FoodCycle needs more helpers to keep its free community meals running smoothly across the North East this summer – including FoodCycle Hartlepool which dishes up a tasty treat at Hartlepool Community Hub South, on Wynyard Road, every Monday at 6.30pm.
A spokesperson said: “Each week FoodCycle volunteers take part in a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style-challenge to transform surplus food that would otherwise go to waste into tasty three course meals served free to anyone who wants them. The charity is encouraging residents to make 2026 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 a seasonal shortage in volunteer numbers, as regular volunteers take holidays, students return home, and parents and grandparents need to spend time with children.
Last year FoodCycle volunteers across the region served 12,383 free, three-course meals – and saved almost 34 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste.
Anyone over 18 can register to volunteer with FoodCycle – with roles including cooking, hosting, and delivering surplus food. No experience is needed and training is provided.
Steve Sheard, FoodCycle’s Regional Manager for the North East said: “We have a few different roles people can get involved with at FoodCycle community meals – from cooking, to serving food and chatting with guests, delivering surplus food to our projects, or doing the washing up. We’d love for anyone who is interested to sign up via our website.”
Anyone wishing to volunteer with FoodCycle in the North East can find their local project at: https://foodcycle.org.uk/area/north-east/
