Angela – Volunteer
Cooking volunteer Angela is a sustainability champion at her local FoodCycle meal in Falcon Lodge.
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FoodCycle Hackney volunteer Mark lives in London and has been volunteering with FoodCycle ever since he retired. Having been a passionate cook for many years and hosting large parties on a regular basis (once for 200 people!), he wanted to use his skills to help alleviate food poverty within his community.
I have always loved cooking, I used to work in a very stressful job, so much so that I would often come home and feel so stressed that I didn’t even want to talk to my family. I would get back from work, head to the kitchen, put some music on and get cooking and it would make me feel so much better, I’ve always found it such a huge de-stresser. I’m not good at many things but I know I am a pretty good cook!
How did you discover FoodCycle?
After retiring, I was really keen to get involved with some more volunteering. Being incredibly passionate about food poverty I wanted to do something that was tackling this issue. I did a quick Google search of ‘charity cooking’ and there was FoodCycle. Within a week I was volunteering at my first session at the FoodCycle Project in East Ham.
Tell us about your first session at FoodCycle?
Oh it was a wonderful experience. I turned up and we went and collected the food from the supermarket over the road, there really wasn’t a great deal of food that week – a lot of potatoes.
We took it back to the kitchen and I decided to just get stuck in and put myself forward to cook a vegetarian cottage pie. It was quite a challenge with such a small oven and having to cook for so many people! But I did it and everyone was just so lovely, the volunteers, the guests, just so welcoming and friendly.
It really hit home the importance of what I was doing and was obvious how much of a difference these meals make to people. That was it, I was hooked and before long I signed up to be a Project Leader at FoodCycle in Hackney.
Tell us about your favourite FoodCycle meals?
The best thing I have cooked at a meal is sweetcorn fritters. It was at FoodCycle Hackney and again it was a week that we just didn’t have a huge amount of food donated, just lots of sweetcorn.
So I decided to make my late mother-in-law’s famous sweetcorn fritters. It’s a dish that has so many fond memories for me and it was just so special to be able to share it with the guests at FoodCycle. They loved it and my wife and her family were all really touched when I shared the pictures of them at the meal.
What is your favourite thing about volunteering at FoodCycle?
The people, it really is such a wonderful atmosphere, you get to meet all types of people, both the guests and volunteers. I’ve become really good friends with some of my fellow volunteers.
I like the fun and the challenge of coming up with a meal and cooking for 30-40 guests. I love the creativity that happens when different people come together, for example one week we cooked a simple tomato pasta for the main course (due to what we had in our delivery) but we called it Spaghetti Pomodoro just to makes sure that it still felt like a special and exciting meal. Needless to say they absolutely loved it!
Tell us any ways that working with FoodCycle has changed you?
When I first volunteered I really thought that it was just going to be like a food bank but it is so much more than that. FoodCycle has really highlighted the importance of social connection to me. I just really hadn’t grasped the community side of things before, it just hasn’t registered with me until I came to FoodCycle.
It’s also made me so much more aware of the issues that people are struggling with.
What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering with FoodCycle?
Do it.
It’s incredibly good fun, we always have a laugh in the kitchen. I’ve volunteered with other charities but FoodCycle just has something about it. If you love food and people, you’ll love this!
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PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Well done to the fantastic team at FoodCycle Weoley Castle for another warm and welcoming community meal 💚
This week, they served 22 guests, welcomed a brand new hosting volunteer, and dished up a delicious three-course menu featuring:
🥣 Roasted cauliflower and fennel soup
🍅 Ratatouille with mash and side salad
🍊 Orange drizzle cake
We also want to give a huge shout-out to Jacky, who hit an incredible milestone of 400 volunteer hours! Thank you for your dedication and the difference you continue to make every week 🎉
If you’re in the Weoley Castle area, head to St Gabriel’s at 4pm on Tuesdays for a free meal, good chat and a warm welcome.
Thinking about volunteering? Sign up here via the link in the bio.
