Cost of living crisis: charity FoodCycle starting new project in Salford serving free community meals

Residents struggling to afford groceries during the cost of living crisis can get a helping hand as a food charity is launching its sixth project in Greater Manchester.

FoodCycle will begin offering free weekly community meals at The Angel Centre in Salford in October.

The charity gathers food that would otherwise have gone to waste and turns it into delicious meals at venues where people can drop in, get a plate and enjoy conversation and meeting others as well as eating without having to worry about the cost.

However, the charity says that as its operations are growing amid tough times for the city-region’s residents it urgently needs more volunteers to continue delivering the meals.

What is the new project FoodCycle is launching in Salford?

FoodCycle will begin offering its free weekly community meals at The Angel Centre on 19 October.

They will run every Wednesday at the centre on St Philip’s Place from 6.30pm.

FoodCycle’s community meals are free and open to everyone, attracting people ranging from famiies on low incomes to those affected by homelessness and those who simply cannot afford to buy enough food.

No questions are asked and guests simply turn up and take a seat.

FoodCycle’s volunteers use edible food that would otherwise be destined for the bin or landfill and turn it into a three-course meal that service users can enjoy together.

The charity is opening its sixth project in Greater Manchester, and its second in Salford, as the cost of living crisis continues unabated and the winter is coming, which are always the most difficult months of the year for those who are struggling.

It says the number of people who are vulnerable to food poverty is going to rise with the cost of groceries increasing.

What has FoodCycle said about its new project and its volunteers?

FoodCycle North West regional manager, Ian Winstanley said: ” We are thrilled to be opening our sixth Project in Greater Manchester this year and bringing the magic of FoodCycle to the Salford community twice a week across our two projects.

“The cost of living crisis continues to hit people across the country including those worried about their energy bills as winter approaches, so our service is more vital than ever.

“We look forward to providing a warm space and a nutritious, three-course meal to anyone in the community who needs it, no questions asked.”

However, the charity is also in urgent need of more volunteers to enable it to continue offering community meals.

New helpers are being recruited for The Angel Centre, including volunteers and project leaders. Flexible roles without a minimum time commitment are available and they include surplus food coordinators as well as people who can help with cooking, hosting and running the projects.

FoodCycle’s existing volunteers say the reasons they are motivated to help out include wanting to help to reduce food poverty, wanting to help strengthen their local community, a passion for saving food from going to waste, wanting to help tackle loneliness and meeting new people.

Where are FoodCycle’s other projects in Greater Manchester?

FoodCycle runs a number of projects dishing up free community meals for those struggling to afford food across Greater Manchester.

The other project in Salford is every Tuesday from 6.30pm at Langworthy Cornerstone on Liverpool Street.

FoodCycle also has projects in Prestwich at the Creative Living Centre every Saturday from 4.45pm, in Levenshulme at The Inspire Centre every Thursday from 7pm, in Wythenshawe at Brooklands Church of the Nazarene on Wendover Road on Wednesdays at 5pm and in Oldham at The Primrose Centre in Magnolia Gardens every Tuesday at 6pm.