Make 2025 a “Summer of Peas & Love”, by signing up to volunteer with\u00a0community\u00a0dining projects in West Yorkshire.<\/p>\n
A charity tackling hunger, loneliness, and food waste by providing free three-course\u00a0community\u00a0meals for those in need, is appealing for help from Leeds residents this summer.<\/p>\n
Community\u00a0dining charity FoodCycle has to fill almost 10,000 volunteering slots to keep weekly\u00a0community\u00a0meals going across England and Wales during the summer – including projects in Leeds.<\/p>\n
FoodCycle Leeds Seacroft runs on Tuesdays at 6.30pm at the Chapel FM Arts Centre, FoodCycle Leeds Beeston & Holbeck runs on Wednesdays at 6.30pm at St Luke’s Church, and FoodCycle Leeds Harehills runs on Thursdays at 6.30pm at St Aidan’s Church.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Keen cooks, servers, and washer-uppers are needed to help alleviate a \u2018summer slump\u2019 in volunteer numbers, as regular helpers take holidays, students return home, and parents and grandparents have less free time to offer.<\/p>\n
Demand for FoodCycle meals rose by 17% in the last year nationally, as the high cost of living and rising levels of loneliness means many people are in need of free food and company.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Nationally FoodCycle volunteers served more than 163,000 free meals in 2024, and saved 320 tonnes of surplus food from going to landfill.<\/p>\n
The charity also needs volunteers for\u00a0community\u00a0meal projects across Yorkshire in Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Doncaster and Sheffield.<\/p>\n
Across Yorkshire and the Humber last year FoodCycle volunteers served 13,068 free\u00a0community\u00a0meals and saved more than 27.5 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste.<\/p>\n
When asked: \u201cIf FoodCycle didn\u2019t exist what impact would that have on you?\u201d FoodCycle guests across the region, said: \u201cI\u2019d feel very lonely\u201d, \u201cLoneliness and less food to eat\u201d, \u201cNot have a meal for that day\u201d; \u201cI would feel more isolated and probably not have a hot meal\u201d.<\/p>\n
A recent FoodCycle survey of its guests carried out nationally last year found 67% eat most meals alone; 70% have skipped meals; 41% don\u2019t have access to an oven, and 75% couldn\u2019t afford to buy the food they need.<\/p>\n
The findings suggest FoodCycle\u2019s\u00a0community\u00a0meals model works to support people\u2019s wellbeing, with 83% of guests feeling happier after attending; 78% feel less lonely and 76% eat more fruit and vegetables as a result.<\/p>\n
FoodCycle CEO Sophie Tebbets, said: \u201cEvery 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. <\/p>\n
“This summer the need is greater than ever, with almost 10,000 volunteer sessions to fill nationally.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time, demand for our meals continues to rise. We know what a huge difference our\u00a0community\u00a0meals make – alleviating hunger, loneliness and food waste, while boosting mental wellbeing and building stronger communities. <\/p>\n
“It\u2019s shocking that three-quarters of the guests we surveyed last year said they couldn\u2019t afford to buy the food they need – and around four in ten don\u2019t have access to an oven.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re asking people to make this a \u2018Summer of Peas & Love\u2019 by signing up to volunteer. <\/p>\n
“Even just once a month can help someone in your\u00a0community\u00a0enjoy 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\u2019t regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n
FoodCycle\u2019s free\u00a0community\u00a0meals are open to everyone to come and share a meal. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
No questions asked, you can just turn up and take a seat.<\/p>\n
Volunteer roles at FoodCycle are open to anyone over 18 and there is no minimum weekly commitment. <\/p>\n
Roles are inclusive and range from food collection to surplus food coordinators, to cooking in the kitchen or hosting out front.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
To sign up to volunteer, visit:\u00a0https:\/\/foodcycle.org.uk\/area\/yorkshire-the-humber\/<\/a><\/p>\n