A charity tackling food poverty, loneliness and food waste by turning surplus food into free community meals, is calling for volunteers to help at its newest project, in Hounslow.
FoodCycle needs volunteers to help provide free weekly hot lunches 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.
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, transforming surplus food that would otherwise go to waste 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.
