Charity tackling hunger makes plea for volunteers

FoodCycle said they need to fill about 10,000 volunteer slots over the summer

A charity that helps to tackle hunger and loneliness is urgently seeking volunteers.

FoodCycle, which provides a weekly community meal in Peterborough and Cambridge, said it needs to fill about 10,000 volunteering slots nationally.

According to the charity, the demand for its services has risen by 17 per cent in the UK in the past year.

Sophie Tebbets, FoodCycle's chief executive, said: "Every summer we see a drop in volunteer numbers. This summer, the need is greater than ever."

The charity said it is encouraging people to sign up to volunteer as cooks, servers, and pot washers as part of their 'Summer of Peas & Love' appeal.

Since launching in 2016, the Peterborough branch has served about 25,000 meals and saved 140 tonnes of surplus food.

"It is shocking that three-quarters of the guests we surveyed last year said they could not afford to buy the food they need," Ms Tebbets added.

One guests in Peterborough said: "I would starve and may not have food to eat. That is the reality."

Cate is one of the volunteers at the Peterborough branch, which serves a meal every Monday

Cate, a volunteer in Peterborough, said: "I like that we are not a food bank. We do not just hand out food, we actually prepare a meal.

"We have flowers on the table, and proper cutlery and proper plates, so it is an experience for guests to enjoy something that is not just a handout in a cardboard box."

She added: "I feel that it has enriched my life as much as I hope it enriches the guests."

Since launching in Cambridge in 2021, FoodCycle has served about 8,000 meals and saved 20 tonnes of surplus food saved.

One guest said they "always look forward to Saturday, if not, I do not bother to cook much". Another added that without the weekly meal they would be "forced to go elsewhere for company".

Volunteering roles are open for people 18 and over, with no minimum weekly commitment. The charity added that no experience is needed and training is provided.

The community meals are held at St Andrew's Street Baptist Church in Cambridge on Saturdays at 12:30 BST, and at Park Road Baptist Church in Peterborough on Mondays at 12:30.