Ros and Ian – Volunteers

Meet husband and wife team Ros and Ian, volunteers at FoodCycle Newport. 

Retired coach driver Ian, is a star washer-upper, and Ros, a part time medical secretary, is a vital part of the cooking team. We spoke to Ros about volunteering at FoodCycle and what it means to them both. 

How long have you been volunteering with FoodCycle? 

We started in autumn 2023. Our daughter volunteers at another FoodCycle in Sheffield. I went along to help when she was away. Ian came along too and they said he was more than welcome just to sit as a guest. The following week I volunteered as a host helping serve the food and chat with guests.  

We really enjoyed it, so we looked for a location near us and we found the Newport one. We started off hosting, helping serve the food and chat with guests, and then moved into the kitchen to be on the cooking team, sometimes we do a bit of both. 

We absolutely love it. We usually go along every other week. It’s something nice that we can do together now Ian’s retired. He used to work a lot of hours so he wouldn’t have been able to make that commitment. 

Has volunteering with FoodCycle made a difference in your lives?  

Yes absolutely! It makes us feel really good, to know that we’ve helped people, even with something like a bit of conversation. 

It’s great to know that you’re helping people to get two or a three course meal.  

It brings people together, and that builds community for the guests and the volunteers. As volunteers we all enjoy it that we’re giving back to the community, you can make friends and we’re helping reduce food waste too.  

Do you feel you’re making a difference in your community through FoodCycle? 

I think we are making a big difference. Some of our guests might not get another hot or nutritious meal that week, if they’re struggling, and it’s a meal that’s good for you, with lots of vegetables and fruit. It’s good to know you’re helping them in that way.  

Some people might not have had anybody to speak to all week, and just giving them that bit of time means a lot. We’re providing company just by talking to people. That can make a big difference – just a smile, or a hello, even if they don’t want a lot of conversation, being there with a hive of activity around them, with a lot of people that may be in the same boat, I think it does make a big difference. 

It’s nice seeing the changes in people who come regularly, when they first come some people might not talk very much, but then you get to chat and get to know a bit more, and you can see the difference in the smiles on their faces.  

It’s lovely to see how people grow and change over time, and to see that they’re a happier in their life because they’re coming in, in and chatting to different people.  

What do you enjoy most about volunteering? What keeps you coming back? 

I just love it all! I love being in the kitchen. The fact that we’ve made a meal for maybe 30 people, and they’ve all loved it, and it’s all runs to time, feels like a great achievement.  

Ian is chief washer upper so he keeps everything moving stacking and emptying the dishwasher. We’re quite regimented at home anyway and we work really smoothly whatever we’re doing – if it’s prepping, or wiping down, or loading the dishwasher.  

It’s an accomplishment if we’ve managed to prepare a meal, and get it all out on time for people when they come in, and they enjoy it, there’s not a lot of food waste.  

Afterwards people say: ‘Oh, thank. You that was lovely!’ It’s just like if you’ve made their day, with a meal and some conversation. 

The team are all lovely. Everybody works really well together, and when we have new volunteers we train them in what to do.  

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about volunteering with FoodCycle? 

We always need more volunteers. Even if you can volunteer just once a month if helps take the pressure off, so everybody can take turns and come when suits them. We hate it if we have to cancel! It’s really good. From a selfish point of view, it makes you feel good, just seeing our guests and their smiles, and meeting new people and having new experiences. It’s a great team – just do it!