Demand for emergency food parcels has "escalated significantly"
The charity fears how they'll be able to continue battling against food poverty.
Last updated 22nd Sep 2025
Charity workers supplying emergency food parcels to people across Annandale and Eskdale say there has been no let up in desperate pleas for help – and fear demand will grow in the coming year.
The team at The First Base Agency have helped nearly 30,000 people with emergency food supplies over the past two decades.
The volunteers have revealed that demand has “escalated substantially”, and also gave an insight into the humiliation and embarrassment often felt by recipients seeking support – despite widely-acknowledged high poverty levels in the region.
In a recent application to Dumfries and Galloway Council for annual grant funding,
The First Base Agency stated: “Over the last 15 years demand for our emergency food parcels has escalated substantially.
“In the last 12 months we have helped 2,000 people in Annandale and Eskdale.
“This figure might well grow in the coming year.
“However for the purposes of this application we are budgeting on demand remaining the same.
“The need for the service being required is proved by the ongoing demand we continue to meet.
“The impact of the ‘cost of living’ crisis has been widely reported and acknowledged. It is hard indeed to see any reasons why there will be a fall in demand for the service we offer. A continued rise is probably more likely.”
It continues: “The number of people accessing our service is compelling. Asking for a food parcel is something nobody ever wants to do.
“Many find it humiliating and are terrified of being seen.
“Sadly, there are still high levels of stigma shown to those experiencing poverty. We simply keep a record of the total number of people we help with emergency
food.
“We learnt many years ago that undertaking any kind of intrusive means testing achieves nothing and puts people off seeking help.
“Of course, some of the 2,000 people we will help in 2025/26 could probably manage to get by without our help. However, this is a very small percentage. Of much greater are the hundreds of people who do not seek our help as a result of shame or a fear of being seen.”
The First Base Agency explained that locals who were once given food parcel support often pay it forward when their finances and circumstances improve.
In its grant application, First Base Agency stated: “It is very common for us to see clients who have used our service for a short period become long term food donors.
“We also find we are often the recipients of funeral collections where a family member has been helped by our service for a short period of time.
“Our mission is clear – we will provide emergency food provision across Annandale and Eskdale to ensure no one goes hungry.”