A drop-in centre that has been a "lifeline" for the elderly Asians in Ealing for almost 40 years is facing the axe.

Southall Day Centre, which is the first day centre in the UK to tailor services to older people from Asian backgrounds, has had its funding from Ealing Council slashed by 75%.

This is despite the centre flourishing with more than 400 people visiting each day, say supporters. They fear it will be unable to operate if it loses its appeal bid for a share of a £290,000 pot of funding for older people.

The council has allocated that total to Neighbourly Care Southall.

Santosh Kanwar, head of the drop-in centre, said: “It is just not sensible to give all of that money to one organisation.

"We do not have any confidence in the council officers making these kind of decisions and so we are appealing.

“We cannot survive without this money. It is totally unacceptable that we made a bid for that money, which is ring-fenced exactly for the people we care for, and we did not get one penny.

“We have been operating in the community for 37 years. It's just unthinkable that we may have to stop this care.”

Santosh Kanwar

The drop-in centre is run by a consortium made up of Age UK, Anglo Caribbean Society, The Centre for Armenian Information and Advice, Mencap, MIND and Southall Day Centre.

Their argument is that as their services cover the whole of Ealing - catering for a number of aspects of care - it is the responsibility of Ealing Council to fund their operations.

However, the council has reduced the centre’s budget of over £200,000 to just £35,000 which will force the two centres in Shackleton Road and Western Road to close.

Rod Cahill, chief executive of Catalyst which loans the premises on Western Road to the charity, said: “There really is nowhere quite like Southall Day Centre. For hundreds of people it is the beating heart of this community.

“Over the past three-and-a-half decades we have made life easier and better for some of our most vulnerable members across west London – offering friendship and practical help for those who need it most.”

An Ealing Council spokeswoman said the allocation process for health and social care grants is still in progress and any organisation which has been unsuccessful in its bid has the right to appeal.

She added: “The council will give careful consideration to the points made in such appeals. However, in the light of the overall financial context facing the council it is inevitable that some organisations will be disappointed.”

The drop-in centre offers training, advice and support to community members. It also provides a range of activities including group discussions and seminars, keep fit classes, cultural events and excursions.