Angela – Volunteer
Cooking volunteer Angela is a sustainability champion at her local FoodCycle meal in Falcon Lodge.
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Selma has been a FoodCycle guest for a number of years, having discovered our weekly community meals when she lived in Newcastle. After moving to London, she decided to explore the growing number of Projects across the capital.
Living alone with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), she has found eating out can be a lonely experience. She believes that organisations such as FoodCycle are great examples when it comes to breaking down social barriers and creating spaces that are inclusive and welcoming.
I don’t do much cooking at home because I’m not a good cook, plus I’m on my own and don’t have family. It’s nice to come to a place where it’s about social interaction as well as great food.
In mainstream cafes and bars the normal social rules means you aren’t welcome to go up to people and sit next to them, so you end up sitting alone. At FoodCycle it’s different, everyone is alright sitting with each other and you meet different people – particularly as there are Projects across London.
Its particularly helpful at times like Easter and Christmas when, if you’re alone, there’s nothing to do and limited public transport. When you don’t have a family, you’re really out on a limb and even if you have friends, you can’t get near them because they’re with their family. If you’re not related to somebody, you’re not welcome with them.
I think it’s good to have meals that are not just for people who are homeless and people with bad circumstances, but where everybody is welcome. People get a better chance of learning to mix with different social types and you develop a better understanding of people and a better level of general social tolerance and acceptance. You feel like an equal and I think that’s really great.
FoodCycle has really good cooks who know how to do the best thing with the food they’ve got. The volunteers must have a good culinary knowledge base, because they get random food and know how to make the right flavour combinations to make the meal at its best. You also don’t get a lot of highly processed vegetarian food pretending to be meat, its all cooked from scratch using fresh vegetables.
I discovered FoodCycle when I lived in Newcastle and then I found out that it is a national network with Projects around the country. And though I’m not actually vegetarian as a rule, the meals are delicious. It’s nice to have the company, instead of just trying to cook things on your own and you often eating the same thing everyday. I’ve known of people who cook on their own and then you’re stuck in a bubble. and It’s great to be able to get out here and share a meal and sit at a table and meet others.
That’s it’s really good! There is a lot of stigma around community meals and for people who have mental health problems like depression, bipolar disorder or people like me, who have Asperger’s syndrome – or people who are homeless or struggling with addiction – who don’t fit in with the norm. At FoodCycle you can be yourself and it’s okay. I think the rest of society should take a leaf out of this book and learn to welcome everyone – rather than expecting people to be a certain way.
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"FoodCycle is a boost to my mental health.”
Every week, FoodCycle guests find more than food at our meals. They find company, kindness and a sense of belonging.
💬 “I go days without talking to anyone. Coming here lifts me.”
💬 “It’s changed my outlook and given me a reason to leave the house.”
💬 “I feel nourished and mentally refreshed.”
Community isn’t just important – it’s essential.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s keep showing up for each other.
#MHAW #FoodCycle #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #ThisIsMyCommunity
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme is community 💚
At FoodCycle, we believe that sitting down to share a meal with others can do wonders for our wellbeing.
Here’s what our guests told us:
🧑🤝🧑 83% feel happier after attending
👋 78% feel less lonely
🌍 91% have met people from different backgrounds
🏘️ 83% feel more part of their community
A warm meal, a friendly face, and a regular routine might sound simple, but they really do make a difference.
#MHAW #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #FoodCycle #ThisIsMyCommunity @MHFAEngland
We’re thrilled to announce our new charity partnership with @wagamama_uk
With a shared belief in the power of nourishing food and human connection, wagamama will be supporting FoodCycle through generous meal donations, chef collaborations at our community meals, skill-sharing sessions for volunteers, and so much more.
From cooking side by side with our teams to inviting our guests into their restaurants, this partnership is all about community, compassion and great food.
We can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.
Read more on the partnership via the link in the bio
#wagamama #foodcycle #partnership #communitymeal
This June, we’re teaming up with our friends at Eden Communities to celebrate food, friendship and FUN – and we want you in on it!
