Charity demand hits one million meals milestone

A lifeline Stirling charity which supports people with major financial problems has celebrated a one million milestone.

- STEWART MCCONNELL

Start Up Stirling, which provides help for people who are experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity in the Stirling area, has just announced that by the end of 2025, they had distributed 1,044,958 meals via their Crisis Food Service in the last eight years.

The charity, established in 1994, has been providing food support for the past 12 years.

Initially, they began with one small foodbank in a church hall.

The service has expanded to respond to local need, and they now coordinate two city centre foodbanks, as well as six satellite rural ones.

They also have a rural delivery service to reach outlying villages and towns.

When the service began back in October 2012, it helped 12 families.

By 2025, this had risen to 143,500 meals, supporting 3722 people, 1244 of whom were children.