Volunteers needed to help run new charity-led hot meals service in Tottenham

The FoodCycle community meal service in Tottenham is now among 29 running across London

A charity that aims to tackle food poverty, loneliness and food waste is appealing for volunteers to help at a new community meal service that’s launched in Tottenham.

FoodCycle needs volunteers to help provide free weekly hot meals for local guests in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, every Wednesday from 7pm at St Paul’s Church in Park Lane.

It’s the first FoodCycle community meal to open in Haringey, and is among 29 now running in London, as the charity expands to help nourish communities across the city.

Volunteers get to help transform surplus food that would otherwise go to waste into delicious vegetarian dishes, such as soups and salads, pasta bakes, curries, stews, pastries and fruit crumble.

Across London, FoodCycle has served more than 38,500 meals so far in 2024, and saved more than 60 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste. The charity has been running for 15 years, and now runs 93 community meals nationally, offering good food and company to guests from all backgrounds.

Everyone is welcome to turn up to eat for free, with regular guests including low-income families, elderly people, refugees, people who live alone, may be homeless, or simply want to get more involved in their community.

Other nearby FoodCycle meals include services at Finsbury Park, Hackney, Islington, Kilburn, Camden, and Wathamstow.

FoodCycle’s North London manager Alannah McGovern said: “It’s heartening to have opened our first community meal in Tottenham. Harringay is a vibrant area and we know our free food provision will be a vital support to many local people, particularly as the high cost of living continues to affect food costs and food bills.

“Each week we provide a safe, welcoming space for anyone who wants to come along to enjoy great food and conversation with us for free. Our community meals run on the kindness of volunteers, so we’re asking local people willing to give up a few hours a month to get in touch.”

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.

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!”

So far in 2024, FoodCycle has served over 100,000 free meals to people across England and Wales and saved more than 200 tonnes of surplus food from going to landfill. The charity celebrates its 15^th birthday in September.

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 Tottenham takes place every Wednesday from 7pm, at St Paul’s Church, 60 Park Lane, Tottenham N17 0JR. Sign up to volunteer:
Visit foodcycle.org.uk/volunteer-london

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.