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Fundraisers to friendship: 10 Inspiring FoodCycle stories

  • March 14, 2022

We’ve been nourishing communities for ten wonderful years, and over our time we’ve been utterly inspired by the people who make FoodCycle happen – from our guests and volunteers, to our fundraisers and partners. So to celebrate our ripe old age, here are ten things that make us say ‘WOW’.

  • Lewisham fundraiser

When it comes to fundraisers, the possibilities are endless, and our projects are always thinking of innovative ways to raise vital funds. FoodCycle Lewisham recently organised a screening of the film Ratatouilleand raised over £300!

  • Superstar volunteers

FoodCycle simply would not be possible without the dedication and passion of our volunteers. In return, we help our volunteers to discover new skills and unlock their volunteer potential:

“My confidence has boosted and boosted more and more. I’ve met some great people that give up their time to help the community and sometimes it makes me really emotional. I’ve even been to charity events and I am putting myself up for a Fun Run to raise money, all for the charity. Every session gets better and better and I feel come the summer the project will hopefully be well known to the community. I am fully behind FoodCycle as this I feel is my goal and want it to go far for the future as being made Project Leader in such a short time was amazing.”

fundraisers blog photo

  • Love is in the air

Our super volunteers are always thinking of new ways to raise oh-so important funds to help fuel our community meals across the country. This time around it was FoodCycle Bath fundraisers who raised over £400 with a Valentine’s Day train station collection! All you need is love…and delicious community meals.

  • Our community never stops growing

One of the newest projects to join the FoodCycle family is FoodCycle Birmingham Sutton! This project is only a few months old but has already had a mighty big impact on the local community. Just ask our guests:

“It’s very useful having a midweek meal. I just think it’s such a good idea. The initial step is making that first step through the front door because once you come the food will blow your mind. It speaks for itself. In terms of the quality of the food, in terms of the community spirit and in terms of the relaxed atmosphere. You know you have a family that comes here and it’s such a nice relaxed atmosphere. There’s no trouble, no hassle and it inspires you to come again.”

  • Where it all began

FoodCycle began in May 2009 when our founder, Kelvin, came up with a way of reducing levels of food waste whilst providing meals for people at risk of food poverty or loneliness. From that first pot of ‘brown sludge’ served at FoodCycle LSE in May 2009, FoodCycle now has 40 projects that are collectively feeding over 1,400 people across the country every week. From small acorns…

  • The power of a nutritious meal

We pride ourselves on the fact that not only are our meals delicious, but highly nutritious as well!

“Baby enjoyed that! He wouldn’t have been able to grow as much without this place. The midwife said he’s a very healthy baby. It’s because I’ve been eating lots of fruit and vegetables which usually, I can’t afford. I only get them here so if it wasn’t for this place baby would’ve suffered. They reckon he’s going to be 8 lbs.”

fundraisers Foodcycle nutritious meal

  • Stephen Hawking’s last gift

In April 2018, the world-famous scientist Stephen Hawking passed away. In a final act of kindness, Stephen made a donation to FoodCycle Cambridge to help provide an extra special Easter Sunday meal. Read more about it here.

  • Just Eat take on Everest

In October 2018, 12 terrific trekkers from the Just Eat team took on the immense challenge of making it to Everest basecamp. They raised a whopping £11,785 for FoodCycle and took got our lovely Pip to the finish.

just eat fundraisers

  • Foodie fundraisers

We’re lucky to have a community filled with talented chefs and foodies, who put on some of the best meals in town for our guests. On top of this amazing work, they’re also putting on some of the most exciting supper club fundraisers that help us to bring tasty, nutritious meals to more people.

Fork & Knife supper clubs run throughout the year and for each event they invite a special guest chef to share their perfect menu. The food is always centred around vegetables and proceeds are donated to FoodCycle.

The team at FoodCycle Finsbury Park are also no stranger to putting on successful fundraisers. This weekend they are putting on their second supper club with the amazing Asma Khan, the first British chef to star Netflix’s Chef’s Table and founder of Darjeeling Express. We can’t wait to get stuck in!

fundraisers supper club
Photo from Finsbury Park’s Supper Club
  • A recipe for friendship

Many of our guests say that they have met new people and made friends as a result of coming to our meals. In fact, 77% of guests have made new friends, 79% feel more part of their community and 85% have met people from different backgrounds. We love to know that our meals really are helping communities to break bread, break down barriers and forge friendships!

“I love coming to FoodCycle as it helps to meet new people and it also helps to tackle problems of isolation and loneliness. Feeling isolated and lonely can lead to depression and lack of confidence. Coming here helps me to connect with the community and helps me to engage with people” 

Inspired to get involved? Find out more about fundraising, volunteering or eating with us! 

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Not all heroes wear capes, some rock an apron and hairnet and whip up a mean pasta bake...

Join our volunteer team and help cook, serve or simply lend a hand. Whether it’s chopping veggies, plating up meals or washing up, it all makes a difference.

Join us for a Summer of Peas & Love. 🫛❤️

Do good, feel good, volunteer with us this summer.

Head to the link in the bio to register and have the best summer ever.

