A community dining charity is urgently appealing for volunteers across London to prevent families and vulnerable people from going hungry this summer. FoodCycle needs to fill approximately 2,700 volunteering slots to maintain its vital free meal services. The organization uses surplus food that would otherwise go to waste to cook nourishing vegetarian meals for people experiencing loneliness and poverty. Regular volunteers taking holidays and students returning home have caused a seasonal shortage of helpers. People aged 18 and older can register to volunteer, and no prior experience is required. The appeal comes as national figures show one in four adults feel lonely, while millions struggle to afford food.
A Lifelong Passion for Helping
One dedicated helper, Peter Bradley, aged 78, is celebrating 15 years of cooking at the Finsbury Park project. He enjoys giving guests a fine dining experience with flowers on the tables and hot coffee upon arrival. The grandfather-of-two wants to encourage others in the community to get involved. Peter Bradley, volunteer, said: "FoodCycle has been my passion for 15 years, as probably one of the oldest volunteers, it truly keeps me young. Such lovely volunteers and guests I get inspired working with them. I get such a buzz when volunteering, it keeps me young in mind and spirit." He believes the warm spaces help visitors make friends and feel safe during difficult times. Peter Bradley continued: "I know our guests get a great pleasure out of it, and they appreciate it. So, one of the things we aim at FoodCycle is to give our guests a fine dining experience, so we have flowers on the table, we serve them nice coffee when they arrive, and I think it does make a difference. It gives people somewhere that they can feel safe, warm and they make friends as well. It's really nice how they help each other. It restores one's faith in humanity."
Making a Real Difference
Recent surveys show that 67% of guests who attend these sessions cannot afford to buy the food they need. The free weekly gatherings help people feel happier, eat more fresh vegetables, and feel less isolated. The charity is eager to welcome new faces to help manage high demand across its 20 London locations. Alix Guerber, regional manager for London and the South East, said: "Reaching 15 years of volunteering is an absolutely amazing achievement, and we are so grateful to Peter for his incredible dedication. He’s a truly fabulous volunteer, and we are immensely grateful for all the warmth and energy he has brought to FoodCycle over the last decade and a half. Our community meals rely on wonderful people like Peter, and we are in particular need of more people to help, especially over the summer. We have several different roles to choose from – whether you want to cook, serve food and chat with guests, or collect surplus food. We’d love for anyone who is interested to sign up via our website."
Chief Executive's Call to Action
The team wants to ensure that no surplus food goes to waste while local communities are in need of support. Mark Game, chief executive of FoodCycle, said: "Too many people are struggling to afford the food they need, and too many are experiencing loneliness. That’s why FoodCycle’s community meals are more important than ever. Every week our volunteers help create welcoming spaces where people can enjoy nourishing food and company, while ensuring good food doesn’t go to waste. We know these meals make a real difference to the guests who join us – but we need more help, as demand remains high all year round. This summer we need to fill more than 8,500 volunteer slots around England and Wales to keep our projects running, including around 2,700 across London. If you can spare a few hours we’d love you to join us and help make a difference in your local community."
Where to Find a Free Meal in London
If you or someone you know would benefit from a hot vegetarian meal and friendly conversation, sessions are held at the following locations: Barking: Sundays at 1pm at Al Madina Mosque, 2 Victoria Road, Barking, IG11 8PY; Fulham Court: Mondays at 6.30pm at Family Hub Tudor Rose Community Centre, Fulham Court, London, SW6 5PG; Camden: Tuesdays from 5pm at 67 Plender Street, London, NW1 0LB; East Ham: Tuesdays at 7pm at Pilgrims Way Church, Pilgrims Way, East Ham, London, E6 1HW; Old Street: Tuesdays at 7pm at the Vibast Community Centre, 167 Old Street, London, EC1V 9NH; Islington: Wednesdays at 1pm at New River Baptist Church, 80 Arran Walk, London, N1 2TL; Lewisham Wednesdays: Wednesdays at 1.30pm at Lewisham Irish Community Centre, 2A Davenport Road, London, SE6 2AZ; Peckham Wednesdays: Wednesdays at 5pm at All Saints' Church, Blenheim Grove, London, SE15 4QS; Tottenham: Wednesdays at 7pm at St Paul's Church, 60 Park Lane, London, N17 0JR; Marylebone: Wednesdays at 6pm at St Paul's Church, 5 Rossmore Road, London, NW1 6NJ; Hackney: Thursdays at 12.30pm at New Kingshold Community Centre, 49 Ainsworth Road, London, E9 7LP; Lewisham New Cross: Thursdays at 1.15pm at All Saints Community Centre, 105 New Cross Road, London, SE15 5DJ; Walthamstow: Thursdays at 6.30pm at St Mary’s Welcome Centre on Church End, E17 9RH; Mitcham: Thursdays at 6.30pm at Togetherness Community Centre, Wakefield Hall, Taylor Road, London, CR4 3JR; Wandsworth Road: Fridays at 12.30pm at Christ Church Community Hall, 41 Union Grove, London, SW8 2QJ; Woolwich: Fridays at 12.30pm at Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London, SE18 4DW; Bow Road: Fridays at 7pm at Bow Road Methodist Church, 1 Merchant Street, London, E3 4LY; Thornton Heath: Saturdays at 12.30pm at St Alban's Church Hall, 1 Whitehorse Lane, London, SE25 6RD; Finsbury Park: Saturdays at 1pm at Andover Estate Community Centre, Corker Walk, London, N7 7RY; Kilburn: Saturdays at 1pm at St. Cuthbert's Parish Church, Fordwych Road, West Hampstead, London, NW2 3TN; White City: Saturdays at 1pm at EdCity, 1 EdCity Walk, London, W12 7TF; Lewisham Saturdays: Saturdays at 1.15pm at Lewisham Irish Community Centre, 2A Davenport Road, London, SE6 2AZ; Roehampton: Saturdays at 5pm at Roehampton Methodist Church, Minstead Gardens, Roehampton, London, SW15 4EB; Peckham Saturdays: Saturdays at 5.30pm at All Saints' Church, Blenheim Grove, London, SE15 4QS. To sign up as a volunteer, visit the FoodCycle website or make a financial contribution.