Whether it’s a garden picnic, a street party, or a tea and cake kind of vibe, The Big Lunch is your chance to bring people together and raise funds for FoodCycle while you’re at it 💚
👯♀️ Host with your housemates
🌞 Picnic in the park with pals
🏡 Invite the neighbours round
🍰 Or bring the party to your workplace
However you do it, you`re helping us fight food waste, tackle loneliness and serve up more delicious community meals across the UK.
📦 Grab your free Big Lunch Pack and get planning – link in bio!
@edencommunities
#TheBigLunch #foodcycle #community #communitymeal
🎉 A huge well done to FoodCycle Hartlepool for their very first themed night! 🎉
The evening was a fantastic success, thanks to the amazing effort of the Hartlepool volunteers who went above and beyond to make it extra special. Decorations, table snacks, and thoughtful touches helped create a brilliant atmosphere for their guests. 💛
A big thank you to their regular volunteer from Quorn for the fantastic donation of Quorn burgers, which were a real hit. 🍔
And a huge shout out to Morrisons Hartlepool for their incredible support. Their donations of cookies and dips made the meal even more memorable and will continue to help with future meals too. 🍪✨
It is wonderful to see the Hartlepool team showing the power of community spirit through food and friendship.
Don`t forget to tag us in all your posts, we love to see what our projects are creating for their communities.
#hartlepool #foodcycle #morrisons #quorn
Help us make a difference!
We would love it if you could nominate FoodCycle for a Movement for Good Health and Wellbeing Award. It only takes a minute and could help us support even more communities with free, nutritious meals.
Nominations close on 4th May – nominate us here: https://health.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1134423&ct=health#nominateACharity
Thank you for your support! 💚
@benefactgroup #Healthandwellbeing #foodcycle #community #socialgood #movementforgood
We were absolutely delighted to be selected as one of 20 charities supported by Overbury’s 2025 Charity Quiz.
Held at Westminster Park Plaza in February, the event brought together 100 teams from across the construction industry, raising an incredible £500,000 for charity through an evening of quiz rounds, connection and generosity.
A huge thank you to Overbury and all the event sponsors for their fantastic support.
And a special shout out to Rebecca Bradshaw, Overbury staff member and dedicated FoodCycle volunteer, for nominating us – we’re so grateful.
@overburyplc
Less than 24 hours to double your impact.
There’s still time to donate through the Big Give Green Match Fund and have your gift matched pound for pound.
We have just over £800 left to raise to unlock all of our match funding. Every donation will be matched while funds are available – meaning double the meals and double the impact for the people we support.
Many of our guests are struggling with the cost of living, with 75% finding it difficult to afford food or pay for their housing. Your support can make a real difference.
💚 76% of our guests report eating more fruit and vegetables
💚 83% feel happier after attending a FoodCycle meal
💚 78% feel less lonely
By donating today, you`re helping us do more than just provide food. You are helping us build community, improve wellbeing, and save good food from going to waste.
Donate now and help us reach our target.
Head to the link in the bio!
@biggiveorg #greenprojects #greenmatchfund #foodcycle #fightfoodwaste
🌍💚 It’s a BIG week… The Big Give Green Match Fund is here! 💚🌍
From today until 29th April, every donation to FoodCycle through The Big Give will be DOUBLED, helping us grow our environmental impact through community dining.
By turning surplus food into hot, healthy meals, we’re:
♻️ Tackling food waste
🌱 Cutting carbon emissions
🍽️ Feeding communities in need
In 2024, we saved 320 tonnes of food from waste, stopping 200,000kg of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Imagine what we can do with YOUR help, doubled.
Donate today and be part of something greener, kinder and more connected.
Link in bio to give.
#donate #causes #giveback #socialgood #environment #biggive #thebiggive #foodcycle
Do you leave a treat out for Father Christmas? Well, the Easter Bunny deserves some love too. 🥕🐰
We think this carrot cake recipe is perfect for Easter weekend.
Did you know you can scale this recipe up or down by changing the number of portions?
Try it yourself via the link in the bio.
Make sure to tag us in any of your baking creations.
#CarrotCake #EasterBunny #EasterReciope #EasterTreat #Cakes #EasterFood #FoodCycle
Registered charity No. 1134423 | Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
