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Community meals this week

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A Day With FoodCycle CEO Mary

  • July 12, 2022

Working with our friends at The Charity Times on their monthly ‘Leadership Diaries’ column, we asked our brilliant leader, FoodCycle CEO Mary McGrath to take us through a typical day in her shoes… 

Monday 7th June 2022

Afternoon at FoodCycle Hartlepool meeting volunteers rescuing surplus food and taking it back to a community kitchen on Kilmarnock Road where they turn it into a delicious three-course meal for people who are at risk of loneliness and food poverty. On this particular occasion, they rescued lots of carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and parsnips, as well as coconuts. Volunteer Simon is a chef and comes regularly to help the team cook really imaginative things.

A team of five of us get stuck in, chopping, peeling – cooking up a fresh tomato soup with basil and pepper; a stir-fry with noodles with lots of beautiful roasted veggies. For pudding banana bread and FoodCycle favourite, bread and butter pudding.

I sit with a group of guests who tell me that some local food banks have started charging for tins. They are worried that FoodCycle will do the same, but I assure them that our meals will remain free to all. We are in the midst of a cost of living crisis and those we serve seem to be feeling the pinch, but at least they will get one hot meal today.

One lady tells me she used to live in Lincoln and, at the height of lockdown, her daughter had to drive 400 miles round trip from Hartlepool to change her light bulb. She moved here but misses her friends so comes to FoodCycle for company.

Tuesday 8th June

Tuesday morning, busy diary today. First thing I meet with my Finance Manager to go through her report of accounts, look at expenditure and where we’re increasing our spend. We notice we’re spending more on kitchen equipment as we expand and with prices rising. We are also feeling the effects of the price hikes on food which is partly due to less surplus food supply from supermarkets because people are buying up all the reduced to clear items. This is fantastic news for the issue of food waste, but it means need to purchase more ingredients than usual. Something else we note is that more volunteers are claiming expenses particularly petrol; perhaps further indication that the cost of living is taking its toll.

That night I visit new Project FoodCycle Middlesborough and meet the brilliant team led by the talented Ruth. Eight volunteers in the kitchen cook a delicious salad with croutons and cheese; a beautiful pasta bake; then meringues with fresh food salad and white chocolate sauce. We welcome 30 people and I try to talk to as many as I can; a few that are clearly homeless, families and a lady forced to live with her friend because of domestic violence. She was clearly nervous but was delighted she’d come because she’d enjoyed the food and company. I’m reminded that sometimes people simply come to forget about their troubles for the night, or to share them with another person.

Wednesday 9th June

In Newcastle today, where we’re being assessed by one of our grant funders at FoodCycle Walker. It’s a lunchtime meal so the team is full of retired people and plenty of ladies who have volunteered with us for a number of years. I notice how much encouragement they give each other, particularly a new volunteer who is learning English. Everyone keeps an eye on her, helping her pronounce names of ingredients and encouraging her to be creative to build her confidence. They also know the guests incredibly well. Project Leader Jane, who has racked up a staggering 750 hours with us, sits me next to a man from El Salvador. Through limited English he tells me with tears in his eyes that bandits took his farm and murdered his family leading him to become a refugee living in Newcastle with his granddaughter. It’s a harrowing story but I’m glad I was there to hear it.

In the evening I’m at Leeds Beeston, another new project in a really deprived part of Leeds where we host a weekly free meal in a community hall beside a mosque. We get in to the kitchens at 5.30pm and work our socks off to have dinner ready by 6.30pm. It’s lovely to see the diversity of the guests mixing with each other and having a lovely time. The amount of surplus good we collect is phenomenal on this particular night – we have a glut of bananas, grapes, apples and satsumas so we make a fruit salad with yoghurt; a delicately spiced veggie curry by yours truly and a vegetable soup. The guests report back there’s too much pepper in the soup, one to remember next time!

Thursday 10th June

In Manchester at the offices of one of our Trustees, Mark Game of The Bread and Butter Thing, who we work with across a number of our Projects. Mark is an expert in sourcing surplus food so we discuss that and the cost of living crisis. Like us, they are seeing more demand for their service.

Afterwards, a zoom meeting with Carly Head of Marketing who is thrilled that our new website is live. The improved version is more user friendly and hopefully offers a fantastic experience for volunteers and guests; as well as donors. Also have an update from my Head of Fundraising; have a look at the volunteer rotas and guest numbers which are rising – a sign of the times.

That evening I’m at FoodCycle Levenshulme where I meet an inspirational lady called Jacqueline who is responsible for many of Manchester’s food projects through her company Blossom. She tells me about getting local people to grow food and initiatives teaching people how to cook, bringing people together to improve mental health and give them skills and confidence much like the work we do at FoodCycle with volunteers. We discuss ways to work together and cross promote via our respective audiences.

