Bev – Volunteer
Meet Bev, a FoodCycle volunteer who loves nothing more than sharing meals and chatting with people!
Chris has been a volunteer at FoodCycle Finsbury Park since 2017 and has racked up almost 1000 hours with us. Mostly to be found in the kitchen leading the team as Cooking Leader, Chris is a talented cook and loves to create dishes from around the world to delight FoodCycle guests.
We asked Chris to look back over his six years at FoodCycle to give us some of his personal highlights…
How did you discover FoodCycle?
When I was working in Singapore, I volunteered with an amazing charity called Willing Hearts, who cooked about 5000 meals per day for those in needed. Inspired by this, when I came back to London, I looked for something in this area via Google – and fortunately for me I encountered FoodCycle!
Tell us about your first day at FoodCycle?
My first day was actually our last day at our old location near Kings Cross – but despite this being a ‘transitionary session’, I had a such a good time that I knew that I had to follow the project as it moved to Finsbury Park. The things that really stood out to me were the creativity that went into the cooking; the clear impact (smiles!) that it put on our guests’ faces; and the friendly and welcoming volunteer team.
Tell us about your favourite FoodCycle meals?
Too many to name – but I would say those are when the team really pushes itself in terms of our creative boundaries and leads to guests leaving with big smiles on their faces. Sometimes, we do days with a little advanced planning, to create a ‘theme’ day, where we try to cook all our dishes from one country or region; or sometimes we do everything completely off the cuff, just figuring it out on the day based on what we receive. Both are equally fun.
In the past, we’ve done two fundraisers with celebrated chef Asma Khan where we she guided us to create a three-course meal for the paying public. Not only did we raise a significant amount of money for FoodCycle, but we also had a lot of fun cooking up a storm. Most memorable of which included experimenting with different ways to open a coconut and creating a mountain of gajjar halwa (carrot halwa)!
Tell us about your volunteering role at FoodCycle?
As a volunteer Project Leader, my role is to steer the team towards creating a nutritious, delicious, three-course vegetarian meal for our guests based on surplus ingredients that we receive from charity partners such as City Harvest and local greengrocers. As a foodie with a love for diverse flavours from around the world, I really encourage our team not to play it safe. We try to push the boundaries in terms of what can be done with our 2.5 hours of prep time. For example, we make many things from scratch, including bread, pasta and noodles!
What is your favourite thing about volunteering at FoodCycle?
It’s always lovely to see the smile on guests faces and the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our community meals. But also the energy and enthusiasm of our volunteers as we push ourselves to create and serve restaurant-quality meals.
Tell us any ways that working with FoodCycle has changed you?
I think I’ve definitely improved my leadership skills. I’ve learned that leading well is not about telling people exactly what to do, nor how to do it, but about creating a shared vision, like a dish for example, and helping others bring out their own skills in executing it. I’ve also learnt that there are pretty much no limits to the diversity of vegetarian food – we’ve hardly repeated dishes in my six years of volunteering!
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Say hello to Meiling & Linda, the two amazing runners representing FoodCycle in the 2026 London Marathon!
🧡 Meiling is a seasoned marathon runner and Milton Keynes volunteer
💚 Linda is taking on her very first 26.2 miles after supporting us through her workplace
Both are passionate about raising funds to fight food waste, food poverty and loneliness, and we’re so excited to have them on Team FoodCycle!
Over the next year, we’ll be cheering them on and sharing updates as they train, fundraise and take on this iconic challenge.
💬 Drop them a good luck message below
📣 Follow for updates
🫛 Feeling inspired? Take on your own challenge for FoodCycle!
#LondonMarathon2026 #TeamFoodCycle #MarathonTraining #CharityChallenge
Huge congratulations to Carly and her brother Liam, who took on a 2km open water swim at Rutland Water to raise funds for FoodCycle and smashed it! (We think there was a little bit of sibling rivalry at play)
We’re incredibly proud of Carly, who lives and breathes FoodCycle in every way. She’s been part of our team for 5 years and knows just how powerful our meals can be. For some, it’s the only cooked meal they’ll have that week, and the only chance to connect with others.
This swim, taken in memory of their dad, has raised over £1,200 to help tackle food waste, food poverty and loneliness.
👏 Well done Carly and Liam
👏 Thank you to everyone who has donated so far
💚 Every penny makes a difference
If you`re planning a fundraising event for FoodCycle, we`d love to hear about it!
