Dumfries-founded charity Food Train has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan amid mounting concerns about malnutrition among older people.
It hopes to grow the number of local authority areas across Scotland in which it has branches from nine to 18 – taking the total number of over-65s that it supports to tackle malnutrition and loneliness to 4,000 by 2031.
Food Train is headquartered at its community hub on English Street in Dumfries, with its shopping delivery and befriending nationally shaped on those operated by volunteer teams in Dumfries, Annan, Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart and Stranraer.
Chief Executive Rosie McLuskie said: “Food Train is more than just a shopping service. Our volunteers deliver not only food, but dignity for our older people. That’s vitally important.
“Over the next five years we will strengthen our foundations, expand our reach and ensure that every older person who needs support can access it with dignity and choice.
“When older people thrive, communities thrive.”
Expansion is initially being targeted in regions which neighbour existing operations.
The strategic plan includes working to make sure the Scottish Government’s National Malnutrition Prevention Framework ensures local delivery links, developing service delivery models which reflect different community needs, strengthening public understanding of the links between food, health and independence while screening all of its members for malnutrition.
Rosie McLuskie added: “Our plan is ambitious, but it needs to be. The support that Food Train provides has never been needed more.
“We can see that malnutrition among older people is rising. That’s a shocking position to be in. It’s one that needs to be addressed – and the services provided by our volunteers can play a vital part in doing so.”
Official estimates of malnourishment among over-65s is 10%. But screening by Food Train found that 22% of the almost 600 over-65s that it assessed across Scotland between March and September (2025) were at risk – up from 19% in the previous six months.
Ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament elections, Food Train has called on political party leaders to put food security and dignity for older people at the heart of their manifesto priorities by:
- Ringfencing funding for community-based food access for older people
- Enshrining the right to food for older people into Scots law
- Launching a national malnutrition prevention and screening programme
- Investing in volunteers and community-led support
- Involving older people in food and health policy design
Food Train vice-chair Bruce Hedley said: “It’s clear that the services we provide are really important. They’re about providing dignity for older people.
“This is about giving people choice in their life, allowing them to live as independently as they can as long as they can.”
To find out more about Food Train, go to www.thefoodtrain.co.uk.
Main picture: Food Train Chief Executive Rosie McLuskie and vice-chair Bruce Hedley with the charity’s new five-year strategic plan.