Come with us to FoodCycle, Leeds

As part of our Force for Good initiative, here at Engage, we have been working with various local charities around Leeds to help make a difference in our community. FoodCycle is an essential community project in our area, not just by tackling food poverty and food wastage but also by bringing people together, which isn’t always easy.

FoodCycle is more than just a charity. It uses its volunteers as a Force for Good to connect communities, reduce loneliness and food poverty, and help anyone who needs them. Their vision is truly inspiring.

FoodCycle’s volunteer opportunities offer rewarding, fun and fulfilling experiences that work well alongside studies or student life. With no minimum commitment and a super easy sign-up system, giving back to your community couldn’t be easier!

This month, we saw our Head of Marketing, Yasmin, go down to FoodCycle, Beeston to get stuck in, roll her sleeves up and support this meaningful charity host for the evening. Yasmin was an excellent fit for this charity as she is fun, outgoing and loves to get stuck into hard work, inside and outside the office.

So, what exactly did we do?

All the staff at FoodCycle work super hard to ensure there’s always a friendly face on hand in a warm space! Whether you need a cuppa and a chat or in need of a meal, these volunteers all work super hard, and a lot of them do this in their spare time after work to ensure their community isn’t forgotten.

As part of Yasmin’s volunteering experience, she was one of the guest hosts; she got to talk with all the guests and keep them company as they waited for dinner. The aim was to understand their stories (if they wanted to chat, that is. Something Yas is pretty good at doing if we say so ourselves).

Once the starters and mains had been delivered to the guests, they moved on to the fruit cake and fruit salad pudding; whilst continuing to serve an array of hot and cold drinks! These volunteers are superstars! Not to forget, they also put together takeaway boxes for guests on the go.

How did it go?

With a total of 25 hungry guests fed and replenished. Yas got to see each of these hungry faces turn into 25 smiling ones; a reward itself!

Here’s what she said about the experience:

“The rise in the cost of living is worrying for everyone, especially those less fortunate; FoodCycle aims to ease some of those worries throughout the week; nobody should have to worry about their next meal. FoodCycle has introduced a new hub and home in the community that ensures a safe, supportive place for anybody to come along and enjoy a warm environment, hot cuppa and a hearty meal.”

This evening went so well that we are proud to say Yas has signed up for the second event in late October. This was an exceptional experience, and we are pleased to have her representing team Engage!

Watch this space for more Force for Good stories.