Help these Oldham and Wythenshawe projects provide community meals

FoodCycle, the charity that aims to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community, is launching two new local projects.

Taking place every Tuesday in Oldham and Wednesday in Wythenshawe, the projects will nourish the local community with a wholesome meal made with food that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Now, they’re looking for volunteers to help run the new weekly service.

Serving up free community meals every Tuesday from 7pm in Oldham at The Primrose Centre, and every Wednesday 7pm in Wythenshawe at Brooklands Church of the Nazarene, this vital service aims to provide food and conversation to local communities .

With the additional aim of reducing food waste, FoodCycle volunteers create nutritious meals from surplus food.

The meals are open to all, and guests range from low-income families, people affected by homelessness and those who cannot afford to buy food. No questions asked, you can just turn up and take a seat.

FoodCycle now run five projects across Greater Manchester, including in Salford, Levenshulme and Prestwich.

Created in April 2020 in response to the first national lockdown, FoodCycle’s Check-in and Chat service is also available to local residents. Helping to combat the rising issue of social isolation, volunteers call guests for a weekly natter and lend an ear to those who feel lonely.

”We are thrilled to be launching two new projects in Oldham and Wythenshawe,” said Ian Winstanley, FoodCycle North West regional manager.

“We are delighted that we will have five FoodCycle projects across Greater Manchester, reaching more local communities than ever before.

“We look forward to forming partnerships with local businesses, welcoming local residents in to the FoodCycle volunteer family and most importantly providing a nutritious meal and friendly chat to anyone in the community who needs it, no questions asked.”   

The new projects take place every Tuesday from 7pm in Oldham at The Primrose Centre, and every Wednesday 7pm in Wythenshawe at Brooklands Church of the Nazaren. Flexible volunteer roles without a minimum time commitment are open to anyone and include food collection, surplus food coordinators, cooking, hosting and running projects. For more information, visit foodcycle.org.uk.