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  • About us
    • Who We Are
    • FoodCycle’s Impact
    • What is a FoodCycle Community Meal?
    • Schools Community Meals
    • Supporters and Partners
    • Meet Our Guests and Volunteers
    • Staff and Trustee Team
    • Patrons and Ambassadors
    • Reports and publications
    • Vacancies
  • Find a Meal
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Roles
    • Equal opportunities
  • Support Us
    • Corporate Support
    • Corporate Team Cooking Challenge
    • Fundraise
    • The Big Lunch
    • FoodCycle Lottery
    • Trusts and Major Gifts
    • Donate Food
    • Donate
  • Shop
  • Recipes
  • News
  • Contact Us

101

Community meals this week

Find your local community meal location

Find a meal

Melissa – Guest

Melissa has been coming to FoodCycle High Wycombe since discovering our weekly community meals through a friend.  Ever since she found the service, Melissa has been a regular. She says that without the support of FoodCycle, she would really be struggling to afford her weekly shop. 

What brought you to FoodCycle?  

I went on benefits about three years ago and was recently feeling the pressure of the rising costs of food. I have a really good friend and I’d spoken to her about this and she introduced me to FoodCycle.  

What were your first impressions of a FoodCycle meal? 

I was overcome by how friendly the volunteers were and how warm and welcoming it was. I’m so grateful for the work they do and for the volunteers who give their time and energy to make sure that people like me have something to eat. 

I also object to food waste so the fact that you are recycling short-dated food is fantastic. I feel terrible about throwing any food away. I’ve, of course, been caught a few times with an onion going off and bread going mouldy but it’s so nice to know that this food that supermarkets would throw out is being saved and turned into lovely meals. 

What are your favourite FoodCycle meals? 

My favourite meals are anything with rice! I’ve also really enjoyed the veggie burgers and your soups are delicious. Your soups with croutons. I can’t tell you how lovely they are.  

You beat my mum on several meals you have served. What I call “mummy moo standard”. My mum just loved cooking and her whole life was revolving around cooking. Some of the grub and the soups are up to my mum’s standards! I find any meal that you serve up to be delicious.  

How is the current cost of living crisis affecting you and does FoodCycle help?  

FoodCycle have helped me tremendously. I went on benefits three years ago and ever since the cost-of-living crisis started, food has become really expensive, and it keeps going up. If it wasn’t for FoodCycle, I would really be struggling. FoodCycle has been a lifeline for me. 

What would you say to someone visiting a FoodCycle meal for the first time? 

It’s very welcoming, it’s very warm, everybody’s friendly, there’s a lot of lonely people out there and FoodCycle is there to help. All I can say is I highly recommend anybody turning up there.  

You’re a fantastic service. All I’ve got is nothing but praise for you. You’re such a welcoming bunch and you’re absolutely fantastic! 

Related Guest and volunteer stories

Angela – Volunteer

Cooking volunteer Angela is a sustainability champion at her local FoodCycle meal in Falcon Lodge.
Meet Angela >

Younis – Guest

A self-proclaimed food critic, Younis is known for rating each meal out of 10.
Meet Younis >
Volunteers, Chandana and Dan, sat holding food at a FoodCycle volunteering session.

Chandana and Dan – Volunteers

Chandana and Dan met while volunteering at FoodCycle, where their love for cooking sparked a romance
Meet Chandana and Dan >
View more stories

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🎉 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

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🎉 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 ⁠

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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

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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
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FoodCycle Head Office

  • 2.16, The Food Exchange
    New Covent Garden Market
    London, SW8 5EL
  • t: 020 7729 2775
  • e: [email protected]
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Registered charity No. 1134423 | Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349

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FoodCycle Head Office

  • 2.16, The Food Exchange
    New Covent Garden Market
    London, SW8 5EL
  • t: 020 7729 2775
  • e: [email protected]

Links

  • Find a Meal
  • Community Meals
  • Who We Are
  • Fundraise

Follow us

Instagram Facebook Linkedin Tiktok

Cookie Policy

Privacy Policy

© FoodCycle 2022

Registered charity No. 1134423
Company limited by guarantee no. 7101349

Website by me&you