#Volunteering #FoodCycle #WeoleyCastle #FreeMeal #WestMidlands #ThreeCourseMeal
A huge thank you to Jane and her brilliant "Ladies that Picnic" for coming together to support FoodCycle during The Big Lunch 💚
Jane hosted a wonderful afternoon filled with community spirit, delicious vegetarian dishes, a quiz, a raffle and even original artwork for sale, all to raise vital funds for our work.
We’re so grateful to Jane and everyone who came along. Your generosity and creativity help us bring people together over food, one meal at a time.
#TheBigLunch #FoodCycle #CommunitySupport #Wardley #Swinton
Run for change in 2026
We’ve got two charity places for the iconic London Marathon and they could be yours 👟
Take on one of the world’s most famous races while helping FoodCycle fight food poverty, tackle loneliness and stop good food from going to waste 💚
Think you’ve got what it takes? Tell us why you’d love to run for us by Sunday 6 July.
📝 Apply now via the link in the bio
📌 £100 reg fee
🎯 £2,500 fundraising target
Let’s do something amazing together.
#FoodCycle #LondonMarathon #CharityPlace #RunForCharity
50 guests, a buzzing dining room and a whole lot of love in Clacton this week!
The sun was shining, the queue was full of chatter, and the energy inside was just as warm 💚
A huge shout out to newly graduated Project Leader Yvonne, who served up her first official meal made entirely from fresh surplus ingredients and nailed it! 👏
Every guest left with a grocery bag to take home, and Collection PL Chris worked his usual magic, making sure nothing went to waste. Even his chickens were happy with the scraps 🐓
Great food, great people, great Monday. Clacton, you rock!
Looking for a feel-good gift that actually makes a difference?
Say hello to the FoodCycle merch range 💚
💚 Tote bags that carry kindness
💚 Tees and aprons that spread good vibes
💚 The perfect pressie for your foodie friend, your hosting hero or just yourself (you deserve it)
Every purchase supports our mission to feed communities, fight food waste and tackle loneliness.
Tap the link in bio to shop and gift with purpose.
#FoodCycle #ToteBag #Apron #GiftIddeas #CharityGift
No fresh food? No problem!
To the store cupboard 😁
You need to watch this and see the incredible meal our volunteers produced with store cupboard ingredients and some epic teamwork :-)
Thanks to the Mitcham team for sharing.
☀️ Sandwiches.
👥 Great company.
🌍 A meaningful cause.
It`s National Picnic Week, and what a brilliant moment to make your Big Lunch a picnic.
Lunch outdoors can bring your friends, family, or work team together, boost morale, and raise vital funds to help FoodCycle tackle food waste, hunger, and loneliness.
Keep it simple. Make it count.
Start planning via the link in the bio.
#NationalPicnicWeek
This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re proud to be part of something that brings people together 💚
At FoodCycle, no one eats alone. Our community meals offer food, conversation and connection because we know a friendly face and a warm plate can go a long way.
🌱 83% of guests feel happier after a meal
🤝 78% feel less lonely
🏘️ 83% feel more part of their community
A shared meal can mean so much more than just food.
It can be friendship.
Support.
A reason to smile.
Let`s tackle loneliness and food waste together.
#LonelinessAwarenessWeek #Community #BetterTogether
The Big Lunch is in full swing and we’re loving your ideas! 💚
🍽️ Francisca in Manchester brought her colleagues together for a team lunch
🥪 James in Leicester used food donations to serve up a community spread
☀️ And Jane’s hosting a lovely ladies’ picnic, with a suggested £5 donation for guests
There’s still time to join in and your lunch can be as simple as a few friends, a shared bite to eat, and a small donation to our fundraising page.
It is a perfect excuse to catch up and support a brilliant cause 🙌
More information is on the link in the bio and don`t forget to tag us in your event photos.
#TheBigLunch #Lunch #FoodCycle #Community
"I can go for days without talking to anyone. Living on my own put my mental health low… but FoodCycle has changed that."
This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re sharing just how powerful food and friendship can be.
When guests join us for a community meal, they’re not just receiving a plate of food, they’re being welcomed into a space filled with kindness and connection.
💬 We’re proud that 78% of our guests say they feel less lonely
💚 And 83% feel happier after a meal
No one should have to face loneliness alone.
#LonelinessAwarenessWeek
Registered charity No. 1134423 | Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349
Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349