#foodcycle #rutlandwater #Swimming #communitymeal #fightfoodwaste #sustainable #fundraising #justgiving
Leftover courgettes languishing in the fridge?
Try this no-waste courgette recipe for your next BBQ.
Get the full recipe in the bio.
#Courgette #CourgetteDip #DipRecipe
Serving food, saving waste, and spreading kindness 🫛❤️
This summer, we need more amazing people like Sue to help us cook, serve and connect with communities across the country.
Whether you`re a kitchen whizz or just keen to lend a hand, every session makes a difference.
Join us for a summer full of purpose, people and peas.
Sign up to volunteer today.
#summervolunteers #volunteering #fightfoodwaste
Make courgettes the star of the show 🌟
What would you dip in this?
Maybe some 🥕
or some sticks of 🥒
Tell us below!
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Ingredients
500g Greek yoghurt
1 courgette(s) (boiled and cooled)
1 garlic clove(s) (crushed)
1 bunch(es) of fresh dill (chopped)
0.5 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1 handful(s) of olives
1 tsp olive oil
Method
Mix the yoghurt, courgette (finely chopped), garlic, dill, oregano and red wine vinegar together in a bowl.
Make a dip with the back of the spoon in the middle of the bowl and fill with olive oil.
Garnish with olives if you’ve got them to hand.
Serve with flatbreads/pitta bread.
#Tzatziki #courgette #courgetterecipe #partydip #diprecipe #homemadedip
Meet Nathan, a cooking volunteer at FoodCycle Hucknall and Broxtowe-Aspley in Nottinghamshire.
At 44, Nathan was looking to shake off the routine of work and do something more fulfilling with his time. He joined FoodCycle to give back, but found much more than he expected – growing in confidence, building new skills and rediscovering his passion for cooking.
Volunteering has even inspired a new career, as Nathan recently became a volunteer co-ordinator for his local council.
We love hearing how FoodCycle makes a difference not just for guests, but for our incredible volunteers too.
Join us and make a real difference in your community.
#Nottingham #community #communitymeal #freemeal #volunteering #Hucknall #BroxtoweAspley
Halfway there, Harry! 🏃♂️🔥
Huge shoutout to Harry Barham who recently completed his 5th half marathon in his epic challenge to run 10 half marathons in support of FoodCycle and FareShare North East – that’s 131 miles in total!
His most recent run was a scorcher, but Harry powered through with determination and a whole lot of heart.
He’s running to help tackle food waste, food poverty and support stronger communities and he’s already halfway to the finish line.
Let’s cheer him on and help him hit that fundraising goal 💚
Donate here at giveasyoulive.com and search "harry runs 25"
#HarryRuns25 #fundraising #halfmarathon #foodcycle #communitymeals
FoodCycle has given me a great sense of purpose.” 💚
Meet Rosie, a 73-year-old volunteer from Worcester who joined FoodCycle to give back in her retirement, and found so much more.
From building confidence in the kitchen to making new friends, Rosie says volunteering has become a meaningful and joyful part of her week.
“I really enjoy every session. I can’t always go weekly, but FoodCycle is so flexible – you just sign up when you can. I tell everyone I know about it!”
Thank you, Rosie, for being such a valued part of the FoodCycle family.
Head to the link in the bio to join us.
#summervolunteers #foodcycle #communitymeal #fightfoodwaste #volunteering #worcester
Friendships that go beyond the kitchen 💚
We absolutely loved seeing this update from our brilliant Clacton volunteers, who spent a sunny evening in Frinton enjoying a walking quiz, fish and chips, and plenty of laughs!
Sixteen of the team came together for a bit of friendly competition and fun, followed by a delicious beach hut supper and lots of chat about FoodCycle with curious passers-by.
Moments like these show just how strong the sense of community is among our volunteers. It’s more than just cooking and serving meals, it’s about connection, friendship and supporting one another.
Thank you to everyone who made the evening so special. We’re lucky to have such a wonderful Clacton crew!
#Foodcycle #Clacton #FoodWaste #Frinton #Community #MakingFriends
Not all heroes wear capes, some rock an apron and hairnet and whip up a mean pasta bake...
Join our volunteer team and help cook, serve or simply lend a hand. Whether it’s chopping veggies, plating up meals or washing up, it all makes a difference.
Join us for a Summer of Peas & Love. 🫛❤️
Do good, feel good, volunteer with us this summer.
Head to the link in the bio to register and have the best summer ever.
#SummerGoals #SummerVolunteers #Community #CommunityKitchen #FreeMeal #FoodCycle