#SummerGoals #SummerVolunteers #Community #CommunityKitchen #FreeMeal #FoodCycle

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18121146427421273
Not all heroes wear capes, some rock an apron and hairnet and whip up a mean pasta bake...

Join our volunteer team and help cook, serve or simply lend a hand. Whether it’s chopping veggies, plating up meals or washing up, it all makes a difference.

Join us for a Summer of Peas & Love. 🫛❤️

Do good, feel good, volunteer with us this summer. 

Head to the link in the bio to register and have the best summer ever. 

#SummerGoals #SummerVolunteers #Community #CommunityKitchen #FreeMeal #FoodCycle

🎾 A huge shoutout to our friends at Danone for treating some of our amazing volunteers (and a few staff too!) to an unforgettable day at Wimbledon 💚

On 5th July, a group of lucky volunteers from all over the country were picked in a random draw and got to enjoy top tennis action plus a tasty lunch and afternoon tea.

We’re so grateful to Danone for recognising the time, care and energy our volunteers give every week. You are the heart of FoodCycle and we love being able to say thank you in fun and meaningful ways like this.

Here’s to more memories, more meals and more community 💫

#FoodCycle #ThankYouDanone #Wimbledon

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18103621048554461
🎾 A huge shoutout to our friends at Danone for treating some of our amazing volunteers (and a few staff too!) to an unforgettable day at Wimbledon 💚

On 5th July, a group of lucky volunteers from all over the country were picked in a random draw and got to enjoy top tennis action plus a tasty lunch and afternoon tea.

We’re so grateful to Danone for recognising the time, care and energy our volunteers give every week. You are the heart of FoodCycle and we love being able to say thank you in fun and meaningful ways like this.

Here’s to more memories, more meals and more community 💫

#FoodCycle #ThankYouDanone #Wimbledon

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

Well done to the fantastic team at FoodCycle Weoley Castle for another warm and welcoming community meal 💚

This week, they served 22 guests, welcomed a brand new hosting volunteer, and dished up a delicious three-course menu featuring:
🥣 Roasted cauliflower and fennel soup
🍅 Ratatouille with mash and side salad
🍊 Orange drizzle cake

We also want to give a huge shout-out to Jacky, who hit an incredible milestone of 400 volunteer hours! Thank you for your dedication and the difference you continue to make every week 🎉

If you’re in the Weoley Castle area, head to St Gabriel’s at 4pm on Tuesdays for a free meal, good chat and a warm welcome.

Thinking about volunteering? Sign up here via the link in the bio.

#Volunteering #FoodCycle #WeoleyCastle #FreeMeal #WestMidlands #ThreeCourseMeal

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18104314987543694
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

Well done to the fantastic team at FoodCycle Weoley Castle for another warm and welcoming community meal 💚

This week, they served 22 guests, welcomed a brand new hosting volunteer, and dished up a delicious three-course menu featuring:
🥣 Roasted cauliflower and fennel soup
🍅 Ratatouille with mash and side salad
🍊 Orange drizzle cake

We also want to give a huge shout-out to Jacky, who hit an incredible milestone of 400 volunteer hours! Thank you for your dedication and the difference you continue to make every week 🎉

If you’re in the Weoley Castle area, head to St Gabriel’s at 4pm on Tuesdays for a free meal, good chat and a warm welcome.

Thinking about volunteering? Sign up here via the link in the bio. 

#Volunteering #FoodCycle #WeoleyCastle #FreeMeal #WestMidlands #ThreeCourseMeal

A huge thank you to Jane and her brilliant "Ladies that Picnic" for coming together to support FoodCycle during The Big Lunch 💚

Jane hosted a wonderful afternoon filled with community spirit, delicious vegetarian dishes, a quiz, a raffle and even original artwork for sale, all to raise vital funds for our work.

We’re so grateful to Jane and everyone who came along. Your generosity and creativity help us bring people together over food, one meal at a time.

#TheBigLunch #FoodCycle #CommunitySupport #Wardley #Swinton

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18351310624087623
A huge thank you to Jane and her brilliant "Ladies that Picnic" for coming together to support FoodCycle during The Big Lunch 💚

Jane hosted a wonderful afternoon filled with community spirit, delicious vegetarian dishes, a quiz, a raffle and even original artwork for sale, all to raise vital funds for our work.

We’re so grateful to Jane and everyone who came along. Your generosity and creativity help us bring people together over food, one meal at a time.

#TheBigLunch #FoodCycle #CommunitySupport #Wardley #Swinton

Run for change in 2026

We’ve got two charity places for the iconic London Marathon and they could be yours 👟

Take on one of the world’s most famous races while helping FoodCycle fight food poverty, tackle loneliness and stop good food from going to waste 💚

Think you’ve got what it takes? Tell us why you’d love to run for us by Sunday 6 July.

📝 Apply now via the link in the bio
📌 £100 reg fee
🎯 £2,500 fundraising target

Let’s do something amazing together.

#FoodCycle #LondonMarathon #CharityPlace #RunForCharity

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Run for change in 2026

We’ve got two charity places for the iconic London Marathon and they could be yours 👟

Take on one of the world’s most famous races while helping FoodCycle fight food poverty, tackle loneliness and stop good food from going to waste 💚

Think you’ve got what it takes? Tell us why you’d love to run for us by Sunday 6 July.