 

At the meal that night, I’m approached by volunteer Mimi who tells me she used to help out at FoodCycle Westgate but had to stop because she was getting married andmoved to Manchester with her husband. When she arrived she knew no one so she searched for a local FoodCycle and was overjoyed to find one nearby. She looks forward to coming all week and said she loves getting in the kitchen with the other volunteers. It was heartwarming to hear that people seek us out because they know they will find kindred spirits and make friends.

Friday 11th June

Zoom meeting with my Head of Fundraising first thing. We are putting together a major application to go to a funder that has approached us to help with our expansion and recruitment of volunteers in the Yorkshire/East Midlands area, as well as the South East. We also discuss a Gala we want to organize next year as part of our 2023 fundraising plan and talk about a major potential corporate partner coming on board. We are keen to get money in sooner rather then later so that we are ready in the autumn we’re going to see the effects of the current cost increases and the predicted rise of energy bills in October.

 

After I head off to meet Matthew, our Regional Manger for Yorkshire, Teeside and The Humber. Mathew joined us a year ago and works remotely, so it’s a rare treat to see him face to face. He is doing brilliantly, having launched four Projects and recruiting lots of brilliant volunteers and really helping to grow our presence in the region. We identify a three-year growth strategy and discuss the grant we are applying for; it’s a great meeting and I’m reminded again how invested the FoodCycle team are in connecting communities across the country.

 

 

 

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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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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 17857416597451630
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

26 1
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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Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 17916620373031923
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

47 1
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

The Big Lunch is in full swing and we’re loving your ideas! 💚

🍽️ Francisca in Manchester brought her colleagues together for a team lunch
🥪 James in Leicester used food donations to serve up a community spread
☀️ And Jane’s hosting a lovely ladies’ picnic, with a suggested £5 donation for guests

There’s still time to join in and your lunch can be as simple as a few friends, a shared bite to eat, and a small donation to our fundraising page.

It is a perfect excuse to catch up and support a brilliant cause 🙌

More information is on the link in the bio and don`t forget to tag us in your event photos.

#TheBigLunch #Lunch #FoodCycle #Community

17 0
Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18038519648330111
The Big Lunch is in full swing and we’re loving your ideas! 💚

🍽️ Francisca in Manchester brought her colleagues together for a team lunch
🥪 James in Leicester used food donations to serve up a community spread
☀️ And Jane’s hosting a lovely ladies’ picnic, with a suggested £5 donation for guests

There’s still time to join in and your lunch can be as simple as a few friends, a shared bite to eat, and a small donation to our fundraising page.

It is a perfect excuse to catch up and support a brilliant cause 🙌

More information is on the link in the bio and don't forget to tag us in your event photos.

#TheBigLunch #Lunch #FoodCycle #Community

"I can go for days without talking to anyone. Living on my own put my mental health low… but FoodCycle has changed that."

This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re sharing just how powerful food and friendship can be.

When guests join us for a community meal, they’re not just receiving a plate of food, they’re being welcomed into a space filled with kindness and connection.

💬 We’re proud that 78% of our guests say they feel less lonely
💚 And 83% feel happier after a meal

No one should have to face loneliness alone.

#LonelinessAwarenessWeek

63 5
Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 18112845742491506
"I can go for days without talking to anyone. Living on my own put my mental health low… but FoodCycle has changed that."

This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re sharing just how powerful food and friendship can be.

When guests join us for a community meal, they’re not just receiving a plate of food, they’re being welcomed into a space filled with kindness and connection.

💬 We’re proud that 78% of our guests say they feel less lonely
💚 And 83% feel happier after a meal

No one should have to face loneliness alone.

#LonelinessAwarenessWeek

Eric ran a marathon in full clown costume. And we couldn’t be prouder.

Recently, Eric, who is a valued member of our hosting team at FoodCycle Wembley, completed the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for FoodCycle 💚

His reason?

"I’ve experienced food scarcity multiple times... That’s why, when I have the time and stability, I see it not just as a privilege but as a responsibility to support charities like FoodCycle."

Eric, we’re so grateful for your dedication, your humour and your commitment to helping others...even if you really hate running 🏃‍♂️🤣

Clown costume or not, you’re an absolute hero to us!

#EdinburghMarathon #Fundraising #Running #FoodCycle

22 0
Open post by foodcyclehq with ID 17948632220986277
Eric ran a marathon in full clown costume. And we couldn’t be prouder.

Recently, Eric, who is a valued member of our hosting team at FoodCycle Wembley, completed the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for FoodCycle 💚

His reason?

"I’ve experienced food scarcity multiple times... That’s why, when I have the time and stability, I see it not just as a privilege but as a responsibility to support charities like FoodCycle."

Eric, we’re so grateful for your dedication, your humour and your commitment to helping others...even if you really hate running 🏃‍♂️🤣

Clown costume or not, you’re an absolute hero to us!

#EdinburghMarathon #Fundraising #Running #FoodCycle
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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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© FoodCycle 2022

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

Website by me&you