Fears are growing for vulnerable residents on Morden’s St Helier estate after Merton Council slashed funding to a charity considered a lifeline for the elderly.

Friends In St Helier (Fish) believe it won’t be able to continue providing elderly outreach and social programs from St George’s Church in Central Road after its £44,000 yearly grant was halved for 2009 - and fear as a result many users will just “waste away”.

It also needs to find private backers to pay for the handful of salaried staff who work on the project, mainly run by volunteers, when the money runs out in September.

Fish volunteer Anne Sadler, 78, said it will be the most vulnerable members of the community who will be worst affected.

She warned: “They will deteriorate without the social interaction and become isolated because there is no other club like this for them in the area.

“Many of the people here served their country during the war and they deserve better.”

Kate Stone, a volunteer who joined the charity following a personal loss, added: “The elderly members here give us back as much as we give them, I'm worried many of them will just waste away if Friends in St Helier disappears."

One such member, Nelly Newton, who turns 100 in June, summed up the spirit of the members. “I wouldn't get out if I didn't come here, this is like a family and I’ll miss everyone very much.”

Councillor Linda Scott, cabinet member for housing, adult care and health, said while the council tries to support as many groups as it can, it needs to ensure funding goes to groups with the “greatest need and provides value for money”.

But Fish volunteers believe the charity, which started over 25 years ago serving tea and biscuits in a flat on the estate, is value for money and provides a number of services which will cost the council more to deliver on an individual basis.

Stephanie Wells, the senior community worker in charge of the club, added: “Many of the old people can't go out, let alone in the snow, so we took them shopping and helped them to stock up. Things like this can be the difference between life and death.”

Fish administrator Tom Cantell, who plans to lodge an appeal against the decision, explained how the group produces 30 meals a day with just two paid staff and volunteers.

The group also collects prescriptions as well as regularly checking people are alright in their homes.

“Some of them have been members for over 20 years, they are like our extended family,” he added.

But Coun Scott said poor Central Government funding meant the council could not maintain the same level of funding for some of the voluntary sector streams it funds.

“However, it’s important to note that The Friends in St Helier group will receive £22,120 in funding for 2009/10,” she said.