Wellbeing: Help stop food waste and provide free meals to those in need with Manchester charity FoodCycle

UK charity FoodCycle has just announced a brand new project coming to Wythenshawe on the 15th of September, as well as recently opening a project in Oldham, with an ethos to provide free nutritious meals and conversation to communities all across the country.

With a vision to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community through nourishing the hungry and lonely in our communities with delicious meals and great conversation, this project is pretty amazing.

Not only does FoodCycle provide meals to those in need, but they connect communities by helping to strengthen and build resilience through creating welcoming spaces for people from all backgrounds and bringing people from all walks of life together to share healthy, delicious meals. In nourishing the hungry, FoodCycle improves nutrition leading to improved food knowledge and changes in social behaviour which, in turn, supports the mental health and wellbeing of those who use the service.

On top of all of that, FoodCycle simultaneously promotes sustainability through changing attitudes to food and society’s impact on the environment by cooking with surplus ingredients. This actively inspires change through sharing the virtues of their community dining model and the voices of their guests to gain greater support and speed their expansion, enabling them to help more people and more communities.

Taking place every Tuesday in Oldham and Wednesday in Wythenshawe, the meals are open to all, and guests range from low-income families, people affected by homelessness and those who cannot afford to buy food. No questions asked: you can just turn up and take a seat.

Food poverty and loneliness are growing issues, both heightened by the recent pandemic. By offering a safe, welcoming space to enjoy a free meal and company, FoodCycle brings people from all backgrounds and walks of life together, improving mental wellbeing and strengthening community spirit.

FoodCycle’s newest project in Wythenshawe Brooklands is only made possible with great volunteers giving their time, enthusiasm and energy. They have opportunities available for people to come along and cook, host guests and be involved in collecting the surplus food donations from local suppliers.

You don’t need to have any previous cooking experience, although if you do that is just as welcome! They want as many local volunteers as possible – everyone is welcome to join the FoodCycle family!