Arran Banner Letters – week 10, 2026

North Ayrshire Against Cuts to Social Care

Sir,

A campaign group, North Ayrshire Against Cuts to Social Care, has been set up to oppose the cuts to health and social care in North Ayrshire.

The group has organised a rally outside Cunninghame House in Irvine on the day that the Integration Joint Board will be meeting to discuss their budget on Friday March 13, at 1pm.

Please come and join us. We need as many people there as possible to have our voices heard. If you can’t manage over from Arran then send the information to friends and loved ones on the mainland and encourage them to attend.

These cuts will be detrimental to the health and well-being of many vulnerable people, ending preventative care, forcing carers into economic hardship, putting lives at risk and resulting in job losses.

You can follow the campaign by joining the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/2397833917335875

We demand a needs-based budget.

Yours,

Ann Hume,

NAASCC representative on Arran.

Film club’s films can not be named

Sir,

There will be a film shown by Corrie Film Club on Sunday March 8, at 7pm, in Corrie and Sannox Village Hall.

Our license does not permit advertising the name of the film of the month but if you do wish to know and/or wish to join our mailing list that does allow us to inform you, please email Heather Gough on gough.carlo@btinternet.com

Yours,

Heather Gough,

Corrie Film Club.

Tackling rising pensioner poverty

Sir,

The Holyrood elections are fast approaching. Here’s why all candidates must make tackling rising pensioner poverty a priority.

In the Highlands and Islands, 28 per cent of older people told us they have skipped a meal, and 66 per cent told us they are cutting back on heating and utilities. Across the region, around 16 per cent of people over State Pension age survive on a very low income of under £15,000. None of us deserve to live our later life like this.

Many older people in the Highlands and Islands also tell us they are feeling unheard, with 66% per cent revealing that they don’t feel represented by the Scottish Government.

Without action, the number of older people in poverty across Scotland could rise by 20,000 by the end of the next Scottish Parliament. At Independent Age, we’re calling on all candidates to commit to a national pensioner poverty strategy in their 2026 Scottish Election Manifesto. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s backed by the older public, with 83 per cent of all older people in the Highlands and Islands supporting the Scottish Government in doing this. We also want to see the next Scottish Government help older people feel listened to and represented, by creating an Older People’s Commissioner.

Together, we can make Scotland the best place in the world to grow old.

Yours,

Debbie Horne,

Independent Age.