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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🌍💚 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
A big shout out to the team at the Reading Project!
One of the guests reached out to offer some lovely words of support.
"Please mention the Reading team. They have not been going long, but they do an amazing job. All the volunteers are friendly and it is a lovely community. Thank you Reading!"
Well done to everyone involved with the Reading Project :-)
#Reading #ReadingCity #ReadingFoodcycle #Foodcycle #CommunityMeal
This week (and every week at FoodCycle) is National Food Waste Action Week. 🌎
So we just wanted to remind you that our community meals are cooked up using surplus food that was otherwise headed for the bin 😮
This week at our Kingstanding community meal 34 guests enjoyed a menu of...
🥕 Veggie loaded soup
🍝 Sunday roasts with Cauliflower cheese
🍰 Cake and Custard
Small changes make a BIG impact! Whether it`s blending come extra veg into soup or finding creative ways to use surplus ingredients, every action helps.
#FoodWasteActionWeek
Food Waste Action Week: Make the Most of Your Food! 🥕🍞🥦
Did you know that here at FoodCycle we have a whole section of delicious recipes to help you reduce food waste? From using up leftovers to making the most of every ingredient, our recipes are here to help you save food, money, and the planet!
Check them out now this #FoodWasteActionWeek and transform your extras into something extraordinary.
🔗 Link in bio!
💚 This #InternationalWomensDay, we’re celebrating the incredible women who give their time, energy, and passion to FoodCycle community meals.
#AccelerateAction, reminds us that real change happens when people step up. These inspiring volunteers do just that - taking action in their communities and making a real difference.
🌟 Joan – FoodCycle Middlesbrough Breckon Hill
Known as ‘Nan’ to many at her local FoodCycle project, (FoodCycle Breckon Hill in Middlesbrough), retired nurse Joan brings positive energy to everyone she meets as a hosting volunteer.
Joan says: “I like working with people, and feeling that I am being of some use. It’s wonderful, you meet lovely people and you’re helping your community… It’s just nice to know that you’ve helped somebody.”
🌟 Asli – FoodCycle Schools – Ark Globe, London
Asli is a FoodCycle hosting lead at the London school where she’s also a teacher. She finds joy in seeing pupils and their families coming together each week.
Asli says: “Ever since I first heard of it, I`ve been obsessed with FoodCycle! I just love the idea that we can make food out of what`s given to us, and share it with the community.”
🌟 Ashliegh – FoodCycle Salford
Ashleigh is a Project Leader, who has not only volunteered 270+ hours her local community meal, but also fundraised £3,000!
Ashleigh says: “FoodCycle is so important for our community because it brings people from all walks of life together. It’s for absolutely anyone and everyone, and we basically all just come together for one really lovely night and sit and have a chat and tell stories and swap stores and it really is just amazing.”
💚 To all the incredible women who power FoodCycle – thank you for your dedication, kindness, and action. You inspire us every day!
Want to join? Sign up to volunteer via #linkinbio
#FoodCycle #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #Volunteering #Community
Registered charity No. 1134423 | Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349