Angela – Volunteer
Cooking volunteer Angela is a sustainability champion at her local FoodCycle meal in Falcon Lodge.
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Beth got invited to go along to her nearest FoodCycle meal with friends she met at her local library. Beth had such a great experience that she returned the following week to attend the meal again. The food was great, but what stood out to Beth was the overall sense of community and belonging she found at FoodCycle. During her visits, she learned more about the charity and the heart of the operations – the volunteers.
Driven by the generosity of the volunteers, Beth decided to try her hand at volunteering at FoodCycle. She joined the Check-in and Chat service and has now been volunteering since March 2023. Volunteering has not only given Beth the opportunity to give back to her local community but also helped her gain a renewed sense of purpose.
How did you discover FoodCycle?
My dad passed away last year so I decided to get involved in volunteering to distract myself. I started going to my local library and one evening I was invited to go to a local community meal with friends I’d made at the library. I had never been to a community meal before but thought “why not go and try it out?”.
The meal was at FoodCycle Weoley Castle and it was such a lovely experience that I went back for another meal!
Tell us about your first day at FoodCycle?
I was pleasantly surprised by the experience as a guest. I felt welcomed by all involved in the project. It also made me feel I was doing something to help combat food waste too.
A few meals later, I realised I really wanted to help give back as a volunteer too so I asked the Project Leader how I could get involved in voluntary work and the process of how to get started.
Tell us about your favourite FoodCycle meals?
I really enjoy the bruschetta with finely chopped onions and tomatoes on toasted bread and the cauliflower and cheese casseroles!
I’m always amazed what the Cooking Volunteers can do with the ingredients they have to work with and will try everything once.
Tell us about your volunteering role(s) at FoodCycle?
I am primarily a Check in and Chat volunteer but have offered my services to help with the occasional pot wash at my local FoodCycle Project. The in person volunteer slots can fill up rather quickly at the meals so by making weekly calls to guests I feel like I’m always able to do something virtually that fits around my schedule.
Every week, I get assigned 3 to 4 people who have signed up to receive a befriending call. Before getting assigned calls, volunteers attend a mandatory online safeguarding training session. If there are any difficult calls, I can signpost people to resources including FoodCycle’s community meals, their Head Office number or the Check-in and Chat Manager but that rarely happens.
My first Check-in and Chat call went well. The person I spoke to seemed genuinely pleased to get a phone call. It made me feel I made a difference to someone’s day. It sure made a positive difference to mine!
Tell us what you’ve learned volunteering with FoodCycle?
People need nourishment through contact with others whether it be in person or over the phone. Also, it’s ok to be nourished as both a guest and volunteer at FoodCycle!
Your mental health is hugely important no matter your economic status.
Tell us any ways volunteering with FoodCycle has changed you?
The regular interaction with people, helping them smile or ease their loneliness, gave me a sense of fulfilment. I think it has given me a renewed sense of purpose. Volunteering benefits both individuals and the community; it provides people with an opportunity to contribute to something meaningful while building a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
I love talking to people and learning from their life experiences. I’ve also learned to enjoy eating crumble!
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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
