FoodCycle appeals for volunteers to help turn surplus food into free community meals in Hounslow

FoodCycle needs volunteers to help provide free weekly community meals for local guests in a friendly and welcoming environment.

The new community meal is served every Thursday at 12.30pm, at Bedfont Lane Community Centre in Feltham.

It’s the first FoodCycle community meal to open in the London Borough of Hounslow and is being supported by Hounslow Council, which owns the local volunteer-run venue.

The meals are open to everyone to come and eat for free, with no questions asked. FoodCycle welcomes guests from all backgrounds including low-income families, elderly people, refugees, people who live alone, may be homeless, or anyone looking to connect with their community.

Volunteers are at the heart of FoodCycle’s mission, helping to create the ‘FoodCycle magic.’ They transform surplus food otherwise destined for landfill into nutritious dishes such as soups, salads, pasta bakes, curries, stews, pastries, and fruit crumbles.

Whether you’re a food waste warrior, a keen cook or washer-upper, a tea-making machine, or just enjoy a friendly chat while sharing a delicious meal, volunteering with FoodCycle is a fun way to help your community, and the environment too.

Launched on January 16th, FoodCycle Feltham is among more than 30 FoodCycle community meals across London.

Across the city, FoodCycle volunteers served more than 60,600 meals in 2024, saving more than 118 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste. The charity has been running for 15 years, and runs more than 100 community meals nationally, offering good food and company to guests from all backgrounds

FoodCycle Regional Manager for South London Joe O’Kelly said: “We’re pleased to have opened FoodCycle’s newest community meal in Feltham. We know our free food provision will be a vital support to many local people, especially as the high cost of living continues to impact everything from food bills to fuel costs. Each week, we provide a safe and welcoming space where everyone is invited to enjoy great food and conversation, completely free of charge. We’re grateful to Hounslow Council for their support in providing the venue, and to the volunteer team at Bedfont Lane Community Centre. Our community meals rely on the kindness of volunteers, so we’re encouraging local people who can spare a few hours a month to join us and help make a difference.”

No prior qualifications are needed to volunteer with Foodcycle and there’s no minimum weekly commitment – just sign up via the FoodCycle website and relevant training and guidance will be provided.

Roles include cooking, hosting and pot washing, or helping run the project, for which you need to be available for four-hours on any day you volunteer. Drivers or cyclists are also needed to help collect surplus food, for which you need your own transport.

Carol Cattemull, Volunteer Manager at Bedfont Lane Community Centre, said: “We’re in an area of high deprivation and this food support is something that we desperately need in this area. Our team is really looking forward to working with FoodCycle. We’re delighted to provide the venue, and excited to host this support for our local community through this partnership.”

Cllr Ajmer Grewal, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents Support, Communities and Equalities, said: “We are delighted that FoodCycle has chosen to bring their community meal offer to Feltham. Hounslow is blessed with many committed organisations providing food banks, community supermarkets, home delivery of cooked meals, and more, to our most vulnerable residents. We welcome FoodCycle to our newly refitted Bedfont Lane Community Centre, as part of this wider offer.”

Chris, a long-term FoodCycle London volunteer says: “It’s always lovely to see the smile on guests faces and the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our community meals. But also the energy and enthusiasm of our volunteers as we push ourselves to create and serve restaurant-quality meals. I've also learnt that there are pretty much no limits to the diversity of vegetarian food - we've hardly repeated dishes in my six years of volunteering!”

In 2024 FoodCycle served more than 138,000 free meals to people across England and Wales and saved 320 tonnes of surplus food from going to landfill.

Why do communities need projects like FoodCycle?

By bringing people together, FoodCycle not only tackles hunger, loneliness and food waste, but it’s also improving mental wellbeing and strengthening community spirit.

FoodCycle carried out a survey with 1,448 guests in December 2023, which revealed that almost half (44%) eat most meals alone and 72% had felt lonely.

The survey underpins the need for services which tackle the UK’s loneliness pandemic by forging positive connection in local communities.

The results suggest that FoodCycle’s community meals model works to support people’s wellbeing – with 92% of the guests surveyed leaving weekly meals feeling happier, 88% feeling more part of their community and 84% feeling less lonely.

FoodCycle Feltham takes place every Thursday at 12.30pm, Bedfont Lane Community Centre, 9 Proctors Close, Feltham, TW14 9NB.

Sign up to volunteer here: foodcycle.org.uk/volunteer-london/

You can also donate to support FoodCycle here: foodcycle.org.uk/donate/