Highlighting a growing need across the region as people prepare for rising bills this winter, FoodCycle will open its 7th Yorkshire and The Humber-based Project next month in Bradford. The new weekly community meal from the charity that strives to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past, will launch on 16th November.
The new project is in urgent need of volunteers to help run the weekly free meal at the The Rockwell Centre. Local volunteers will get to experience the ‘FoodCycle magic’ – transforming surplus food into delicious vegetarian dishes alongside a friendly chat to anyone in the community who fancies coming along every Thursday at 6.30pm.
FoodCycle Yorkshire and The Humber Regional Manager Mathew Milner says:
”We are thrilled to be opening up a Project in Bradford, our 7th in the region, to provide a safe, welcoming space for anyone in the community no questions asked. We can’t wait to invite locals to share tasty food made with ingredients saved from landfill and a friendly chat around a nicely laid table. Our Projects rely on the kindness of volunteers to help run our service and we are asking for local residents who are willing to give up a few hours each week to get in touch with us.”
FoodCycle Needs You
FoodCycle Bradford Thorpe Edge is looking to recruit new volunteers. Flexible volunteer roles without a minimum time commitment are open to anyone and include surplus food coordinators, cooking, hosting and running Projects.
Whether you’re a food waste warrior, a whizz in the kitchen, at back to uni after the summer or can’t wait to get chatting with guests, volunteering with FoodCycle is heaps of fun.
Charlie, FoodCycle Yorkshire volunteer says:
“My favourite thing is getting to feed people. Cooking is a big hobby and a very big passion, and it makes me happy. I’m also a feeder – I look after people and show them that I love them by having people over and cooking for them. Getting to do that for the community and for people that wouldn’t be able to do that for themselves, whether it’s because of costing or not being able to go out and enjoy a nice meal, makes cooking at FoodCycle feel even more special.”
Without volunteers, FoodCycle cannot provide a vital service to the community who have come to rely on the chance to sit down to a free, three-course meal every week. Particularly as the cost of living crisis will continue this winter with everything from heating bills and food costs at an all time high.
Why do communities need projects like FoodCycle?
FoodCycle recently released a research report highlighting how ‘community dining’ is the answer to tackling loneliness and food insecurity. Written by social eating and community food systems expert, Dr Marsha Smith of Coventry University and supported by a survey of 2,000 people*. The survey found that near to 2 in 3 agree that not enough is being done by local councils to promote community dining projects. It also highlighted that we are a nation of solo diners, with 24% saying that they eat alone every day of the week, Yet, one in two believe mental health is benefited by eating together. In terms of hurdles to finding social connection, it found that 96% of the population have not heard of community dining projects but near to one in two would attend if one was available in their area.
Opening on 16th November 2023, the free weekly meal at FoodCycle Bradford Thorpe Edge will take place every Thursday from 6.30pm at The Rockwell Centre, Bradford, BD20 8DP
Other Yorkshire and The Humber FoodCycle Projects:
FoodCycle Sheffield Parsons Cross every Tuesday from 6.30pm at Mount Tabor Methodist Church, Wordsworth Avenue Sheffield S5 8NJ
FoodCycle Sheffield Broomhall every Wednesday from 12.30pm at Broomhall Centre on Broomspring Lane, S10 2FD
FoodCycle Leeds Beeston every Wednesday from 6.30pm at St Lukes Church on Malvern Road, LS11 8PD
FoodCycle Leeds Harehills every Thursday at 6.30pm at St Aidan’s Church, Roundhay Road, LS8 5QD
FoodCycle Hull Marfleet every Thursday from 6.30pm at Marfleet Community Centre, Rear of 22-24 Swanfield Rd, Hull, HU9 4PX
To sign up as a volunteer or for more information on FoodCycle visit http://www.foodcycle.org.uk/ or email bradford@foodcycle.org.uk
*WRAP meal equivalent
