Angela – Volunteer
Cooking volunteer Angela is a sustainability champion at her local FoodCycle meal in Falcon Lodge.
101
101
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!
Stay in touch with the FoodCycle family. Sign-up to get the latest news, volunteering opportunities, events and updates sent to you every month. You can unsubscribe at any time.
🌍💚 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
