Angela – Volunteer
Cooking volunteer Angela is a sustainability champion at her local FoodCycle meal in Falcon Lodge.
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In 2023, Abs joined the FoodCycle Walthamstow team, describing himself as a driven individual with a passion for making a positive impact. Having lived in Waltham Forest for seven years since graduating with a Civil Engineering degree, he’s actively engaged with the community, dedicating his time to various charitable endeavours, including supporting the Library Service, volunteering as a landscaper in Lloyd Park, and serving food to the homeless in central London, in addition to FoodCycle.
As a Civil Engineer, he has a passion for creating a sustainable future in both the built environment and society as a whole – which makes FoodCycle a cause close to his heart. He believes with mental health issues on the rise and the cost-of-living crisis impacting so many people in his local area, FoodCycle is perfectly placed to support communities that are struggling through this tough time and he’s delighted that he can play his part and contribute in a small way.
So Abs, tell us why you’re so passionate about volunteering?
Giving back to the community has always been important to me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of others. I believe that volunteering is not only a way to help those in need but also to grow personally and develop new skills. I am excited to continue my volunteering journey and see where it takes me next.
How did you discover FoodCycle?
I discovered FoodCycle through a fellow volunteer at the Walthamstow library service. They described FoodCycle as an amazing group of people who deliver a valuable weekly service to the community. After checking out the FoodCycle website, I signed up, and the rest is history!
Tell us about your first day at FoodCycle?
Before starting my first shift, I completed online training that was extremely helpful and informative. When I arrived for my first shift, I was welcomed by Pearl, who is the Project Leader in Walthamstow FoodCycle. Pearl introduced me to the team and explained everything about the session. As a member of the Hosting Team, I was allocated to serve food and socialise with guests. When we opened the doors and welcomed the first people into FoodCycle, I loved my first shift and have been back every week since! People always say that I never stop smiling when I’m there – this is because I feel that I am really making a difference to people’s lives in our community.
Tell us about your favourite FoodCycle meals?
Every week, the kitchen team creates amazing meals that are healthy, tasty, and packed with nutrients. There is always a three-course meal – a starter, main, and dessert. Since everything is so good, it’s hard to pick a favourite meal. However, I particularly love the dishes that are created with items from the allotment next door. The allotment provides fresh ingredients such as rhubarb and berries, and they are fresh from the ground and on a plate in a few short hours, which is amazing! You can really taste the difference with these fresh ingredients – the rhubarb crumble is a particular favourite of mine!
Tell us about your volunteering role at FoodCycle?
As a member of the Hosting Team, I complete all the ‘front of house’ activities such as getting the space ready for visitors and ensuring that the guests’ needs are catered for. After serving the guests food, I often grab a bite to eat myself and sit and converse with the guests for a while. Many of our guests are elderly, disabled, or have mental health challenges, and this often leads to them having limited interactions with other people. FoodCycle offers an opportunity for people to socialise with others and alleviates loneliness for our guests. As the meal is coming to an end, I pack the remaining food items into bags and provide one to each of our guests to take with them.
What is your favourite thing about volunteering at FoodCycle?
My favourite thing about volunteering at FoodCycle is the sense of fulfilment that I get from contributing to society and doing something good for the environment. Repurposing excess and waste food into a valuable resource that communities need is an incredible achievement, and it’s something that all FoodCycle volunteers should be proud of. In addition, I enjoy engaging with people in our community and find that a conversation is powerful in lifting up others. While I used to do a lot of charity fundraising, I realised recently that the most valuable thing I can give to my community is my time, and FoodCycle provides the perfect opportunity to spend meaningful time with people who need and value my help.
Tell us any ways that working with FoodCycle has changed you and has it helped you to feel part of your community?
Working with FoodCycle has changed my perspective of the world. It has given me the opportunity to work alongside people that I would never be exposed to in my ‘normal’ life, and this has opened my eyes to how everyone is dealing with their own personal struggles. FoodCycle is a safe space with a welcoming, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment that provides an opportunity for someone like me to give back to those who need a bit more support. I don’t think I’ve changed as a person, but volunteering at FoodCycle has helped me feel more connected to my community. It’s a grounding experience that is nourishing for both volunteers and guests, regardless of their situation or background.
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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
Double your impact. Fight food waste. Feed communities. 💚
We’re thrilled to be part of The Big Give Green Match Fund, launching next Tuesday!
🌱 From 22nd to 29th April, every pound you donate to FoodCycle through The Big Give will be match-funded.
In partnership with the Environmental Funders Network (EFN), this incredible campaign supports charities tackling urgent environmental issues – and we’re proud to be one of them.
Your donations will help us:
🥦 Rescue surplus food
🍽️ Serve hot, nutritious meals
🤝 Bring communities together
Let’s turn food waste into something wonderful.
🔗 Find out more and get ready to donate via the link in the bio
#TheBigGive #GreenMatchFund #FoodCycle #Sustainable #Comunity #GreenProjects
Not into cooking? No problem!
You can support us and our projects in many ways, and cooking up a storm is just one of them.
You could:
🥕 Collect and deliver surplus food
🥕 Be a host and welcome people
🥕 Fundraise to support our vital work
Of course, you can get involved in the kitchen by cooking, preparing, cleaning up, and everything in between.
Got more questions about volunteering? Head over to the link in the bio
You can also help support us by following us and sharing our posts.
#Volunteer #Community #VolunteerOpportunities #VolunteerRoles #CommunityMeal
Thanks to your energy, compassion and dedication, our 2024 Impact Report is bursting with achievements worth celebrating 👏
Here’s what you helped make happen last year:
🍽️ 162,991 meals served, made from surplus food
🌍 320 tonnes of food saved from waste
💪 Over 8,700 volunteers gave 162,810 hours of their time
🏫 20 new projects launched, including 3 in schools
📈 30% more guests came to share food and conversation
🏆 We were named Charity of the Year – twice!
None of it would be possible without our amazing volunteer community. Whether you cooked, hosted, collected food or cheered us on – you’ve made a real, lasting difference.
Want to see the full impact, read inspiring guest stories and find out what’s next?
👉 Tap the link in bio
#FoodCycle #Sustainable #ImpactReport #Community #CommunityMeals #Landfill
Registered charity No. 1134423 | Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349