For almost 27 years Food Train has been making daily life easier for older people across Dumfries and Galloway, providing vital services to those who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty, or disability. We make hundreds of grocery deliveries every week, ensuring those most in need have access to fresh groceries. Our teams of dedicated volunteers across the regions also go that extra mile by helping with household jobs and providing much needed friendly social contact and meals through our befriending services.

It has been our long-held ambition to have a Dumfries town centre base. Somewhere warm and welcoming for older people, their families, and carers, to expand the way we can improve the lives of older people. Previously, Food Train has worked from a draughty portacabin, a mouldy basement and a back street shop, always working towards a suitable community centre for older people. Through years of fundraising and the wonderful generosity of local people, we have managed to purchase a former council building to transform into our first purpose-created headquarters and community centre. We have appointed a local Annan-based solutions business Eco Group to lead the renovations which are expected to take around 5 months.

As well as being the base for Food Trains life-improving services, the building will be a community hub, providing a safe, nice, and friendly environment for older people; where they can access information, services, and activities, helping improve their lives. We want the centre to be at its best from the moment it opens, with equipment thats fit for purpose for the specific and varied needs of our older people. That's why were mounting this final push and asking for your help and support.

Can you Sponsor-A-Seat in our new lounge area where our older members can relax and socialise? Any amount is greatly appreciated and would help towards providing the seating we need, however if you and your employees are able to gift £100 or more, we would be delighted to add your organisations logo/name to the sponsors wallboard that will be displayed in the building.

We would be delighted and thankful if you can help and become #FoodTrainHeroes. Together we will make a difference for our local older people.

Work begins Eco managing director Eddie Black, front left and Food Train chief executive Michelle Carruthers MBE on-site at English Street, Dumfries.