'Peas' help this summer

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.

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.”

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

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