FoodCycle urges Mancunians to volunteer this summer
A charity that turns surplus food into free three-course community meals helping tackle hunger, loneliness and food waste is urgently appealing for volunteers.
FoodCycle needs more helpers to keep its free community meals running smoothly this summer, including in Salford, Prestwich, Levenshulme, Wythenshawe and Oldham.
Each week FoodCycle volunteers take part in a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style-challenge to transform surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, into tasty three course meals served free to anyone who wants them.
The charity is encouraging residents to make 2026 a ‘Summer of Peas & Love’, by signing up to volunteer even just once or twice a month.
Nationally, FoodCycle needs to fill 8,500+ volunteer slots in July and August.
Keen cooks, servers, and washer-uppers are needed to help alleviate a seasonal shortage in volunteer numbers, as regular volunteers take holidays, students return home, and parents and grandparents need to spend time with children.
FoodCycle Salford Cornerstone is served on Tuesdays at 6.15pm, at Langworthy Cornerstone, FoodCycle Salford Angel Centre is served on Wednesdays at 6.30pm, at The Angel Centre, FoodCycle Prestwich is served on Saturdays at 4.45pm, at the Creative Living Centre, FoodCycle Manchester Levenshulme is served on Thursdays at 7pm, at The Inspire Centre, FoodCycle Manchester Wythenshawe Brooklands is served on Wednesdays at 5pm, at Brooklands Church of the Nazarene, and FoodCycle Oldham is served on Tuesdays at 6pm, at The Primrose Centre.
Across the North West region last year FoodCycle volunteers served 14,998 community meals, and saved 14.5 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste.
Anyone over 18 can register to volunteer with FoodCycle – with roles including cooking, hosting, and delivering surplus food. No experience is needed and training is provided.
It comes as one in four UK adults report feeling lonely, while 7.5 million people are living in households experiencing food poverty. Anyone can turn up to eat FoodCycle meals for free, no questions asked.
A FoodCycle survey of more than 1,760 guests carried nationally out last autumn found 67% can’t afford to buy the food they need, and 67% eat most meals alone.
The findings show how FoodCycle’s community meals model works to support people’s wellbeing, with 79% of guests feeling happier after attending; 73% feel less lonely and 75% eat more fruit and vegetables as a result.
Ian Winstanley, FoodCycle’s Regional Manager for the North West said:“We have a few different roles people can get involved with at FoodCycle community meals - from cooking, to serving food and chatting with guests, delivering surplus food to our projects, or doing the washing up. We’d love for anyone who is interested to sign up via our website.”
Nationally FoodCycle volunteers served more than 177,000 community meals last year, and saved 349 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste.
FoodCycle CEO Mark Game 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. If you can spare a few hours we’d love you to join us and help make a difference in your local community.”
FoodCycle community meals in Greater Manchester – find your local project: https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/northwest
• FoodCycle Salford Cornerstone – served on Tuesdays at 6.15pm, at Langworthy Cornerstone, 451 Liverpool Street, Salford, M6 5QQ.
• FoodCycle Salford Angel Centre – served on Wednesdays at 6.30pm, at The Angel Centre, 1 St Phillip's Place, Salford, M3 6FA
• FoodCycle Prestwich – served on Saturdays at 4.45pm, at Creative Living Centre, 1a Rectory Lane, Prestwich, M25 1BP.
• FoodCycle Manchester Levenshulme – served on Thursdays at 7pm, at The Inspire Centre, 747 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3AR.
• FoodCycle Manchester Wythenshawe Brooklands – served on Wednesdays at 5pm, at Brooklands Church of the Nazarene Wendover Road, Manchester, M23 9FN.
• FoodCycle Oldham – served on Tuesdays at 6pm, at The Primrose Centre, 9 Magnolia Gardens, Primrose Bank, Oldham, OL8 1HX.
Sign up to volunteer: https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/northwest
You can also donate to support FoodCycle: https://foodcycle.org.uk/donate/