📝 Apply now via the link in the bio
📌 £100 reg fee
🎯 £2,500 fundraising target

Let’s do something amazing together.

#FoodCycle #LondonMarathon #CharityPlace #RunForCharity

50 guests, a buzzing dining room and a whole lot of love in Clacton this week!

The sun was shining, the queue was full of chatter, and the energy inside was just as warm 💚

A huge shout out to newly graduated Project Leader Yvonne, who served up her first official meal made entirely from fresh surplus ingredients and nailed it! 👏

Every guest left with a grocery bag to take home, and Collection PL Chris worked his usual magic, making sure nothing went to waste. Even his chickens were happy with the scraps 🐓

Great food, great people, great Monday. Clacton, you rock!

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18331943779165808
50 guests, a buzzing dining room and a whole lot of love in Clacton this week! 

The sun was shining, the queue was full of chatter, and the energy inside was just as warm 💚

A huge shout out to newly graduated Project Leader Yvonne, who served up her first official meal made entirely from fresh surplus ingredients and nailed it! 👏

Every guest left with a grocery bag to take home, and Collection PL Chris worked his usual magic, making sure nothing went to waste. Even his chickens were happy with the scraps 🐓

Great food, great people, great Monday. Clacton, you rock!

Looking for a feel-good gift that actually makes a difference?

Say hello to the FoodCycle merch range 💚

💚 Tote bags that carry kindness
💚 Tees and aprons that spread good vibes
💚 The perfect pressie for your foodie friend, your hosting hero or just yourself (you deserve it)

Every purchase supports our mission to feed communities, fight food waste and tackle loneliness.

Tap the link in bio to shop and gift with purpose.

#FoodCycle #ToteBag #Apron #GiftIddeas #CharityGift

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18062368280470329
Looking for a feel-good gift that actually makes a difference?

Say hello to the FoodCycle merch range 💚

💚 Tote bags that carry kindness
💚 Tees and aprons that spread good vibes
💚 The perfect pressie for your foodie friend, your hosting hero or just yourself (you deserve it)

Every purchase supports our mission to feed communities, fight food waste and tackle loneliness.

Tap the link in bio to shop and gift with purpose.

#FoodCycle #ToteBag #Apron #GiftIddeas #CharityGift

No fresh food? No problem!

To the store cupboard 😁

You need to watch this and see the incredible meal our volunteers produced with store cupboard ingredients and some epic teamwork :-)

Thanks to the Mitcham team for sharing.

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No fresh food? No problem! 

To the store cupboard 😁

You need to watch this and see the incredible meal our volunteers produced with store cupboard ingredients and some epic teamwork :-) 

Thanks to the Mitcham team for sharing.

☀️ Sandwiches.
👥 Great company.
🌍 A meaningful cause.

It`s National Picnic Week, and what a brilliant moment to make your Big Lunch a picnic.

Lunch outdoors can bring your friends, family, or work team together, boost morale, and raise vital funds to help FoodCycle tackle food waste, hunger, and loneliness.

Keep it simple. Make it count.

Start planning via the link in the bio.

#NationalPicnicWeek

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 17863421700422008
☀️ Sandwiches.
👥 Great company.
🌍 A meaningful cause.

It's National Picnic Week, and what a brilliant moment to make your Big Lunch a picnic.

Lunch outdoors can bring your friends, family, or work team together, boost morale, and raise vital funds to help FoodCycle tackle food waste, hunger, and loneliness.

Keep it simple. Make it count.

Start planning via the link in the bio. 

#NationalPicnicWeek

This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re proud to be part of something that brings people together 💚

At FoodCycle, no one eats alone. Our community meals offer food, conversation and connection because we know a friendly face and a warm plate can go a long way.

🌱 83% of guests feel happier after a meal
🤝 78% feel less lonely
🏘️ 83% feel more part of their community

A shared meal can mean so much more than just food.
It can be friendship.
Support.
A reason to smile.

Let`s tackle loneliness and food waste together.

#LonelinessAwarenessWeek #Community #BetterTogether

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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18067938281066591
This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re proud to be part of something that brings people together 💚

At FoodCycle, no one eats alone. Our community meals offer food, conversation and connection because we know a friendly face and a warm plate can go a long way.

🌱 83% of guests feel happier after a meal
🤝 78% feel less lonely
🏘️ 83% feel more part of their community

A shared meal can mean so much more than just food.
It can be friendship.
Support.
A reason to smile.

Let's tackle loneliness and food waste together. 

#LonelinessAwarenessWeek #Community #BetterTogether
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    New Covent Garden Market
    London, SW8 5EL
  • t: 020 7729 2775
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FoodCycle Head Office

  • 2.16, The Food Exchange
    New Covent Garden Market
    London, SW8 5EL
  • t: 020 7729 2775
  • e: [email protected]

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  • Find a Meal
  • Community Meals
  • Who We Are
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Follow us

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Cookie Policy

Privacy Policy

© FoodCycle 2022

Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349

Website by me&you