funding to the Mayville Club which will ensure they can carry on providing lunches to elderly people." "Although we are having to still make some small savings, Islington's most vulnerable elderly and children are set to benefit from an extra £2.9 million this year, on top of the £3.4 million invested into frontline services last year. This is good news for elderly and vulnerable children across Islington." Facts 1. Details of the new proposals: Current funding original level of saving proposed new level for 05/06 Claremont £52,811 £52, 811 £25,000 Whittington £49,964 £49,964 £17,500 There will be no change to its funding in 2004/5 2. The cost of a lunch at the Claremont is £4.14 and at the Whittington it is £5.59 compared to other local provision which averages less than £2. The amended proposals will now be based on payment being made at £2.50 a meal, which is still higher than the current average at other lunch clubs Lunches per week 2004/5 Lunches per week 2005/6 Claremont 250 200 Whittington Park 175 140 Caribbean Pensioners 45 45 Canonbury Community 75 75 Baptist Church Islington Chinese Assoc 50 50 Community Refugees 25 25 from Vietnam Highbury Roundhouse 24 24 Indopakistan 13 13 St Giles Christian Mission 23 23 Mayville Community Ctr 39 39 3. The Claremont are currently funded for 250 lunches per week but in 2002/3 an average of only 170 lunches were provided per week.