Exeter charity issues urgent appeal for volunteers

A charity tackling hunger, loneliness, and food waste by providing free three-course community meals for those in need, is appealing for urgent help from Exeter residents, amid a ‘summer volunteering slump’.

Community dining charity FoodCycle needs to fill almost 10,000 volunteering slots to keep weekly community meals going at around 100 locations in England and Wales this summer.

Among them FoodCycle Exeter runs on Tuesdays at 6.30pm, at the Mint Methodist Church, and FoodCycle Exeter Beacon Heath runs on Thursdays 6.30pm, at Beacon Heath Church.

Each week FoodCycle volunteers provide nourishing vegetarian meals made using surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, served in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, free to anyone who needs them.

The charity is encouraging locals to make 2025 a ‘Summer of Peas & Love’, by signing up to volunteer even just once or twice a month.

Keen cooks, servers, and washer-uppers are needed to help alleviate an annual drop in volunteer numbers, as people take holidays, students return home, and parents and grandparents have less free time to offer.

Demand for FoodCycle meals has risen by 17% in the last year, as the high cost of living and rising levels of loneliness means many people are in need of free food and company.

When asked: “If FoodCycle didn’t exist what impact would that have on you?” FoodCycle guests in Exeter said: “I would struggle to eat well, socialise, and pay my bills”; “I would miss the lovely meal and the social company and the food”; “I would be poor, lonelier and hungrier”.

In 2024 FoodCycle volunteers served more than 163,000 free meals to people nationally, and saved 320 tonnes of surplus food from going to landfill. All the meals are vegetarian and made using surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.

FoodCycle runs six community meals in the South West, also including two projects in Bristol, one in Bath, and one in Swindon.  Across the region volunteers served 8,660 meals in 2024 and saved more than 13 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste.

A recent FoodCycle survey of its guests carried out nationally last year found 67% eat most meals alone; 70% have skipped meals; 41% don’t have access to an oven, and 75% couldn’t afford to buy the food they need.

The findings suggest FoodCycle’s community meals model works to support people’s wellbeing, with 83% of guests feeling happier after attending; 78% feel less lonely and 76% eat more fruit and vegetables as a result.

FoodCycle CEO Sophie Tebbets said:“Every summer, we see a drop in volunteer numbers – with students heading home, parents and grandparents having less free time, and regular volunteers taking well-earned holidays. This summer the need is greater than ever, with almost 10,000 volunteer sessions to fill nationally.

“At the same time, demand for our meals continues to rise. We know what a huge difference our community meals make – alleviating hunger, loneliness and food waste, while boosting mental wellbeing and building stronger communities. It’s shocking that three-quarters of the guests we surveyed last year said they couldn’t afford to buy the food they need – and around four in ten don’t have access to an oven.

“That’s why we’re asking people to make this a ‘Summer of Peas & Love’ by signing up to volunteer. Even just once a month can help someone in your community enjoy a hot, nutritious meal in a welcoming space. Please join us at your local project this summer. Once you see the difference it makes, you won’t regret it.”

FoodCycle’s free community meals are open to everyone to come and share a meal. Guests range from low-income families, people affected by homelessness, people facing loneliness and those who simply cannot afford to buy food, or struggle to cook for themselves. No questions asked, you can just turn up and take a seat.

Volunteer roles at FoodCycle are open to anyone over 18 and there is no minimum weekly commitment. Roles are inclusive and range from food collection to surplus food coordinators, to cooking in the kitchen or hosting out front.

No experience is needed and training is provided. Volunteers are invited to carve out their own niche from master chef to tea-maker to washer-up to veg chopper.

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 of 1,741 guests in November 2024, which found that:

• 67% eat most meals alone
• 70% have skipped meals
• 75% couldn’t afford to buy the food they need
• 48% do not have a hob
• 41% don’t have access to an oven

The findings suggest that FoodCycle’s community meals model works to support people’s wellbeing:

• 83% of guests said they feel happier after attending a FoodCycle meal
• 78% feel less lonely
• 76% eat more fruit and vegetables as a result of attending FoodCycle meals
• 73% say eating at FoodCycle makes them feel they are having a positive impact on the environment

The FoodCycle Exeter community meal is served on Tuesdays at 6.30pm, at The Mint Methodist Church, Fore Street, Exeter, EX4 3AT.

The FoodCycle Exeter Beacon Heath community meal is served on Thursdays at 6.30pm, at Beacon Heath Church, King Arthur's Road, Exeter, EX4 9BE.

Sign up to volunteer: https://foodcycle.org.uk/area/south-west/

Donate to support FoodCycle here:https://foodcycle.org.uk/donate/