Marie Mardenborough, a 60-year-old grandmother of seven from Birmingham, has spent nearly five years volunteering with FoodCycle at its Kingstanding community meal. Now she is urging others to step forward as the charity faces a critical shortage of volunteers over the summer months.
FoodCycle Needs 8,500+ Volunteers Nationally
FoodCycle, a community dining charity, is urgently seeking volunteers to fill more than 8,500 slots across England and Wales in July and August. In the Midlands, projects in Birmingham (Falcon Lodge, Quinton, Longbridge, and Kingstanding), Worcester, Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Dudley are all in need of extra hands. The summer slump occurs as regular helpers go on holiday, students head home, and families take on childcare responsibilities.
Last year, FoodCycle projects in the Midlands served over 25,000 community meals and saved more than 53 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste. Nationally, volunteers served 177,000 meals and saved 349 tonnes of food.
Marie's Story: From Shy Cook to Award-Winning Volunteer
Marie began volunteering with FoodCycle in 2021, initially to step out of her comfort zone. 'I used to be a bit shy, so I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try and get involved with something different,' she said. Her dedication earned her FoodCycle's Regional Volunteer of the Year award for the Midlands in 2024, presented in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.
A fellow volunteer nominated Marie, describing her as 'a spectacular cook who also brings her Caribbean background into the meals she prepares, producing amazing flavours.' Another wrote: 'Her selfless contributions continue to inspire those around her, making a profound impact on the Kingstanding community.'
The Impact on Guests: Combating Hunger and Loneliness
Marie's motivation comes from seeing the difference the meals make. 'When you're cooking and you come out of the kitchen, and you see how happy they are, that's wonderful,' she said. 'They always say 'oh, thank you so much, it's been a beautiful meal'. It's great that they just want to come in, sit down, have a chat and have a meal.'
Her work addresses a pressing need. One in four UK adults report feeling lonely, while 7.5 million people live in households experiencing food poverty. A FoodCycle survey of over 1,760 guests last autumn found that 67% cannot afford the food they need, and 67% eat most meals alone. After attending a FoodCycle meal, 79% of guests felt happier, 73% felt less lonely, and 75% ate more fruit and vegetables.
How to Get Involved: No Experience Needed
Anyone over 18 can register to volunteer. Roles include cooking, hosting, and delivering surplus food. No experience is required – full training is provided. Marie emphasised the ease of joining: 'You don't need any experience, it's really easy. We're all like a family, and even if you've not done it before we can help you and we can teach you.'
She also highlighted the personal benefits: 'I volunteer because it boosts self-esteem, it creates a strong sense of purpose, and it reduces stress too. Volunteering helps me stay active and feel connected.'
FoodCycle's Summer of Peas and Love Campaign
Marie is supporting FoodCycle's 'Summer of Peas and Love' campaign to attract new volunteers. Teal Martin-Heaven, FoodCycle's Regional Manager for the Midlands, said: 'Marie is a fabulous volunteer and we're so grateful for all the amazing meals she's helped create over the last five years! We have a few different roles people can get involved with – from cooking, to serving food and chatting with guests, or delivering surplus food to our projects.'
FoodCycle CEO Mark Game added: '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. This summer we need to fill more than 8,500 volunteer slots around England and Wales to keep our projects running. If you can spare a few hours we'd love you to join us and help make a difference in your local community.'
