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Food banks are places where people can get food and other essential things for free. They are a bit like supermarkets, but everything is free for people who can’t afford to buy it. The food and other items in food banks is donated by other people and organised by a community group or charity.
There are around 2,000 food banks in the UK.
Often, people need a referral in order to use a food bank from an organisation that assesses their level of need. People who want to use a food bank usually need to provide information about their financial circumstances to show they need help.
Food banks provide food parcels for people to take home to cook and eat.
At FoodCycle we run Community Meals, which means we invite people to come inside, sit down and enjoy a hot, nutritious meal with us. Our three-course meals are cooked and served by friendly volunteers in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our weekly community dining service is free to everyone and not only helps tackle food poverty but it also helps alleviate loneliness by bringing the community together.
Unlike many food banks, at a FoodCycle community meal no-one is asked to prove that they need free food. We just provide a warm welcome, a delicious three-course meal and good company. We’ll also send you home with a food parcel if we have any extra food.
One of the ways to help charity food banks is to donate when you do your regular shop at a supermarket. Many supermarkets will have a box for customers to put food bank donations in.
Volunteers in food banks do things like preparing and distributing food parcels and driving to collect stock.
To find out more about how to volunteer for your local food bank, you could ask at your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau or just search online for your nearest food bank.
One of the first places to find a food bank is to ask at your local Citizens Advice Bureau. There are also a number of different charity food banks, and independent food banks which you can find online.
These websites may be a good place to start:
Find a Food Bank – The Trussell Trust
Find a Food Bank — Bankuet ®
Independent food banks map – Independent Food Aid Network UK
We’re glad you asked! We always need people to help us cook tasty meals and provide a warm welcome. We have lots of fun and flexible roles and you’ll be helping your local community.
Join our FoodCycle community in the best way for you.
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We`re thrilled to have been chosen as one of 12 charities to benefit from grant funding in 2025 from The Health Lottery.
This support will help us continue to improve the health and well-being of communities across the country by providing free, nutritious meals and welcoming spaces for connection and conversation.
A huge thank you to The Health Lottery for recognising the impact of our work and helping us reach even more people who need support.
We’re excited about what this funding will make possible, from expanding our reach to deepening the support we offer to our guests.
Read about all 12 charities at https://www.thehealthlotteryfoundation.org.uk/funding-information/200k-of-support-to-12-charities-to-improve-health-wellbeing/
#TheHealthLottery #FoodCycle #Charities #CharityGiving #CharitableFoundation #CommunityMeal #FreeMeals
"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
Registered charity No. 1134423 | Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
