This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the incredible women who give their time, energy, and passion to volunteering at FoodCycle community meals.
Every week they help tackle food poverty and loneliness, creating welcoming spaces where everyone can share a nourishing meal. At FoodCycle, we believe everyone should have access to good food. We also know that women are more likely to be on low incomes and can face higher levels of food poverty. That’s why our meals play a vital role in ensuring communities have a place to turn.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Accelerate Action, which reminds us that real change happens when people step up. These inspiring volunteers do just that – taking action in their communities and making a real difference.
Meet some of them below and learn why they love being part of FoodCycle:
???? Joan – FoodCycle Middlesbrough Breckon Hill
Known as ‘Nan’ to many at her local FoodCycle project, retired nurse Joan brings positive energy to everyone she meets as a hosting volunteer.
Joan says: “I like working with people, and feeling that I am being of some use. It’s wonderful, you meet lovely people and you’re helping your community… It’s just nice to know that you’ve helped somebody.”
???? Asli – FoodCycle Schools – Ark Globe
Asli is a FoodCycle hosting lead at the London school where she’s also a teacher. She finds joy in seeing pupils and their families coming together each week.
Asli says: “Ever since I first heard of it, I’ve been obsessed with FoodCycle! I just love the idea that we can make food out of what’s given to us, and share it with the community.”
“I think the FoodCycle meals are definitely making a big difference. You can see the families that are coming consistently every week, and we do have children that struggle eating at home, because of the cost of living crisis. But when they’re here, they’re just so happy that they get to eat hot meals and experience new foods.
“I talk to our guests all the time and the feedback that I get is: ‘This has brought my family closer. This has brought my friends, and other parents closer.’ It’s just positive on positive on positive.”
???? Robyn – FoodCycle Ipswich
Retired yoga teacher and NHS education officer Robyn started volunteering with FoodCycle as a way to meet new people, after moving to a new area.
Robyn says: “I really like that we’re using up ingredients and reducing food waste. The cooking team are incredibly creative, they make amazing tasty meals…
“There’s definitely a sense of community at FoodCycle. I enjoy seeing the same faces in the kitchen and having a chat about the week. It’s helped widen my social circle and expand my network.”
???? Sue – FoodCycle Coventry
Former pub landlady Sue turned her cooking skills to volunteering, to give back to the local community who helped her through tough times.
Sue says: “It gives me pleasure back to be volunteering. I’ve been cooking for over 40 years, but it’s also a learning trip for me seeing how different cultures cook. Food is a universal language. That’s part of the joy of it.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction in seeing people enjoying the food that you’re cooking, and listening to people talking to each other. It’s just about getting the community together.
“Even for people who volunteer, they might be feeling isolated themselves, it’s not just the people who come together to eat. If you are feeling a little bit lonely actually, it’s a great way of meeting new people and being involved.”
???? Pearl – FoodCycle Walthamstow and Plaistow
Pearl a management consultant from East London, is a FoodCycle Project Leader regularly helping lead a team of fellow volunteers at two London projects.
Pearl said: “I saw the devastating impact Covid, and the cost-of-living crisis had on the local community, and I wanted to give back. I love volunteering because as a community, we welcome anyone who walks through our doors and treat them like a guest in our home for a few hours. To me that’s pure joy. The guests seem to love it too.”
???? Ashliegh – FoodCycle Salford
Winner of our first FoodCycle Hero award of 2025, Ashliegh is a Project Leader, who has not only volunteered 270+ hours her local community meal, but also fundraised £3,000!
Ashliegh says: “FoodCycle is so important for our community because it brings people from all walks of life together. It’s for absolutely anyone and everyone, and we basically all just come together for one really lovely night and sit and have a chat and tell stories and swap stores and it really is just amazing.”
???? Jenny – FoodCycle Leicester Highfields
Jenny started volunteering for when a FoodCycle community meal opened in the local community centre where she’s been involved for 40 years.
Jenny says: “It’s an absolute joy. It’s a blessing. I would encourage anyone to come and volunteer and experience what I am experiencing… “It’s brilliant for our community. People know the minute they step in they will get help.”
???? Sue – FoodCycle Chelmsford
Retired teacher and devoted nan-of-four, Sue regularly leads the cooking volunteer team. Sue says volunteering with FoodCycle has become a vital part of her ‘social calendar, after retiring from her job of 40 years.
Sue says: “We’ve got a great team, both in the kitchen and hosting. It’s friendly, it’s sociable, you get to meet new people… “It makes me feel useful. It makes me feel that I am still doing something worthwhile.”
???? Averil – FoodCycle East Ham and Plaistow
Keen home cook Averil started as a cooking volunteer with FoodCycle after taking early retirement from her job as an office manager. At home she enjoys baking her own sourdough and cooking from scratch, and is a huge asset to her local community meals in Plaistow and Newham.
Averil says: “It’s an excellent charity to be involved with. It’s totally flexible so ideal for people who have busy lives…
“It challenges your creativity, I often am responsible for picking up surplus food at a supermarket. Whilst doing so I’m already starting the meal planning. It’s like the old TV programme Ready Steady Cook, you all work as a team and decide together which dishes to prepare using the food available that day.
“It’s a really nice aspect the teamwork, and lovely to chat while you are meal prepping. It’s also extremely varied in terms of who volunteers, you get students, working age people and also retirees. I’ve met some super interesting people doing FoodCycle, definitely lots of people who you wouldn’t usually cross paths with.”
“It’s really rewarding seeing peoples’ faces light up when the food is presented. We pride ourselves in serving well prepared food… “For me personally I love combatting food waste, I think it is shocking that so much is thrown away so if that can be turned into something positive, that’s a brilliant thing.”
???? Ann – FoodCycle Ipswich
You’ll find FoodCycle cooking volunteer and ‘dessert queen’ Ann whipping up a fresh fruit crumble most weeks at her local community meal.
Keen cook Ann first came along to FoodCycle looking for something to do to help boost her mood in winter months, after retiring from her career as a primary school teacher.
Ann says: “I’m passionate about minimising food waste, and FoodCycle does that so well, with the way they gather the surplus food from supermarkets and other outlets.
“And then there’s the personal aspect of the companionship for me…
“I look forward to my volunteering sessions and I see the guests looking forward to coming along to bond with their friends and have some good food as well.”
“You genuinely feel like you’re making a difference”
To all the incredible women who power FoodCycle – thank you for your dedication, kindness, and action. You inspire us every day!
Want to join them? Sign up to volunteer here
